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 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;
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.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic control valve is comprised of a solenoid valve.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle wash includes a sensor in communication with the control unit.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the sensor detects a condition of the vehicle wash.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the sensor detects the flow rate of the product supply.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the sensor detects temperature.
7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the sensor detects humidity.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle wash includes a foam generator fluidly positioned between the electronic control valve and the nozzle.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the vehicle wash includes an inductor fluidly connected between the electronic control valve and the foam generator, wherein the inductor is fluidly connected to a water supply.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle wash includes a water supply fluidly connected to supply water to the nozzle, and a flow meter fluidly positioned between the nozzle and the water supply.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the control unit is in communication with the flow meter.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the flow rate is a preprogrammed flow rate.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the flow rate is calculated by the control unit.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the control unit calculates the open/close ratio needed to produce the flow rate of the product supply utilizing a pump flow rate of the pump.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the control unit calculates the open/close ratio needed to produce the flow rate of the product supply utilizing a size of the electronic control valve.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the control unit calculates the open/close ratio needed to produce the flow rate of the product supply utilizing a size of the electronic control valve.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the open/close ratio is static.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the open/close ratio is dynamic.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the open/close ratio is dependent upon one or more real-time factors.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the one or more real-time factors includes a change in the pressure of the product supply from the pump.
21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the one or more real-time factors includes a change in the amount of water supplied.
22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the product supply dispensed by the nozzle to the vehicle is dispensed without water.
23. The method of claim 1 , wherein the product supply dispensed by the nozzle to the vehicle is dispensed with water.
24. A method of operating a vehicle wash, comprising:
positioning a vehicle within a vehicle wash, wherein the vehicle wash is comprised of:
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 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;
calculating by the control unit the first open/close ratio needed to produce the first flow rate of the first product supply utilizing the pressure of the first product supply from the first pump;
calculating by the control unit the second open/close ratio needed to produce the second flow rate of the second product supply utilizing the pressure of the second product supply from the second pump;
operating the first electronic control valve at the first open/close ratio to produce the first flow rate of the first product supply;
operating the second electronic control valve at the second open/close ratio to produce the second flow rate of the second product supply;
combining the first product supply and the second product supply from the first electronic control valve and the second electronic control valve into a combined product supply; and
dispensing the combined product supply by the nozzle to the vehicle.
25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the first electronic control valve and the second electronic control valve are each comprised of a solenoid valve.
26. The method of claim 24 , wherein the vehicle wash includes a sensor in communication with the control unit.
27. The method of claim 26 , wherein the sensor detects a condition of the vehicle wash.
28. The method of claim 27 , wherein the sensor detects the first flow rate of the first product supply.
29. The method of claim 27 , wherein the sensor detects temperature.
30. The method of claim 27 , wherein the sensor detects humidity.
31. The method of claim 24 , wherein the vehicle wash includes a foam generator fluidly positioned between the nozzle and the first and second electronic control valves.
32. The method of claim 31 , wherein the vehicle wash includes an inductor fluidly connected between the foam generator and the first and second electronic control valves, wherein the inductor is fluidly connected to a water supply.
33. The method of claim 24 , wherein the vehicle wash includes a water supply fluidly connected to supply water to the nozzle, and a flow meter fluidly positioned between the nozzle and the water supply.
34. The method of claim 33 , wherein the control unit is in communication with the flow meter.
35. The method of claim 24 , wherein the first flow rate is a first preprogrammed flow rate and the second flow rate is a second preprogrammed flow rate.
36. The method of claim 24 , wherein the first flow rate and the second flow rate are each calculated by the control unit.
37. The method of claim 24 , wherein the control unit calculates the first open/close ratio needed to produce the first flow rate of the first product supply utilizing a first pump flow rate of 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 second pump flow rate of the second pump.
38. The method of claim 37 , wherein the control unit calculates the first open/close ratio needed to produce the first flow rate of the first product supply utilizing a size of the first electronic control valve, 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 size of the second electronic control valve.
39. The method of claim 24 , wherein the control unit calculates the first open/close ratio needed to produce the first flow rate of the first product supply utilizing a size of the first electronic control valve, 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 size of the second electronic control valve.
40. The method of claim 24 , wherein the first open/close ratio is static.
41. The method of claim 40 , wherein the second open/close ratio is static.
42. The method of claim 24 , wherein the first open/close ratio is dynamic.
43. The method of claim 42 , wherein the second open/close ratio is dynamic.
44. The method of claim 42 , wherein the first open/close ratio is dependent upon one or more real-time factors.
45. The method of claim 44 , wherein the one or more real-time factors includes a change in the pressure of the first product supply from the first pump.
46. The method of claim 44 , wherein the one or more real-time factors includes a change in the amount of water supplied.
47. The method of claim 24 , wherein the combined product supply dispensed by the nozzle to the vehicle is dispensed without water.
48. The method of claim 24 , wherein the combined product supply dispensed by the nozzle to the vehicle is dispensed with water.
49. The method of claim 24 , wherein the first product supply has a first color and the second product supply has a second color.
50. The method of claim 24 , wherein the first product supply has a first scent and the second product supply has a second scent.
51. 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 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.
52. The vehicle wash of claim 51 , wherein the first electronic control valve and the second electronic control valve are each comprised of a solenoid valve.
53. The vehicle wash of claim 51 , wherein the vehicle wash includes a sensor in communication with the control unit.
54. The vehicle wash of claim 53 , wherein the sensor detects a condition of the vehicle wash.
55. The vehicle wash of claim 54 , wherein the sensor detects the first flow rate of the first product supply.
56. The vehicle wash of claim 54 , wherein the sensor detects temperature.
57. The vehicle wash of claim 54 , wherein the sensor detects humidity.
58. The vehicle wash of claim 51 , wherein the vehicle wash includes a foam generator fluidly positioned between the nozzle and the first and second electronic control valves.
59. The vehicle wash of claim 58 , wherein the vehicle wash includes an inductor fluidly connected between the foam generator and the first and second electronic control valves, wherein the inductor is fluidly connected to a water supply.
60. The vehicle wash of claim 51 , wherein the vehicle wash includes a water supply fluidly connected to supply water to the nozzle, and a flow meter fluidly positioned between the nozzle and the water supply.
61. The vehicle wash of claim 60 , wherein the control unit is in communication with the flow meter.
62. The vehicle wash of claim 51 , wherein the first flow rate is a first preprogrammed flow rate and the second flow rate is a second preprogrammed flow rate.
63. The vehicle wash of claim 51 , wherein the first flow rate and the second flow rate are each calculated by the control unit.
64. The vehicle wash of claim 51 , wherein the control unit calculates the first open/close ratio needed to produce the first flow rate of the first product supply utilizing a first pump flow rate of 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 second pump flow rate of the second pump.
65. The vehicle wash of claim 51 , wherein the control unit calculates the first open/close ratio needed to produce the first flow rate of the first product supply utilizing a size of the first electronic control valve, 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 size of the second electronic control valve.
66. The vehicle wash of claim 51 , wherein the first open/close ratio is static.
67. The vehicle wash of claim 66 , wherein the second open/close ratio is static.
68. The vehicle wash of claim 51 , wherein the first open/close ratio is dynamic.
69. The vehicle wash of claim 68 , wherein the second open/close ratio is dynamic.
70. The vehicle wash of claim 68 , wherein the first open/close ratio is dependent upon one or more real-time factors.
71. The vehicle wash of claim 70 , wherein the one or more real-time factors includes a change in the pressure of the first product supply from the first pump.
72. The vehicle wash of claim 70 , wherein the one or more real-time factors includes a change in the amount of water supplied.
73. The vehicle wash of claim 51 , wherein a combination of the first product supply and the second product supply is dispensed by the nozzle to the vehicle without water.
74. The vehicle wash of claim 51 , wherein a combination of the first product supply and the second product supply is dispensed by the nozzle to the vehicle with water.
75. The vehicle wash of claim 51 , wherein the first product supply has a first color and the second product supply has a second color.
76. The vehicle wash of claim 51 , wherein the first product supply has a first scent and the second product supply has a second scent.