Monitoring and controlling processes at a vehicle wash facility

• US 20080046278A1
• Filed: 10/02/2007
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZEP Ip Holding, LLC (Zep Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
• Inventors: Johansen, Scott, Howes, Ronald, Sanville, Katherine
• Granted Patent: US 8,527,372 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 3/00 Vehicle cleaning apparatus not integral with vehicles cleaning in general B08B; cleaning peculiar to waterborne vessels B63B57/00, B63B59/00; ground equipment for cleaning aircraft B64F5/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

Remote monitoring of vehicle washing facilities allows a facility operator to more efficiently manage each site, particularly when combined with environmental conditions that influence the rate at which individual chemicals are used. Accurate chemical exhaustion times can therefore be predicted and communicated to the operator, and wash sequences and parameters may be altered in accordance with such environmental parameters. For example, information related to the composition of soil on a car may be monitored and used to alter the chemicals used in the wash cycle for that car. Other environmental conditions may include without limitation weather conditions, road conditions, types of vehicles, mechanical system status, vehicle temperature, etc.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

monitoring at least one environmental parameter that influences operation of at least one of a plurality of vehicle wash facilities managed by a remote management facility;

monitoring process data concerning operation of the vehicle wash facility;

transmitting the environmental parameter and the process data to the remote management facility;

analyzing the received environmental parameter and the received process data at the remote management facility; and

transmitting a command concerning operation of the vehicle wash facility from the remote management facility to the vehicle wash facility based on the analysis.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting, based on the environmental parameter, one of a first chemical and a second chemical to be used during the operation of the vehicle wash facility.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting a command to the vehicle wash facility comprises transmitting a command that controls an amount of a chemical applied to one or more vehicles during operation of the vehicle wash facility.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting a command to the vehicle wash facility comprises transmitting a command that controls a temperature of water applied with the chemical to one or more vehicles during operation of the vehicle wash facility.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a command that controls a sequence in which chemicals are applied to one or more vehicles during operation of the vehicle wash facility.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring process data comprises:

monitoring a current quantity of at least one chemical applied to vehicles during operation of the vehicle wash facility;

predicting a time point indicating expected exhaustion of the at least one chemical based on the at least one environmental parameter and the current quantity of the at least one chemical; and

providing a notification based on the time point through the remote management facility.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein providing a notification comprises identifying a recipient to receive the notification.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein monitoring a current quantity of at least one chemical includes monitoring a current quantity of at least one of a detergent, a wax or a rinse agent.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring at least one environmental parameter comprises monitoring at least one of composition of soil on a vehicle, weather conditions in proximity to the vehicle wash facility, type of vehicle, mechanical system status and vehicle temperature.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the received environmental parameter and the received process data comprises automatically analyzing the received environmental parameter and the received process data.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the least one environmental parameter and the process data to at least one of a chemical supplier, an equipment manufacturer and a service vehicle.

12. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions to cause a programmable processor to:

monitor at least one environmental parameter that influences operation of at least one of a plurality of vehicle wash facilities managed by a remote management facility;

monitor process data concerning operation of the vehicle wash facility;

transmit the environmental parameter and the process data to the remote management facility;

analyze the received environmental parameter and the received process data at the remote management facility; and

transmit a command concerning operation of the at least one vehicle wash facility from the remote management facility to the vehicle wash facility based on the analysis.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, further comprising instructions to cause a programmable processor to monitor at least one of a weather condition in proximity to the vehicle wash facility, information related to a composition of soil on one or more vehicles washed during operation of the vehicle wash facility and a temperature of one or more vehicles washed during operation of the vehicle wash facility.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, further comprising instructions to cause a programmable processor to select, based on the environmental parameter, one of a first chemical and a second chemical to be used during the operation of the vehicle wash facility.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, further comprising instructions to cause a programmable processor to transmit a command that controls an amount of a chemical applied during operation of the vehicle wash facility.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, further comprising instructions to cause a programmable processor to transmit a command that controls a temperature of water applied during operation of the vehicle wash facility.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, further comprising instructions to cause a programmable processor to transmit a command that controls a sequence in which chemicals are applied during operation of the vehicle wash facility.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, further comprising instructions to cause the programmable processor to:

monitor a current quantity of at least one chemical applied to vehicles during operation of the vehicle wash facility;

predict a time point indicating expected exhaustion of the at least one chemical based on the at least one environmental parameter and the current quantity of the at least one chemical; and

provide a notification based on the time point through the remote management facility.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, further comprising instructions to cause a programmable processor to automatically analyze the at least one of the process data and the environmental parameter automatically.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, further comprising instructions to cause a programmable processor to analyze the at least one of the process data and the environmental parameter in response to an input from a user.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, further comprising instructions to cause a programmable processor to transmit the least one environmental parameter and the process data to at least one of a chemical supplier, an equipment manufacturer and a service vehicle.