Chemical delivery system and platform

• US 8,887,743 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2010
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonny's HFI Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Hydra-Flex, Inc. (Sonny'S Enterprises, LLC)
• Inventors: Molitor, Christopher, Brown, Gary A., Kensinger, David
• Primary Examiner(s): KO, JASON Y
• Application Number:
  US12/879,694
• Publication Number:
  US 20110067738A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,530 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 134/123
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 3/04 for exteriors of land vehicles B60S3/002, B60S3/004 take precedence; specially adapted for railway vehicles B60S3/006

Abstract

A chemical delivery system capable of handling a variety of concentrated chemicals in such a manner as to reduce the amount of service required to maintain the system. The system should be able to accurately and consistently deliver an appropriate quantity of concentrated chemicals as needed by the application where the system is utilized. Additionally, the system is configured such that the system occupies as little space as necessary.

Claims

1. A chemical delivery system for distributing chemicals within a car wash, comprising:

a motive fluid source including a pressurized motive fluid;

a distribution manifold having a plurality of distribution ports, and

at least one chemical delivery manifold including a plurality of venturi injectors, each venturi injector have a motive fluid inlet, a chemical inlet and a mixed solution outlet, each venturi injector adapted for operation at the direction of an individual control signal selectively controlling flow of the pressurized motive fluid through each venturi injector, and wherein each venturi injector is adapted for independently introducing a different concentrated chemical solution,

wherein the pressurized motive fluid is supplied to the distribution manifold and to each chemical delivery manifold through a corresponding distribution port, the pressurized motive fluid being provided through a distribution line to each motive fluid inlet at a constant pressure such that the corresponding concentrated chemical solution is mixed into the pressurized motive fluid within each venturi injector; and

wherein the distribution manifold and the at least one chemical delivery manifold are mounted on a common frame.

2. The chemical delivery system of claim 1, wherein the motive fluid source comprises a multi-stage centrifugal booster pump.

3. The chemical delivery system of claim 1, wherein the motive fluid source comprises a pair of supply pumps configured for parallel operation, and wherein each supply pump is capable of pressurizing one-half of a maximum flow requirement of the pressurized motive fluid.

4. The chemical delivery system of claim 1, wherein a concentrated chemical is drawn through each chemical inlet by a venturi configuration in each chemical injector.

5. The chemical delivery system of claim 1, further comprising:

a water-tight control panel distributing the individual control signals to each venturi injector.

6. The chemical delivery system of claim 1, further comprising:

a compressed air handling assembly.

7. A car wash comprising the chemical delivery system of claim 1.

8. A car wash chemical system, comprising:

a distribution manifold having a plurality of distribution ports,

at least one distribution line fluidly connected to one of the distribution ports for distributing a motive fluid from the distribution manifold;

at least one chemical delivery manifold having a chemical manifold body including an inlet port and a plurality of chemical injectors, each chemical injector including a valve adapted for operation at the direction of an individual control signal that independently actuates each valve to selectively control flow of the motive fluid through each chemical injector, each chemical injector being individually fluidly connected to a concentrated chemical for individually mixing the concentrated chemical into the motive fluid to form a mixed solution within each chemical injector and wherein each injector includes a mixed solution outlet for selectively directing the mixed solution of each chemical injector to a selected application area.

9. The car wash chemical system of claim 8, wherein the distribution manifold and the at least one chemical delivery manifold are contained on a shared mounting frame.

10. The car wash chemical system of claim 9, further comprising:

at least one pump positioned on the mounting frame, the at least one pump for pressurizing the motive fluid prior to the motive fluid entering the distribution manifold.

11. The car wash chemical system of claim 9, further comprising:

a control processor providing the individual control signal to each chemical injector.

12. A tunnel car wash, comprising the car wash chemical system of claim 9.

13. The tunnel car wash of claim 12, wherein the mixed solution of individual chemical injectors is directed to differing application areas, and wherein the application areas are selected from the group consisting essentially of:

a pre-soak area, a wheel cleaner area, a foam soap area, a rinse area and wax applicator area.