PRODUCTS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING FLUID DISPENSING

Abstract

Systems for controlling chemical dispensing from a chemical delivery device include means for dispensing a chemical, wherein during dispensing an amount of the chemical from the chemical delivery device, the means for dispensing the chemical draws an equal amount of the chemical into the chemical delivery device as the amount of the chemical dispensed. Methods involve causing the means for dispensing a chemical to dispense the chemical. Means for dispensing a fluid and means for mixing the dispensed chemical and fluid are also used in connection with the means for dispensing a chemical. Means for controlling dispensing such as by means for linearly controlling dispensing, along with means for controlling a dilution ratio, means for coordinating dispensing, and means for individually controlling are also used in connection with these means for dispensing a chemical, means for dispensing a fluid and means for mixing.

Claims

1. A system for controlling chemical dispensing from a chemical delivery device, comprising: means for dispensing a chemical, wherein during dispensing an amount of the chemical from the chemical delivery device, the means for dispensing the chemical draws an equal amount of the chemical into the chemical delivery device as the amount of the chemical dispensed.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for sensing one or more properties of the dispensed chemical, of the chemical drawn into the chemical delivery device, or of the means for dispensing a chemical.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for dispensing a fluid and means for mixing the dispensed chemical and fluid dispensed from the means for dispensing the fluid.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising means for controlling dispensing: of the chemical from the means for dispensing a chemical, of the fluid from the means for dispensing a fluid, or of mixtures of the chemical and the fluid.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the means for controlling dispensing comprises means for linearly controlling dispensing.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the means for controlling is integrated into an assembly comprising one or more of the means for dispensing a chemical, the means for dispensing a fluid, or the means for mixing the fluid and the chemical.

7. The system of claim 4, further comprising means for controlling a dilution ratio of the chemical and the fluid dispensed from the means for dispensing a chemical and the means for dispensing a fluid.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising means for coordinating dispensing from a plurality of the means for dispensing a chemical and a plurality of the means for dispensing a fluid.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising means for individually controlling each of the plurality of the means for dispensing a chemical and each of the plurality of the means for dispensing a fluid.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the means for controlling is integrated into an assembly comprising each of the means for dispensing a chemical, the means for dispensing a fluid, and the means for mixing the fluid and the chemical.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the means for coordinating dispensing and the means for individually controlling are communicatively coupled to a plurality of the assemblies.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the means for controlling dispensing comprises means for linearly controlling dispensing.

13. A method of controlling chemical dispensing from a chemical delivery device, comprising: causing a means for dispensing a chemical to dispense the chemical, wherein during dispensing an amount of the chemical from the chemical delivery device, the means for dispensing the chemical draws an equal amount of the chemical into the chemical delivery device as the amount of the chemical dispensed.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising causing a means for dispensing a fluid to dispense the fluid, and causing a means for mixing the dispensed chemical and fluid to mix the chemical and the fluid.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising causing a means for linearly controlling dispensing to linearly control dispensing of the chemical from the means for dispensing a chemical.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising causing a means for controlling a dilution ratio of the chemical and the fluid dispensed from the means for dispensing a chemical and the means for dispensing a fluid to control a dilution ratio of the chemical and the fluid.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising causing a means for coordinating dispensing from a plurality of the means for dispensing a chemical and a plurality of the means for dispensing a fluid to coordinate dispensing from the plurality of the means for dispensing a chemical and the plurality of the means for dispensing a fluid.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising causing a means for individually controlling each of the plurality of the means for dispensing a chemical and each of the plurality of the means for dispensing a fluid to individually control each of the plurality of the means for dispensing a chemical and each of the plurality of the means for dispensing a fluid.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] FIGS. 1a-1d illustrate fluid management systems according to various implementations of the present disclosure.

[0027] FIG. 2a illustrates the fluid management system of FIG. 1a in combination with components of a vehicle wash system, according to various implementations of the present disclosure.

[0028] FIG. 2b illustrates a schematic diagram of the fluid management of FIG. 1b in combination with components of a vehicle wash system, according to various implementations of the present disclosure.

[0029] FIG. 2c illustrates the fluid management system of FIG. 1c in combination with components of a vehicle wash system, according to various implementations of the present disclosure.

[0030] FIG. 2d illustrates the fluid management system of FIG. 1d in combination with components of a vehicle wash system, according to various implementations of the present disclosure.

[0031] FIG. 3a illustrates an isometric view of a chemical delivery device that may be included with the fluid management systems of the present disclosure;

[0032] FIG. 3b illustrates a cross-sectional view of the chemical delivery device in FIG. 3a through the outlet;

[0033] FIG. 3c illustrates another cross-sectional view of the chemical delivery device in FIG. 3a through the inlet;

[0034] FIG. 3d illustrates an exploded view of the chemical delivery device of FIG. 3a;

[0035] FIG. 3e is a top, left isometric, exploded view of the piston of the chemical delivery device of FIG. 3a;

[0036] FIG. 3f is a bottom view of the piston assembly of the chemical delivery device of FIG. 3a;

[0037] FIG. 3g is a detail view of an adjustable valve of the chemical delivery device of FIG. 3a; and

[0038] FIG. 3h illustrates an isometric view of the chemical delivery device of FIG. 3a coupled to a loading valve.

[0039] FIGS. 3i and 3j illustrate an isometric and a cross-sectional view of an alternative configuration of a chemical delivery device according to various implementations of the present disclosure.

[0040] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary valve, according to various implementations of the present disclosure.

[0041] FIG. 5a is a schematic diagram of a valve circuit of the fluid management systems, according to various implementations of the present disclosure.

[0042] FIG. 5b illustrates a schematic diagram of valve circuits of the fluid management systems and a vehicle wash applicator, according to various implementations of the present disclosure.

[0043] FIG. 5c is a schematic diagram of a valve circuit of the fluid management systems, according to various implementations of the present disclosure.

[0044] FIG. 6 illustrates a modified fluid management system from the fluid management system of FIG. 1a in combination with components of a vehicle wash system, according to various implementations of the present disclosure.

[0045] FIGS. 7a-7e illustrate various views of a loading valve, according to implementations of the present disclosure.

[0046] FIG. 7f illustrates an exemplary comparison between an ideal square wave flow curve and an actual flow curve that may be generated using the loading valve, according to various implementations of the present disclosure.

[0047] FIGS. 8a-8f illustrate various views of a fluid delivery manifold, according to various implementations of the present disclosure.

[0048] FIG. 8g illustrates an alternative fluid delivery manifold, according to various implementations of the present disclosure.

[0049] FIG. 8h illustrates another alternative fluid delivery manifold according to various implementations of the present disclosure.

[0050] FIG. 9a illustrates a position of a fluid management system according to various implementations of the present disclosure.

[0051] FIG. 9b illustrates another position of a fluid management system according to various implementations of the present disclosure.

[0052] FIG. 9c illustrates yet another position of a fluid management system according to various implementations of the present disclosure.

[0053] FIG. 9d illustrates yet a further position of a fluid management system according to various implementations of the present disclosure.

[0054] FIG. 10 illustrates an eductor that may be used in combination with implementations of the present disclosure.

[0055] FIG. 11a illustrates is a flowchart of a method for generating control signals by the control system of the fluid management systems according to implementations of the present disclosure.

[0056] FIG. 11b illustrates is a flowchart of a method for transmitting generated control signals by the control system of the fluid management systems according to implementations of the present disclosure.

[0057] FIG. 12 illustrates a flowchart of a method of delivering chemical from a chemical delivery device according to various implementations of the present disclosure.

[0058] FIG. 13 illustrates a flowchart of a method of delivering motive fluid from a fluid delivery manifold according to various implementations of the present disclosure.

[0059] FIG. 14 illustrates a simplified block diagram of components of a computing system of the fluid management systems of the present disclosure.

[0060] FIG. 15 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a network environment according to implementations of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0061] Disclosed are vehicle wash components and fluid management systems including such vehicle wash components. The vehicle wash components, according to the present disclosure, may include fluid delivery devices including but not limited to chemical delivery devices, motive fluid delivery devices, mixing sites, and assemblies thereof. The vehicle wash components may be configured to receive chemicals and/or fluids from upstream components, such as chemical supplies, motive fluid sources, driving fluid sources, pumps, regulators, electrical supplies, and so on. The received fluids and/or chemicals may be distributed by the vehicle wash components to downstream components such as fluid conduits for subsequent application to vehicles by vehicle wash applicators (e.g., nozzles and foamers) of a vehicle wash system. Control systems may be integrated with the vehicle wash components and/or the fluid management systems. Some control systems may be configured for closed loop control of the vehicle wash components and systems. Vehicle wash systems, e.g., car washes, of the present disclosure may include the vehicle wash components and/or their fluid management systems, alone or in combination with other components, devices and systems for use in vehicle wash systems.

[0062] The fluid management systems of the present disclosure may be configured as chemical distribution systems, fluid distribution systems, and/or diluted chemical distribution systems. Such systems may be electrically actuated and driven by mechanical- and/or pressure-driven drive mechanisms, such as a pressurized air source or a pressurized liquid source. In implementations, the vehicle wash components and fluid management systems may inject or dispense chemicals and motive fluid for downstream mixing, and may use a control system, such as a closed loop feedback system, to monitor and regulate variables impacting dilution solutions including but not limited to: pressure, flow rates, and/or dilution ratios of fluids, chemicals, and mixtures thereof.

[0063] Fluids managed and dispensed by the vehicle wash components and fluid management systems include chemicals and motive fluid. Chemicals managed and dispensed may include but are not limited to concentrated chemicals, mixed chemicals, diluted chemicals such as aqueous solutions of diluted chemical in water, water, and other supplies of liquid chemicals for use in vehicle wash systems, e.g., car washes, such as liquid soap, degreasers, detergents, ceramic solutions, waxes, drying agents, fragrances, sealants, tire dressing, window cleaner, protectants. Motive fluids managed and dispensed may include but are not limited to water, such as pressurized water delivered from a pump, or water delivered from a municipal water source, a reclaimed water source, a water softener or a reverse osmosis system.

[0064] The vehicle wash systems of the present disclosure may include vehicle washes at a vehicle wash location (e.g., at a car wash) and vehicle wash stations (e.g., tunnels or bays) within such locations. The vehicle wash systems generally include a centralized or main car wash controller 700 configured for operation of the vehicle wash system in connection with vehicle wash operations applied to a vehicle such as washing, rinsing, shining, coating, and drying the vehicle. The vehicle wash components and fluid management systems of the present disclosure may be utilized on-site within these vehicle wash systems.

[0065] Turning to FIG. 1a, illustrated is a fluid management system 500 including four positions 510 or vehicle wash assemblies, e.g., four chemical delivery devices such as syringe pumps 100, motive fluid delivery devices such as a motive fluid delivery manifold 200 with four outlets, and four mixing sites such as loading valves 300, a control system 400, a power source 520, and a user interface 530.

[0066] Chemical delivery devices may be responsible for the delivery of chemical from the fluid management system 500, and in some implementations may be configured as a positive displacement syringe pump 100. The syringe pump 100 may be configured for dispensing metered chemical received from a chemical supply to fluidly coupled downstream components of the systems provided herein such as a mixing site or a vehicle wash applicator, e.g., via fluid lines configured as outlet tubes 144, 146. Although the fluid management system 500 illustrated in FIG. 1a includes syringe pumps 100 for chemical dispensing, other chemical delivery devices may be employed such as positive displacement peristaltic pumps or eductors that rely on vacuum or suction for the dispensing of chemical.

[0067] Motive fluid delivery devices may be responsible for delivery of motive fluid (e.g., water) from the fluid management system 500 and in some implementations may be configured as a fluid delivery manifold 200 configured for metering motive fluid from the system. For instance, the fluid delivery manifold 200 may serve as an on/off valve for the motive fluid delivery from a motive fluid source (e.g., a pump), as well as a throttling/metering device to control motive fluid flow rate. The fluid delivery manifold 200 may have a modular construction for coupling with other fluid delivery manifolds 200, may have integrated manifold assemblies, and/or be adapted to fluidly couple to a variety of downstream components of the systems provided herein. For instance, as shown in FIG. 1a, the fluid delivery manifold 200 is of a modular construction and the assembly defines a common inlet channel and four outlets fluidly coupled to four mixing sites for delivery of motive fluid to respective inlets thereof. Although the fluid management system 500 illustrated in FIG. 1a includes a fluid delivery manifold 200 for dispensing motive fluid, in some implementations, other motive fluid delivery devices may be employed such as a motive fluid distribution plenum (FIG. 8g) including a fluid inlet and multiple fluid outlets configured for dispensing motive fluid to multiple downstream locations.

[0068] Mixing sites may be responsible for receipt, mixing and discharge of dispensed chemical and motive fluid from a respective chemical delivery device and motive fluid delivery device of the fluid management system 500, and in some implementations may be configured as loading valves 300. Prior to reaching the mixing site, the chemical and motive fluid may accordingly be separate and unmixed with each other. Loading valves 300 may be configured to mix pressurized chemical received from a respective syringe pump 100 with pressurized motive fluid received from the fluid delivery manifold 200. The mixing site may be responsible for the delivery of a mixed solution of the motive fluid and chemical to downstream components of the systems provided herein. While the fluid management system 500 illustrates loading valves 300 for mixing pressurized chemical and motive fluid, in some implementations, the fluid management system may include other mixing sites such as eductors for mixing dispensed chemical and pressurized motive fluid.

[0069] While the fluid management system 500 includes four positions 510 configured to be fluidly coupled to one another, it will be appreciated that the system 500 may include more or fewer positions 510, for instance, based on the target wash site or target vehicle wash applicator, such as one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten or more positions. In addition, while the positions 510 of the fluid management 500 system are illustrated as vehicle wash assemblies including three vehicle wash components, it will be appreciated that each position may include more or fewer vehicle wash components. For instance, FIG. 1b illustrates a fluid management system 501 including four positions 510 each with a chemical delivery device, e.g., a syringe pump 100, while FIG. 1c illustrates a fluid management system 502 including four positions each with a mixing site coupled to four fluid outlets of a motive fluid delivery device, and further while FIG. 1d illustrates a fluid management system 503 including four positions each with a different vehicle wash component or combination thereof. Aspects of the disclosure generally referring to fluid management systems or the fluid management system 500 are also applicable to the fluid management systems 501, 502, 503, 504 (FIG. 6) except where specified.

[0070] The fluid management systems of the present disclosure may be controlled by the control system 400. The control system 400 may be responsible for controlling the vehicle wash components, e.g., the syringe pumps 100, fluid delivery manifold 200, loading valves 300, as well as the other components of the fluid management systems, e.g., a valve node 102, a valve bank 103, individual valves 104, a pressure regulator 105, a pressurized air source 106, and a pressurized fluid source 107, all of which may be configured with electrical and/or mechanical components operable by the control system 400. In some implementations, the control system 400 may be configured to control components of vehicle wash systems such as external pumps and/or fluid supplies, as provided herein. The control system 400 may include one or more processors 410 with associated memory and may be programmed to cause various operations of the fluid management systems. The control system 400 may be programmed with instructions to control or perform methods or operations described herein. In some examples, the control system 400 includes a programmable logic controller (PLC) configured to be programmed to control or perform methods or operations described herein. In some examples, methods of the present disclosure may be stored as executable instructions in memory or other computer-readable medium of the control system 400 (e.g., the one or more processors 410). The executable instructions may be executed by the one or more processors 410 or processing circuitry to perform such methods. The control system 400 may be configured to control the various components of the present disclosure, including providing closed loop control thereof, e.g., closed loop control of a rate of chemical and/or motive fluid dispensing. The control system 400 may be configured to individually control the one or more vehicle wash components of the position 510, e.g., a syringe pump 100 and fluid delivery manifold 200, as well as other communicatively coupled components provided herein below. For instance the control system 400 may control dispensing from an assembly of one syringe pump 100 and/or fluid delivery manifold 200 by sending control signals, such as separate or common control signals for its/their operation, e.g., for coordinated or simultaneous operation. In some cases one or more processors 410 of the control system 400 may be configured to individually control one position 510 (e.g., one syringe pump 100 and/or one valve of a the fluid delivery manifold 200) of the fluid management system 500, resulting in the control system 400 having at least one dedicated processor for each position 510 for instance by controlling a power source 520 of the fluid management system 500. The control system 400, or components thereof may also be integrated into the physical assemblies of the disclosed vehicle wash components and fluid management systems.

[0071] The fluid management systems may be powered via a power source 520, which may be independent from a power source of a car wash controller 700 (FIG. 2a). In some implementations, the control system 400 may be configured to control delivery of power from the power source 520, and thus actuation of the mechanical and/or electrical components of the components of the position 510 of the fluid management systems. Accordingly, the control system 400 may be configured to send instructions to cause the component(s) of the position 510 to be powered at a voltage independent of the sensed voltage from the car wash controller 700 or otherwise. For example, the mechanical and/or electrical components of the vehicle wash component(s) may not be communicatively coupled to the car wash controller 700 and may not be capable of receiving instructions therefrom. The mechanical and/or electrical component(s) of the position 510 may instead be caused to operate by the control system 400 causing the power source 520 to power such components. The power source 520 may be integrated into the fluid management system or may be arranged separately within the confines of the vehicle wash location and may be configured as a breaker box, for example.

[0072] The user interface 530 may enable a user to enter inputs into the control system 400 such as selections of operating parameters, chemical types to be delivered from the system 500, applicator nozzles, fluid lines, and so on. The user interface 530 may be configured with a processor and memory and be communicatively coupled to the control system 400 via a wired or wireless connection. For instance, the user interface 530 may be provided as a tablet, mobile phone, computer, etc., or may be a local user interface integrated into the system 500, e.g., on the panel 101. Accordingly, the user interface 530 may be located at the vehicle wash location housing the system 500, may be remote from the system 500, or may be integrated into the assembly forming the system 500.

[0073] In FIG. 1b, the illustrated fluid management system 501 includes the same components as the fluid management system of FIG. 1a with the exception that chemical delivery devices 100 are provided at the four positions 510 but without the fluid delivery manifold 200 and loading valves 300.

[0074] In FIG. 1c, the illustrated fluid management system 502 includes the same components as the fluid management system 500 of FIG. 1a with the exception that the fluid delivery manifold 200 and loading valves 300 are provided without the chemical delivery devices 100.

[0075] In FIG. 1d, the illustrated fluid management system 503 includes the various components from the fluid management systems of FIGS. 1a, 1b, and 1c with the exception that the fluid management system 503 includes four position 510 each having a different combination of vehicle wash components. For instance, one position 510 (second from the left) includes a chemical delivery device fluidly coupled to a mixing site without the fluid delivery manifold 200. For purposes of brevity, the components of the fluid management systems 501, 502 and 503 will not be repeated herein.

[0076] In FIG. 2a, the fluid management system 500 of FIG. 1a may be provided in combination with components of a vehicle wash system 600, a main car wash controller 700, and a communications gateway 800.

[0077] The vehicle wash system 600 may include chemical supplies 610, 615, vehicle wash applicators 630, one or more fluid lines 635, a fluid source 640 which may be in addition to or the same as the pressurized fluid source 107 (e.g., a pressurized water pump) of the fluid management system 500, and a pressure sensor 645. The components of the vehicle wash system 600 may be housed within a single vehicle wash location. The chemical supplies 610, 615 may include individual vessels (e.g., barrels) of a chemical, such as a concentrated chemical, pre-mixed chemicals, or a chemical solution (e.g., a pre-mixed or pre-diluted chemical solution in water). Although two chemical supplies 610, 615 are illustrated as being fluidly coupled to the fluid management system 500, more or fewer chemical supplies may deliver chemical to the system 501. The vehicle wash applicators 630 may include chemical and/or mixed solution applicators such as fluid nozzles, foamers, and other dispensers. The fluid lines 635 may carry the fluid dispensed from the system 500 to the vehicle wash applicators 630. The fluid source 640 may be configured as a water pump and/or a municipal water supply. The fluid source 640 may be the same or different from the pressurized motive fluid source 107 and may provide motive fluid to the motive fluid delivery device or mixing site. The fluid source 640 may be communicatively coupled to the control system 400 and optionally the power source 520 for the delivery of the motive fluid. For instance, the control system 400 may cause control signals to be transmitted to the fluid source 640 for delivery of motive fluid to the fluid management system. In another example, upon receipt of power from the power source 520 in response to control signals received from the one or more processors 410, the fluid source 640 may deliver fluid pressure to cause motive fluid to be delivered to the fluid delivery manifold 200 during an on-cycle. In addition to providing water pressure to the fluid management system 500, the fluid source 640 may provide pressure assistance to a water supply, e.g., a municipal water supply, or may provide the sole source of pressure to the motive fluid delivered to the fluid management system 500.

[0078] The main car wash controller 700 illustrated in FIG. 2a may generally be a power source that delivers timed control voltage signals to car wash devices at the vehicle wash location. Such signals generally provide timing signals and operational parameters for operating devices within the vehicle wash facility during the vehicle wash operations. While the car wash controller 700 may control the operation of other car wash devices at the vehicle wash location, the car wash controller 700 more simply delivers a signal to the fluid management system 500 for subsequent interpretation by the control system 400 and action. This configuration provides the fluid management system 500 autonomy relative to other devices within the car wash that are controlled in a customary manner by the car wash controller 700. More particularly, the main car wash controller 700 is responsible not only for initiating operations such as initiating proper air, water, and chemical dispensing, but also for coordinating other aspects of the car wash including the position of the vehicle relative to the dispensing and cleaning apparatus. It does this by using programmable logic controller (PLC) or similar technology to send signals to various car wash equipment. These signals might be control voltages, analog signals, or digital signals. While the car wash controller 700 can control a variety of different vehicle wash components, the fluid management systems (e.g., fluid management systems 500 and 501) of the present disclosure are responsible for orchestrating their own operation due to the ability of the control system 400 to interpret control signals, e.g., timing signals, received from the car wash controller 700 and generate separate control signals for operation of the vehicle wash component according to parameters set by the control system 400. In a vehicle wash location, a number of car wash components may thus be controlled by the car wash controller 700, while fluid management systems provided according to implementations of the present disclosure operate independently from the car wash controller's 700 commands.

[0079] The communications gateway 800 illustrated in FIG. 2a may be configured to communicatively couple the fluid management system 500 to a computer network 1000, and may be configured with a processor and memory. Each vehicle wash location may include its own communications gateway 800 and the gateway 800 may be coupled to remote locations via the internet, as well as to the local devices and systems at the vehicle wash location via the internet via a local area network (LAN) or other near range communication equivalents, e.g., Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or LoRa, RFID, NFC, ANT, Zigbee, or WLAN, or via long range communication equivalents such as WAN. Accordingly, the communications gateway 800 may be coupled to multiple fluid management systems located at the vehicle wash location. The communications gateway 800 may be configured to send programming updates or operational parameters to the control system 400 of the fluid management system(s).

[0080] Returning to the fluid management system 500 of FIG. 1a, the system 500 may be configured to facilitate car wash operations of the vehicle wash system 600 of FIG. 2a under the control of the control system 400 by causing the fluid management system 500 to dispense chemical received from the chemical supplies 610, 615, dispense motive fluid from fluid received from the fluid source 640, and dispense a mixed solution of chemical and motive fluid to one or more vehicle wash applicators 630. The control system 400 may be configured to receive control signals from external sources such as the main car wash controller 700 and communications gateway 800 located at the same vehicle wash setting as the fluid management system 500, and in response to receiving the control signals, the one or more processors 410 may interpret the signals and instruct one or more of the components of the fluid management system 500 to operate, for instance according to separate instructions as provided herein.

[0081] Turning to FIG. 2b, implementations may provide the fluid management system 501 of FIG. 1b in combination with a vehicle wash system 602 such that the fluid management system 501 is fluidly coupled to the chemical supplies 610, 615 (e.g., bulk chemicals) and delivers pressurized chemical to a vehicle wash applicators 620 of the vehicle wash system 602, such as a tire applicator, to facilitate car wash operations of the vehicle wash system 602. For instance, the control system 400 may cause the fluid management system 501 to dispense the chemical received from the chemical supplies 610, 615 at individual desired flow rates and/or volumes to the same or different vehicle wash applicators 620. Chemical delivery devices configured as syringe pumps 100 and other components of the fluid management system 501 are described at least in connection with FIGS. 3a-3j, and consequently, a detailed description of the operation of these elements will not be repeated in the interest of brevity. In some implementations the chemical stored in and distributed from the chemical supplies 610, 615 may be a chemical solution of a pre-diluted mixture of chemical and water.

[0082] Turning to FIG. 2c, implementations may provide the fluid management system 502 of FIG. 1c in combination with a vehicle wash system 603 such that the fluid management system 502 is fluidly coupled to the chemical supplies 610, 615 and delivers a pressurized mixed solution to vehicle wash applicators 630 to facilitate car wash operations of the vehicle wash system 603. For instance, the control system 400 may cause the fluid management system 501 to receive motive fluid and chemical, form diluted mixtures of chemical and fluid at mixing sites, and dispense the diluted mixtures at desired flow rates and/or dilution rates to the vehicle wash applicators 630. Fluid delivery manifolds 200 and mixing sites (e.g., loading valves 300) and other components of the fluid management system 502 are described at least in connection with FIGS. 3a-3d, 4a-4f and 7, and consequently, a detailed description of the operation of these elements will not be repeated in the interest of brevity.

[0083] Referring to FIG. 2d, the fluid management system 503 of FIG. 1d may be provided in a vehicle wash system 604 such that the fluid management system 503 is fluidly coupled to the chemical supplies 610, 615 and delivers pressurized chemical and a pressurized mixed solution to vehicle wash applicators 620, 630 to facilitate car wash operations of the vehicle wash system 604. For instance, the control system 400 may cause the fluid management system 503 to receive chemical at the chemical dispensers, and motive fluid at the motive fluid dispensers, and cause chemical (e.g., chemical dilutions) to be delivered from the chemical dispenser(s) to vehicle wash applicators 620 as well as cause mixing site to dispense mixtures of chemical and motive fluid to vehicle wash applicators 630 at desired flow rates and/or dilution rates.

[0084] The vehicle wash components as well as other components of the fluid management systems may form a unitary assembly, may optionally be mounted on or in the fluid management systems, such as on a common structure including as a panel 101, which may include a frame, a thermoformed structure, a sheet metal substrate and so on. The assembly or structure may be free-standing, may be mounted on a wall, and/or be secured at a vehicle wash location. In implementations, the valve node 102, the valve bank 103, individual valves 104, the pressure regulator 105, the pressurized air source 106, the pressurized fluid source 107, and mounting structure 108 are example components that may be used in connection with or integrated into the vehicle wash components and fluid management systems and assemblies of the present disclosure. In some implementations, chemical supplies such as vessels containing chemical may be integrated into the assembly or structures provided herein.

1a. Syringe Pumps

[0085] Referring to FIG. 3a, the syringe pump 100 of the present disclosure may be a positive displacement pump in which chemical is drawn-in and pressurized, for instance to several times that of atmospheric pressure, and dispensed or injected into downstream components as provided herein. The syringe pump 100 may be coupled to an actuation source, such as a pressurized fluid supply, e.g., via the valve bank 103 (FIG. 1a), may include mounting structures 108 such as feet or fasteners, which may be integrally formed in the syringe pump 100, for securing to various external surfaces and/or objects at a vehicle wash location, such as a common panel 101 (FIG. 1a), and may be configured to dispense chemical from a chemical supply.

[0086] The syringe pump 100 is a departure from prior approaches by the elimination of venturi-style chemical injection, which relies on vacuum pressure, e.g., suction, for the injection of chemicals into downstream components. In addition, the syringe pump 100 may be configured as a continuous priming syringe pump in which a chemical supply is drawn into the syringe pump 100 during chemical dispensing therefrom, and the drawn-in chemical primes the syringe pump 100 during a resetting thereof.

[0087] Turning to FIGS. 3a-3d, the syringe pump 100 may be an assembly including a chemical chamber 110 with a piston 120, an inlet 130 and an outlet 140, a drive mechanism 150 with a drive shaft 160, an adjustable valve 170, a slider 180, and a flow sensor such as a flow meter 185 and/or a linear encoder 186. One or more seals or gaskets, such as seals S1, S2 and S3 (FIG. 3d) may provide a fluid tight connection between various components of the syringe pump 100. Seals or gaskets may be formed of materials including but not limited to of fluoroelastomers or other synthetic rubbers such as highly fluorinated Viton, or Aflas fluoroelastomers.

[0088] The chemical chamber 110 may be a vessel configured to receive and dispense the chemical and may have a single inlet and a single outlet. The chemical chamber may sealingly receive the piston 120 at an internal wall 111 defining a fluid chamber 112 of the chemical chamber 110, which may have a fixed or predetermined volume and a constant cross-section along a longitudinal length. The fluid chamber 112 may be configured to hold chemical therein and be constructed of chemically resistant and/or chemically inert materials such as polymer resins, e.g., polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) (Kynar), polyethylene, polypropylene, other engineered plastics such as polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). In some cases an inner lining of the chemical chamber 110 may be formed of chemically resistant material and an outer chamber or tube of the chemical chamber 110 may be formed of pressure bearing material. For example, a clear polycarbonate or PVC outer tube may be lined with a clear fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) tube. The chemical chamber 110, or portion thereof, e.g. an upper chemical chamber 112a provided herein, may be configured to hold a volume of chemical of about 20 to about 200 ml, such as about 50 to about 100 ml, or a hold a volume that is at least slightly larger than a maximum volume of a dispensing stroke of chemical from the chemical chamber 110 during a dispensing operation.

[0089] In some implementations, the chemical chamber 110 may be transparent and may permit a user to view the chemical being dispensed from and replenished into the chemical chamber 110 as well as the operation of the piston 120. At a proximal or inlet end, the fluid chamber 112 may be sealed by a first plug 113, which may be configured with an internal circumference for slidably receiving the drive shaft 160, and with an external circumference for sealing against the internal wall 111 of the fluid chamber 112, e.g., via one or more seals or gaskets. The first plug 113 may define a portion of the inlet 130 as provided herein. A distal or outlet end of the fluid chamber 112 may be sealed with a second plug 114, which second plug 114 may be configured with one or more egress channels 115 for receiving chemical during dispensing, and with an external circumference for sealing against the internal wall 111 of the fluid chamber 112. In some implementations, the second plug 114 may define a portion of the adjustable valve 170 provided herein.

[0090] The piston 120 may seal against the internal wall 111 of the fluid chamber 112, and may be configured to be movable bi-directionally along the longitudinal length of the fluid chamber 112. In FIGS. 3a, 3b, and 3c, the piston 120 may be movable between the proximal inlet 130 and the distal outlet 140 of the chemical chamber 110, and the outlet 140 may be on a first side 121 of the piston 120 and the inlet 130 may be on a second side 122 of the piston 120 opposite the first side 121. Pistons of the present disclosure may be formed of chemically resistant materials, which may be the same materials used to form the gaskets and seals provided herein.

[0091] A circumferential seal 123 may surround an external wall of the piston 120 and may seal against an internal circumference of the fluid chamber 112 to prevent passage of chemical between the circumferential seal 123 and the chemical chamber 110. As shown in FIGS. 3c and 3e, the circumferential seal 123 may surround a head or body 125 of the piston 120. For instance, the body 125 may define a recess 125a in which the circumferential seal 123 is retained, and when arranged in the recess 125a, the outer circumference of the circumferential seal 123 may be slightly larger than an outer circumference of the body 125 as shown in FIG. 3f. The circumferential seal 123 may maintain a seal between the fluid chamber 112 and the piston 120 throughout operation of the piston 120.

[0092] A one-way valve 124 may be provided in the chemical chamber 110, such as in the head or body 125 of the piston 120 and may permit passage of chemical from the second side 122 to the first side 121 of the piston 120 and prevent the passage of chemical from the first side 121 to the second side 122 thereof. The one-way valve 124 may be configured as a liquid piston check valve and be oriented to allow chemical to pass from the lower chemical chamber 112b to the upper chemical chamber 112a, and prohibit flow in the opposite direction. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3b to 3f, the one-way valve 124 is an umbrella valve with a plurality of through holes 124a defined in the head 125 of the piston 120 and a seal 124b of the one-way valve 124 blocks passage of chemical through the through holes 124a in one direction. As shown in FIG. 3e, the one-way valve 124 may receive the seal 124b at an upper face of the piston head 125 and may be flexible so as to permit chemical to pass through the egresses of the through holes 124a defined in the upper face during retraction or resetting of the piston 120, and move to a closed position during an advancing or dispensing movement of the piston 120. As shown in FIG. 3f, the lower face of the piston head 125 may define ingresses of the through holes 124a so as to permit chemical to enter the through holes 124a during such retraction or resetting position 120. Although nine through holes 124a are depicted in the one-way valve 124, more or fewer through holes may be provided and may have varying shapes and dimensions, and the configuration may be selected to allow various types of chemicals having various viscosities to pass through during resetting of the piston 120. For instance, at least one through hole 124a may be provided with a selected size, e.g., based on the chemicals and viscosities to be received therethrough, which may include one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight or more through holes. The umbrella valve is one type of one-way valve or check valve, and other check valve types may include but are not limited to: a flapper check valve, a duck bill check valve, a ball check valve or a poppet check valve. In other configurations, the circumferential seal 123 may be configured to serve as a check valve and for instance may circumferentially seal against the fluid chamber 112 and the piston 120 during dispensing and may permit passage of chemical during resetting.

[0093] The piston head 125 of the piston 120 may include a coupler 126 such as a threaded bore (e.g., FIGS. 3c and 3f) or a threaded projection for coupling with the drive shaft 160. The coupler 126 may be arranged along the longitudinal axis of the piston 120 to facilitate the linear movement of the assembly of the piston 120 and drive shaft 160. Where a plurality of through holes 124a of the one-way valve 124 are provided, these may be arranged concentrically about the area of the piston head 125 that couples to the drive shaft 160.

[0094] The inlet 130 of the chemical chamber 110 may be configured to be fluidly coupled to a chemical supply and receive chemical therefrom and may be referred to as a chemical inlet. The inlet 130 may include an inlet body 131 defining an inlet port 132 extending between an exterior of the syringe pump 100 and an interior of the fluid chamber 112 and may be configured to draw-in chemical from a fluid supply. The inlet port 132 may include a coupler, such as threads, barbs or a coupling (e.g., L-shaped coupler with barbs and/or threads), and may be configured to be fluidly connected to fluid conduits of a chemical supply or other upstream components. The inlet port 132 may provide the chemical to the lower chemical chamber 112b of the fluid chamber 112. In some implementations, the inlet body 131 and the first plug 113 of the chemical chamber 110 may be unitarily formed.

[0095] The outlet 140 of the chemical chamber 110 may configured to be fluidly coupled to downstream components for facilitating vehicle wash operations, such as components of a corresponding fluid management system of the present disclosure, and may be referred to as a chemical outlet. The outlet 140 may receive chemical from the fluid chamber 112, for instance via the adjustable valve 170 configured to adjust a valve orifice size and thus an amount of chemical dispensed from the outlet 140. The outlet 140 may include an outlet body 141 defining an outlet port 142 (FIG. 3b) extending between an exterior of the syringe pump 100 and an interior of the fluid chamber 112 and may be configured to dispense the chemical from the fluid chamber 112. The outlet port 142 may include a coupler as provided herein for fluidly connecting to downstream fluid conduits. In some implementations, the outlet body 141 and the second plug 114 of the chemical chamber 110 may be unitarily formed.

[0096] At either or both of the inlet 130 and the outlet 140 of the chemical chamber 110, the syringe pump may include a check valve, e.g., check valve 176 (FIGS. 3g and 3h). The check valve(s) may open when the piston 120 is driven in the advancing or dispensing direction, where pressure in the fluid chamber 112a opens the check valve arranged at the outlet 140, and/or vacuum opens the check valve arranged at the inlet 130. The check valve(s) may close when the piston 120 is retracted or moved in a resetting stroke to thereby prevent backflow of chemical at such port or ports. The check valves may prevent backflow of chemical when the drive mechanism 150 is in the idle state or when the drive mechanism 150 causes one-way valve 124 to open (e.g., causes the piston 120 to move in the proximal direction during priming of the upper chemical chamber 112a) during the resetting stroke. The check valve(s) at these ports of the chemical chamber 110 may have a configuration that differs from the one-way valve 124 arranged in the chemical chamber 110, and for instance may be configured as ball check valves (FIG. 3g), whereas the one-way valve 124 may be configured as an umbrella valve or any other suitable valve configuration disclosed herein.

[0097] The drive mechanism 150 may be configured to drive the piston 120 towards and away from the proximal and distal ends of the chemical chamber 110, e.g., the drive mechanism 150 may move the piston 120 bi-directionally. In FIGS. 3a-3d, the drive mechanism 150 may define a housing 151 including an external wall 151a and an internal wall 151b defining a drive chamber 152 (FIGS. 3b and 3c), a piston 153, a circumferential seal 154 surrounding a body 155 of the piston 153, a plug 156, ports 157a, 157b, and one or more seals 158 isolating the drive mechanism from the chemical chamber.

[0098] The housing 151 of the drive mechanism 150 may be configured be coupled to the chemical chamber 110 and house various components of the drive mechanism 150. For instance, the housing 151 may be coupled directly to the chemical chamber 110 or via the inlet body 131 and/or plug 156. In some implementations, couplers C such as threaded tie rods may couple the drive mechanism housing 151 to the chemical chamber 110, and with reference to FIGS. 3a and 1d, the couplers C may be received through openings defined in the outlet body 141 and/or plug 114 and the inlet body 131 and/or plugs 113, 156 with the chemical chamber 110 arranged therebetween, and the couplers C may be threadedly engaged with the drive mechanism housing 151.

[0099] The drive chamber 152 of the housing 151 of the drive mechanism 150 may have a fixed volume and a constant cross-section along a longitudinal length, which may enable a seal to be maintained between the drive chamber 152 and a piston 153 of the drive mechanism 150 throughout operation of the drive mechanism 150. For example, the drive chamber 152 may have a barrel or circular shape, and the piston 153 may have a complementary shape thereto with the circumferential seal 154 surrounding the body 155. The piston body 155 may include a coupler 159 such as a threaded bore (FIG. 3c) or a threaded projection for coupling with the drive shaft 160. The coupler 159 may be arranged along the longitudinal axis of the piston 153 to facilitate the linear movement of the assembly of the piston 153, the drive shaft 160 and the piston 120. The drive chamber 152 may be configured to receive driving fluid such as compressed air or compressed liquid, e.g., the drive mechanism 150 may be pneumatic or hydraulic, and may be divided into an upper cavity 152a and a lower cavity 152b by the piston 153 and as such the chambers 152a, 152b may have a variable volume during operation of the syringe pump 100, while the drive chamber 152 has a fixed volume divided between the upper and lower cavities. The drive chamber 152 may be sealed at an upper or proximal end by a plug 156, which may be configured with an internal circumference for slidably receiving the drive shaft 160, and with an external circumference for sealing against the internal wall 151b of the drive chamber 152, e.g., via one or more seals or gaskets. In some implementations, the plug 156 of the drive mechanism 150 may be formed unitarily with the inlet body 131 of the inlet 130 and the first plug 113 of the chemical chamber 110. The chambers 122, 152 of the chemical chamber 110 and the drive mechanism 150 may be isolated from each other by the one or more seals 158 such as a series of dynamic gaskets or O-rings arranged in the plug 156 and/or the inlet body 131 and/or the plug 113 of the chemical chamber 110. The drive chamber 152 may include an upper or distal pneumatic port 157a fluidly coupled to the upper cavity 152a, and a lower or proximal pneumatic port 157b fluidly coupled to the lower cavity 152b. Such ports of the drive mechanism 150 may include a coupler as provided herein for fluidly connecting to a supply of driving fluid (e.g., compressed air or liquid). In FIGS. 3a-3d, the chemical chamber 110 and the drive mechanism 150 may be arranged along a longitudinal axis of the syringe pump 100 and the chambers 122, 152 may be fixed relative to each other.

[0100] In alternative configurations, the drive chamber 152 may be integral with the plug 156, e.g., may define a single component, and a plug may be located on the bottom of the drive chamber 152 proximate the lower pneumatic port 157b, which for instance may facilitate installation of the piston 153 or servicing.

[0101] In FIGS. 3a-3d, the drive shaft 160 of the drive mechanism 150 may be joined to the piston 120 of the chemical chamber 110 and may drive the piston 120 in a first direction towards the outlet 140 and may drive or otherwise cause the piston 120 to move in a second direction opposite the first direction towards the inlet 130. For instance, the drive shaft 160 may be joined between the piston 120 of the chemical chamber 110 and the piston 153 of the drive mechanism 150 and may cause the piston 120 to be slaved in movement as the piston 153 is driven during operation of the drive mechanism 150. The drive shaft 160 may be slidably arranged in the syringe pump 100 and slide in the proximal and distal directions of the chemical chamber 110 and the drive mechanism 150. In some implementations, the drive shaft 160 may be non-rotatable and include a linear guide such as a longitudinal groove or splines configured to receive a guide or splines of the plug 156 for linearly guiding the drive shaft 160 during operation of the drive mechanism 150. In additional or alternative configurations, the drive shaft 160 may be threaded, for instance where the drive mechanism 150 includes a mechanical drive configured to drive the drive rod 160 during operation such as via a threaded engagement with a rotational drive sleeve or nut. In certain configurations, the drive shaft 160 may be configured to be linearly driven and guided via a longitudinal guide and include threading for being driven by the rotatable drive sleeve. Alternatively, the drive sleeve may be linearly driven and linearly drive the piston 120. The one or more seals 158 may surround the drive shaft 160 for fluidly isolating the drive mechanism 150 from the chemical chamber 110.

[0102] With reference to FIG. 3g, the adjustable valve 170 may include a valve orifice 171, valve needle 172, a linear stepper motor 175, an upper check valve 176, and a valve needle gasket 177. In some implementations, the valve orifice 171 may be the same as the one or more egress channels 115 of the second plug 114. The valve orifice 171 may be fluidly coupled to the outlet port 142 of the outlet 140, and the valve needle 172 may be movably arranged in the valve orifice 171 upon actuation of the stepper motor to adjust the size of an effective valve orifice area of the valve orifice 171 as provided herein. The upper check valve 176 may be arranged between the valve orifice 171 and the outlet port 142 and may prevent backflow of chemical into the fluid chamber 112. In addition or alternatively, a lower check valve 176 (FIGS. 3d and 3h) may be arranged at the inlet port 132 and may prevent backflow of chemical from the fluid chamber 112.

[0103] A pressure gauge 178 configured as a pressure sensor (FIG. 3c) may optionally be provided to measure the fluid pressure within the upper chemical chamber 112a.

[0104] The slider 180 may slide up and down (e.g., manually by hand or mechanically by being attached to the drive mechanism) along the longitudinal length of the chemical chamber 110 and point to a position on a graduated volumetric scale 182 to serve as a reference for a user to visually confirm an amount of chemical dispensed from the syringe pump 100 per dispensing stroke of a dispensing operation is at the desired amount. For instance, the user may confirm the end of a dispensing stroke corresponds to the position of the slider 180 along the scale 182.

[0105] The liquid flow meter 185 may be one type of flow sensor that may be used according to various implementations. The flow meter 185 may be used to derive a fluid flow rate or volume. The flow meter 185 may be coupled to a fluid line of a vehicle wash component of the present disclosure and configured to measure the flow rate of the fluid therethrough. The liquid flow meter 185 may be a positive displacement flow meter; however the flow meter 185 may also be another type such as an ultrasonic flow meter, a thermal mass flux type flow meter, a turbine flow meter, etc. The flow meter 185 may be configured to measure liquid flow rate continuously, such as during each operational cycle or portion thereof, e.g., dispensing stroke. The flow meter 185 may be communicatively coupled to a control system 400 (FIG. 1a) and for instance may transmit flow rate data thereto. Due to configurations of the syringe pump 100, which simultaneously draws in an equal amount of chemical as what is being dispensed as provided herein, the flow meter 185 may be positioned at the outlet 140 (FIG. 3a) or the inlet 130 (FIG. 3h) of the chemical chamber 110. In examples, and with reference to FIG. 3h, the chemical drawn into the inlet 130 of the syringe pump 100 may first pass through the flow meter 185 for sensing the flow of chemical entering the syringe pump 100. The flow meter 185 may be fluidly coupled to the inlet 130 via a chemical inlet tube 134. Positioning at the inlet 130 may be advantageous since the flow meter 185 may experience only vacuum and not pressure, and may additionally allow for the shortening or elimination of one or more chemical outlet tubes thereby shortening the distance which the pressurized chemical travels. However, the flow meter 185 may be positioned at the outlet 140 of the syringe pump 100 and fluidly coupled via the outlet tube 144 and function to sense flow of chemical dispensed from the syringe pump 100 as shown in FIG. 3a. The flow meter 185 may be communicatively coupled to the control system 400 as provided herein. Alternatively, in embodiments in which the chemical flow information is derived from the use of a linear position feedback system (e.g., a linear encoder 186) coupled to the piston and drive shaft assembly (e.g., the assembly of the pistons 120, 153 and the drive shaft 160), the flow meter 185 may not be necessary, and the chemical may proceed to downstream component such as the upper chemical outlet tube 146 and/or a mixing or delivery site such as a loading valve 300, and/or a vehicle wash applicator 620 of the vehicle wash system 602 of FIG. 2b.

[0106] A linear encoder 186 (FIG. 3b), e.g., a linear position feedback system, is another type of flow sensor that may be used according to various implementations. The linear encoder 186 may be used to derive a fluid flow rate or volume. The linear encoder 186 may include a sensor 186a configured to sense each of a series of gradations 186b. For instance, the sensor 186a may be coupled to a piston and drive shaft assembly such as one of the pistons 120, 153 or the drive shaft 160 of the syringe pump 100, and the gradations 186b may be arranged along a length of the drive chamber 152 or the chemical chamber 110. The gradations may be constructed of metal (e.g., configured as a metal scale) and the sensor may be configured with a magnet configured to sense the gradations. Each gradation may correspond to a predefined volume of chemical dispensed, and the gradations may be evenly spaced. The linear encoder 186 may be used to determine the linear displacement of the drive shaft 160, which corresponds to a predetermined volume of chemical dispensed from the chemical chamber 110 for determining the flow rate of chemical dispensed from the syringe pump 100. The linear encoder 186 may be communicatively coupled to the control system 400 (FIG. 1a) and for instance may transmit linear displacement data thereto. Based on the linear displacement information, the control system 400 may determine a flow rate of the chemical dispensed from the syringe pump 100.

[0107] FIGS. 3i and 3j illustrate isometric and cross-sectional views of an alternative configuration of a chemical delivery device 100 according to various implementations of the present disclosure. The chemical delivery device 100 is illustrated as having two chemical chambers 110 in which the pistons 120 are driven by common components of a drive mechanism 150, and chemical dispensed from the outlets 140 of the chemical chambers 110 is fed to a common loading valve 300. Although two chemical chambers 110 are illustrated in the chemical delivery device 100 it will be appreciated that more chemical chambers 110 may be provided such as three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten or more chemical chambers with a corresponding number of pistons 120 and drive shafts 160. The components of the syringe pump 100 of the embodiment of FIG. 3i are the same as providing an assembly of two or more syringe pumps 100, with the exception that the drive mechanism 150 includes components for simultaneously operating all pistons 120 of the chemical delivery device 100. For instance, the housing 151 may be modified to accommodate multiple pistons 153 and drive shafts 160, and the drive chamber 152 additionally include one or more fluid conduits 152c for fluidly coupling the portions of the drive chamber 152 defining the upper cavities 152a and the lower cavities 152b while continuing to enable a seal to be maintained between the drive chamber 152 and the pistons 153 throughout operation of the drive mechanism 150. Accordingly, for purposes of brevity, certain components of the chemical delivery device 100 will not be repeated herein.

Operation of the Syringe Pump 100

[0108] In operation, the syringe pump 100 may advance to dispense chemical and retract to recharge the syringe pump 100 with chemical drawn therein during dispensing. In a more particular example, the syringe pump 100 may undergo an operational cycle. The operational cycle may correspond to when the syringe pump 100 (or other vehicle wash component) is active, e.g., not in an idle state, and may have a dynamic or variable duration. This variable duration enables the syringe pump 100 to dispense different amounts of chemical across operational cycles. The operational cycle is also referred to as a dispensing cycle or a dispensing operation in which chemical is dispensed by advancing the piston 120 and the syringe pump 100 is reset by retracting the piston 120. In such dispensing operations, the drive mechanism 150 may cause the piston 120 and drive shaft 160 and optionally the piston 153 depending on the type of drive mechanism, referred to as the piston and drive shaft assembly, to extend once in a dispensing stroke and to retract once in a resetting stroke. The extension of the piston 120 in the chemical chamber 110 may thus be referred to as, or be a part of, a dispensing stroke of the dispensing operation, and the retraction of the piston 120 may thus be referred to as, or be a part of, a resetting stroke of the dispensing operation. In some cases, upon completion of the resetting stroke, before a subsequent dispensing operation is or can be initiated, the syringe pump 100 may be in an idle state. Further, the upper chemical chamber 112a may have a volume such that a sufficient amount of chemical will be available for the duration of the dispensing stroke for the majority of commercial vehicle wash applications. The benefit of a syringe pump 100 of this nature, e.g., which cycles once during an injection or dispensing operation, is that chemical delivery flow is uninterrupted and consistent, in contrast to a pump which cycles multiple times and/or frequently (e.g., such as diaphragm pumps, piston pumps, gear/lobe pumps) during a dispensing operation resulting in disruptions in chemical dispensing.

[0109] When chemical is to be dispensed from chemical chamber 110, the drive mechanism 150 may exert a force on the piston and drive shaft assembly in the distal direction or towards the outlet 140, which in turn causes the chemical within the upper fluid chamber 112a to be pressurized and the one-way valve 124 located on the head 125 of the piston 120 is forced shut, preventing the chemical from moving from the upper chemical chamber 112a to the lower chemical chamber 112b via the one-way valve 124, thus resulting in the chemical being dispensed from the upper fluid chamber 112a in the dispensing stroke. In addition, a circumferential seal may be constantly maintained between the fluid chamber 112 and the piston 120, e.g., throughout operation of the piston 120. For example, the fluid chamber 112 may have a barrel or circular shape, and a circumference of the piston 120 may have a complementary shape thereto, enabling such a seal to be maintained therebetween throughout movement of the piston 120 (e.g., throughout operation of the drive mechanism 150).

[0110] As the piston and drive shaft assembly continues through its dispensing stroke, the chemical within the upper chemical chamber 112a continues to be dispensed and flow out of the syringe pump outlet 140 to downstream components. During such dispensing, a vacuum occurs (pressure lesser than atmospheric) in the lower chemical chamber 112b resulting in chemical being drawn into the lower chemical chamber 112b from a chemical supply through the inlet 130. Consequently, during the dispensing stroke, the chemical chamber 110 receives staged chemical in the lower chemical chamber 112b. For instance, as shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b, the chemical may be drawn into the syringe pump(s) 100 from a chemical supply such as barrels 610, 615 of a vehicle wash systems 600, 602 during piston 120 advancement or dispensing, due to the chemical supply being at atmospheric pressure, the chemical is drawn into the inlet 130 by the vacuum or suction.

[0111] In some implementations, the syringe pump 100 may be a closed system, and during dispensing, the rate at which the chemical is drawn into the lower chemical chamber 112b is approximately equal to the rate at which fluid is dispensed from the upper chemical chamber 112a via the outlet 140. Consequently, the syringe pump 100 may be configured such that the upper chemical chamber 112a and the lower chemical chamber 112b remain entirely filled with chemical throughout the operation of the syringe pump 100. In some implementations the inlet 130 may be configured to flow more volume of chemical than a maximum flow rate of the outlet 140. For instance, an orifice of the inlet may be larger than an orifice of the outlet, or larger than the largest orifice size of an adjustable outlet. This configuration may ensure that the fluid chamber 112 is always full due to the inlet 130 being able to draw in chemical at least as fast as chemical is being dispensed from the outlet 140, and in some cases faster than dispensing, which can prevent vacuum voids from being created in the fluid chamber 112, e.g., the lower chemical chamber 112b.

[0112] Once the dispensing stroke of the dispensing operation has been completed by the syringe pump 100, the drive mechanism 150 may retract the piston 120 in the resetting stroke, for instance by a valve node 102 or by the control system 400 triggering an associated actuator or valve 104 within the valve bank 103 to switch positions to initiate the resetting stroke.

[0113] In the resetting stroke, since the one-way valve 124 allows flow from the lower chemical chamber 112b to the upper chemical chamber 112a, the piston 120 passes freely through the chemical within the fluid chamber 112 and the chemical contained within the lower fluid chamber 112b passes into the upper fluid chamber 112a of the fluid chamber 112 via the one-way valve 124. As such the newly received chemical in the upper fluid chamber 112a may be primed chemical in a condition for dispensing from the outlet 140 in a subsequent dispensing operation. A check valve may additionally be located prior to (e.g., upstream from) the inlet 130 of the chemical chamber 110 and may be configured to permit chemical to enter into the inlet 130 but prevent chemical from exiting when the piston and drive shaft assembly returns to the retracted position. The fluid pressure in the lower fluid chamber 112b may remain constant or may slightly increase during the resetting stroke due to the piston 120 generating pressure in its resetting or retracting movement in the chemical chamber and as the chemical passes through the one-way valve 124.

[0114] The rate at which the piston and drive shaft assembly retracts during the resetting stroke may be dependent upon a number of factors, such as: friction between contacting surfaces, the flow coefficient (Cv) through the one-way valve 124, the viscosity of the chemical contained within the chemical chamber 110 and the force/speed of the drive mechanism 150. For instance, the retract time may be less than a second in duration for chemicals having a viscosity of .sup.1000 cPs within the chemical chamber 110. This rapid recharge time (e.g., the time in between dispensing strokes, which may be the time it takes for the upper chemical chamber 112a to be filled with chemical from the lower chemical chamber 112b so that the fluid chamber 112 is ready to cycle again in a subsequent dispensing operation) may provide advantages in vehicle washes, since the time between dispensing strokes of sequential dispensing operations may be as short as a few seconds. Due to syringe pumps 100 of the present disclosure receiving staged chemical during the dispensing stroke of the dispensing cycle, the syringe pumps 100 can be recharged within a few seconds, e.g., during the resetting stroke where the upper chemical chamber 112a is primed, while traditional syringe pumps with an equivalent size can take more than a minute to draw in and become fully filled with fluid having a viscosity of .sup.1000 cPs.

[0115] Once the piston and drive shaft assembly has completed its resetting stroke, e.g., is fully retracted or in a retracted position, and fluid pressure between the upper chemical chamber 112a and lower chemical chamber 112b has equalized, the syringe pump 100 is ready for the next dispensing stroke of the next dispensing operation, e.g., pending a command from the valve node 102 or control system 400. Prior to the next dispensing operation, the syringe pump 100 may be in its idle state with the piston 120 remaining in its retracted position.

[0116] Returning to the dispensing stroke, and with reference to FIG. 3g, as chemical is pressurized, the chemical is forced from the upper chemical chamber 112a into the adjustable valve 170, e.g., through the valve orifice 171. The rate at which the chemical flows through the valve orifice 171 may be controlled by the valve needle 172 (additionally dependent upon fluid viscosity, pressure differential, etc.). To control the linear displacement of the valve needle 172 a linear stepper motor 175, or other linear actuator such as a proportional solenoid, may be operably coupled to the valve needle 172. When the linear stepper motor 175 is fully extended the valve needle 172 may be seated within the valve orifice 171 effectively allowing no flow to pass (e.g., FIG. 3c). When the linear stepper motor 175 is in the fully retracted position (e.g., FIG. 3g), the effective valve orifice area of the valve orifice 171 is at its largest and permits the maximum amount of flow for which the adjustable valve 170 has been designed for. Partial extension of the valve needle 172 within the valve orifice 171 permits a portion of the maximum amount of flow, which may be controlled in steps using the linear stepper motor 175.

[0117] The valve needle 172 may be configured with a parabolic tip 173, which may be dimensioned to achieve a linear relationship between the effective valve orifice area, which is the cross-sectional area of the valve orifice 171 minus the cross-sectional area of the valve needle 172, and linear displacement of the valve needle 172 during linear displacement of the valve needle 172. Having a linear relationship between the valve needle 172 displacement and the area of the valve orifice 171 using the parabolic tip 173 may facilitate providing a linear adjustment of the flow rate of the chemical across the full area of the valve orifice 171, resulting in consistent flow control resolution across the entire flow control span. Using a linear stepper motor 175 to control linear displacement of valve needle 172 may provide a finite number of steps of the flow control span. For instance, the number is steps is determined by the displacement range of the linear actuator, pitch of the linear actuator lead screw, and step angle of the stepper motor. Since the number of steps within the flow control span is finite, having an appropriately designed parabolic tip 173 may ensure that each step of the motor will change the flow rate by the same amount. This is in contrast to a traditional tapered valve needle, in which the relationship between the flow rate and needle valve displacement will be logarithmic. This is especially problematic when high resolution at low flow rates is necessary, since the flow adjustment resolution per step of the motor will be large at the beginning of the needle adjustment span and will continue to decrease as the displacement of the valve needle increases.

[0118] Upon passing through the effective valve orifice area created by the valve orifice 171 and valve needle 172, the dispensed chemical may then pass through an upper check valve 176. The upper check valve 176 may be configured to allow chemical to flow out from the adjustable valve 170 but not back in. Additionally, the chemical is blocked from traveling up the stem of the valve needle 172 due to the valve needle gasket 177. After passing by the upper check valve 176 the chemical may enter the syringe pump outlet 140 such as the outlet port 142, which may be fluidly coupled to one or more fluid conduits such as outlet tubes 144, 146 (FIG. 3a). Although the adjustable valve 170 is illustrated as being downstream of the outlet 140, in some implementations, the adjustable valve 170 may be fluidly coupled to the inlet 130 and may adjust the flow of upstream chemical passing into the chemical chamber 110 via the inlet 130. In such a modification, the adjustable valve 170 may control the effective valve orifice area to control the amount of flow of chemical into the lower chemical chamber 112b via the inlet 130 to thereby control the amount of flow of chemical out of the upper chemical chamber 112a during dispensing. Alternatively, although the adjustable valve 170 is shown as being integrated into the outlet body 141 (e.g., top cap of the syringe pump) providing a compact package, the adjustable valve 170 may be located further downstream of the check valve 176 to control the flow of chemical from the syringe pump 100.

[0119] The dispensing stroke of the piston and drive shaft assembly may be variable for instance based on a control signal delivered to the drive mechanism 150. Accordingly, in some cases, the slider 180 may be positioned along the length of the chemical chamber 110 and point to a position on the graduated volumetric scale 182 for use as a reference to visually confirm an amount of chemical dispensed per dispensing stroke is at the desired amount. This may provide a rapid approach for a user to determine the dispensed chemical volume through mechanical means, particularly where the chemical chamber 110 is transparent, allowing the user to view the chemical being dispensed from the syringe pump 100 during operation. In addition or alternatively, a flow sensor such as the flow meter 185 and/or the linear encoder 186 may be used to determine the dispensed chemical volume as provided herein.

[0120] The operation of the syringe pump 100 may be controlled by the valve node 102 or by the control system 400, and the drive mechanisms 150 of the syringe pumps 100 of the fluid management systems may be individually operated. As such, the control system 400 and/or valve node 102 may be configured as a controller with a processor and memory (e.g., as a computer), may be communicatively coupled to such a controller, or both, and may be programmed with instructions to control or perform the methods or the operations described herein. In some examples, the control system 400 and/or valve node 102 includes a programmable logic controller (PLC) configured to, or be programmed to, control or perform methods or operations described herein. As such machine-readable medium including instructions may be executed by the processing circuitry of the control system 400 and/or valve node 102 of the present disclosure.

[0121] Prior to initiating a dispensing operation, the chemical chamber 110, e.g., in an empty state, may be primed or charged with chemical to commission the syringe pump 100 for undergoing the dispensing operations. In a priming operation, for instance, the chemical may be caused to enter the chemical chamber 110 via the one-way valve 124, and air within the chemical chamber 110 may be vented via the outlet 140 as the piston 120 moves to a retracted and an extended position within the chemical chamber 110 multiple times.

[0122] The rate at which the chemical is dispensed from the syringe pump 100 may at least be partially controlled by the effective valve orifice area of the valve orifice 171 of the adjustable valve 170 of the syringe pump 100 (additionally dependent upon fluid viscosity, pressure differential, etc.). The effective valve orifice area of the valve orifice 171 of the adjustable valve 170 is controlled by the position of the valve needle 172, as provided above in connection with FIGS. 3a-3g. Accordingly, in operation of the syringe pump 100 the effective valve orifice area of the valve orifice 171 at the outlet 140 of the syringe pump 100 may be adjusted to facilitate regulating a distance the piston 120 and drive shaft 160 travels during the dispensing stroke of the dispensing cycle, and thus the effective valve orifice area of the valve orifice 171 may facilitate regulating an amount of pressurized chemical dispensed from the outlet 140 during the dispensing stroke of the dispensing cycle. For instance, the drive mechanism 150 may be actuated for a pre-determined period of time during the dispensing stroke, and the amount of chemical dispensed may be based on the orifice size of the adjustable valve 170. Other approaches to controlling the amount of chemical dispensed from the syringe pump 100 may include but are not limited to adjusting the pre-determined dispensing cycle time; and/or using a flow rate adjustment device to adjust an orifice size of the top and/or lower pneumatic port 157a, 157b, which may be used alone or in combination with the adjustable valve 170 coupled to the inlet 130 or the outlet 140. Accordingly, flow rate adjustment devices may include but are not limited to providing an adjustable valve 170 at or in the pneumatic port(s) and/or fluid port(s), use of a pinch valve, use of a needle in the flow path, providing a tortuous path, use of a proportional solenoid; and/or adjusting a driving speed of the drive mechanism 150 configured with a variable drive.

[0123] The control system 400 may control the duration in which the syringe pump 100 is cycled, e.g., a duration of the operational cycle. For instance, the control system 400 may be communicatively coupled to one or more sensors such as the flow sensor, e.g., the liquid flow meter 185 or linear encoder 186, and may use data from the sensor(s) for determining the flow rate of chemical dispensed from the syringe pump 100, such as during the dispensing stroke or the dispensing cycle. Based on the information received from the flow sensor, the control system 400 may determine a predetermined volume of chemical has been dispensed and may cause the drive mechanism 150 to cease chemical dispensing, continue chemical dispensing, and/or may cause the adjustable valve 170 to adjust the effective valve orifice area of the valve orifice 171 to thereby adjust a rate of flow of chemical through the outlet 140. In some implementations, the adjustable valve 170 may be operated between operational cycles or during a resetting stroke. In such embodiments, the control system 400 may provide closed loop control of the syringe pump 100.

[0124] The control system 400 may be communicatively coupled with a centralized or main car wash controller 700 and may be configured to receive signals from the centralized controller 700, interpret and process that signal, and generate and send the generated signal to the valve drive mechanism. For instance, in the absence of a signal from the centralized controller 700, the control system 400 and/or the drive mechanism 150 may be in their idle state, e.g., following a retraction stroke of the dispensing cycle. A signal from the centralized controller 700 may serve as a trigger for the control system 400, which may result in the control system 400 generating a separate signal for operation of the syringe valve 100 and other components of the fluid management system 500.

[0125] The signal from the centralized controller 700 may be a dispensing signal for causing the dispensing cycle to operate, e.g., at a specific time, for a first pre-determined period of time or both, and the control system 400 may generate a different signal for operating the syringe valve 100 at a second time or for a different pre-determined period of time.

[0126] In another example, the signal from the centralized controller 700 may be a signal configured for a type or model of vehicle wash component that differs from the syringe pump 100. In this case, the signal received by the control system 400 may interpreted simply as a trigger or timing signal for the fluid management system 500 or components thereof to operate. For instance, the control system may generate a signal to operate the syringe pump 100 in a dispensing cycle for a pre-determined period of time as set by the control system 400.

[0127] In operation of the alternative chemical delivery device 100 with the two or more chemical chambers 110, the drive mechanism 150 may simultaneously drive each of the pistons 120 in the dispensing and resetting strokes of the dispensing operation in substantially the same manner as provided herein in connection with the operation of the syringe pump 100. For instance, the drive mechanism 150 may be configured with a drive chamber 152 or a linear actuator common to the pistons 120. In a pneumatically operated drive mechanism 150, the drive chamber 152 may include a single upper pneumatic port 157a and a single lower pneumatic port 157b for driving each of the pistons 153 and each of the piston rods 160 may be coupled to a respective piston 120 of a chemical chamber 110 of the two or more chemical chambers. Although the number of pistons 153 in the drive mechanism 150 correspond to the number of pistons 120 in the chemical chambers 110, it will be appreciated that the drive mechanism 150 may include a different number of pistons, such as a single drive mechanism piston joined to multiple piston rods 160 for driving the multiple pistons 120 in the drive chambers 110. During dispensing, the one-way valves 124 are in the closed state and chemical from each of the chemical chambers 110 may simultaneously be dispensed from the respective outlets 140, and corresponding amounts of the chemicals to the amounts dispensed may be drawn into the respective lower chemical chambers 112b via the inlets 130. The resetting operation results in the drawn-in chemical passing into the upper chemical chamber 112a of the chemical chamber 110 via the one-way valves 124 for dispensing in a subsequent dispensing operation.

[0128] In some implementations, an adjustable valve 170 may be coupled to the chemical outlet or the chemical inlet of one or more of chemical chambers 110 the chemical delivery device 100 in substantially the same manner as disclosed herein in connection with the syringe pump 100. The adjustable valve 170 may enable adjustment of the effective valve orifice area of the valve orifice 171 leading to the respective chemical outlet 140 or the inlet 130. As such, the amount of chemical dispensed from and drawn into each chemical chamber 110 of the chemical delivery device 100 during the dispensing operation may differ from one another at least based on the effective valve orifice area of the valve orifice 171 of the respective the chemical chamber 110. Controlling the orifice size and/or length of time each drive mechanism 150 is actuated may thus control the volume of the chemical solution dispensed from each the corresponding outlet 140. The dispensed chemicals may be mixed with each other at a common mixing site, such as at a common loading valve 300 fluidly coupled to each of the chemical delivery device 100 via two inlets 305, or may be simultaneously distributed to separate downstream locations.

[0129] Sensors including flow sensors such as flow meters 185 or a linear actuators 186 may be integrated into the chemical delivery device 100 in substantially the same manner as disclosed herein in connection with the syringe pump 100, and one or more flow sensors may be coupled the chemical delivery device 100. For instance, the number of flow sensors may correspond to the number of chemical chambers 110 of the chemical delivery device 100 and may be communicatively coupled to and controlled by the control system 400 as provided herein.

[0130] Other structures and functions of the chemical delivery device 100 substantially correspond to the structure and functions of the syringe pump 100 disclosed herein, and accordingly is not repeated in the interest of brevity, and the following disclosure of the pneumatic and mechanical operation of the features of the syringe pump 100 applies to the chemical delivery device 100.

Pneumatic Operation of Syringe Pump 100

[0131] The syringe pump 100 may be pneumatically operated and the drive mechanism 150 may be an integral double-acting pneumatic cylinder. The pressurized air source 106 may provide the pressurized air to the drive mechanism 150 to cause pneumatic operation. The pressurized air source 106 may be communicatively coupled to the one or more processors 410 of the control system 400 and optionally the power source 520 for causing chemical dispensing. For instance, the valve 104 or valve bank 103 may receive control signals from the control system 400 to cause the pressurized air source 106 to deliver pressurized air to cause the dispensing and resetting strokes of the drive mechanism 150. In another example, the one or more processors 410 may cause control signals to be transmitted to the pressurized air source 106 for delivery of pressurized air to the drive mechanism 150 of the syringe pump 100 via the valve 104. The valve 104 and actuators of the valve bank 103 may be configured as solenoid valves containing an electrical coil. The solenoid valves may be pneumatically piloted valves such as coaxial valves, double acting coaxial valves, or as solenoid actuated coaxial valves, as pneumatic actuated angle seat valves or as a pneumatically actuated ball valves.

[0132] With reference to FIGS. 3a-3d, the drive shaft 160 may be directly coupled to the piston 120 of the chemical chamber 110 and to the piston 153 of the drive mechanism 150. In an idle state of the drive mechanism 150, the upper cavity 152a of the drive chamber 152 may be pressurized with air through the top or distal pneumatic port 157a, and the lower cavity 152b of the drive chamber 152 may be open to atmosphere through the lower or proximal pneumatic port 157b. This pressure differential across the piston 153 forces the piston 153 to the furthest retracted position in the drive chamber 152, and the piston 153 may be at or near the proximal end of the drive chamber 152 resulting in a minimal volume in the lower cavity 152b. Since the piston 153 of the drive mechanism 150 is coupled to the piston 120 of the chemical chamber via the drive shaft 160, the piston 120 is also drawn proximally into a furthest retracted position when the drive mechanism 150 is in the idle state.

[0133] For initiating the dispensing stroke, the pneumatic air signals at the drive mechanism 150 are instantaneously flipped, such that the lower cavity 152b is pressurized through the lower pneumatic port 157b and the upper cavity 152a is opened to atmosphere through the top pneumatic port 157a. This switching may occur from the valve 104 and/or valve bank 103, which may be controlled in communication with the valve node 102 or the control system 400. When this switching occurs, the air pressure in the lower cavity 152b is now greater than the pressure in the upper cavity 152a, and as a result, a force is imparted on the piston and drive shaft assembly, which in turn drives the piston 120 to the extended position during the dispensing stroke resulting in the chemical within the fluid chamber 112 being pressurized. The pressure experienced by the liquid chemical in the fluid chamber 112 is approximately equal to the air pressure in the lower cavity 152b multiplied by the ratio of the piston 153 area to the piston 120 area (assuming that frictional losses are negated). As a result the one-way valve 124 located on the head 125 of the piston 120 is forced shut, preventing the chemical from moving from the upper chemical chamber 112a to the lower chemical chamber 112b via the one-way valve 124.

[0134] When the valve 104 switches, the air signals to the syringe pump 100 are instantaneously reversed. The top pneumatic port 157a is now pressurized with air and the lower pneumatic port 157b is opened to atmosphere. This causes a pressure differential between the upper air cavity 152a and lower air cavity 152b, and as a result the piston and drive shaft assembly is forced back into the retracted position (e.g., FIG. 3c) in the resetting stroke, and the one-way valve 124 allows flow of chemical from the lower chemical chamber 112b to the upper chemical chamber 112a for its dispensing from the outlet 140 in a subsequent dispensing operation.

[0135] The rate at which the piston and drive shaft assembly retracts during the resetting stroke using a pneumatic drive mechanism 150 may, in addition to the factors discussed above, additionally be dependent upon a number of factors, such as: the flow coefficient (Cv) of air entering through the top pneumatic port 157a, and the flow coefficient of air exiting through the lower pneumatic port 157b. Since the flow coefficient (Cv) may be changed for either the air entering through the top pneumatic port 157a or the air exiting through the lower pneumatic port 157b using a flow adjustment device, the speed at which the piston and drive shaft assembly retracts may be adjusted, e.g., decreased or increased, by adjusting this flow coefficient (Cv) for either port.

[0136] The operation of the syringe pump 100 may be controlled by the valve node 102 or by the control system 400, which may incorporate the functions of the valve node 102, and for instance the duration which the syringe pump 100 is cycled may be controlled by such component(s). The valve bank 103 may include a plurality valves 104, and the valves 104 may be configured to be fluidly coupled and cooperate with the pneumatic ports of the drive mechanism 150 of the syringe pump 100, as well as other pneumatic ports of the fluid management systems disclosed herein. The valve bank 103, under direction of the valve node 102, or control system 400 may enable individual actuation of the valves 104, which may be electrically connected to a power source, e.g., power source 520, for causing one or more of the individual valves 104 to switch resulting in a change in air pressure within the drive mechanism 150 or other components of the fluid management systems. The valve node 102 may be configured as a controller with a processor and memory (e.g., as a computer), may be communicatively coupled to such a controller, or both. In some implementations, the valve node 102 may be integrated in the control system 400 of the fluid management systems as provided herein.

[0137] In configurations of the syringe pump 100 where the drive mechanism 150 is pneumatically operated, the drive mechanism 150 may be configured as a double acting linear pneumatic cylinder, and air pressure may be applied to actuate the piston 120 as well as the one-way valve 124 depending on the direction of the piston's 120 movement. In this regard, FIG. 4 is an illustration of a 5/2 solenoid actuated valve, which may be the configuration of the valves 104 when used in operating pneumatic systems, such as a pneumatic drive system 150. More particularly, as provided, the fluid management systems, or components thereof, may be operated using pressurized air routed from a pressurized air source 106 (e.g., a pump), through the valves 104 configured as electronic solenoid-actuated valves, and to the drive mechanisms or air-driven actuators.

[0138] In FIG. 4, the valve 104 may share a common pressurized air inlet 104a, two exhaust ports 104b, 104c, and two outlets 104d, 104e in which the first outlet 104d is normally closed, and the second outlet 104e is normally open. The exhaust port 104b fluidly couples to the outlet 104d, and the exhaust port 104c fluidly couples to outlet 104e. The common air inlet 104a may be fluidly coupled to the pressurized air source 106 such as an air pump via fluid conduits such as flexible tubes for receipt of pressurized air therefrom, as well as to a pressure regulator 105 for regulating the pressure of the pressurized air delivered to the common air inlet 104a. The outlets 104d, 104e may be fluidly coupled to one or more syringe pumps 100, as well as other downstream components via fluid conduits, for transmission of the pressurized air by the valve 104. The exhaust ports 104b, 104c may receive air exhausted from one or more syringe pumps 100 or other downstream components via the respective outlets 104d, 104e, for instance when such components transition to their non-actuated or idle state. For instance, exhaust port 104b may normally be open when the first outlet 104d is open to atmosphere, and exhaust port 104c may be normally closed when the second outlet 104e is open and in a normal position or idle state. In this example, the second outlet 104e is decoupled from the exhaust port 104c until the valve switches as provided herein.

[0139] As shown in FIG. 4, the first outlet 104d may be split into three ports 104d1, 104d2, 104d3, for example, to supply air to the lower cavity 152b of one or more syringe pumps 100 during a dispensing cycle (e.g., to the syringe pumps of FIGS. 3a, 3i, 5a) and/or to a pressurized air port of a corresponding fluid delivery manifold 200 (e.g., FIG. 8a), and/or a pressurized air port of a vehicle wash applicator 620 such as a foamer, tire cleaner, brushes, or other components configured to receive pressurized air, such as a pressure regulator.

[0140] Turning to FIG. 5a, the valve 104 may be used to pneumatically operate two or more syringe pumps 100 and the first outlet 104d is split to the lower cavities 152b of a respective drive mechanism 150 such that activation of the valve 104 cause the first outlet 104d move to an open position and the pressurized air from the split ports (e.g., 104d1 and 104d2) routed to activate each respective plunger 153 to simultaneously dispense pressurized chemical solution from the outlets 140. In this example, and as shown in FIG. 4, the second outlet 104e is also split into two or more ports, 104e1 and 104e2, and fluidly coupled to the upper cavities 152a of the two syringe pumps 100 of FIG. 5a. In the idle state of the valve 104, the second outlet 104e may be normally opened and fluidly coupled to the upper cavities 152a of a respective drive mechanism 150 causing pressurized air delivered from ports 104e1 and 104e2 to simultaneously retract each respective plunger 153 to a retracted position, which may be retained in this position under pressure until the valve 104 activates or switches. In the retracted position, the drive mechanism 150 may be in its idle state, and the flow of the pressurized air may cease, while the upper chamber remains pressurized. Operating the syringe pumps 100 simultaneously using the same control signal, e.g., by using a common valve 104 or coordinated operation of the control system 400, may ensure the chemicals are dispensed together, which may allow for their simultaneous distribution, for instance to separate areas of the vehicle wash applicator 620.

[0141] As shown in FIG. 5a, the two syringe pumps 100 may be communicatively coupled to the control system 400 at least via the valve 104, and optionally via the valve node 102 and/or the valve bank 103 of the fluid management systems of the present disclosure. Additionally or alternatively, a centralized or main car wash controller 700 (e.g., FIGS. 5b, 5c) may be communicatively coupled to the fluid management systems. Accordingly, the control system 400 may be configured to receive control signals from a centralized or main car wash controller 700, interpret and process that signal, generate a new signal and send the newly generated signal to the valve 104 for closed loop operation of the syringe pumps 100. The valve 104 may receive compressed air from a pressurized air source 106 via the pressure regulator 105 and distribute the compressed air to each drive system 150 as provided herein based on control signals received from the control system 400 and/or controller 700.

[0142] In FIG. 5a, the syringe pumps 100 are in the idle state due to the valve 104 routing the pressurized air to the top pneumatic ports 157a of the drive mechanisms 150, resulting in the pistons 153 being driven to their most proximal position within the drive chamber 152. In this idle state, any air within the lower cavities 152b may be vented via the lower pneumatic ports 157b and exhausted via exhaust port 104b. Due to the configuration of the piston and drive shaft assembly, the piston 120 is also in its most proximal position in the chemical chamber 110. Actuation of the drive mechanism 150 to cause movement of the piston 120 in the distal direction may involve the control system 400 sending a signal to switch the valve routing of the valve 104, resulting in the pressurized air being routed to the lower pneumatic ports 157b, and any air within the upper cavity 152a being vented via the top pneumatic ports 157a, and exhausted via exhaust port 104c. Due to the switch in air signals, the pistons 153 together with other components of the piston and drive shaft assemblies of the respective syringe pumps 100 are driven distally such that the chemical solution is dispensed from each outlet 140 under pressure, with the one-way valve 124 being closed. During such dispensing, a new supply of the chemical solution is drawn into the lower chemical chamber 112b of the chemical chamber 110 via the inlet 130 from a respective chemical supply 610, 615 (FIG. 2b). Upon the control system 400 causing the valve 104 to switch the air signal to route the pressurized air back to the top pneumatic port 157a resulting in venting of air via the lower pneumatic port 157b, the piston and drive shaft assemblies move in the proximal direction thus carrying the pistons 120 proximally and causing the one-way valve 124 to be opened such that the newly received supply of the chemical solution in the lower chemical chamber 112b passes through the piston head 125 and into the upper chemical chamber 112a (FIG. 3c) for subsequent dispensing.

[0143] Accordingly, the pneumatically operated syringe pump 100 may be a continuous priming syringe pump due to the chemical chamber 110 being primed during movement of the piston and drive shaft assembly in both directions. Particularly, when the drive mechanism 150 is in the unactuated, or idle state, the piston 153 of the piston and drive shaft assembly may be forced in the proximal direction, e.g., during the resetting stroke, by the valve 104 delivering the pressurized air from the second outlet 104e (when in its normally open position) to the upper cavity 152a to thereby cause the chemical chamber 110 to be primed with the chemical solution as the chemical solution passes from the lower chemical chamber 112b into the upper chemical chamber 112a via the one-way valve 124. The chemical chamber 110 may additionally be primed with staged chemical solution during dispensing, e.g., during the dispensing stroke, when the new chemical solution is drawn into the lower chemical chamber 112b from the chemical supply via the inlet 130 while the valve 104 delivers the pressurized air from the first outlet 104d to the lower cavity 152b when opened from its normally closed position.

[0144] The rate at which the chemical is dispensed from each respective syringe pump 100 may be controlled by the controlling effective valve orifice area of the valve orifice 171 of the adjustable valve 170, as provided above in connection with FIGS. 3a-3g as well as the other approaches to controlling the amount of chemical dispensed from each respective syringe pump 100 provided herein.

Mechanical Operation of Syringe Pump 100

[0145] In other implementations, the syringe pump 100 may be actuated by means of electrical signals in place of air signals, and the drive mechanism 150 may be mechanically driven such as via a linear stepper motor or a proportional solenoid. For instance, the control system 400 may cause electrical signals to be sent to cause mechanical operation of the drive mechanism 150. More particularly, other linear driving mechanisms may be used in place of the disclosed pneumatic or hydraulic drive mechanisms 150. One such example would be a linear stepper motor drive. With this implementation the linear stepper drive may be coupled to the piston and drive shaft assembly and may take the place of the drive chamber 152. The linear stepper drive may operate by rotating the stepper motor, resulting in extension of a linear actuator at the rate necessary to achieve the desired chemical flow rate. For instance, the drive shaft 160 may be threaded and be extended during rotation of the stepper motor. This implementation may achieve the same benefits of the continuous priming function of the syringe pump 100 disclosed herein due to the staged chemical being received during the dispensing stroke of the dispensing cycle, and the syringe pump 100 being quickly recharged during the resetting stroke in which the upper chemical chamber 112a is primed. This implementation could also potentially eliminate the need for a control valve 170 and a flow meter 185, since the flow rate should be directly proportional to the rate at which the piston 120 is extended by the linear stepper. However, in pressurized fluid delivery systems in which a pump is required to inject chemical into a pressurized system, this type of mechanical drive mechanism may experience challenges with achieving the correct delivery pressure while maintaining the target flow rate. For example, in the event that a viscous fluid is required to be dispensed at a high flow rate, the stepper motor may not have enough torque to achieve the desired flow rate at high pressure, resulting in the motor slipping and missing steps. To ensure that the stepper motor remains accurate, an encoder may be used track the motor steps and ensure that steps are not missed.

1b. Syringe Pump Dispensing and Distribution of Chemical in Fluid Management Systems and Vehicle Wash Systems

[0146] Referring to FIG. 2b, the fluid management system 501 is illustrated as being fluidly coupled to the first chemical supply 610, e.g., via the inlet 130 of a first syringe pump 100, and a second chemical supply 615, e.g., via the inlet 130 of a second syringe pump 100 of the system 501. Flow meters 185 are shown as coupled to each respective syringe pump outlet 140, but when present, may alternatively be coupled to the inlet 130 (see e.g., FIGS. 3a and 3h). In some implementations, other flow sensors may be used in addition to or as an alternative to the flow meters 185, and for instance a linear encoder 186 may be coupled to at least one of the piston or drive shaft of a respective syringe pump 100.

[0147] The control system 400 may be configured to individually control each of the syringe pumps 100 of the fluid management systems. For instance, the control system 400 may determine the flow rate or volume of chemical dispensed from the syringe pumps 100 during their dispensing strokes or the dispensing cycles. Based on the sensed flow information received from the communicatively coupled flow sensor, the control system 400 may individually control the adjustable valves 170 to adjust and effective valve orifice area of the valve orifice(s) 171 to thereby adjust the flow of chemical through the outlet(s) 140. In such embodiments, the control system 400 may provide closed loop control of the individual syringe pump(s) 100. In some implementations, the closed loop control may involve controlling the duration which the syringe pump 100 is cycled, in addition to or as an alternative to adjusting the effective valve orifice area of the valve orifice 171. Controlling the orifice size and/or length of time each drive mechanism 150 is actuated may thus control the volume of the chemical solution dispensed from each the corresponding outlet 140.

[0148] Turning to FIG. 5b, the fluid management systems, e.g., systems 500, 501, or variations thereof, may be configured for routing and regulating air pressure across multiple pneumatically operated vehicle wash components of such fluid management systems, as well as pneumatically operated components of the vehicle wash system, such as a vehicle wash applicator 620 of the vehicle wash system 602 of FIG. 2b. In FIG. 5b, the valve 104 of the valve bank 103 may be operated in combination with valves 622, 624 of the vehicle wash applicator 620 to coordinate operation of the syringe pumps 100 and the pneumatically driven components of the vehicle wash applicator 620. The valves 622, 624 may be integrated into the panel 101 of the fluid management systems, and may be actuated along with the valve 104 using a common compressed air supply. In some implementations, the centralized or main car wash controller 700 may signal operation of the vehicle wash applicator 620 by sending a signal to the control system 400 of the fluid management system 500, and the control system 400 may analyze the received signal and generate different instructions (e.g., a new control signal) for sending to the mechanical and/or electrical components of the syringe pump 100, the fluid management system 500, and the vehicle wash system 602, e.g., the valves 104, 622, 624, the pressure regulator 105, and/or the pressurized air source 106 for pneumatic operation, e.g., to initiate the dispensing operation of the syringe pumps 100 and/or extension of the vehicle wash applicator 620. In the absence of a signal from the centralized controller 700 and/or the control system 400, the valves 104, 622, 624 may be in their idle state, and for instance the pressurized air may be routed through normally open ports or outlets of the valve 622, 624 (e.g., corresponding to the second outlet 104e of the valve 104), and any air in the normally closed ports may exhaust to atmosphere (e.g., corresponding to the first outlet 104d and exhaust port 104b of the valve 104). In this idle state, the plunger 153 and applicators 626, 628 may be held in a retracted position under pressure until the valves 104, 622, 624 activate or switch. The valves 622, 624 may have the same 5/2 solenoid valve configuration as the valve 104 fluidly coupled to one or more syringe pumps 100. The valves 622, 624 of the vehicle wash applicator 620 may each be coupled to respective applicators 626, 628, which may be configured to extend when actuated to contact the vehicle, and to retract to allow vehicles to pass without contact when in the idle state. As such, the normally open port of the valves 622, 624 may be routed to a pressure regulator 625 and then routed to the car wash applicator 620 to keep the car wash applicator 620 in the retracted state, while the port 104e maintains the syringe pump 100 in the idle state. A signal from the centralized controller 700 and/or the control system 400 may trigger one or more of the valves 104, 622, 624 to switch valve routing, which may open the normally-closed valve and close the normally-open valve. Air pressure in the normally-open line can now be exhausted to atmosphere and air pressure can be routed through the normally-closed port to a pressure regulator and then to extend the applicators 626, 628, while the port 104d causes the syringe pump 100 to undergo the dispensing stroke of the dispensing cycle such that the chemical solution is dispensed from the car wash applicators 626, 628, e.g., sprayed, while in the extended position. Accordingly, the dispensed chemical solution from the fluid management system 501 described in connection with FIG. 2b may be applied to vehicles via the applicators 626, 628.

[0149] In additional examples of pneumatic operation of the syringe pump(s) 100 in combination with other air driven components, the first outlet 104d may be split to the lower cavity 152b of the syringe pump(s) 100 as well as to the fluid delivery manifold 200, and activation of the valve 104 may cause the first outlet 104d move to an open position and the pressurized air to be routed to activate the plunger 153 such that the drive mechanism 150 dispenses the pressurized chemical solution from the outlet 140 of the syringe pump 100, while the pressurized air from the split first outlet 104d simultaneously delivers pressurized air to an integrated air valve of the fluid delivery manifold 200 or another air-driven actuator for actuation thereof, which may result in dispensing of motive fluid for downstream mixing with the dispensed chemical from the syringe valve 100, e.g., at a vehicle wash applicator 620.

[0150] In addition or alternatively, the first outlet 104d may be split to send pressurized air to one or more pressure regulators, such as auxiliary pressure regulators of the fluid management system. Some vehicle wash applicators may use pressurized air to facilitate agitation of the chemical solution, for instance to generate a foamed chemical solution, before being dispensed from a downstream applicator (e.g., a foam dispenser). The additional air-line(s) branched from the first outlet 104d may deliver this pressurized air to a chamber, such as a foaming chamber, configured to receive the chemical solution from the outlet 140 and the pressurized air from the first outlet 104d. In this example, one or more auxiliary air lines and corresponding pressure regulators may also be provided where the chemical solution dispensed from the outlet 140 of the syringe pump is split to multiple applicators; and for example, the additional pressure regulators may be used to tune-in the right amount of foam by adjusting a ratio of air pressure-to-dispensed chemical solution pressure at the outlet 140.

1c. Syringe Pump Dispensing of Pressurized Chemical into Fluid Management System

[0151] In additional examples of pneumatic operation of the syringe pump(s) 100 in combination with other air driven components, the first outlet 104d may be split to the lower cavity 152b of the syringe pump(s) 100 as well as to the fluid delivery manifold 200 of the fluid management system of FIG. 1a.

[0152] Turning to FIG. 5c, the fluid management system 500 may be configured for routing and regulating air pressure to the syringe pumps 100 and the fluid delivery manifold 200 thereof, as well as other pneumatically operated components of the vehicle wash system 600. In FIG. 5c, the valve 104 may be operated to cause coordinated dispensing from the syringe pump 100 and the fluid delivery manifold 200, which are illustrated as an assembly with the loading valve 300. Although one vehicle wash assembly is shown in FIG. 5c, it will be appreciated that multiple valves 104 may be provided to operate multiple assemblies, and for instance, the inlets of the fluid delivery manifold 200 may be coupled to define a fluid ingress channel 211 (FIG. 8b) and be implemented in a fluid management system of the present disclosure. In FIG. 5c, the first outlet 104d of the valve 104 is illustrated as being split to the lower cavity 152b of the syringe pump 100 as well as to the fluid delivery manifold 200.

[0153] In operation of the assembly, in the absence of a control signal, the valve 104 may be in the idle state, and the piston 153 may be held under pressure in its retracted state, and the valve plunger 225 (FIG. 8b) may block the valve orifice 233 to prevent flow of motive fluid from the fluid outlet 230 of the fluid delivery manifold 200, e.g., due to the biasing force of the return spring 245 holding the valve plunger 225 in the closed position. In this state, the fluid delivery manifold 200 may not receive a supply of compressed air at the air inlet port 235.

[0154] Upon receipt of a control signal, the valve 104 may switch and cause the first outlet 104d move to an open position and the pressurized air to be routed from split port 104d1 to the lower pneumatic port 157b to activate the plunger 153 such that the drive mechanism 150 dispenses the pressurized chemical from the outlet 140 of the syringe pump 100, while the pressurized air from the split port 104d2 simultaneously delivers pressurized air to the air inlet port 235 of an integrated valve 205 of the fluid delivery manifold 200 (FIG. 8b), resulting in dispensing of motive fluid for downstream mixing with the dispensed chemical at the loading valve 300 or other mixing site.

[0155] During the dispensing stroke of the syringe pump 100, the pressure experienced by the liquid chemical in the fluid chamber 112 is due to the drive mechanism 150 exerting a driving force on the piston 120 in the distal or dispensing direction of the syringe pump 100. More particularly, the force of the drive mechanism 150 in the dispensing direction results in the one-way valve 124 of the piston 120 being forced shut, thus pressurizing the chemical in the upper chemical chamber 112a, which is sealed via the circumferential seal 123 and closed one-way valve 124. The pressurized chemical is thus forced from the upper chemical chamber 112a into the adjustable valve 170, first through a valve orifice 171 (FIG. 3g), and then past the upper check valve 176 to the outlet 140 and fluidly coupled downstream components, e.g., one or more outlet tubes 144, 146. Due to the fluid coupling of the syringe pump 100 to the loading valve 300, e.g., directly or via the outlet tube 146 (FIG. 3h), the loading valve 300 begins to pressurize during the dispensing stroke as the pressurized chemical is received therein from the syringe pump 100. As the fluid pressure builds within a normally closed loading chamber 335 (FIG. 7d) of the loading valve 300, the pressure eventually reaches a point at which the force of the pressurized chemical in the loading chamber 335 is great enough to overcome an opening threshold, e.g., of a biasing mechanism 315 (e.g., FIG. 7b), and cause the loading valve 300 to open and permit passage of pressurized chemical from the loading chamber 335 into a motive fluid pathway 310 (e.g., FIG. 7d) of the loading valve 300 such that a mixed solution of motive fluid and pressurized chemical is directed to the one or more vehicle wash applicators 630. In such embodiments, the pressurized chemical may be injected into the motive fluid stream by pressurizing the chemical to a pressure greater than that of the motive fluid. In other words, in implementations, the pressure delta from the fluid to the chemical must be greater than zero to achieve chemical injection.

[0156] Once the dispensing stroke of the dispensing cycle ends, the fluid pressure within the loading chamber 335 rapidly drops and it returns to its normally closed position to stop the flow of chemical from the loading valve 300. Since the loading valve 300 closes or shuts-off once the chemical pressure has dropped below its opening threshold, the chemical within the fluid coupling between the loading valve 300 and the syringe pump 100 (e.g., in the chemical outlet tubes 144, 146 or other fluid conduit defined in a body or housing of the assembly) remains pressurized between dispensing cycles. As a result, when the next dispensing cycle starts, only a small amount of pressure needs to be built up in order to overcome the opening threshold of the loading chamber 335, also resulting in a rapid injection response upon the start of the next or subsequent operational cycle of the syringe pump 100 or system 500.

[0157] Once the on cycle of the fluid delivery manifold 200 has ended, the valve 104 switches returning the fluid delivery manifold 200 to its idle state, and the air inlet port 235 is relieved or vented to atmosphere. The pressure within the integrated valve 205 drops and the valve plunger 225 returns back into its fully extended position to block the valve orifice 233, e.g., under the force of a return spring 245, thereby prohibiting flow of motive fluid. The valve plunger 225 remains in this extended position with the valve orifice 233 closed-off until the next on cycle is triggered.

[0158] The end of the on cycle and the dispensing stroke may coincide with each other for instance when same or a common valve 104 is fluidly coupled to each of the syringe pump 100 and fluid delivery manifold 200, for instance as shown in FIG. 5c. In such cases, a duration of the dispensing stroke and a duration of the on cycle may be the same. Further, the dispensing stroke and the on cycle may be initiated simultaneously. In alternative configurations, separate valves 104 of the valve bank 103 of the fluid delivery system 500 may be responsible for actuating a respective syringe pump 100 and fluid delivery manifold 200. In such cases, the air signals delivered to the fluid delivery manifold 200 and the syringe pump 100 from separate valves 104 may differ from one another, for instance in order to provide a different duration of the air signal delivered for the dispensing stroke of the syringe pump 100 compared to the duration of the air signal delivered for the on cycle of the fluid delivery manifold 200, to stagger the air signals, to split the air signals for use with other pneumatically operated vehicle wash components, to operate the components at different pressures, and combinations thereof.

[0159] In some implementations, the control system 400 and/or the main car wash controller 700 may signal operation of the assembly components. The car wash controller 700 may send a signal to the control system 400, and the control system 400 may cause the syringe pump 100 and the fluid delivery manifold 200 to operate, e.g., via causing one or more solenoid valves 104 to be actuated. In some cases, the control system 400 may analyze the received signal and generate a new control signal for sending to the pressure regulator 105 and/or the valve(s) 104, to initiate the dispensing operations of the syringe pump 100 and fluid delivery manifold 200.

[0160] The rate at which the chemical is dispensed from the syringe pump 100 and into the loading chamber 335 may be controlled by the effective valve orifice area of the valve orifice 171 of the adjustable valve 170 of the syringe pump 100, as provided above at least in connection with FIGS. 3a-3g, or may be controlled using other approaches provided above.

1d. Control of Syringe Pump Dispensing of Chemical in Pressurized System Using a Flow Rate Measurement Device

[0161] In FIG. 6, a fluid management system 504 may be provided in combination with the components of a vehicle wash system 604, which may have substantially the same configuration as the vehicle wash system 600 of FIG. 2a. The fluid management system 504 may be the same as the fluid management system 500 of the present disclosure except that at least one of the syringe pumps 100 may not include the adjustable valve 170 and may instead be configured with an outlet 140 having a fixed outlet orifice size, and one or more flow sensors, such as liquid flow meters 185 and/or linear encoders 186, may be used in connection with the control system 400 to measure and adjust the flow of chemical from such syringe pumps. The components of the fluid management system 504 and the vehicle wash system 604 are described at least in connection with the fluid management system 500 vehicle wash system 600, and consequently a detailed description of the operation of these elements will not be repeated in the interest of brevity.

[0162] In operation of the fluid management system 504, the drive mechanism 150 causes the piston 120 to dispense the pressurized chemical from the outlet 140 of the syringe pump 100 and to retract the piston 120 to prepare the syringe pump for subsequent dispensing. Due to the fixed outlet orifice size of the outlet 140 of the at least one syringe pump 100 of FIG. 6, the rate at which the chemical flows through the outlet 140 may be a function of the speed at which the piston 120 travels, and the amount or volume of chemical dispensed per dispensing cycle may be a function of the amount of time the piston 120 is driven towards the outlet 140 and the fixed orifice size of the outlet 140.

[0163] The rate at which the piston and drive shaft assembly advances and retracts is dependent upon a number of factors, such as: friction between contacting surfaces, the viscosity of the chemical contained in the upper chemical chamber 112a (during the dispensing stroke), the flow coefficient (Cv) through the one-way valve 124 and the viscosity of the chemical contained within the lower chemical chamber 112b (during the resetting stroke), the flow coefficient (Cv) of air entering and exiting through the top and lower pneumatic ports 157a, 157b (for a pneumatic drive). As a result, some implementations may provide a liquid flow meter 185 at the outlet 140 or the inlet 130 of the syringe pump 100 to sense the flow of chemical through one of these ports. That is, as provided herein, due to the configuration of the syringe pump 100 drawing in an equal amount of chemical as is being dispensed, the flow meter 185 may be positioned at either the inlet 130 or the outlet 140. The control system 400 may be communicatively coupled to such liquid flow meter 185 to determine the flow rate and/or volume of chemical dispensed from or drawn into the syringe pump 100 during dispensing. Based on the flow information received, the control system 400 may cause operation of the drive mechanism 150 to be adjusted to reach a target, e.g., a target chemical flow rate, a selected amount or volume of chemical to be dispensed, and/or a target dilution ratio of chemical into motive fluid.

[0164] Flow information may additionally or alternatively be derived from the use of a linear encoder 186, which may be used to determine the linear displacement of the piston and drive shaft assembly, and as provided herein, the distance may correspond to a predetermined volume of chemical dispensed from the chemical chamber 110, and the displacement information may be used in determining the flow rate and/or volume of chemical dispensed from the syringe pump 100. Based on the flow information, the control system 400 may cause operation of the drive mechanism 150 to be adjusted to reach the target.

[0165] Adjusting the flow of chemical from the syringe pump 100 based on the information from the above flow sensors may involve the control system 400 being configured as a flow adjustment device by causing a duration of the dispensing cycle to be adjusted, e.g., being caused to be increased or decreased to a different pre-determined dispensing cycle time to reach the target.

[0166] In some implementations, the control system 400 may be communicatively coupled to the flow rate measurement device and configured to control chemical dispensing from the outlet 140 using data therefrom. For instance, the control system 400 may be configured to determine whether the selected amount of chemical was dispensed during a prior dispensing using the data from the flow rate measurement device and may adjust operation of the drive mechanism 150 to reach the target in subsequent dispensing. This may involve controlling the duration which the drive mechanism 150 operates, and/or controlling a level of force exerted on the piston 120, and/or controlling a speed of delivery of pressurized driving fluid to a pneumatic or hydraulic drive, and/or controlling a speed at which the drive mechanism 150, configured as a variable drive, drives the piston during dispensing.

[0167] For a pneumatic drive, the speed at which the piston and drive shaft assembly extends and retracts may be adjusted using a mechanical flow adjustment device operably coupled to the drive mechanism 150 and controlled by the control system 400 to reach the target. The flow adjustment device may include an adjustable valve (e.g., similar to the adjustable valve 170 or a pinch valve) and may adjust the orifice size of either or both the top and/or lower pneumatic ports 157a, 157b. The flow adjustment device may adjust a flow coefficient (Cv) of air entering and/or exiting therethrough by adjusting the port orifice size. The speed of a hydraulic drive may be adjusted similarly using a flow adjustment device that adjusts a port orifice size and which may be controlled by the control system 400.

[0168] For a mechanical drive, the speed at which the piston and drive shaft assembly extends and retracts may be adjusted by the control system 400 by causing a driving speed of the drive mechanism 150 to be increased or decreased to thereby modify the speed at which the drive rod 160 moves to reach the target. As such the drive mechanism 150 may have a variable drive speed and may provide the flow adjustment device controlled by the control system 400. In a more particular example, a variable rotational drive (e.g., a rotational sleeve or nut of the drive mechanism 150) in which the drive rod 160 is in a threaded engagement, may be operated by the control system 400 at varying speeds, e.g., may be caused to be increased or decreased to reach the target.

[0169] In such embodiments, the control system 400 may provide closed loop control of the fluid management system 500. It will be appreciated that the described embodiments of the control system 400 causing adjustments to reach the target(s) may be used in combination with any of the fluid management systems of the present disclosure, and for instance, the control system 400 may cause the aforementioned adjustments in fluid management systems and vehicle wash assemblies that include one or more syringe pumps 100 with an adjustable valve 170.

1e. Loading Valve

[0170] The loading valve 300 may be used in combination with the vehicle wash components or be included in the fluid management systems herein to provide improved dosing consistency and responsiveness. The loading valve 300 may sometimes be referred to herein as a mixing chamber and may be a type of mixing site. The loading valve 300 is a departure from prior vehicle wash components and systems by the elimination of venturi-style chemical injection, which relies on vacuum pressure for the injection of chemicals into the system, e.g., for mixing with motive fluid. The syringe pumps 100 and other components of the fluid management system 500 that may be used in connection with the loading valve 300 are described at least in connection with FIGS. 3a-3j, and consequently, a detailed description of the operation of these elements will not be repeated in the interest of brevity.

[0171] The loading valve 300 may be located downstream of a respective syringe pump 100 and fluid delivery manifold 200, when present, for example as shown in FIG. 1a. When downstream of the syringe pump 100 alone (e.g., FIG. 3h), the loading valve may serve to regulate chemical dosing into downstream components based on receipt of pressurized chemical. When downstream of both the syringe pump 100 and the fluid delivery manifold 200 (e.g., FIG. 1a), the loading valve 300 may also function as a mixing site in which the fluid and chemical are mixed.

[0172] As illustrated in FIGS. 7a-7e, the loading valve 300 may include a chemical inlet 305, a pass-through conduit 310, a biasing mechanism 315, diaphragm 320, an injection nozzle 325, a sealing lip 330, a chemical priming cavity 335 configured as a loading chamber, and a buffer 340.

[0173] As shown in FIGS. 7b and 7c, the chemical inlet 305 may include a channel 306 defined in a main body 308 of the loading valve 300. An ingress of the chemical inlet 305 may include a coupler as disclosed herein for coupling to fluid conduits such as the outlet tube 146 or directly to the outlet 140 of the syringe pump 100. For instance, the coupler may include an L-shaped fitting as shown in FIGS. 7a and 7c having any suitable configuration. The chemical inlet 305 and the outlet 140 of the syringe pump 100 may be coupled in a fluid tight connection. An egress of the chemical inlet 305 may define an opening in the priming cavity 335 and may thus supply the chemical to the priming cavity 335. In some implementations, more than one chemical inlet 305 such as two, three, four or five chemical inlets 305 may be included in the loading valve 300 and be configured to receive chemicals from multiple syringe pumps 100.

[0174] The main body 308, in addition to including the chemical inlet 305, may additionally include and/or define the pass-through conduit 310, the injection nozzle 325, the sealing lip 330, and the chemical priming cavity 335.

[0175] The pass-through conduit 310 may be configured as a motive fluid pathway for receiving motive fluid, e.g., from a fluid source such as the fluid delivery manifold 200, and injected chemical therein, e.g., via the injection nozzle 325. The pass-through conduit 310 may join to fluid conduits such as tubes, and at an ingress, the pass-through conduit 310 may carry motive fluid, and at the egress, the pass-through may carry a mixed solution of the motive fluid and the injected chemical to one or more downstream components such as the vehicle wash applicators 620, 630.

[0176] The biasing mechanism 315 may be secured in a biasing mechanism housing 318, which may be joined to the main body 308. The biasing mechanism 315 may be configured as a coil spring which may be used in combination with an adjustable compression screw 319 which serves to adjust the amount of preload on the coil spring, thereby adjusting an opening pressure of the loading valve 300. In some implementations, the biasing mechanism 315 may be calibrated to a selected pressure value (e.g., 100 psi or a pressure greater than the pressure of the fluid within the pass-through conduit 310), and a calibrated biasing mechanism may be non-adjustable, e.g., without an adjustable compression screw. In yet other implementations, the biasing mechanism 315 may be pressurized air instead of a coil spring, and the pressurized air may would serve the same function of exerting a predefined level of constant force on the top of the diaphragm 320.

[0177] The diaphragm 320 may be configured as an elastomeric seal, e.g., a flexible disc or sheet, which may cooperate with the sealing lip 330 to seal and hold chemical within the chemical priming cavity 335 in a closed position, and may move to an open position upon the fluid pressure within the chemical priming cavity 335 reaching an opening pressure that overcomes the biasing pressure of the biasing mechanism 315.

[0178] The injection nozzle 325 may be configured to inject the pressurized chemical into the motive fluid upon the requisite fluid pressure being reached in the loading valve. The ingress of the injection nozzle 325 may be surrounded by the sealing lip 330 and accordingly may be configured to be sealed by the diaphragm 320 in the normal position of the loading valve 300. The injection nozzle 325 may be configured as a multi-orifice nozzle as an alternative to the single-orifice nozzle shown in FIGS. 7a-7d. Using a single-orifice nozzle may facilitate injection of high viscosity chemicals, e.g., through a larger single orifice, which may also have more resistance to clogging compared to smaller, multiple orifices, while using a multi-orifice nozzle at the injection point may result in an increased chemical injection velocity and may improve atomization of the chemical to better homogenize the mixture. The injection nozzle 325 may be a replaceable component, allowing for easy repair and selection of varying spray patterns. This may enable injection nozzles of various configurations, e.g., spray profiles and pressures, to be used based on desired spray characteristics.

[0179] The sealing lip 330 may be configured to be covered and sealed by the diaphragm 320 and may surround the ingress of the injection nozzle 325.

[0180] The chemical priming cavity 335 may be configured as a loading chamber and may receive pressurized chemical from the egress of the channel 306 of the chemical inlet 305. The priming cavity 335 may be covered by the diaphragm 320, and the configuration of the priming cavity 335 and its components such as the sealing lip 330 the injection nozzle 325, the diaphragm 320, and/or a ratio of areas on the diaphragm 320 which are separated by the sealing lip 330 (e.g., the area encompassed on the diaphragm by the priming cavity 335 and the area within the sealing lip 330) may be selected based on desired injection characteristics such as desired chemical volume of the priming cavity 335, desired dilution rates, desired chemical flow rates, and so on.

[0181] The buffer 340 may be located between the biasing mechanism 315 and the diaphragm 320 and may serve the purpose of more evenly distributing the force from the biasing mechanism 315 into the diaphragm 320.

[0182] The loading valve 300 may be configured to prohibit chemical received from the syringe pump 100 from exiting through the injection nozzle 325 until the chemical pressure has reached a predefined threshold; may be configured to function as a check valve for preventing fluid received from the motive fluid source, e.g., the fluid delivery manifold 200, from back-flowing into and through the chemical inlet 305; may serve as a mixing/injection site for introduction and mixing of the chemical with the stream of motive fluid; may prevent siphoning of the chemical into the motive fluid stream; may serve to trap pressure within the chemical conduit(s) coupling the loading valve 300 to the syringe pump 100, e.g., the chemical outlet tubes 144, 146; and/or may provide a sharp cut-off of chemical flow once the syringe pump 100 injection cycle ends and the chemical pressure begins to drop.

[0183] When the syringe pump 100 or fluid management system (e.g., systems 500, 501, 504) is idle or between operational cycles, the loading valve 300 may be in a normal/closed position due to the biasing mechanism 315 being in a relaxed, untensed state. In this normal/closed position, the biasing mechanism 315 may exert a biasing pressure as a downward force on the diaphragm 320, resulting in the diaphragm 320 flexing and being forced into the sealing lip 330. In this position of the diaphragm 320, the chemical priming cavity 335 is sealed from the injection nozzle 325 and flow of chemical through the nozzle 325 may thus be prohibited. Since the chemical priming cavity 335, chemical inlet 305, the chemical conduits (e.g., outlet tubes 144, 146) and the syringe pump 100 are all fluidly coupled, when the syringe pump 100 injection cycle begins the chemical contained within this fluid coupling begins to pressurize. As the fluid pressure builds within the chemical priming cavity 335, the pressure eventually reaches a point at which the force of the pressurized chemical exerted on the diaphragm 320 is great enough to overcome the biasing force of the biasing mechanism 315. As the pressure exceeds the force exerted by the biasing mechanism 315, the diaphragm 320 begins to separate from the sealing lip 330 and permits passage of pressurized chemical from the priming cavity 335 into the injection nozzle 325. Similarly, once the injection cycle ends, the fluid pressure within the chemical priming cavity 335 rapidly drops (e.g., to just below a cracking pressure of the diaphragm 320, such that the priming cavity 335 maintains some pressure to facilitate in the next dispensing stroke building pressure quickly), and the biasing mechanism 315 once again forces the diaphragm 320 into the closed position and stops the flow of chemical. In this state, the chemical outlet 140 of the syringe pump 100 may also be sealed, e.g., via a check valve 176, thereby maintaining the fluid tight connection with the loading valve 300 and causing the chemical therein to remain pressurized to facilitate passage of the pressurized chemical into the priming cavity 335 in a next dispensing.

[0184] The pressure at which the loading valve 300 opens may be controlled using one or more approaches such as by controlling the area under the diaphragm 320 within the chemical priming chamber 335 in which the chemical acts, as well as by controlling the force exerted by the biasing mechanism 315 as provided herein above. To facilitate chemical injection, the loading valve 300 may be configured such that the opening pressure of the pressurized chemical is greater than the pressure of the fluid within the pass-through conduit 310 in which the chemical will be injected via the injection nozzle 325.

[0185] The loading valve 300 may also function as a check valve. More particularly, the loading valve 300 may be configured such that the area on the diaphragm 320 acted upon by the pressure of the motive fluid within the pass-through conduit 310 is far lower than the area on the diaphragm 320 acted upon by the pressure of the chemical within the chemical priming cavity 335. Due to the large difference an area, this means that the pressure of the motive fluid (e.g., water) within the pass-through conduit 310 must be far greater than the pressure of the chemical within the chemical priming cavity 335 in order to overcome the biasing mechanism 315 and backflow through the loading valve 300. For example, if the area on the chemical region of the diaphragm 320 is 3 times greater than the area of the motive fluid region of the diaphragm 320 and the opening pressure in the chemical priming cavity 335 is designed to be 100 psi, then the pressure necessary for the motive fluid to backflow past the diaphragm 320 would be 300 psi, which is far greater than the fluid pressure will reach under normal operating conditions.

[0186] The design of the loading valve 300 also prevents siphoning of the chemical into the motive fluid stream. Siphoning can occur once the injection cycle has ended, but the momentum of the motive fluid stream causes flow to continue through the pass-through conduit 310 for a short period. This may cause a small vacuum (drop in pressure) to occur within the pass-through conduit 310. Without the loading valve 300 this could cause unwanted chemical to be drawn into the motive fluid stream, however with the loading valve 300 this vacuum will cause the diaphragm 320 to be pulled tightly against the sealing lip 330, immediately preventing more chemical flow from occurring.

[0187] The configuration of the loading valve 300 may enable it to provide a sharp onset and shut-off of chemical flow into the pass-through conduit 310, where the loading valve 300 produces a curve for flow vs. time for both chemical and motive fluid very close to a square wave. In other words, when chemical dispensing starts, the chemical and optionally water flow should reach a target flow rate instantaneously, maintain the target flow rate throughout dispensing, and then instantaneously return to zero when dispensing ends. This ensures that the injected chemical or the mixed solution of injected chemical and fluid delivered to downstream components is mixed to a desired target dilution ratio. Practically speaking, a perfect square wave is not possible, however the loading valve 300 may dramatically improve the characteristic flow curve. An exemplary comparison between the ideal square wave flow curve and an actual flow curve that can be generated using the loading valve 300 of the present disclosure is illustrated in FIG. 7f. Since the loading valve 300 does not open until the set pressure has been reached, this ensures that at the moment the loading valve 300 opens, the flow rate will be at or near the target flow rate. If the loading valve 300 was not present, the injection flow rate would slowly ramp-up as the syringe pump 100 pressurized at the start of the dispensing cycle, leading to an uneven dilution. When the cycle ends, the chemical pressure drops and the loading valve 300 very quickly shuts to prohibit further flow, resulting in a sharp cut-off in flow rate. Similarly, without the loading valve 300, the pressure built-up within the chemical outlet tubes 144, 146 would slowly dissipate after injection has ended, resulting in unwanted chemical flow into the water stream. In addition, due to the fluid tight connection between the loading valve 300 and syringe pump 100 and since the loading valve 300 shuts-off once chemical pressure has dropped just below the opening threshold, the chemical within the chemical outlet tubes 144, 146 and loading valve 300 remains pressurized between cycles. This means that when the next dispensing cycle starts, only a small amount of pressure needs to be built up by the dispensing stroke in order to overcome the loading valve 300, also resulting in a rapid injection response upon the start of the dispensing cycle.

[0188] In FIGS. 7a-7e, the loading valve 300 is an independent vehicle wash component, however, the loading valve 300 may be integral to the body of the fluid delivery manifold 200 syringe pump 100 or other motive fluid delivery devices coupled to the fluid source 640, such that the loading valve 300 with its mixing site is contained within the same body as the body responsible for delivery motive fluid.

[0189] Referring to FIGS. 1a and 3i, the modified loading valve 300 may be configured the same as the loading valve 300 with the exception of having two inlets 305 configured to receive chemical, via fluid tight connections, from outlets 140 of separate syringe pumps 100 (FIG. 1a) or separate chemical chambers 110 of the same syringe pump 100 (FIG. 3i). The loading valve 300 may thus receive pressurized chemical from two sources and operate to mix the two chemicals in the chemical priming cavity and dispense the chemicals from the injection nozzle 325, e.g., upon reaching the predefined pressure threshold. In some cases, the chemicals may be received at the loading valve 300 simultaneously, such as when a common drive mechanism 150 operates or when two drive mechanisms 150 operate simultaneously to deliver the two chemicals to the loading valve 300, e.g., upon receiving a common control signal such as from the control system 400. In other cases, the chemicals may be received at the loading valve 300 based on independent operation of two drive mechanisms 150. In addition, the chemical may be received at different rates depending on the rate of dispensing from the respective chemical outlet 140, which may be controlled by the 170 adjustable valve or the control system 400 as provided herein.

[0190] When used in an assembly of a plurality of loading valves 300, syringe pumps 100 and a fluid delivery manifold 200, such as in the fluid management system 500, the number of loading valves 300 may correspond to the number of syringe pumps 100, or when multiple syringe pumps 100 or chemical chambers 110 dispense chemical to the modified loading valve 300, fewer loading valves may be provided than the number of syringe pumps. In some cases, the fluid delivery manifold 200 may have a corresponding number of fluid outlet ports 230 to the number of loading valves.

2. Fluid Delivery Manifolds

[0191] Delivery of motive fluid (e.g., water) and its metering may be achieved using the fluid delivery manifold 200 of the present disclosure. The fluid delivery manifold 200 or components thereof may be configured to be controlled by the control system 400. The fluid delivery manifold 200 may accordingly be a component of the fluid management system 500 of the present disclosure.

[0192] Turning to FIGS. 8a and 8b, the fluid delivery manifold 200 is illustrated according to aspects the present disclosure. FIG. 8a illustrates the fluid delivery manifold 200 coupled to the loading valve 300 via a coupling mechanism 204, while FIG. 8b is a cross-section of the fluid delivery manifold 200.

[0193] The fluid delivery manifold 200 may include a coupling mechanism 204, an integrated valve 205, mounting structures 206, a manifold housing 210, a plunger housing 215, a fluid inlet 220, a valve plunger 225, a fluid outlet 230, an air inlet port 235, an air chamber 240, a return spring 245, an actuator 250, a valve limiter 255, an actuator assembly 260, and an end cap 265. In some cases, the fluid delivery manifold 200 may be a single inlet, single outlet manifold with one integrated valve 205, while in other cases, the fluid delivery manifold 200 may be coupled to adjacent fluid delivery manifolds 200 via their inlet portions to form a single fluid delivery manifold 200 with a single inlet and multiple fluid outlets and a corresponding number of integrated valves 205 to the fluid outlets (FIG. 1a). Accordingly, fluid delivery manifold 200 may have a modular construction for coupling with other fluid delivery manifolds 200.

[0194] The coupling mechanism 204 may individually couple an outlet to downstream components such as a loading valve 300, a check valve, a pressure sensor P, or other fluid delivery components and conduits. The coupling mechanism 204 may be formed integrally with or separate from the fluid delivery manifold 200.

[0195] The mounting structures 206 may include feet or fasteners and may be integrally formed in the fluid delivery manifold 200 for securing to various external surfaces and/or objects, such as the panel 101 or other common structure for receiving multiple system components.

[0196] The integrated valve 205 may be arranged at an opposite end of the manifold housing 210 relative to the coupling mechanism 204 and may be configured as an air-actuated integrated valve 205. The integrated valve 205 may be configured to house and receive at least portions of the valve plunger 225, the air inlet port 235, the air chamber 240, the return spring 245, the actuator 250, and the valve limiter 255. The integrated valve may include or receive a sleeve 208, which may be threaded or have another coupler for engagement with the integrated valve 205 and/or the plunger housing 215.

[0197] The manifold housing 210 may define various components of the fluid delivery manifold 200 or portions thereof. For instance, the housing 210 may define a fluid ingress channel 211 or portions thereof, which may include the fluid inlet 220. An outlet channel 212 may be defined in the housing 210 and include the fluid outlet 230 or portions thereof. The fluid ingress channel 211, the outlet channel 212, the fluid inlet 220, and fluid outlet 230 may all be fluidly coupled to define a fluid passageway. The outlet channel 212 may be configured to receive a portion (e.g., stem) of the valve plunger 225 for blocking and controlling the flow of motive fluid from the fluid ingress channel 211 to the outlet channel 212 as provided herein. An outlet coupler 213 arranged at an egress of the outlet channel 212 may be defined by the housing 210 and may include a collar with threads, barbs or other coupling features. The outlet coupler 213 may define all or a portion of the coupling mechanism 204, and as illustrated, the outlet coupler 213/coupling mechanism 204 may be configured as a quick-connect coupling.

[0198] The housing 210 may also define portions of the integrated valve 205 such as portions of the plunger housing 215, air inlet port 235, and air chamber 240. For instance, an air channel 216 may be defined in the housing 210 as illustrated in FIG. 8b, which may be a component of the air inlet port 235 for the delivery of pressurized air to the plunger housing 215. In addition, all or a portion of the air chamber 240 of the plunger housing 215 may be defined by the housing 210.

[0199] In some implementations, the various components of the housing 210 may be integrally formed as a single piece or component, for example as shown in the cross-sectional view of the housing 210 depicted in FIG. 8b. For instance, the housing 210 and its various components may be formed through injection molding. By integrating one or more housing components the fluid delivery manifold 200 disclosed herein may be more resistant to leaks and corrosion than pre-existing fluid delivery devices.

[0200] The plunger housing 215 may provide a portion of the integrated valve 205 and may be configured to receive pressurized air via the air inlet port 235 and the air channel 216. All or portions of the plunger housing 215 and the integrated valve 205 may be integrally formed. An interior of the plunger housing 215 may define at least a portion of the air chamber 240 and may also be adapted to receive at least a portion of the valve plunger 225, the return spring 245, actuator 250, and valve limiter 255. The plunger housing 215 may be fluidly isolated from the fluid delivery components, e.g., the fluid ingress channel 211, the outlet channel 212, the fluid inlet 220, and the fluid outlet 230, by one or more seals 219 such as a series of dynamic gaskets or O-rings arranged in the housing 210 and/or the plunger housing 215. At one end, the interior of the plunger housing 215 may also define a floor of the air chamber 240. At the opposite end, the interior of the plunger housing 215 may define a coupler 218, such as a threaded bore, for securely coupling with the actuator 250 and/or the sleeve 208. As illustrated in FIG. 8b, the sleeve 208 and the actuator 250 may be coupled for instance via fasteners and the sleeve 208 may be threadedly engaged with the plunger housing 215 to thereby secure the actuator 250 to the integrated valve 205.

[0201] The fluid inlet 220 may define a portion of the fluid ingress channel 211 and may be configured to receive motive fluid from a motive fluid source. One or more seals 221 such as O-rings or gaskets may be provided at the fluid inlet 220 for providing a fluid tight coupling with other fluid delivery components, such as a hose coupled to a water pump or an adjacent fluid inlet 220 of an adjacent fluid delivery manifold 200. An inlet coupler 222 may define a portion of, or may be joined to, the fluid inlet 220 and may be configured to couple to a fluid conduit of the motive fluid source such as the pressurized fluid source 107, or to an adjacent housing 210 of the adjacent fluid delivery manifold 200. Inlet fastening regions 224 on opposing sides of the fluid inlet 220 may be configured to secure the fluid inlet 220 to an adjacent fluid conduit or adjacent housing 210 by any suitable fastening means such as via a spring clip 224a, threaded connection, bayonet connection, and combinations. The inlet coupler 222 and fastening regions 224 may be integrally formed by the housing 210. The fluid ingress channel 211 may be configured to extend through the entirety of the housing 210 transversely relative to a longitudinal axis of the plunger housing 215 and the fluid ingress channel 211 may be defined in one or multiple fluid inlets 220. For instance, the fluid ingress channel 211 may be configured as a common fluid channel of successively fluidly connected individual fluid inlets 220 of a plurality of fluid delivery manifolds 200. An end of the fluid inlet 220 may be capped with an end cap 265 as shown in FIG. 8a. However, the fluid delivery manifold 200 may couple with an inlet of an adjacent fluid delivery manifold 200 as shown in FIG. 1a, and provided herein.

[0202] In another example, as illustrated in FIG. 8g, an alternative fluid delivery manifold 200 of the present disclosure may provide the fluid ingress channel 211 in a fluid plenum 270 configured to receive a fluid inlet 220 of an individual housing 210, or a plurality of individual fluid inlets 220, at a plurality of outlet ports 272 defined in a housing 274 of the fluid plenum 270. In this example, an inlet port 276 of the fluid plenum may be fluidly coupled between a motive fluid source and the plurality of fluid plenum outlet ports 272 with the fluid ingress channel 211 arranged within the housing 274 of the fluid plenum 270. The plenum outlet ports 272 may be adjacently arranged along the housing 274. In some cases, the housing 274 may include coupling features 278 each for coupling to a syringe pump 100, components of the fluid delivery manifold 200 such as the housing 210, a loading valve 300, or other components of the fluid management systems such as the panel 101 or to a structure in the vehicle wash setting. In addition or alternatively, the housing 210 may include coupling features for coupling to a syringe pump 100, a loading valve 300, or other components of the fluid management systems.

[0203] The valve plunger 225 may be configured to be received in the plunger housing 215 and extend into the fluid outlet 230. The valve plunger 225 may be arranged between the fluid inlet 220 and the fluid outlet 230 and may block and permit the flow of motive fluid from the fluid inlet 220 through the valve orifice 233 of fluid outlet 230. The valve plunger 225 may include a plunger head 226 configured to be arranged in the air chamber 240, a circumferential seal 227 configured to seal the plunger head 226 against the internal walls of the air chamber 240, and a stem 228 extending therefrom configured to extend into the fluid passageway within the housing 210. Because the valve plunger 225 is configured to be actuated by pressurized air to cause motive fluid flow, the stem 228 may seal against the plunger housing 215 via one or more seals 219. The seals 219 may be received by the stem 228 or the plunger housing 215 and configured for fluidly isolating the plunger housing 215 from the fluid passageway to prevent pressurized air from entering the fluid passageway and to prevent motive fluid, e.g., water, from entering the air chamber 240 from the fluid passageway. A tip 229 of the valve plunger 225 at a distal end of the stem 228 may include a parabolic shape and may be referred to herein as a parabolic tip.

[0204] The fluid outlet 230 may be configured to dispense motive fluid from the fluid delivery manifold 200 during actuation of the valve plunger 225. An ingress 231 of the fluid outlet 230 may be configured to receive the plunger stem 228 and tip 229, and may also be referred to as a valve seat. When the valve plunger 225 is seated in the ingress 231, e.g., in the normal position or idle state, the fluid outlet 230 may be sealed-off from the fluid inlet 220 and fluid ingress channel 211 by the plunger tip 229 sealing against the valve seat or ingress 231. An egress 232 of the fluid outlet 230 may be configured to dispense motive fluid from the fluid outlet 230 upon opening of the valve orifice 233 of the fluid outlet 230. The ingress 231 and egress 232 of the fluid outlet 230 may be arranged at opposite ends of the outlet channel 212, and the valve orifice 233 may be positioned at the ingress 231 and at least partially defined by the ingress 231. An effective valve orifice area of the valve orifice 233 may be adjustable as provided herein. A check valve may be integrated in or fluidly coupled to the fluid outlet 230, for instance at the egress 232, to prevent backflow when the fluid delivery manifold 200 is in an idle state.

[0205] The air inlet port 235 may be configured to receive pressurized air for actuation of the valve plunger 225 in the integrated valve 205 to thereby control the dispensing of the motive from the fluid outlet 230. The air inlet port 235 may include the air channel 216 of the housing 210/plunger housing 215 as well as a half cartridge, push-to-connect, insert. A half cartridge push-to-connect means that the fluid delivery manifold 200, e.g., the housing 210, is used to form the outer housing of the push-to-connect fitting. Therefore, the integral components of the fluid delivery manifold 200 may include components of the push-to-connect air fitting and may define a sealing surface between the push-to-connect fitting and the air channel 216.

[0206] The air chamber 240 may be defined by the plunger housing 215 and may be configured to receive the valve plunger 225 and permit its movement back and forth between a normal, unactuated state and an actuated state during operation of the fluid delivery manifold 200 in which pressurized air is delivered to the air chamber 240. A first end wall 217a of the plunger housing 215 may define a floor of the air chamber 240. The distance the valve plunger 225 moves back and forth during operation may be limited by the valve limiter 255 as provided herein.

[0207] The return spring 245 may be received in the plunger housing 215 and arranged between the plunger head 226 and a second end wall 217b of the plunger housing or an insert thereof, e.g., the sleeve 208. The return spring 245 may be configured as a coil spring, e.g., a helical spring. In an unbiased state, the return spring 245 may hold the valve plunger 225 against the valve seat or egress 231, which may correspond to the normal or idle state of the integrated valve of the fluid delivery manifold 200. The biased state of the return spring 245 results from overcoming a bias of the return spring 245 in the unbiased state, which may be caused by movement of the valve plunger 225 in response to the introduction of pressurized air into the air chamber 240 from a pressurized air source 106 via the air inlet port 235, e.g., during an on cycle of the manifold, thus biasing or compressing the return spring 245. The compression distance of the return spring 245 into the biased state may be limited by the position of the valve limiter 255. In alternative implementations, the return spring 255 may be an optional component for instance when the actuator 250 is configured as a proportional solenoid, or the return spring 245 may be replaced with a different biasing mechanism such as pressurized fluid including pressurized air or liquid. For instance, the proportional solenoid may serve as both a valve limiter and as an actuator and may extend by a desired or predefined distance, e.g., based on control signals received from the control unit 400, to limit movement of the valve plunger 225 upon receipt of compressed air in the air chamber 240 to drive the valve plunger open.

[0208] The actuator 250 may be configured as a linear actuator, such as a stepper motor, and may control linear displacement of the valve limiter 255. Together, the actuator 250 and the valve limiter 255 may be referred to as an actuator assembly 260. The actuator 250 may be a captive stepper-driven linear actuator, however other linear actuators may also be used such as a servo-driven linear actuator or proportional linear solenoid. The actuator 250 may be configured for linearly adjusting the valve limiter 255 to cause a linear adjustment and/or sequential adjustment in the effective valve orifice area of the valve orifice 233. For instance, the actuator 250 may include a threaded arrangement 251, e.g., a threaded rod or threaded bore configured to threadedly engage with a complementary threaded arrangement 256 of the valve limiter 255. When the actuator 250 causes the valve limiter 255 to be fully extended, then during actuation of the fluid delivery manifold 200, the valve plunger 225 may open to permit a minimum amount of flow through the fluid outlet 230 via the valve orifice 233. In some cases, the minimum amount of flow may be no or 0 gpm of motive fluid, while in other cases, the minimum amount of flow may be about 0.1 gpm or about 0.1 to about 0.25 gpm. When the actuator 250 causes the valve limiter 255 to be fully retracted, then during actuation of the fluid delivery manifold 200, the valve plunger 225 may open to permit a maximum amount of flow through the fluid outlet 230. In some cases, the maximum amount of flow may be 25 gpm of motive fluid. The actuator 250 may thus be configured to move the valve limiter 255 in a stepwise manner between the minimum and maximum positions to adjust a level of motive fluid flow from the fluid outlet 230 during dispensing.

[0209] The valve limiter 255 may include a threaded arrangement 256 at one end for coupling to the actuator 250. The valve limiter 255 may be non-rotatable such that rotation by the actuator 250 causes a linear movement of the valve limiter 255 in the plunger housing 215, e.g., via the threaded arrangement 251, 256. A contact face 257 arranged at the other, opposite end from the threaded arrangement 256 may be configured to receive a face of the plunger head 226 during fluid dispensing, while limiting the distance of movement of the plunger 225 to thereby limit an effective valve orifice area of a valve orifice 233 upon movement of the stem 228 and its tip 229 away from the valve seat 231 of the fluid outlet 230. As shown in FIG. 8b, the valve limiter 255 may be configured as a cylindrical plug for contacting the plunger head 226 face, and the valve limiter 255 may be arranged within an interior of the coils of the return spring 245 to permit the return spring 245 to operate unimpeded. In other implementations, the valve limiter 255 may be configured as a sleeve and arranged about an exterior of the coils of the return spring 245.

[0210] In alternative implementations, the valve limiter 255 may be decoupled from the valve plunger 225. In such cases, the valve plunger 225 may function as an on/off valve for dispensing of motive fluid, while the valve limiter 255 may be arranged downstream of the valve orifice 233 and may for instance be configured with a valve needle adjustably movable in the fluid outlet 230. For instance, the valve needle may include a parabolic tip, like the parabolic tip 229 of the valve plunger 225, and the valve limiter 255 and actuator 250 may be configured to adjust the valve needle to linearly adjust the dispensing of motive fluid as disclosed herein. In this configuration, the valve limiter 255 may permit the flow metering valve needle to remain stationary between cycles, and may reduce the impact load on the valve limiter 255 and actuator 250 (e.g., stepper motor) as these components would not receive the force of the plunger 225 during cycling. FIG. 8h illustrates another alternative fluid delivery manifold 200 of the present disclosure including the valve limiter 255 including a parabolic tip 229, which is decoupled from the valve plunger 225. In cases where the fluid delivery manifold 200 includes a linear encoder 280, the sensor and gradations may be arranged on the valve limiter 255 and housing in an area adjacent to the valve limiter 255. In some cases, two linear encoders 280 may be provided on the fluid delivery manifold 200 at the valve limiter 255 and the valve plunger 225, each of which may be communicatively coupled to the control system 400 as provided herein. The other features of the fluid delivery manifold 200 shared in common with the fluid delivery manifold 200 of the present disclosure are not repeated herein in the interest of brevity.

[0211] The end cap 265 may be configured to join to the housing 210 of the fluid delivery manifold 200 to block motive fluid from exiting the fluid ingress channel 211 and the end of the fluid delivery manifold 200. The end cap 265 may thus serve to confine the motive fluid within the fluid ingress channel 211 and direct the fluid to the fluid outlet 230.

[0212] Various components of the fluid delivery manifold 200 may be integrally constructed, for instance by molding (e.g., injection molding) a chemically inert polymer such as HDPE, PTFE or PVDF. Non-integral components, such as the valve plunger 225 may also be constructed of inert polymers, while others may be constructed of metal, such as spring clips, helical springs (e.g., return spring 245), and inlet connectors. Additionally or alternatively the integrally constructed components may be machined or additive manufacturing may be used for their construction.

[0213] FIG. 8e illustrates an exploded view of various components of the fluid delivery manifold 200 disclosed herein.

[0214] Referring to FIGS. 1a and 8f, the fluid delivery manifold 200 may include a plurality of adjacently arranged manifold housings 210 along with their respective fluid delivery components, each being fluidly and mechanically coupled to one another. Although FIG. 1a shows four positions 510, e.g., four individual manifold housings 210 assembled to provide the fluid delivery manifold 200, the fluid delivery manifold 200 may include more or fewer manifold housings 210, such as a single position 510 with a single housing 210 as shown in FIGS. 8a-8b, three manifold housings 210 as shown in FIG. 8f, or two, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten or more manifold housings 210.

[0215] Referring to FIG. 8f, a cross-sectional view of three manifold housings 210 of a fluid delivery manifold 200 having three outlets for use with a fluid management system having three positions 510 is illustrated with the fluid ingress channel 211 fluidly coupling the adjacently arranged housings 210. The housings 210 may be mechanically joined to an adjacent housing 210 by a respective inlet coupler 222 (e.g., an inlet ingress coupler) receiving an inlet egress coupler 223 of an adjacent the housing 210. More specifically, the inlet fastening region 224 at each inlet coupler 222 of the housing 210 may be coupled to the inlet egress coupler 223 of an adjacent housing 210 by any suitable fastening means such as a spring clip 224a, threaded connection, bayonet connection, and combinations. As shown, the inlet coupler 222, inlet egress coupler 223, and the fastening regions 224 may be integrally formed by the housing 210. As such, the fluid ingress channel 211 may extend through the entirety of the three housings 210 along a transverse length of the housings 210, which may be perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the plunger housings 215. The couplings defining the fluid ingress channel 211 may be sealed by the one or more seals 221 (e.g., O-rings or gaskets) provided along the length of the motive fluid inlets 220. A free end of the inlet egress coupler 223 (left side) may be capped with an end cap 265 as shown in FIG. 8a, while a free end of the inlet coupler 222 (right side) may be fluidly coupled to a motive fluid source such as via a fluid conduit leading to the pressurized fluid source 107 (e.g., the water pump).

Operation of the Fluid Delivery Manifold 200

[0216] The actuation and metering functions of the fluid delivery manifold 200 are now described. Briefly, the valve plunger 225, particularly the stem 228 and tip 229 may be held concentric within the fluid outlet 230 and seal the valve seat or ingress 231 thereof when the fluid delivery manifold 200 is in a normal or idle state. Actuation of the fluid delivery manifold 200 may involve actuation of the valve plunger 225 using pressurized air delivered via the air inlet port 235 resulting in pressurization of the air chamber 240. Upon reaching a pressurization threshold within the air chamber 240, the pressure causes the valve plunger 225 to overcome the biasing force of the return spring 245 that normally forces the valve plunger 225 into the extended or normal position, resulting in the tip 229 carried by the stem 228 retracting from the valve seat 231 by a predetermined opening distance, e.g., a predetermined valve orifice area, to an open position to thereby permit the motive fluid to pass from the fluid ingress channel 211 through the valve orifice 233 at a rate determined by the effective valve orifice area of the valve orifice 233 created between the valve seat or ingress 231 and the tip 229 of the valve plunger 225, the area of which may be adjusted based on the distance of movement of the tip 229 away from valve seat or ingress 231 of the fluid outlet 230. The predetermined opening distance moved by the valve plunger 225 during retraction is based on the position at which the actuator 250 has moved the valve limiter 255 within the air chamber 240, which results in the face of the plunger head 226 contacting the contact surface 257 of the valve limiter 255 to thereby limit the opening distance of the valve plunger 225 and thus define the effective valve orifice area of the valve orifice 233 and flow rate.

[0217] The metering/regulation of the water flow through the water manifold 200 may be dependent upon the distance which the valve plunger 225 has been displaced from the ingress 231 of the fluid outlet 230. In FIG. 8d, the ingress 231 of the fluid outlet 230 is illustrated as a circle at which point the water outlet is the most necked down. The tip 229 of the valve plunger 225 may have a diameter equivalent to the valve seat or ingress 231 of the fluid outlet 230 at its proximal end and a smaller diameter at the distal end. The differences in diameter between the ingress 231 of the fluid outlet 230 and the plunger tip 229 may define the valve orifice 233, for instance as shown in FIG. 8d. The flow rate through the valve orifice may be a function of the motive fluid (water) physical properties, inlet pressure, outlet pressure, and the effective valve orifice area of the valve orifice 233. Assuming that all other properties remain constant (e.g., temperature, fluid contact surface finish, surface imperfections), the flow rate through the valve orifice 233 may be directly proportional to the effective valve orifice area of the valve orifice 233. That said, when the valve plunger 225 is fully extended, the area of the valve orifice 233 is zero, so the flow is also zero; and when the valve plunger 225 is fully retracted, the flow is at its maximum. In the embodiment of FIGS. 8a-8d, the plunger tip 229 has a parabolic curvature, which in effect causes the area of the valve orifice 233 to be linearly proportional to the displacement of the valve plunger 225. The parabolic tip 229 may be dimensioned to achieve a linear relationship between the effective valve orifice area, which is the cross-sectional area of the valve orifice 233 minus the cross-sectional area of the tip 229 of the valve plunger 229, and linear displacement of the tip 229 during linear displacement of the valve plunger 225. Having a linear relationship between the tip 229 displacement and the area of the valve orifice 233 using the parabolic tip 229 may facilitate providing a linear adjustment of the flow rate of the fluid across the full area of the valve orifice 233, resulting in consistent flow control resolution across the entire flow control span. Using a linear-type actuator 250 to control linear displacement of the tip 229 of the valve plunger 225 may provide a finite number of steps of the flow control span. For instance, the number is steps is determined by a linear displacement range of the actuator 250, pitch of the linear actuator lead screw, and step angle of the motor. Since the number of steps within the flow control span is finite, having an appropriately designed parabolic tip 229 may ensure that each step of the motor will change the flow rate by the same amount. This is in contrast to a traditional tapered valve needle, in which the relationship between the flow rate and needle valve displacement will be logarithmic, presenting problems for obtaining high resolution at low flow rates. The flow adjustment resolution per step of the motor will be large at the beginning of the tapered needle adjustment span and will continue to decrease as the displacement of the valve needle increases.

[0218] In FIG. 8b, the actuator 250 is configured as a linear stepper motor and is extended about 20% of its total distance thus having moved the valve limiter 255 by this amount, which in turn allows the valve plunger 225 to retract about 80% of a total opening distance. The actuator 250 may be communicatively coupled to the control system 400, which may be configured to cause the actuator 250 to be operated to thereby control the position of the valve limiter 255. For instance, in some implementations, the control system 400 may be configured to receive a selected outlet pressure, e.g., from a user, and based on the selection, the control system 400 may cause the actuator assembly 260 to adjust a position of the valve limiter 255 to reach a target flow rate or a target outlet pressure of the motive fluid when the valve plunger 225 is in the open position. The control system 400 may control a linear position of the valve limiter for instance by causing a linear adjustment of the actuator 250, e.g., when configured as a linear actuator.

[0219] Actuation or operation of the fluid delivery manifold 200 to cause the valve plunger 225 to move to its open position may be pneumatic by pressurized air being delivered to the air inlet port 235 of the integrated valve 205 by the valve 104 depicted in FIG. 4, which is a 5/2 solenoid actuated valve. Switching of the valve 104 may cause the pressurized air to be delivered to the normally closed first outlet 104d, resulting in the first outlet 104d transmitting pressurized air to the air inlet port 235 resulting in retraction of the valve plunger 225, e.g., by the air pressure within the air chamber 240 overcoming the bias of the return spring 245, such that a valve orifice 233 defined between plunger tip 229 and the ingress 231 opens and permits flow of motive fluid as shown in the detail views of FIGS. 8c and 8d. Prior to actuation, and after the fluid delivery manifold 200 has cycled, the valve 104 may switch to the normal state or idle position, and the fluid delivery manifold 200 may not receive pressurized air from the valve 104. As a result, the return spring 245 may return to its unbiased state and force the tip 229 of the valve plunger 225 to seal against the valve seat 231 of the fluid outlet 230 and block flow.

[0220] More particularly, when the on cycle has ended, the valve 104 switches, and the air inlet port 235 is relieved or vented to atmosphere. The pressure within the air chamber 240 drops and the return spring 245 forces the valve plunger 225 back into the fully extended position. In the fully extended position, the plunger tip 229 interfaces with the ingress 231 of the fluid outlet 230 thereby closing the valve orifice 233 formed therebetween and prohibiting flow. The valve plunger 225 remains in this extended position with the valve orifice 233 closed-off until the next on cycle is triggered. The valve 104 may be communicatively coupled to the control system 400, which may cause the valve 104 to be operated to thereby control operation of the integrated valve 205.

[0221] FIG. 4 is an illustration of a 5/2 solenoid actuated valve, which may be the configuration of the valves 104 when used in operating pneumatic systems, such as the integrated valve(s) 205 of the fluid delivery manifold. For instance, pressurized air may be routed from the pressurized air source 106 (e.g., a pump) through the electronic solenoid-actuated valve 104 to one or more integrated valves 205. In FIG. 4, the valve 104 may share a common pressurized air inlet 104a, two exhaust ports 104b, 104c, and two outlets 104d, 104e in which the first outlet 104d is normally closed, and the second outlet 104e is normally open. The exhaust port 104b fluidly couples to the outlet 104d, and the exhaust port 104c fluidly couples to outlet 104e. The common air inlet 104a may be fluidly coupled to the pressurized air source 106 such as an air pump via fluid conduits such as flexible tubes for receipt of pressurized air therefrom, as well as to a pressure regulator 105 for regulating the pressure of the pressurized air delivered to the common air inlet 104a. The outlet 104d may be fluidly coupled to the air inlet ports 235 of the fluid delivery manifold, as well as other downstream components, e.g., a chemical supply, via fluid conduits, for transmission of the pressurized air by the valve 104. The outlet 104e may be fluidly coupled to a pneumatic port of a device pneumatically operated bi-directionally, such as the drive mechanism 150 of the syringe pump 100. The exhaust ports 104b, 104c may receive air exhausted from downstream components via the respective outlets 104d, 104e, for instance when such components transition to their non-actuated or idle state. For instance, exhaust port 104b may normally be open when the first outlet 104d is open to atmosphere, and exhaust port 104c may be normally closed when the second outlet 104e is open and in a normal position or idle state. In this example, the second outlet 104e is decoupled from the exhaust port 104c until the valve switches as provided herein.

[0222] As shown in FIG. 4, the first outlet 104d may be split into three ports 104d1, 104d2, 104d3, for example, to supply pressurized air to up to three air inlet ports 235 of air chambers 240 of the integrated valves 205 of a fluid delivery manifold 200 having multiple housings 210, or to fewer than three air inlet ports 235 along with one or more pneumatically operated chemical supplies, e.g., to a lower cavity 152b of one or more syringe pumps 100 during a dispensing cycle (e.g., to the syringe pump of FIG. 3a).

[0223] In other implementations, the on cycle of the fluid delivery manifold 200 may be controlled by means of electrical signals in place of air signals, while causing the motive fluid to be dispensed. For instance, integrated valve 205 may use a proportional solenoid to act upon the valve plunger 225, and the displacement at which the valve plunger 225 is opened may be limited by the proportional solenoid and optionally the valve limiter 255 instead of being limited by the actuator 250. For instance, the proportional solenoid may act directly on the valve plunger 225 and the proportional solenoid may drive the valve plunger 225 open by a predefined distance upon receipt of electrical control signals.

[0224] The integrated valve 205 may additionally or alternatively be electrically controlled by means of an electrical actuator configured to actuate the valve plunger 225 and cause retraction thereof by a distance necessary to achieve the desired fluid flow rate. For instance, the valve plunger 225 may be coupled to the electrical actuator and be retracted by the actuator to open the valve orifice 233 to a desired distance. In this example, the return spring 245 may eliminated. In the foregoing, the valve or valves 104 of the valve bank 103 may be controlled by the valve node 102 and/or the control system 400. In examples where electrical signals are used in place of air signals, air conduits may be replaced with electrical connections.

[0225] A linear encoder 280 may determine the displacement of the valve plunger 225 and thus the size of the valve orifice 233 during the on cycle of the fluid delivery manifold 200, and encoder information may thus be used to maintain accuracy of the actuator 250. The linear encoder 280 may include a sensor 280a configured to sense gradations 280b. For instance, the sensor 280a may be arranged on the manifold housing 210 and the gradations 280b may be coupled to the valve plunger 225 such as at the plunger head 226 or the stem 228. The gradations may for instance be constructed of metal (e.g., configured as a metal scale) and the sensor may be configured with a magnet configured to sense the gradations. The linear encoder may have a similar configuration to the linear encoder 186 described in connection with the syringe pump 100. When using a linear-type electrical actuator to actuate the integrated valve 205, a linear encoder may track the linear steps, e.g., motor steps, and use such encoder information to maintain accuracy of the distance the valve plunger 225 opens during the on cycle. The control system 400 may be communicatively coupled to the linear encoder 280, which may use linear displacement information in controlling the vehicle wash components of the present disclosure, e.g., the actuator assembly 260, the drive mechanism 150, the adjustable valve 170, the valve 104, and so on.

[0226] Where a proportional solenoid is used to actuate the integrated valve 205, the displacement of the valve plunger 225 and thus the size of the valve orifice 233 may also be determined using a linear encoder, and similarly, the encoder information may be used to maintain accuracy of the proportional solenoid. In addition or alternatively, the current delivered to the proportional solenoid may be correlated to a displacement of the proportional solenoid and the valve plunger 225. In addition or alternatively, a flow meter may be used to measure the fluid flow rate from the fluid outlet 230 and operation of the proportional solenoid may be controlled and adjusted using the control system 400 based on flow rate data from the flow meter.

[0227] In embodiments, sensors may be used to determine flow characteristics of the dispensed motive fluid, such as flow rates and fluid pressure. For instance, a flow sensor or pressure sensor P (FIG. 8a) may be fluidly coupled to the fluid outlet 230. A liquid flow meter may determine the flow rate of the motive fluid dispensed from the outlet 230. The liquid flow meter may have a similar configuration to the liquid flow meter 185 described in connection with the syringe pump 100, and may be a thermal mass flux type flow meter, an ultrasonic flow meter, a positive displacement flow meter, a turbine flow meter, and so on. A pressure sensor P may sense an outlet pressure of the fluid dispensed from the fluid outlet 230, and the pressure information may be used to calculate flow rate therefrom and maintain accuracy of the integrated valve 205. In another example, a pressure sensor 645 may be fluidly coupled to a motive fluid pump 640 (FIG. 2a), which pump may be fluidly coupled to the fluid inlet 220. The control system 400 may be communicatively coupled to one or more of the pressure sensors P, 645 and be configured to cause the position of the valve limiter 255 to be adjusted based on pressure sensor data.

[0228] Flow characteristic information derived from such sensors may be used to actively meter the motive fluid flow through the fluid delivery manifold 200 due to the control system 400 being communicatively coupled to such sensors and/or the linear encoder 250 or similar displacement device. For instance, where an increased outlet pressure or an increased motive fluid flow is needed, the control system 400 may cause the actuator 250 or similar displacement device to be retracted, which allows the valve plunger 225 to also retract further by an equivalent amount to increase the size of the valve orifice 233. Conversely, if less outlet pressure or less flow is needed, the actuator 250 or similar displacement device may be extended, which may force the valve plunger 225 to further extend, thereby shrinking the size of the valve orifice 233, which reduces the outlet pressure and flow rate.

[0229] Operation of the fluid delivery manifold 200 having multiple manifold housings 210, e.g., as provided in FIG. 8f, may be similar to the fluid delivery manifold 200 including a single manifold housing 210 described in connection with FIGS. 8a-8e. For instance, the three integrated valves 205 may be individually controlled by air or electrical signals according to the approaches disclosed herein. For pneumatic operation, each manifold housing 210 may be coupled to one or more valves 104, such as an individual valve 104 of the valves of the valve bank 103, and the valves 104 may be individually controlled by the control system 400 or valve node 102. This may provide for the independent operation of the integrated valves 205 of the fluid delivery manifold 200. For instance, the control system 400 may be configured to control the position of the valve limiter 255 of each of actuator assemblies 260 of the plunger housings 210 as well as an actuation status of each of the valves 104 coupled to the air inlet ports 235. As a result of the air chambers 240 being fluidly coupled to the individual valves 104, the control system 400 may thus be configured to individually control fluid dispensing from each of the individual fluid outlets 230.

[0230] The control system 400 may also be configured to control chemical dispensing from chemical supplies fluidly coupled to corresponding mixing sites configured to receive motive fluid from the fluid delivery manifolds 200. More particularly, in some implementations, corresponding air inlet ports 235 of the fluid delivery manifold 200 and drive mechanisms of chemical supplies may share a common valve 104 controlled by the control system 400, and their respective outlets may be fluidly coupled to a common loading valve 300 (e.g., FIG. 1a). For instance, as shown in FIG. 4, due to the first outlet 104d of the valve 104 being split, the supply of pressurized air may be simultaneously delivered to the drive mechanism of a syringe pump 100 (e.g., FIGS. 3a-3g) provided as the chemical supply, and to the air inlet port 235 of the fluid delivery manifold 200, each of which may have their outlets fluidly coupled to a common loading valve 300 (e.g., FIGS. 7a-7d). As such, the control system 400 causing delivery of a control signal from the common valve 104 to the integrated valve 205 of the fluid delivery manifold 200 and to the drive mechanism 150 of the chemical supply, may result in the coordinated delivery of motive fluid and chemical to the common loading valve 300, and a dilution ratio may be controlled using the various flow rate and pressure control devices disclosed herein (e.g., via use of the adjustable valves 170, the actuators 250, the flow meters, the linear actuators, the sensors, and/or the control system 400, as well as their disclosed alternatives and related systems). Accordingly, in addition to controlling the manifold assembly 200, the control system 400 may control a plurality of chemical supplies, each coupled to a mixing site, with each mixing site receiving motive fluid from the fluid outlet 230 of a respective integrated valve 205 and chemical from at least one of the chemical supplies, mix the motive fluid and the chemical to form a mixture, and dispense the mixture.

[0231] Dilution ratios of chemical to motive fluid may be controlled using one or more of the vehicle wash components of the present disclosure, such as any or all of the syringe pump 100, fluid delivery manifold 200, loading valve 300, control system 400, and alternatives thereto as provided herein. The fluid management systems of the present disclosure may accordingly implement one or more dilution control approaches. As the vehicle wash systems of the present disclosure include these vehicle wash components and/or the fluid management systems, the vehicle wash systems may thus deliver diluted solutions of chemical and motive fluid to downstream components for application in vehicle wash settings having predefined dilution ratios as controlled by the aforementioned components and systems.

[0232] In some implementations, the syringe pump 100 and the fluid delivery manifold 200 may each be configured to control a rate of chemical and fluid delivery, and therefore a dilution ratio. For instance, a rate of delivery of pressurized chemical delivered through the adjustable valve 170 of the syringe pump may be controlled by a size of the valve orifice 171, which may be adjustable using the valve needle 172. When the valve needle 172 is fully retracted, the size of the valve orifice 171 is at its largest and permits the maximum amount of flow of chemical from the syringe pump 100, and when the valve needle is fully extended, flow of chemical is blocked. A rate of delivery of motive fluid delivered from the outlet 230 of the fluid delivery manifold 200 may be controlled by an effective valve orifice area of the valve orifice 233, which may be adjustable based on a position of the plunger tip 229 of the valve 225 relative to the ingress 231 of the outlet 230 (e.g., FIGS. 8c and 8d). When the plunger tip 229 is fully retracted, the size of the size of the valve orifice 233 is at its largest and permits the maximum amount of flow of motive fluid from the fluid delivery manifold 200, and when the plunger tip 229 is fully extended, flow of motive fluid is blocked.

[0233] Dilution rates may thus be controlled by controlling the size of one or both valve orifices 171 and 233 of the respective syringe pump 100 and fluid delivery manifold 200. For instance, the stepper motor 175, or other linear actuator such as a proportional solenoid, of the adjustable valve 170 of the syringe pump 100 may be operably coupled to the valve needle 172 to control its displacement to thereby adjust the size of the valve orifice 171 and thus rate of chemical dispensing; while the actuator 250 of the fluid delivery manifold 200 may control the position of the valve limiter 255 to adjust a retraction distance of the plunger tip 229 and a resulting orifice size of the valve orifice 233 and thus a rate of fluid dispensing. Due to the dispensed chemical and fluid being combined at a mixing site, controlling the rate of dispensing of the chemical and the motive fluid results in control of the dilution rate. The positions of each of the valve needle 172 and the plunger tip 229 may be adjusted in a stepwise manner to adjust a level of flow from the respective valve orifices 171, 233. Further, the adjustments may be linear displacements, which may enable for the linear adjustment of flow and dilution rates.

3a. Control Systems

[0234] The control systems 400 of the present disclosure may be responsible for causing dispensing. According to certain implementations, rather than the main car wash controller 700 delivering control signals directly to the components of the fluid management system 500 to cause dispensing, the vehicle wash components may be caused to operate by the control system 400, which is separate from the external control sources including the car wash controller 700 and any related components, e.g., separate from power and memory of the car wash controller 700. This enables the control systems 400 to control when and if the fluid management systems and components thereof will operate upon receiving control signals from the external sources by generating different, separate instructions (e.g., control signals) and sending the separate instructions to the vehicle wash component(s).

[0235] As an example, the main car wash controller 700 may deliver control signals to the control system 400, and the control system 400 may be configured to interpret the control signals more generally as a signal (e.g., a sensed voltage), and instead of allowing the same signal to be relayed to the components of the fluid management system 500, the control system 400 generates its own, different instructions and sends these separate instructions to the components of the fluid management system 500 for operation thereof.

[0236] The one or more processors 410 of the control systems 400 of the fluid management systems may use onboard memory and programming for controlling the fluid management systems. Such processors 410 may be configured, for instance, as microcontrollers or computer processors depending on processing requirements for operating the fluid management systems. The processors 410 may be configured to send and/or receive signals to and/or from their communicatively coupled components. The one or more processors 410 may be configured to generate control signals to, for instance, cause actuation or operation of the mechanical and/or electrical components of the position 510 (e.g., of one or more vehicle wash components), cause some action to be taken (e.g., cause sensed information to be sent to the one or more processors 410), or cause operation of other devices at the vehicle wash location. Causing actuation or operation may involve, but is not limited to causing a component to be turned on and/or off, causing a dispensing operation (e.g., an operational cycle or an on cycle), causing adjustments of the mechanical and/or electrical components (e.g., adjusting an effective orifice area of a port or adjusting a biasing mechanism), causing adjustments in the duration of operation of one or more components, causing sensed information to be sent to the one or more processors 410, and combinations thereof.

[0237] The control system 400 and its one or more processors 410 may be communicatively coupled to the mechanical and/or electrical components of the vehicle wash components that may be caused to be actuated or take some action by the control system 400. The mechanical and/or electrical components include but are not limited to those of: the syringe pump 100 or other chemical delivery device, actuators such as the valves 104 (e.g., electrically actuated, pneumatic solenoid valves) the valve bank 103, the valve node 102, pressure regulators 105, flow meters 185, linear actuators 186, pressure sensors P, the fluid delivery manifold 200 or other fluid delivery device, the loading valve 300 or other mixing site; as well as other mechanical and/or electrical components at the vehicle wash location such as the power supply 520, the user interface 530, the fluid source 640 (e.g., a fluid pump), pressurized air source (e.g., an air pump), sensors (e.g., pressure sensors 641), the car wash controller 700, the communications gateway 800, the network 1000 and network components outside of the vehicle wash setting communicatively coupled (directly or indirectly) to the control system 400, along with other devices and components of the present disclosure. Non-limiting examples of mechanical and/or electrical components may include but are not limited to: actuators, valves (e.g., solenoid valves, integrated valves, adjustable valves such as pinch valves), drive mechanisms (e.g., pneumatic and/or electric), motors (e.g., stepper motors), pumps (e.g., fluid pumps and/or air pumps), sensors (e.g., flow meter 185, pressure sensors 641, P, linear encoders, thermometers, cameras), heating elements, servo actuators, other actuators that require electric control, and components thereof. The type of information received by the processors 410 may include, but is not limited to timing, operational parameter, operational status, flow rate(s), dilution rate(s) and/or changes of any of the preceding of the component(s) of the position 510, pressure levels, pressure changes, a linear position or a change in position of a linear actuator, the number of operations of the vehicle wash component(s) (e.g., dispensing events, timing of dispensing events) of the position 510, chemical supply levels (e.g., of the chemical supplies 610, 615), chemical conductivity, pH of a mixed solution, pH of a chemical, pH of water, ambient temperature, temperature of the vehicle, humidity of the vehicle wash location, soil level on a vehicle, soil type, the location of the vehicle wash component (e.g., GPS components or arrangement within the vehicle wash), age, wear, or operational status, power to the fluid management system, power to the vehicle wash component(s) of the position 510, connectivity to the network 1000, and a network identifier.

[0238] Because the control system 400 is configured to generate separate signals (e.g., separate instructions) from the car wash controller 700 control signal, the fluid management systems may be operated using different operating parameters relative to the control signals or parameters sent by the car wash controller 700. The control system 400 may also be configured to receive control signals from the communications gateway 800, and/or from other communicatively coupled components such as the user interface 530. Based on a variety of information received, the control system 400 may generate the new, separate instructions and transmit the instructions to cause fluid to be dispensed.

[0239] In some cases one or more processors 410 of the control system 400 may be dedicated to and configured to control one individual position 510 of the fluid management system; and the fluid management system 500 may include multiple positions 510, resulting in the control system 400 including multiple processors or sets of processors 410 based on the number of positions 510 of the fluid management system 500. For instance, the position 510 shown in FIG. 9a is communicatively coupled to at least one processor 410 and optionally others, and the one or more processors 410 may be configured to control operations of the syringe pump 100, the fluid delivery manifold 200, optionally the loading valve 300, as well as other mechanical and/or electrical components of the position 510. In such cases, the one or more processors 410 may be dedicated to the components of their corresponding position 510. Alternatively, the control system 400 may be programmed to individually control each position 510 by generating separate instructions and transmitting the separate instructions to cause operation of the components of a given position 510, which are different from the control signals generated by the control system 400 and transmitted to cause operation to another position 510, and thus the one or more processors 410 may not necessarily be dedicated to a position 510 or vehicle wash component thereof, but may instead be programmed with logic configured to individually control each position 510 or vehicle wash component thereof in a dedicated manner by generating and sending control signals specific for each position 510 of the system 500.

3b. Positions of Fluid Management Systems Including Syringe Pumps and Control System Control Thereof

[0240] FIGS. 9a-9d illustrate positions 510 of the fluid management systems that may be operatively coupled to various components of the vehicle wash systems. The position 510 may include one or more vehicle wash components operable to cause fluid to be dispensed from an outlet thereof into a fluid line 635 for application onto a vehicle by a downstream vehicle wash applicator 630 within the vehicle wash system 600 at the vehicle wash location. The positions 510 may be fluidly coupled to one another via a common motive fluid channel such as a common fluid channel 211 of a fluid delivery manifold 200 (FIG. 9a) or a motive fluid plenum configured to receive the position 510 via a motive fluid inlet thereof. In some cases, an inlet or the outlet of the vehicle wash component may include or be associated with a port configured with an adjustable effective orifice area that may be controlled by the control system 400 as provided herein. The vehicle wash component(s) of the position 510 may have various configurations and may include a combination of the aforementioned mechanical and/or electrical components. For instance, as illustrated in FIG. 9a, the position 510 may include a chemical delivery device such as a syringe pump 100, a fluid delivery device such as a fluid delivery manifold 200, a mixing site such as a loading valve 300, one or more flow sensor(s) 185, a linear position feedback system 186, a pressure sensor P or another sensor as well as other mechanical and/or electrical components provided herein. The position 510 is schematically illustrated as being communicatively coupled to the control system 400 and operatively (e.g., fluidly or electrically) coupled to an actuator 104, a pressure regulator 105, a pressurized air source 106 and a pressurized fluid source 107, 640; however, the control system 400 may be coupled to multiple actuation sources as will be appreciated from the various implementations of the present disclosure. Fluid couplings to upstream chemical and motive fluid supplies and to downstream vehicle wash components are illustrated at least in connection with FIGS. 3a-3i, 7a-7e, and 8a-8g and are not repeated herein for the sake of brevity.

[0241] The one or more processors 410 of the control system 400 may be configured to be communicatively coupled at least to the chemical delivery device and the fluid delivery device of the position 510 of FIG. 9a to cause chemical and motive fluid to be dispensed therefrom. For instance, the one or more processors 410 may be configured to cause operation of a drive mechanism 150 of the syringe pump 100 such that chemical is dispensed from a chemical outlet 140 (FIG. 1a). The one or more processors 410 may also be communicatively coupled to and configured to cause operation of an integrated valve 205 of a fluid delivery manifold 200 such that motive fluid is dispensed from a motive fluid outlet 230 the fluid delivery device 200 (FIG. 7b). Details of routing and regulating air pressure to cause actuation of the syringe pumps 100 and the fluid delivery manifold 200 of the fluid management systems are described at least in connection with FIGS. 9a-9d, and are not repeated herein in the interest of brevity.

[0242] A mixing site, such as a loading valve 300, may be fluidly coupled to the chemical outlet 140 and the motive fluid outlet 230 and configured to receive and mix the dispensed chemical and motive fluid to form a mixture, which may be dispensed from a mixed fluid outlet such as an egress of a motive fluid pathway 310 of the loading valve 300 (FIG. 9a). The one or more processors 410 may also be communicatively coupled to and configured to cause a biasing mechanism 315 of the loading valve 300 to operate for instance to change an opening pressure of a loading chamber 335 (FIG. 9d). Details of mixing sites configured as a loading valve 300 are described at least in connection with FIGS. 9a-9d, and are not repeated herein in the interest of brevity.

[0243] FIG. 9b illustrates another position 510 of the fluid management system 602 along with components of the vehicle wash system 602, according to various implementations of the present disclosure. The position 510 in FIG. 9b may include a chemical delivery device such as a syringe pump 100, one or more flow sensor(s) 185, a linear position feedback system 186, a pressure sensor or another sensor as well as other mechanical and/or electrical components provided herein. The features of FIG. 9b shared in common with FIG. 9a having common reference numbers described above are not repeated herein in the interest of brevity. In addition, any of the positions 510 of FIGS. 9a-9b may be used in connection with any of fluid management systems and vehicle wash systems of the present disclosure.

[0244] FIG. 9c illustrates yet another position 510 of the fluid management system 502 along with components of the vehicle wash system 603 according to various implementations of the present disclosure. The position 510 in FIG. 9c may include a fluid delivery device such as a fluid delivery manifold 200, a mixing site such as a loading valve 300 or an eductor 3000 (FIG. 10), one or more flow sensor(s) 185, a pressure sensor as well as other mechanical and/or electrical components provided herein.

[0245] FIG. 9d illustrates yet a further position 510 of the fluid management systems of the present disclosure, along with components of the vehicle wash system 600. The position 510 in FIG. 9d may include a chemical dispensing device such as the syringe pump 100 and a mixing site such as the loading valve 300 fluidly coupled to a motive fluid source, e.g., the pressurized fluid source 107, 640. In FIG. 9d, the control system 400 may be communicatively coupled to a biasing mechanism 315 of the loading valve 300, and the control system 400 may be configured to cause the biasing mechanism 315 to operate to change an opening pressure of a chemical loading chamber 335 (FIG. 7d) of the loading valve 300 in connection with controlling the delivery of pressurized chemical into motive fluid passing through the motive fluid pathway 310. The features of FIGS. 9c and 9d shared in common with FIGS. 9a and 9b having common reference numbers described above are not repeated herein in the interest of brevity. In addition, any of the positions 510 of FIGS. 9a-9d may be used in connection with any of fluid management systems and vehicle wash systems of the present disclosure.

[0246] In yet further implementations, the position 510 be configured with one or more eductors that rely on vacuum or suction for the dispensing of mixed solutions. An eductor 3000 is illustrated in FIG. 10 and may have a venturi configuration for introducing the chemical into the motive fluid, and as such the eductor 3000 may be configured as a mixing site. Eductors 3000 may include a water inlet 3020, a mixing chamber 3025, a chemical inlet 3030, a check valve 3035, and a mixed solution outlet 3040 and be configured to be fluidly coupled to chemical, fluid and mixed solution delivery lines. Eductors may each be coupled to an outlet of a motive fluid delivery device, e.g., using quick-connect mechanisms such as bayonet fittings, pin couplers, and so on, and each eductor 3000 may be individually replaceable or exchangeable for eductors having different flow ratings. The venturi configuration of the eductor 3000 draws a chemical in through a chemical inlet 3030 by the venturi effect and mixes the chemical with the motive fluid provided at the water inlet 3020, e.g., a fluid port of the eductor, which may be fluidly coupled to an outlet of the motive fluid delivery device, e.g., the fluid outlet 230 of the fluid delivery manifold 200. Venturi eductors of various sizes and configurations produce various suction pressures at the chemical inlet 3030. The selection of individual eductors is generally based on the desired chemical concentration in the mixed solution, along with the flow rate and/or pressure of the motive fluid through the fluid delivery manifold 200. The resulting mixed solution in the eductor 3000 is then directed to the mixed solution outlet 3040 of the eductor. Due to venturi configuration providing a differential between the inlet and outlet pressures during operation of the fluid management system, the eductors draw in the respective chemical into the mixing chamber 3025 as the motive fluid enters the eductor 3000, thus enabling the addition of chemicals into the fluid management system using suction or vacuum force. A check valve 3035 may be arranged between the chemical inlet 3030 and the mixing chamber 3025 to prevent chemical from entering the eductor 3000 in the absence of the pressure differential. The eductor approach which differs from the syringe pumps 100, mixing sites 300 and other chemical delivery systems that rely on positive displacement for the delivery of chemicals into the mixed solution.

[0247] The positions 510 may be mounted on a common panel 101 or other structure as provided herein. In some examples the multiple positions 510 of a given panel 101 may be dedicated to a single bay or tunnel of a vehicle wash location. Alternatively, the multiple positions 510 of a given panel 101 may dispense to multiple bays or tunnels at the vehicle wash location. In another example, the multiple positions 510 of a given panel 101 may be dedicated to dispensing on a single car during a vehicle wash operation. Alternatively, the positions of the panel may dispense on multiple vehicles simultaneously or substantially simultaneously as the vehicles pass through the vehicle wash location in sequence within the tunnel or in parallel when multiple bays or tunnels are used simultaneously at the vehicle wash location.

[0248] Turning to FIG. 11a, illustrated is a flowchart of a method 900 for generating separate instructions (e.g., separate control signals) by the control system 400 of any of the fluid management systems 500, 501, 502 of the present disclosure, referred to as system 500. The control system 400 may receive information for or related to the operation of the system 500 or a component thereof. Such information may be received as timing information (step 905) and/or operational parameter information (step 910), and may be received from communications components located at the vehicle wash location but external to the system 500 or may be received from communications components external to the vehicle wash location. Communications components located at the vehicle wash location but external to the system 500 may include but is not limited to the car wash controller 700, the gateway 800, and/or a user interface 530, e.g., located at the vehicle wash location. For instance, a voltage control signal from the car wash controller 700 or other communicatively coupled component may be interpreted by the control system 400 as a timing signal indicating that the position 510 or system 500 is to operate (step 905), and the control system 400 may generate and store timing instructions as a portion of the separate instructions, as described further in step 915. In such cases, the control system 400 may generate timing instructions for a time when the position 510 or system 500 is to be actuated and a duration of operation upon actuation. The timing instructions may differ from the timing information received in step 905. Information from the gateway 800 or other input source may be interpreted as operational parameter instructions (step 910), and the one or more processors 410 may generate and store the operational parameter instructions as a portion of the separate instructions based thereon, as described further in step 915. Non-limiting examples of operational parameter instructions received may include: a target flow rate of fluid (e.g., of chemical, of motive fluid, or of a mixture), a target volume of fluid, a target dilution ratio of the fluid and chemical in a mixture, and/or a target outlet pressure of fluid to be dispensed from the position 510. In another example, a target outlet pressure of a downstream applicator 630 fluidly coupled to the position 510 may be received as an operational parameter. In certain implementations, the user interface 530 may be communicatively coupled to the one or more processors 410 and configured to enable a user to make selections for use by the control system 400, e.g., a user may enter information such as operational parameters and/or selections about when the position 510 or system is to operate, a chemical to be dispensed from the position 510, a desired outlet pressure, a downstream applicator, fluid line parameters, and so on.

[0249] Communications components external to the vehicle wash location may include the computer network 1000 and network components external to the gateway 800 and the control system 400 may be configured to receive timing information and/or operational parameter information therefrom. In some cases, the timing information (step 905) and operational parameter information (step 910) may each be received from separate communications components. In certain examples, the timing information may be received from the car wash controller 700, while the operational parameter information may be received from the gateway 800, user interface 530, or the network 1000.

[0250] In response to receipt of the information, the one or more processors 410 may analyze the information, generate separate instructions for operation that differ from the received instructions, and store the separate instructions for causing operation according to the separate instructions (step 915). The separate instructions may be selected by the by the control system 400 such that, when transmitted, cause the vehicle wash component to operate to reach the target(s) and or selection(s), e.g., during a dispensing operation and/or an on cycle. In some implementations, the separate instructions may include timing instructions, which may include but are not limited to a duration of operation of a mechanical and/or electrical component, such as a predefined time during which the component is to operate in response to the transmitted separate instructions. In addition or alternatively, the separate instructions may include operational parameter instructions, which may include but are not limited causing an orifice size of one or more ports to be adjusted as provided herein, causing an adjustment in pressure, and/or causing an adjustment in flow rate of the mechanical and/or electrical component(s). For instance, the separate instructions may include a time for when one or more of the vehicle wash component is to be actuated, a duration of time of operation upon actuation, an effective orifice area of one or more ports of the respective vehicle wash components, and so on.

[0251] The separate instructions may be generated by the control system 400 based on an analysis of information received from the variety of communicatively coupled components provided herein. Accordingly, the method 900 may optionally proceed to select the separate instructions (step 915) and/or may proceed to modify the separate instructions based on monitoring and receipt of other inputs (step 920). Where multiple separate instructions are generated and stored by the one or more processors 410 in connection with the operation of the position 510, at least one of the separate instructions may be generated and/or modified based on the monitoring and other inputs in step 920.

[0252] The steps of selecting separate instructions (step 915) and modifying the separate instructions (step 920) are discussed below.

[0253] Flow rate information from one or more flow meters or flow rate sensors (e.g., flow meter 185) may be used to generate the separate and/or modified separate instructions, referred to as the separate instructions. Information from the flow meters may be used to calculate or determine flow rates by the control system 400 for instance based on voltage readings, voltage current readings, pulse counts or flow values from the flow meters. Such flow meter(s) may be fluidly coupled to a fluid port of the vehicle wash component (e.g., chemical delivery device and/or the fluid delivery device and/or mixing site) of the position 510 and communicatively coupled to the control system 400. Ports to which the flow meter(s) may be fluidly coupled may include a fluid inlet or a fluid outlet of the vehicle wash component, a port of the chemical delivery device such as a chemical outlet 140 or a chemical inlet 130 of the syringe pump 100, or a port of the fluid delivery device such as the fluid inlet 220 or the fluid outlet 230 of the fluid delivery manifold 200. Using the flow rate information, the control system 400 may determine whether or not the chemical and/or fluid are flowing at a target dilution and/or flow rate, and control system 400 may generate the separate instructions to cause adjustments in dilution and/or flow rate from one or more of the ports of the position 510 to reach the target. In some examples, operational parameter information received by the control system 400 may include one or more of a target flow rate or the target volume or parameters associated with a target that may be used by the control system to calculate the target, and the control system may proceed with its analysis by using data from the flow meter to determine an effective orifice area of a port needed to reach the target flow rate during the dispensing operation, or determining a duration of time for the dispensing operation of the vehicle wash component to reach the target volume, and the separate instructions may cause the vehicle wash component to operate according based on the determination(s) to cause fluid to be dispensed at the target flow rate and/or the target volume.

[0254] Linear displacement information from linear position feedback system (e.g., a linear encoder 186) may be used to generate the separate instructions. The linear position feedback system may be coupled to a piston and drive shaft assembly of a drive mechanism 150 of a corresponding syringe pump 100 a position 510 of the fluid delivery system and may be communicatively coupled to the control system 400. The linear displacement information from the linear position feedback system may be used by the control system 400 to determine the linear displacement of the drive shaft 160 or piston, which corresponds to a predetermined volume of chemical dispensed from a chemical chamber 110 of the syringe pump 100, for determining the flow rate of chemical dispensed from the syringe pump 100. The flow rate information may be used by the control system 400 in connection with generating the separate instructions for operation of the position 510.

[0255] Sensed pressure information from pressure sensors (e.g., pressure sensor P) may be used to generate the separate instructions. For instance, the control system 400 may be configured to determine from communicatively coupled pressure sensors, a pressure differential across first and second fluidly coupled ports of the fluid delivery device during fluid dispensing in a dispensing operation, and based on the pressure differential, may determine a fluid flow rate. A target chemical flow rate may be calculated to reach a target dilution ratio based on the determined fluid flow rate, and the operational parameter and/or timing instructions of the separate instructions may be selected by the control system 400 to cause the chemical delivery device to reach the target chemical flow rate and/or target dilution rate. In addition or alternatively, the determined fluid flow rate may be compared by the control system 400 with a target fluid flow rate, and the operational parameter and/or timing instructions of the separate instructions may be selected to cause the fluid delivery device to reach the target fluid flow rate.

[0256] A target outlet pressure may be associated with the separate instructions. For instance, received instructions related to operation of the vehicle wash assembly may include or relate to a target outlet pressure for dispensing the fluid from a downstream applicator 630 of a vehicle wash system (e.g., vehicle wash system 600), and the control system 400 may proceed by: calculating a pressure drop between the vehicle wash assembly or system 500 and the downstream applicator 630, calculating a target fluid outlet pressure of the vehicle wash assembly necessary to achieve the target outlet pressure at the applicator 630, and generating the separate instructions based on the calculations to cause the vehicle wash assembly to dispense the fluid to reach the target fluid outlet pressure at the applicator 630. In examples, the control system 400 may cause the fluid delivery manifold 200 or other components such as the fluid source 640 to be operated to achieve this required motive fluid outlet pressure and/or a mixed solution outlet pressure, thereby using use closed-loop control of the system 500 to achieve the correct outlet pressure at the applicator 630. Accordingly control system 400 may cause the system 500 to operate according to at least one of: selected operational parameters or a selected duration of time of the separate instructions to reach the target motive fluid outlet pressure and/or a mixed solution outlet pressure. For instance, a fluid pressure at the fluid outlet 230 and/or from the fluid source 640 may be increased or decreased, and a rate of chemical dispensing from the syringe pump 100 may be adjusted to reach the target dilution ratio.

[0257] Adjustments in dispensing duration(s) may be associated with the separate instructions. For instance, reaching a target dilution ratio and/or flow rate may result from increasing or decreasing a duration of time which a drive mechanism or a valve operates during dispensing such as during an operational cycle or an on cycle. Accordingly, the control system 400 may generate the timing instructions of the separate instructions to reach the target by causing dispensing to occur over a predefined period of time, which predefined period of time may be an increase or a decrease relative to prior dispensing operations of the position 510. In some cases, the predefined period of time may remain unchanged while other operational parameters of the fluid management system 500 may be adjusted. In some cases, the dispensing duration may be equivalent to 0 or no dispensing may occur. In one example, the control system 400 may receive timing signals from the car wash controller 700 but the control system 400 may be configured to cause operation(s) only once upon receipt of multiple signals. For instance, a first timing signal associated with dispensing may be received by the control system 400, which may result in the control system causing dispensing, then receipt of a second and a third timing signal may result in the control system 400 preventing dispensing, e.g., the dispensing duration is 0, and upon receipt of a fourth timing signal, the control system 400 may interpret the timing signal as a first timing signal and the control system 400 may again cause dispensing to repeat the cycle. Such instances may, for example, be useful in brush applicators, cloth wraps for scrubbing vehicle exteriors that receive dispensed chemical from the syringe pump 100 and/or diluted chemical from the fluid management system 500 where a single dispensing of chemical and/or diluted chemical may be sufficient for application on to multiple vehicles passing through the vehicle wash location. Thus, in addition to controlling the duration of operation of the components of the fluid management systems, the control system 400 controls whether or not operation will occur. In another example, the control system 400 may interpret receipt of multiple timing signals as corresponding to no dispensing, and a final timing signal in the cycle may result in dispensing chemical or diluted chemical to a downstream dispenser, such as a window cleaning solution to a window cleaner dispenser configured to clean tunnel windows of a vehicle wash tunnel. In other cases, the control system 400 may cause dispensing to occur each time a signal is received from the car wash controller 700.

[0258] Adjusting an effective orifice area of a fluid port may be associated with the separate instructions. For instance, reaching a target dilution ratio and/or flow rate may additionally or alternatively result from increasing or decreasing an effective orifice area of a fluid port (e.g., an inlet or an outlet) of the vehicle wash component, and the control system 400 may generate the operational parameter instructions of the separate instructions to reach the target by causing one or more ports to reach a selected or predetermined effective orifice area, which may be an increase or a decrease relative to prior effective orifice areas. In such examples, the control system 400 may be configured to control the adjustable valve 170 of the syringe pump 100 to adjust an effective valve orifice area of the valve orifice 171 of the chemical outlet 140 to thereby control an amount or a rate of chemical dispensing. In addition or alternatively, the separate instructions of the control system 400 may cause a valve limiter assembly to adjust an effective valve orifice area of a fluid outlet to control an amount or a rate of fluid dispensing from an outlet. For example, a valve limiter 255 of a valve limiter assembly 260 of the fluid delivery manifold 200 may be caused to extend or retract by control system 400 controlling operation of the actuator 250 to thereby result in a position of the valve limiter 255 being adjusted. When the integrated valve 205 is operated, the position of the valve limiter 255 may limit an opening distance of the valve plunger 225 to define the effective valve orifice area of the valve orifice 233 of the fluid outlet 230 to thereby control an amount or rate of fluid dispensing. In certain implementations, a parabolic tip may be used to linearly adjust the effective orifice area of the port, and the control system 400 may cause the parabolic tip to linearly adjust the effective orifice area of the port to thereby cause a linear adjustment of the flow rate of the fluid. Operational cycles of the syringe pump 100, on-cycles of the fluid delivery manifold 200, operation of the adjustable valve 170 of the syringe pump 100, operation of the valve limiter assembly 260 of the fluid delivery manifold 200, and adjustments of such components including parabolic tips 173, 229, are disclosed in connection with FIGS. 3a-3i, 7a-7d, 8a-8f and not repeated in the interest of brevity. In another example, the selected orifice area (e.g., effective orifice area) may be achieved by operating a pinch valve. For instance, the pinch valve may be coupled to a chemical line fluidly coupled to a chemical port (e.g., inlet or outlet) of the chemical delivery device of the system 500, such as the syringe pump 100, and the control system 400 may generate operational parameter instructions to control the pinch valve in adjusting the effective orifice area of the chemical line to thereby control a rate of chemical flow into and/or out of the chemical delivery device.

[0259] Pressure information, such as pressure differential information, may be associated with the separate instructions. For instance, reaching a target dilution ratio of the motive fluid into a chemical may, for example, involve the control system 400 determining from communicatively coupled pressure sensors a pressure differential across first and second fluidly coupled ports of the vehicle wash assembly during motive fluid dispensing, determining a motive fluid flow rate based on the pressure differential, and calculating a target chemical flow rate of the chemical to reach the target dilution ratio based on the determined fluid flow rate to thereby enable the separate instructions to be generated based on the determined fluid flow rate and the calculated target chemical flow rate. Where the target chemical flow rate differs from the existing flow rate, the control system 400 may cause the orifice area to be adjusted, e.g., via an adjustable valve.

[0260] Flow meter information may be associated with the separate instructions. For instance, reaching a target dilution ratio of the chemical in a motive fluid may additionally or alternatively involve the control system 400 determining from one or more communicatively coupled flow meters, an actual flow rate of the chemical dispensed from the vehicle wash assembly, determining a fluid flow rate of the motive fluid, and calculating a target flow rate of the chemical to reach the target dilution ratio based on the determined fluid flow rate, and selecting an effective orifice area of the port to reach the target flow rate of the chemical to thereby enable the separate instructions to be generated based on the selected effective orifice area of the port to reach the target flow rate. Where the selected effective orifice area differs from the existing orifice area, the control system 400 may cause the orifice area to be adjusted.

[0261] Actual flow rate information may be associated with the separate instructions. For instance, reaching a target dilution ratio of the chemical and motive fluid may additionally or alternatively involve the control system 400 determining from one or more communicatively coupled flow meters or pressure sensor, an actual flow rate of the chemical dispensed and motive fluid from the vehicle wash assembly, determining a target flow rate of the chemical or the motive fluid to reach the target dilution ratio based on the actual flow rates, and selecting an effective orifice area of a chemical port and/or of a motive fluid port to reach the target flow rate of the chemical and/or motive fluid to thereby enable the separate instructions to be generated based on the selected effective orifice area(s) of the port(s) to reach the target dilution ratio. Where one or more of the selected effective orifice areas differ from the existing orifice area, the control system 400 may cause the orifice area(s) to be adjusted e.g., via an adjustable valve and/or valve limiter.

[0262] In some examples the actual flow rate of the chemical may differ from the target flow rate when the chemical experiences a change in viscosity such as due to the chemical being stored in a cold environment. In this example, the chemical may have an increased viscosity and be dispensed at a slower rate than the target, e.g., due to the ambient temperature being colder than room temperature or due to the chemical supply being colder than room temperature, and the control system 400 may cause the duration of the dispensing operation and/or the adjustable valve 170 to be adjusted in order to increase the amount of chemical dispensed during the dispensing operation to reach the target flow rate. Accordingly, the control system 400 may be configured to locate the correct or target dilution rate by measuring or calculating flow rates of chemical and fluid and adjusting one or more dispensing parameters to reach the target.

[0263] Chemical selection(s) may be associated with the separate instructions. For instance, one or more chemical selections may be received by the control system 400, e.g., from the user interface 530, for dispensing from the position(s) 510, and target chemical flow rate(s) or target dilution ratio(s) may be determined by control system 400 proceeding to query a database of chemicals, and using the database information to generate the separate instructions. The database may store a library of chemicals, their associated dilution ratios (e.g., ounces per gallon), and properties such as viscosity (e.g., at room temperature and/or at other ambient temperatures), target applicator, and so on. In such cases, the database may be locally stored by the control system 400, by a communicatively coupled computer system at the vehicle wash location, or by a remotely located server. The database may be periodically updated, e.g., via the computer network 1000, based on chemicals available for dispensing by the chemical delivery device(s) and their corresponding recommended target chemical flow rate(s) or target dilution ratio(s). In addition or alternatively, the user interface 530 may be configured to enable the user to select target chemical flow rate(s) or target dilution ratio(s) for the chemical to be dispensed from the position(s) 510.

[0264] Selections of vehicle wash applicators 630 and/or fluid lines 635 may be associated with the separate instructions. For instance, where the control system 400 receives selections, e.g., from the user interface 530, about vehicle wash applicators 630 and fluid lines 635 that are to receive mixed solution(s) from the position(s) 510, then the control system 400 may calculate a pressure drop from the system 500 to the vehicle wash applicator 630 (e.g., a pressure drop through a fluid line 635 arranged therebetween) by proceeding to query a database of car wash applicators. The control system 400 may further determine a target flow rate at which the applicator 630 needs to be operated at (e.g., based on information from the database and selections). Using such information, the control system 400 may further calculate a target motive fluid outlet pressure and/or a mixed solution outlet pressure from the system 500 required to achieve the target flow rate at the applicator 630, e.g., a target pressure (e.g., psi) and fluid flow rate (e.g., gallons per minute (gpm)). The database of car wash applicators and fluid lines in combination with the user interface 530 may enable a user to select the applicator 630 and/or fluid line 635 being used for each position 510. The user may also provide inputs of the size and length of the fluid line 635. The control system 400 may further determine whether or not the target flow rate from the system 500 has been achieved based on sensed pressure information, and make further adjustments to reach the target as provided herein. In examples, the database may be stored locally by the control system 400, remotely by a communicatively coupled computer system at the vehicle wash location, or remotely by a remotely located server. The database may be periodically updated with carwash applicators, their associated nozzle orifice sizes, delivery line parameters, and recommended operating pressures.

[0265] Sensed fluid pressure information of fluid exiting the system 500 may be associated with the separate instructions. The control system 400 configured with the ability to sense the fluid pressure of fluid exiting the system 500, e.g., at the outlet 230 of the fluid delivery manifold 200, or the outlet of the loading valve 300 is beneficial, because this is an indicator of how well the applicator 630 (e.g., nozzles) in the vehicle wash system 600 are filled out. For example, the applicators 630 may tend to be rated for about 40 psi, and if the pressure at the applicators 630 is below this then it will not perform optimally. The pressure of the mixture exiting the system 500 will not necessarily be the same as the pressure at the applicator 630 since there will be pressure drop in the fluid line 635, but the sensed fluid pressure exiting the system 500 provides a relative indication of the pressure at the applicator 630 based on the selections.

[0266] In addition or alternatively, other components such as sensors, timers, network components, and user interface may be communicatively coupled to the control system 400 and information received therefrom may be used by the control system 400 in connection with generating the separate instructions for the position(s) 510.

[0267] Where modified separate instructions are generated, these may be stored (step 925) by the control system 400. Accordingly, the generated separate instructions, with or without modification(s), may be transmitted by the control system 400 to cause the various components of the position 510, e.g., the chemical delivery device, the fluid delivery device, and/or the mixing site, to operate according to the separate instructions in connection with fluid dispensing.

[0268] Turning to FIG. 11b, illustrated is a flowchart of a method 950 for transmitting the generated separate instructions by the control system 400 according to the present disclosure. The separate instructions may be transmitted by the control system 400 in response to receipt of information, e.g., a control signal, from a communicatively coupled device, such as from the car wash controller 700, the gateway 800, and/or a control signal from a separate communications component such as the user interface 530, e.g., located at the vehicle wash location, which may initiate method 950 (step 955). The method 950 may proceed by the control system 400 determining whether or not a target dilution and/or flow rate has been achieved (step 960). This step may be conducted by control system 400 using a number of approaches due to its communicative coupling to a variety of components configured for measuring or detecting flow rate information such as flow sensors 185, linear position feedback systems (e.g., linear encoders 186), pressure sensors, and so on. The control system 400 may be programmed to monitor data from one or more of these communicatively coupled components and evaluate the flow rate information of the fluid to determine an actual flow rate of the fluid dispensed from the vehicle wash component or the position 510 (e.g., during dispensing). In some cases the flow rate information is evaluated by the control system 400 over an evaluation period to calculate the actual flow rate, which may be used by the control system 400 to determine whether or not the actual flow rate corresponds to the target dilution and/or flow rate. The evaluation period is a measurement period during which the control system 400 waits until passed before analyzing data and determining whether to make adjustments. For instance, the evaluation period may include: evaluation over a predefined volume of fluid dispensed from a vehicle wash component and through an associated flow sensor or as determined by an associated linear position feedback system, evaluation over a predefined number of operational cycles of the position 510 (e.g., dispensing cycles, on-cycles), and/or evaluation over a predefined time period such as a predefined accumulation of time during which the position 510 is actuated by the control system 400.

[0269] In examples, dispensing a predefined volume of chemical may define all or a portion of the evaluation period. In this case, the evaluation period includes a measurement period corresponding to a predetermined volume of chemical passing through the flow meter (or as determined from data from the linear encoder) after which the control system 400 will analyze data and based thereon, may make adjustments. The predefined volume of chemical may correspond to one dispensing cycle, multiple dispensing cycles, or a partial dispensing cycle of the syringe pump 100 depending on the volume dispensed per cycle and the predefined volume set for the evaluation period. Data associated with the chemical dispensed over the predefined volume may be analyzed by the control system 400 after the evaluation period ends before causing adjustments to the position 510 or fluid management system in which the syringe pump 100 is arranged. For instance, the control system 400 may calculate an average volume dispensed over an instantly preceding evaluation period, or over multiple preceding evaluation periods. In some cases, the flow meter 185 may be configured as a positive displacement flow meter (or other passive sensor) and deliver pulses to the control system 400 upon a predetermined volume of fluid passing through the flow meter. Such pulses may be voltage, current, or digital signals. Other flow sensor or flow meter configurations may be active sensors and have a processor programmed with instructions to take readings (ultrasonic, pressure, temperature, etc.) and calculate a flow reading, e.g., flow rate, based on those readings. The active sensor may be configured to generate a voltage signal, current signal, or digital signal to communicate the flow reading to the control system 400. In such cases, the active sensor may transmit data to the control system 400 regardless of the flow rate and may enable the control system 400 to gather the same amount of data within a time interval, independent of the flow rate. In such cases, the evaluation period may additionally or alternatively be time-based, and the control system 400 may receive signals from the active sensor periodically over an evaluation period, in which all or a portion of the evaluation period is time-based. Thus, the evaluation period may be volume- and/or time-based.

[0270] The evaluation periods of the present disclosure may be over a longer period of time and/or larger volume compared to instantaneous measurements because, in vehicle wash settings, the user typically maintains dilution rates constant for longer periods of time and volumes compared to other settings such as hospitals that require rapid evaluations to ensure accurate drug administration to individual patients. The fluid management systems 500 benefit from these longer evaluation periods because less frequent adjustments can preserve the longevity of the mechanical and/or electrical components of the positions 510 and their fluid management systems, while at the same time the dilution rates can be maintained within a range from evaluation period to evaluation period.

[0271] If the target dilution and/or flow rate has been achieved in step 960 (e.g., when the actual flow rate corresponds to the target), the stored separate instructions may be transmitted by the control system 400 to cause operation of the position 510 (step 965). If the target has not been achieved, then the stored separate instructions may be modified to reach the target (step 970). Modification of one or more of the separate instructions is discussed above in connection with step 920 of method 900 is not repeated in this example in the interest of brevity. The modified instructions may be transmitted by the control system 400 to cause operation of the position 510 (step 975), e.g., operation of the mechanical and/or electrical components of the position 510. The control system 400 causing various operations of the mechanical and/or electrical components is provided herein and not repeated in this example in the interest of brevity. For instance, causing actuation by the control system 400 is described in connection with operation of syringe pumps 100, fluid delivery manifolds 200, and the one or more valves 104 of the fluid management system 500, such as electrically actuated, pneumatic solenoid valves, but other actuators may be caused to be actuated by the control system 400. The valves 104 or actuator(s) of a corresponding chemical and/or fluid delivery component of a position 510 communicatively coupled to a processor 410 of the control system 400 may thus be configured to operate the vehicle wash component(s), e.g., actuate a drive mechanism and/or a valve, according to the separate instructions transmitted by the processor 410.

[0272] In some cases, the valve 104 or actuator is coupled to one of a chemical delivery device, a fluid delivery device, or a mixing site of the position 510 such that the separate instructions causes the single component to operate. In other cases, the valve 104 or actuator is coupled to two or more of the chemical and the fluid delivery components and mixing site such that the separate instructions causes two or more components to operate, e.g., both the drive mechanism and the integrated valve of the vehicle wash component(s) of the position 510. It will be appreciated that each position 510 may include one or more actuators communicatively coupled to corresponding one or more processors 410 of the position 510, and individual actuators may be configured to operate separate or multiple components of the position 510. For instance, a first actuator may operate at least the drive mechanism of a chemical delivery device in response to a processor 410 transmitting separate instructions, a second actuator may operate at least a valve of a fluid delivery device in response to a processor 410 transmitting separate instructions, a third actuator may operate at least the mixing site in response to a processor transmitting separate instructions, a fourth actuator may operate at least an adjustable valve (e.g., of a chemical delivery component) in response to a processor 410 transmitting separate instructions, a fifth actuator may operate at least a stepper motor (e.g., of the fluid delivery component) in response to a processor 410 transmitting separate instructions, a sixth actuator may operate at least a mechanical and/or electrical component in response to a processor 410 transmitting separate instructions, and so on. As will be further appreciated, the processor 410 causing the actuators to operate their respective components may be a single processor or multiple processors of the fluid management system 500, and the separate instructions may be specifically configured for causing the desired operations of these components, for instance, to reach a target dilution and/or flow rate by coordinated operation of the various components. In examples, separate instructions generated by the control system 400 may cause operation of one, two, three, four, five or more of the chemical delivery device, fluid delivery device, mixing site, adjustable valve, stepper motor, mechanical and/or electrical component, to thereby cause coordinated operation of the various components of the position 510.

[0273] Referring to the fluid management system 500 of FIG. 1a, individual mixtures of motive fluid and chemical may be delivered via a plurality of positions 510, also referred to as vehicle wash assemblies. The positions 510 may each be configured to mix the dispensed fluid and chemical in response to receipt of control signals from the control system 400, such as the separate signals transmitted by the one or more processors 410 as provided herein. The fluid management system 500 may thus facilitate vehicle wash operations at a vehicle wash location by providing coordinated operation of the various components of each of the positions 510.

[0274] In some cases, the positions 510 may be fluidly connected to one another. For instance, the motive fluid inlets may be fluidly and/or physically connected to define an inlet channel (see FIGS. 3a and 8f). Each motive fluid inlet or inlet channel may be coupled to an adjacent inlet channel of an adjacent fluid delivery device, which may enable the positions 510 to be fluidly connected via a motive fluid inlet 220 of a first fluid delivery device being fluidly coupled to common motive fluid source, such as a fluid pump 640. The positions 510 may be mounted on a common structure as provided herein. The positions 510 may include one or more flow meters, linear encoders, adjustable valves, valve limiter assemblies, which may be communicatively coupled to the one or more processors 410 of the position 510 as provided herein and information derived therefrom may be used by the one or more processors 410 in connection with generating the separate instructions.

[0275] Referring to FIG. 9b, in the fluid management system 501 and its position 510, pressurized chemical may be dispensed via one or a plurality of the positions 510, also referred to as chemical delivery devices, which may be electrically and/or pneumatically operated. Each chemical delivery device may be configured as a syringe pump 100 and may include a chemical chamber 110 configured to receive chemical, and the control system 400 may be configured to cause a drive mechanism 150 to operate to dispense chemical from the chemical chamber via a chemical outlet of the syringe pump 100. The control system 400 may be configured to receive instructions for or related to operation of the chemical delivery device, and as provided herein, generate and transmit the separate instructions to cause a chemical dispensing operation according to the separate instructions.

[0276] In some cases, the control system 400 may be configured to cause a valve 104 or valve bank 103 to be actuated. The valves 104 may be configured as electrically actuated, pneumatic solenoid valves that receive and route pressurized air to the drive mechanism 150 to cause the dispensing operation. For instance, with reference to FIG. 9a, a first or lower pneumatic port 157b and a second or upper pneumatic port 157a may be fluidly coupled to the valve 104 configured as an electrically actuated pneumatic solenoid valve, and pressurized air received at the first port 157b from the valve 104 may cause a dispensing stroke of the dispensing operation, while pressurized air received at the second or upper pneumatic port 157a may cause a resetting stroke of the dispensing operation. The pneumatic ports of the valve 104 may include pressurized air outlets 104d, 104e fluidly coupled to the drive mechanism 150, and for instance in an actuated state of the valve 104, the first or lower pneumatic port 157b receives the pressurized air from the pressurized air outlet 104d1 to cause the dispensing stroke, and in an idle state of the solenoid valve, the second or upper pneumatic port 157a receives the pressurized air from the pressurized air outlet 104e to cause the resetting stroke. Upon completion of resetting of the drive mechanism 150 (e.g., the drive shaft reaching the retracted position), the drive mechanism is in the idle state retained in its position under pressure until a subsequent dispensing operation. In certain implementations, during the dispensing stroke, a corresponding amount of chemical to an amount dispensed is drawn into the chemical chamber from a chemical supply via an inlet of the chemical delivery device (e.g., the syringe pump 100), and during the resetting stroke, the corresponding amount of the chemical is transmitted through a one-way valve of a piston within the chemical chamber.

[0277] In addition, and with reference to FIG. 9a, the valve 104 may be operatively coupled to the air inlet port 235 of the integrated valve 205 of the fluid delivery manifold 200 and in the actuated state of the valve 104, the air inlet port 235 may receive the pressurized air from the pressurized air outlet 104d2 to cause an on cycle of the integrated valve 205, such that motive fluid is dispensed from the motive fluid outlet 230 of the fluid delivery manifold 200, and the dispensed motive fluid may be mixed with the dispensed chemical at the loading valve 300.

[0278] The control system 400 may provide closed loop control of the system 500 by the using inputs from various sources to modify one or both of the timing and operational parameter instructions of the separate instructions, which may for instance enable the control system 400 to control dilution and/or flow rates from the positions 510 of the fluid management system 500. Aspects of closed loop control by the control system 400 are disclosed at least in connection with steps 920 and 950 of the methods 900, 950 of FIGS. 11a and 11b. Accordingly, the control system 400 may provide continuous closed loop control of the fluid management system for instance by continuously monitoring the operational status of the various communicatively coupled components. For example, the separate instructions may be configured with a first set of timing and operational parameter instructions, and based on the inputs received from components communicatively coupled to the control system 400, e.g., over the evaluation period, a second set of timing and operational parameter instructions may be generated that are different from the first set, and the second set may be sent as the separate instructions to cause operation of the position 510 or a component thereof. The difference between the first and second sets may be a different timing instruction, a different operational parameter instruction, or both.

[0279] In some implementations, closed loop control by the control system 400 may involve the control system using information only from communicatively coupled components of the fluid management system 500, which may be local to the vehicle wash location. In this example, the closed loop control may not use information external to the vehicle wash location as a factor, e.g., the one or more processors 410 may not use commands from the main car wash controller 700 and/or from the gateway 800 for generating modified instructions.

3c. Methods of Delivering Chemicals from Syringe Pumps

[0280] A method of delivering chemical from a chemical delivery device, e.g., a syringe pump 100 or syringe pump 100, is illustrated in the flowchart of FIG. 12. In FIG. 12, the method 1100 may involve initiating chemical dispensing such as by initiating a dispensing stroke from the chemical delivery device (step 1110). For instance, the chemical may be dispensed from chemical chamber 110 of the syringe pump 100 via operation of the drive mechanism 150 according to the various approaches of the present disclosure. In some cases, initiation of chemical dispensing corresponds to dispensing from two or more chemical chambers 110 such as when multiple positions 510 are simultaneously operated, or when a single drive mechanism 150 causes dispensing from two or more chemical chambers 110 of the chemical delivery device 100, and combinations thereof. In some cases, initiation of chemical dispensing corresponds to initiation of a dispensing operation of a fluid delivery manifold 200 in which an on cycle of the fluid delivery manifold 200 is also initiated according to the various approaches of the present disclosure. In some cases, initiation of chemical dispensing causes pressurized chemical to be dispensed from a dispensing nozzle of a loading valve 300 for mixing with motive fluid passing there through according to the various approaches of the present disclosure.

[0281] The method 1100 may further involve initiating a resetting stroke (step 1120). For instance, the drive mechanism 150 may retract or reset the piston 120 according to the various approaches of the present disclosure. In some cases, initiating the resetting stroke may cause multiple pistons to be retracted for instance when multiple positions 510 are simultaneously operated, when a single drive mechanism 150 retracts pistons within two or more chemical chambers 110 of the chemical delivery device 100, or combinations thereof. In some cases, initiating the resetting stroke may result in cessation of the on cycle of the fluid delivery manifold 200 according to the various approaches of the present disclosure. For example, delivery of the pressurized driving fluid to the fluid delivery manifold 200 may stop. In some cases, initiating the resetting stroke may result in cessation of the pressurized chemical being dispensed from the loading valve 300 according to the various approaches of the present disclosure. For instance, the chemical outlet 140 of the syringe pump 100 may be sealed to cease delivery of the pressurized chemical while maintaining a fluid tight connection with the loading valve 300 during resetting.

[0282] The method 1100 may optionally involve adjusting a flow of chemical from the syringe pump 100 (step 1130) according to the various approaches of the present disclosure. For instance, an effective valve orifice area of a port, such as the chemical outlet 140 or the chemical inlet 130, of the syringe pump or chemical delivery device may be adjusted to control the flow (e.g., rate and/or volume) of chemical entering and exiting the syringe pump 100 or chemical delivery device 100. In addition or alternatively, the method 1100 may optionally involve priming the chemical chamber(s) 110 (step 1105) prior to initiating the dispensing stroke according to the various approaches of the present disclosure.

[0283] The steps of method 1100 may proceed simultaneously with the control system 400 causing adjustments and/or dispensing from the fluid delivery manifold 200 as well as other components of the fluid management and vehicle wash systems of the present disclosure. For instance, chemical and fluid may be dispensed simultaneously from multiple syringe pumps 100 and multiple fluid outlets of the fluid delivery manifold 200, and the flow of chemical from the syringe pumps 100 may dispense chemical at different rates based on flow adjustments (step 1130), while the motive fluid may optionally be dispensed at different rates from the fluid outlets e.g., based on a position of the valve limiter 255 associated with each integrated valve 205 and as described in connection with method 1200 herein. Therefore, in some cases, both the duration of dispensing and rates of dispensing may be different across the syringe pumps 100 and integrated valves of the fluid delivery manifold 200.

3d. Methods of Delivering Motive Fluid from Fluid Delivery Manifolds

[0284] A method of delivering motive fluid from a fluid delivery manifold 200 is illustrated in the flowchart of FIG. 13. In FIG. 13, the method 1200 may optionally involve receiving a selection (step 1210). For instance, the control system 400 may be programmed to receive a user selection. The selection may include an outlet pressure, a fluid flow rate from the outlet, a target outlet pressure and/or flow rate, a chemical flow rate, parameters such as temperature of the fluid, chemical, atmosphere, nozzle type, fluid type, chemical type and so on.

[0285] The method 1200 may involve adjusting a position of the valve limiter 255 (step 1220). For instance, the control system 400 may be programmed cause the position of the valve to be adjusted, which may result in adjustably controlling the effective valve orifice area of a valve orifice 233 of the fluid outlet 230 of the manifold 200 based on a distance of movement of the valve plunger 225 to an open position thereof.

[0286] The method 1200 may further involve opening the valve plunger 225 (step 1230). For instance, the control system 400 may be programmed to cause the valve plunger 225 to be moved to the open position to result in fluid being dispensed based on the selection. More particularly, by opening the valve plunger 225, it contacts the valve limiter 255 resulting in the effective valve orifice area of the valve orifice 233 being sized to permit fluid dispensing from the fluid outlet 230 based on the selection, which may result in dispensing at a target flow rate, a target outlet pressure, or both. The dispensed motive fluid may be received at downstream components for subsequent application to vehicles in the vehicle wash as provided herein.

[0287] The steps of method 1200 may proceed simultaneously with the control system 400 causing adjustments and/or dispensing from the syringe pump 100 as well as other components of the fluid management and vehicle wash systems of the present disclosure.

4. Computing Environment

[0288] FIG. 14 is a simplified block diagram of components of a computing system 550 of the fluid management systems of the present disclosure, which may include the control system 400 and its one or more processors 410 and associated memory, the user device 530, mechanical and electrical components and vehicle wash components of the fluid management systems. This disclosure contemplates any suitable number of such computing systems 550 within a vehicle wash location and distributed across a number of such locations.

[0289] Where appropriate, a computing system 550 may include one or more computing systems 550; be unitary or distributed; span a single or multiple locations; span a single or multiple assemblies; span multiple machines; span multiple data centers; or reside in a cloud, which may include one or more cloud components in one or more networks. One or multiple computing systems 550 may be provided at a vehicle wash location. A computing system 550 may include one or more control units 552 with processors and memory such as one or more control systems 400 with its associated one or more processors 410 and associated memory, an input/output (I/O) interface 554 such as the user interface 530, one or more external devices 556 such as mechanical and electrical components such as the linear actuator 170 assembly 260, one or more memory components 558, and a network interface 560. The various components may be in communication with one another through one or more buses or communication networks, such as wired or wireless networks, e.g., the network 1000. The components in FIG. 14 are exemplary only. In various examples, the computing system 550 may include additional components and/or functionality not shown in FIG. 14.

[0290] The control units 552 may be any type of electronic device capable of processing, receiving, and/or transmitting instructions. For example, the control units 552 may be configured as a central processing unit, microprocessor, processor, or microcontroller. Additionally, it should be noted that some components of the computing system 550 may be controlled by a first control unit 552 and other components may be controlled by a second control unit 552, where the first and second control units may or may not be in communication with each other.

[0291] The I/O interface 554 allows a user to enter data in to computing system 550, as well as provides an input/output for the computing system 550 to communicate with other devices or services. The I/O interface 554 can include one or more input buttons, touch pads, touch screens, and so on. For instance, the I/O interface may include the user interface 530, which may provide a display or visual output for the computing system 550 and may be varied as needed based on the device. The user interface 530 may be configured to provide visual feedback to the user and may include a liquid crystal display screen, light emitting diode screen, plasma screen, or the like. In some examples, the user interface 530 may be configured to act as an input element for the user through touch feedback or the like. In some implementations, the user interface 530 may be integrated into the physical assemblies of the disclosed vehicle wash components and fluid management systems as provided herein.

[0292] The external device 556 may be one or more devices that may be used to provide various inputs to the computing system 550, e.g., sensors or feedback systems, and/or that may receive outputs from the computing system 550, e.g. mechanical and/or electrical components such as valves 104, pressurized fluid sources, pressurized driving fluid sources, drive mechanisms 150, linear actuators 170. The external devices 556 may be local or remote and may vary as desired.

[0293] The memory components 558 are used by the computing system 550 to store instructions for the control units 552 such as an application and/or user interface, as well as store data, such as the databases provided herein, fluid management system operation information, user preferences, alerts, etc. The memory components 558 may be, for example, magneto-optical storage, read-only memory, random access memory, erasable programmable memory, flash memory, or a combination of one or more types of memory components. The memory components 558 may be integrated into the control units 552.

[0294] The network interface 560 provides communication to and from the computing system 550 to other devices. The network interface 560 may be communicatively coupled to the gateway 800 or may be provided as the gateway 800 and be configured as provided herein. The network interface 560 may be communicatively coupled to the car wash controller 700. In some cases, the network interface 560 may be the sole communicative coupling between the fluid management system and the car wash controller 700. The network interface 560 includes one or more communication protocols, such as, but not limited to Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth, etc. The network interface 560 may also include one or more hardwired components, such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) cable, or the like. The configuration of the network interface 560 depends on the types of communication desired and may be modified to communicate via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.

5. Network Environment

[0295] Turning to FIG. 15, illustrated is a simplified block diagram of a network environment 1300 including the computing system 550 of the fluid management systems of the present disclosure over the network 1000 to one or more computing systems such as a server 1310 or a user device 1320.

[0296] In various embodiments, the network 1000 or various portions of the network 1000 may be implemented using the Internet, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), and/or other networks. In addition to traditional data networking protocols, in some embodiments, data may be communicated according to protocols and/or standards including near field communication (NFC), Bluetooth, cellular connections, Wi-Fi, Zigbee, and the like. Portions of the network 108 may be wired (e.g., Ethernet or high density multimedia interface (HDMI)), while other portions may be wireless.

[0297] The server 1310 or the user device 1320 may be any device capable of communicating with elements of the computing system 550 or gateway 800 and/or other elements the fluid management systems, such as a smart phone, tablet, laptop computer, desktop computer, control console, blade, etc. In many examples, the user device 1320 may communicate via wired or wireless communications to other elements of the computing system 550 or gateway 800 and/or the fluid management systems through the network 1000. In some examples, the user device 1320 may communicate directly to the computing system 550, gateway 800, fluid management systems and/or other elements without using a network. Generally, a computing system described as a server 1310 may have greater processing, memory, and/or connectivity capabilities than a computing system described as a user device 1320, which may prioritize portability over computing power. In some embodiments, the server 1310 may store the database of chemicals and their associated flow rate and/or dilution ratios as well as the database of car wash applicators and fluid lines provided herein.

[0298] The disclosed embodiments may be combined with: features of the fluid delivery management systems disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 10,443,747 B2, and entitled Manifold with Integrated Valve; features of the sensing and control systems and methods of the disclosure of U.S. Publication No. US 2021/0349482 A1, entitled Sensing and control of vehicle wash components and systems and methods thereof; U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US20230139033A1, entitled SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING AND CONTROLLING DILUTION RATES, U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 18/596,979, filed Mar. 6, 2024, and entitled CHEMICAL DELIVERY SYSTEM WITH DILUTION CONTROL; features of chemical delivery systems that include eductors, e.g., venturi valves, that rely on vacuum pressure for chemical dispensing are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,887,743 B2; and features of dilution devices are disclosed in US 2019/0022607 A1, the disclosures of all of which are incorporated herein by reference for any useful purpose.

[0299] Features from any of the disclosed embodiments may be used in combination with one another, without limitation. In addition, other features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art through consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.