Product metering system
A product metering system for accurately dispensing one or more products. The product metering system generally includes a vehicle wash product supply fluidly connected to an electronic control valve and a control unit in communication with the electronic control valve. The electronic control valve operates at an open/close ratio that dispenses the product supply at a desired flow rate.
1. A vehicle wash for washing a vehicle, comprising:
a first pump fluidly connected to a first product supply and a second pump fluidly connected to a second product supply, wherein the first product supply is comprised of a liquid, a powder, a particulate material, a gas, a fluid, or a combination thereof, and wherein the second product supply is comprised of a liquid;
an first electronic control valve fluidly connected to the first pump, wherein the first electronic control valve operates at a first open/close ratio that dispenses the first product supply at a first flow rate, wherein the first open/close ratio is comprised of an on state for an on period of time and an off state for an off period of time, and wherein the first open/close ratio produces a first flow rate of the first product supply;
a second electronic control valve fluidly connected to the second pump, wherein the second electronic control valve operates at a second open/close ratio that dispenses the second product supply at a second flow rate, wherein the second open/close ratio is comprised of an on state for an on period of time and an off state for an off period of time, and wherein the second open/close ratio produces a second flow rate of the second product supply;
a nozzle fluidly connected to the first electronic control valve and the second electronic control valve to dispense the first product supply and the second product supply to the vehicle; and
a control unit in communication with the first electronic control valve and the second electronic control valve, the control unit is programmed to control the first open/close ratio and the second open/close ratio, wherein the control unit calculates the first open/close ratio needed to produce the first flow rate of the first product supply utilizing a pressure of the first product supply from the first pump, and wherein the control unit calculates the second open/close ratio needed to produce the second flow rate of the second product supply utilizing a pressure of the second product supply from the second pump.
2. The vehicle wash of claim 1 , wherein the first product supply is comprised of a powder.
3. The vehicle wash of claim 1 , wherein the first product supply is comprised of a particulate material.
4. The vehicle wash of claim 1 , wherein the first product supply is comprised of a gas.
5. The vehicle wash of claim 1 , wherein the first product supply is comprised of a fluid.
6. The vehicle wash of claim 1 , wherein the first product supply is comprised of a liquid and a gas.
7. A product metering system for accurately metering a product to be dispensed, comprising:
a vehicle wash adapted for washing a vehicle, wherein said vehicle wash includes a first pump fluidly connected to a product supply, wherein said product supply is comprised of a liquid, a powder, a particulate material, a gas, a fluid, or a combination thereof;
an electronic control valve fluidly connected to said first pump, wherein said electronic control valve operates at an open/close ratio that dispenses said product supply at a flow rate, wherein said open/close ratio is comprised of an on state for an on period of time and an off state for an off period of time, wherein said open/close ratio produces a consistent flow rate of said product supply;
a product dispenser fluidly connected to said electronic control valve to dispense said product supply to said vehicle; and
a control unit in communication with said electronic control valve, said control unit programmed to control said open/close ratio, wherein said control unit calculates said open/close ratio needed to produce said flow rate of said product supply utilizing a pressure of said product supply from said first pump;
wherein said on state is comprised of an initial higher power applied to said electronic control valve for a period of high power time to ensure that said electronic control valve is opened followed by a lower power applied to said electronic control valve for a period of lower power time;
wherein said initial higher power is comprised of a constant voltage;
wherein said period of high power time is comprised of approximately 15 ms;
wherein said lower power is comprised of a pulse width modulated power;
wherein said period of lower power time is based on a desired product flow rate;
wherein said off state is comprised of no power applied to said electronic control valve.
8. The product metering system of claim 7 , wherein said product supply is comprised of a powder.
9. The product metering system of claim 7 , wherein said product supply is comprised of a particulate material.
10. The product metering system of claim 7 , wherein said product supply is comprised of a gas.
11. The product metering system of claim 7 , wherein said product supply is comprised of a fluid.
12. The product metering system of claim 7 , wherein said product supply is comprised of a liquid and a gas.
13. A method of operating a vehicle wash, comprising:
positioning a vehicle within a vehicle wash, wherein the vehicle wash is comprised of:
a pump fluidly connected to a product supply, wherein the product supply is comprised of a liquid, a powder, a particulate material, a gas, a fluid, or a combination thereof;
an electronic control valve fluidly connected to the pump, wherein the electronic control valve operates at an open/close ratio that dispenses the product supply at a flow rate, wherein the open/close ratio is comprised of an on state for an on period of time and an off state for an off period of time, and wherein the open/close ratio produces a flow rate of the product supply;
a nozzle fluidly connected to the electronic control valve to dispense the product supply to the vehicle; and
a control unit in communication with the electronic control valve, the control unit programmed to control the open/close ratio, wherein the control unit calculates the open/close ratio needed to produce the flow rate of the product supply utilizing a pressure of the product supply from the pump;
calculating by the control unit the open/close ratio needed to produce the flow rate of the product supply utilizing the pressure of the product supply from the pump;
operating the electronic control valve at the open/close ratio to produce the flow rate of the product supply; and
dispensing the product supply by the nozzle to the vehicle at the flow rate.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the product supply is comprised of a powder.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the product supply is comprised of a particulate material.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the product supply is comprised of a gas.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the product supply is comprised of a fluid.
18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the product supply is comprised of a liquid and a gas.