An engineer created the intermittent windshield wiper and revolutionized the industry.
From the airbag to GPS, Many everyday elements in vehicles began as innovations that transformed driving. However, there is one so everyday that it goes unnoticed, but that generated fortunes and changed the driving experience forever.
Hidden in something as basic as the wiperan apparently minor invention marked a before and after in the automotive industry. This small advance not only improved safety and comfort, but also unleashed a million-dollar legal battle with its creator, the engineer Robert Kearns as protagonist.
transit.jpg
Ehowenespanol.com
The million-dollar invention that revolutionized your car’s windshield wipers
In the 1960s, windshield wipers were not as sophisticated as those of today. Once activated, the wipers moved continuously, regardless of whether the rain was heavy or just a drizzle. This operation, far from being practical, generated inconvenience for drivers.
The solution came from Robert Kearns, a engineer and university professor. Inspired by human blinking, Kearns developed an intermittent system that allowed windshield wipers They paused between each movement. The key to his invention lay in a simple electronic circuit composed of a transistor, a capacitor and a variable resistor.
The capacitor controlled the time between sweeps, charging and discharging to activate or deactivate the transistor, which functioned as a switch. Thanks to the variable resistance, drivers could adjust the interval according to their needs. This advance, although seemingly simple, represented a significant change in the comfort and functionality of vehicles.
Kearns patented his innovation and presented his idea to fordone of the leading automotive companies of the time. Although they initially showed interest, the company ended up rejecting the proposal and, shortly after, incorporated a similar system in their vehicles without recognizing Kearns nor pay him for his invention.
The millionaire earnings of Robert Kearns
The story did not end with Ford’s rejection. Determined to defend his creation, Kearns sued not only this company, but also other major automotive brands that had adopted his system without authorization. For years, he waged a intense legal battle which culminated in an unexpected result.
Kearns won the casesreaching agreements that brought him more than 30 million dollars in compensations. This figure not only vindicated his inventiveness, but also set a precedent for patent protection in the automotive industry.
Source: Ambito
