Vehicle wash control system
First Claim
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1. A vehicle wash system, comprising:
- a first product supply of a first wash component;
a first control valve fluidly connected to the first product supply;
a product dispenser fluidly connected to the first control valve, wherein the product dispenser is positioned within a vehicle wash and wherein the product dispenser is configured to dispense the first wash component upon a vehicle in the vehicle wash;
a flow rate sensor that measures a real-time flow rate of the first wash component; and
a control unit coupled to the first control valve and having an input for receiving a signal corresponding to at least one variable affecting vehicle wash effectiveness, wherein the control unit is in communication with the flow rate sensor, wherein the control unit is configured to calculate a desired flow rate of the first wash component delivered to the product dispenser and a duty cycle of the first control valve based at least partially on the at least one variable, wherein the control unit is further configured to control the flow rate of the first wash component by varying the duty cycle of the first control valve based on the desired flow rate and the real-time flow rate of the first wash component measured by the flow rate sensor.
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Abstract
A vehicle wash control system for controlling the amount of wash product applied to a vehicle based on environmental or other conditions, sensed locally or controlled/sensed remotely. The vehicle wash control system generally includes one or more electronic control valves that may be controlled by a control unit that receives inputs from a sensor or remotely which adjusts the flow of wash products responsive to the inputs.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A vehicle wash system, comprising:
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a first product supply of a first wash component; a first control valve fluidly connected to the first product supply; a product dispenser fluidly connected to the first control valve, wherein the product dispenser is positioned within a vehicle wash and wherein the product dispenser is configured to dispense the first wash component upon a vehicle in the vehicle wash; a flow rate sensor that measures a real-time flow rate of the first wash component; and a control unit coupled to the first control valve and having an input for receiving a signal corresponding to at least one variable affecting vehicle wash effectiveness, wherein the control unit is in communication with the flow rate sensor, wherein the control unit is configured to calculate a desired flow rate of the first wash component delivered to the product dispenser and a duty cycle of the first control valve based at least partially on the at least one variable, wherein the control unit is further configured to control the flow rate of the first wash component by varying the duty cycle of the first control valve based on the desired flow rate and the real-time flow rate of the first wash component measured by the flow rate sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification