Windshield wipers are kind of dumb. They move partway across the windshield, then stop, then reverse direction. Stuff remains on the windshield (though off to the side), and the windshield wipers waste a lot of time stopping and reversing direction, while the rain pounds down.
The rotary wiper is mounted in the top center of the windshield. Blades extend horizontally from both sides, the width of the windshield. When turned on it spins into action like a fan, the blades sweeping clockwise across the windshield. Water and bugs are swept across the windshield then up off the top, where the passing wind blows them away. Best of all, being a wheel, the wipers do not need to pause - therefore these wipers can go really fast. If the rain is really driving down, just crank up your rotary wiper to cuisinart speed.
I did not see this idea posted in the wiper section, but it would not surprise me to read that it had been proposed before.-- bungston, Jul 07 2003 Wynn Kent "Clearview" http://www.manex.co.za/wynn.htmSince WW2. [8th of 7, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 06 2004] 008's Clearview illo http://www.manex.co.za/wynn3.jpg [thumbwax, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 05 2004] I've seen this (one-bladed) on boat "windshields".-- FarmerJohn, Jul 07 2003 A similar idea is baked for boats, where a spinning transparent disk is installed in front of the window. Any rain/algae/man-eating sharks which are blown onto the disk are quickly removed by the rotary motion.-- suctionpad, Jul 07 2003 I think many pilots would be thrilled over this idea! +
It could easily be incorporated in the rear window of vans or hatchbacks which have a wiper motor just below the window. The bugs (or whatever) would get pushed down onto the back door, though.-- Amos Kito, Jul 07 2003 [FJ] is right, definitely Baked for marine applications.-- 8th of 7, Jul 08 2003 It must take *forever* to cut cabonassi for pizzas.-- thumbwax, Jul 08 2003 I seem to remember that some time ago, a Kent Clearview type screen was fitted to a crash helmet. I think the objective was to use it in single seater motor racing cars. It was tested by the famous racing driver Graham Hill. Unfortunately they hadn't allowed for the effects of gyroscopic precession, which turned out to be significant - as he turned his head left and right, he was forced to observe alternately the sky and his boots. It only had the one outing. (Of course I might have dreamed this...)-- Stingray, Jul 08 2003 random, halfbakery