Truck wash automatic chemical ratio proportioning

• US 6,921,027 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2002
• Issued: 07/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ultra Express Truck Wash, LLC
• Original Assignee: Ultra Express Truck Wash, LLC
• Inventors: Firestone, Roy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): HWU, DAVIS D
• Application Number:
  US10/044,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20030127534A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,294 Days
• Field of Search: 239/61, 239/63, 239/66, 239/67, 239/68, 239/69, 239/398, 239/407, 239/413, 239/419.5, 239/424.5, 239/425.5, 239/569, 134/111, 134/123, 134/112, 134/102
• US Class Current: 239/61
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/24 Mixing of ingredients for cleaning compositions
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/49 Mixing systems, i.e. flow charts or diagrams
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2111 Flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2211 Amount of delivered fluid during a period
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/831 using one or more pump or other dispensing mechanisms for feeding the flows in predetermined proportion, e.g. one of the pumps being driven by one of the flows B01F35/832 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/883 using flow rate controls for feeding the substances
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/1436 the controlling condition of the first liquid or other fluent material in the first supply line being its flow rate or its pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/32 the fed liquid or other fluent material being under pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 3/04 for exteriors of land vehicles B60S3/002, B60S3/004 take precedence; specially adapted for railway vehicles B60S3/006
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 3/044 Hand-held cleaning arrangements with liquid or gas distributing means B60S3/045 takes precedence

Abstract

A chemical ratio proportioning apparatus (100, 200) intended primarily for use in a wash bay (10) of a vehicle wash system. A gantry (14) and spray wands (18) are used for washing a vehicle (12). A quantity of solvent such as water (109) is provided under pressure from water pumps (104, 202). A chemical (114, 114a) is provided under pressure from chemical pumps (124, 206, 206a), mixed in correct proportion under control of a control unit (120) and flow sensors 112 and 118. The control unit controls metering devices such as a metering pump (124) and/or one or more proportioning solenoid valves (208, 208a) to control the quantity of chemical (114, 114a) entering the system.

Claims

1. An apparatus for proportioning a chemical with a solvent, comprising:

a flow measurement apparatus for measuring the flow rate of the solvent;

a control unit for calculating the quantity of chemical to be added to the solvent based at least in part on the flow rate of the solvent;

a flow control device for metering the quantity of the chemical added to the solvent; and

at least one outlet for dispensing a mixture of the solvent and the chemical at a variable flow rate; and

wherein the control unit is operative to automatically adjust the quantity of the chemical added to the solvent to compensate for changes in demand of the mixture from the at least one outlet.

2. The apparatus for proportioning a chemical with a solvent of claim 1, and further including:

a second flow measurement apparatus for measuring the flow of the chemical.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the control unit receives input from the flow measurement apparatus; and

the control unit controls the flow control device.

4. The apparatus for proportioning a chemical with a solvent of claim 1, further comprising:

the chemical; and

wherein

the chemical is a cleaning substance.

5. The apparatus for proportioning a chemical with a solvent of claim 1, further comprising:

the chemical; and

wherein

the chemical is a soap.

6. The apparatus for proportioning a chemical with a solvent of claim 1, further comprising:

the solvent; and

wherein

the solvent is water.

7. The apparatus for proportioning a chemical with a solvent of claim 1, wherein:

the flow of the solvent varies during the operation of the apparatus.

8. The apparatus for proportioning a chemical with a solvent of claim 1, wherein:

the flow rate of the solvent varies according to the quantity of a plurality of spray wands which are in operation at any given time.

9. The apparatus for proportioning a chemical with a solvent of claim 1, wherein:

the flow measurement apparatus is a flow sensor.

10. The apparatus for proportioning a chemical with a solvent of claim 1, wherein:

the control unit is a personal computer.

11. The apparatus for proportioning a chemical with a solvent of claim 1, wherein:

the flow control device is a precision pump.

12. The apparatus for proportioning a chemical with a solvent of claim 1, wherein:

the flow control device is a proportioning solenoid valve.

13. The apparatus for proportioning a chemical with a solvent of claim 1, wherein:

the control unit calculates the quantity of chemical to be added based at least in part on a PID algorithm.

14. The apparatus for proportioning a chemical with a solvent of claim 1, wherein:

the outlet comprises at least one spray wand.

15. The apparatus for proportioning a chemical with a solvent of claim 14, wherein:

the outlet comprises a plurality of spray wends.

16. The apparatus for proportioning a chemical with a solvent of claim 1, wherein:

the outlet comprises at least one wash nozzle.

17. The apparatus for proportioning a chemical with a solvent of claim 16, wherein:

the outlet comprises a plurality of wash nozzles.

18. The apparatus for proportioning a chemical with a solvent of claim 1, wherein:

the outlet comprises a plurality of spray wands and a plurality of wash nozzles.

19. The apparatus for proportioning a chemical with a solvent of claim 1, further comprising:

a pump coupled to provide said solvent to said outlet under pressure; and

wherein said flow measurement apparatus is disposed between said pump and said outlet.

20. An apparatus for mixing a chemical with water in a vehicle washing device, comprising:

water flow measurement means for measuring the flow of water;

calculating means for calculating a desired flow rate for the chemical;

flow rate controlling means for controlling the flow rate for the chemical; and

outlet means for dispensing a mixture of the solvent and the chemical at a variable flow rate; and

wherein the calculating means is operative to automatically adjust the quantity of the chemical added to the water to compensate for changes in demand of the mixture from the outlet means.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, and further comprising:

chemical flow measurement means for measuring the flow rate of the chemical.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein:

the chemical flow measurement means is a flow sensor.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein:

the water flow measurement means is a flow sensor.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein:

the flow rate controlling means is a proportioning solenoid valve.

25. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein:

the flow rate controlling means is a variable rate pump.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein:

the variable rate pump is an air driven pump.

27. The apparatus of claim 20, and further including:

at least one pump for providing the water under pressure.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein:

the pump is an air driven pump.

29. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein:

the calculating means includes a PID algorithm.

30. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein:

the outlet means comprises at least one spray wand.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein:

the outlet means comprises a plurality of spray wands.

32. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein:

the outlet means comprises at least one wash nozzle.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein:

the outlet means comprises a plurality of wash nozzles.

34. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein:

the outlet means comprises a plurality of spray wands and a plurality of wash nozzles.

35. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:

a pump coupled to provide said solvent to said outlet means under pressure; and

wherein said water flow measurement means is disposed between the pump and the outlet means.