Abstract: A vehicle wash assembly for distribution of fluids at a vehicle wash location includes a vehicle wash component operable to dispense fluid into a fluid line for application onto a vehicle by a downstream applicator, and an inlet or outlet of the vehicle wash component is associated with a port configured with an adjustable effective orifice area. A control system receives instructions corresponding to timing information, a target flow rate and/or a target volume of the fluid to be dispensed from the outlet, analyzes the instructions, and generates separate instructions that differ from those received. The separate instructions include a time for when the vehicle wash component is to be actuated, a duration of operation upon actuation, and an effective orifice area of the port. Upon transmission, the separate instructions cause the vehicle wash component to dispense the fluid according to such instructions during a dispensing operation.

Abstract: A chemical delivery device for use in a vehicle wash system includes a chemical delivery device with a chemical chamber having an inlet, an outlet, and a one-way valve, and a drive mechanism with a drive shaft joined to a piston in the chemical chamber. Upon the drive mechanism driving the piston in a dispensing direction, the one-way valve is closed and chemical in the chemical chamber is pressurized and the piston causes the pressurized chemical to be dispensed from the outlet, e.g., to a vehicle wash component, and during dispensing, a vacuum is created in the chemical chamber such that a corresponding amount of the chemical to an amount dispensed is drawn into the chemical chamber from a chemical supply via the chemical inlet. Upon the drive mechanism retracting the piston in a resetting direction, the one-way valve is open and permits passage of fluid therethrough for subsequent dispensing.

Abstract: A pneumatic excavator configured to be pneumatically actuated includes an actuator; a flow valve fluidly coupled to the actuator an air actuation conduit; and a barrel coupled to an egress of the flow valve, where the barrel defines an outlet of the pneumatic excavator. Actuating the actuator causes compressed air to be transmitted from the actuator through the an air actuation conduit to a first port of the flow valve to open the flow valve and compressed air from a supply of compressed air passes through the flow valve and the outlet of the pneumatic excavator. Releasing the actuator causes the compressed air to be transmitted from the actuator through the at least one air actuation conduit to a second port of the flow valve to cause the flow valve to close and the flow valve prevents the compressed air from the supply of compressed air from passing therethrough.

Abstract: A chemical delivery assembly for use in a vehicle wash system includes a chemical delivery device including a one-way valve and a drive mechanism with a piston arranged in a chemical chamber, and a loading valve coupled to a chemical outlet by a fluid tight connection, which also includes a dispensing nozzle for dispensing chemical into motive fluid. Actuation of the drive mechanism causes the one-way valve to close to prevent passage of chemical therethrough and the piston to dispense pressurized chemical from the chemical chamber resulting in the pressurized chemical being delivered to a chemical priming cavity of the loading valve, which chemical is dispensed from the dispensing nozzle upon reaching a predefined pressure threshold. During resetting of the piston by the drive mechanism, the one-way valve is open and permits the chemical within the chemical chamber to pass therethrough such that the chemical can be subsequently dispensed.

Abstract: A vehicle wash assembly includes a chemical delivery device, a motive fluid delivery device, a mixing site fluidly coupled thereto for mixing dispensed chemical and motive fluid to form a mixture, and a control system integrated into the vehicle wash assembly and communicatively coupled to the chemical and fluid delivery devices, which causes a drive mechanism of the chemical delivery device to dispense chemical from the chemical outlet, and a valve of the motive fluid delivery device to dispense the motive fluid from the motive fluid outlet. The control system receives instructions for operation of the vehicle wash assembly, and in response, the analyzes the instructions, generates separate instructions for operating the chemical delivery device and the fluid delivery device based on the analysis, and transmits the separate instructions to cause the chemical delivery device and the fluid delivery device to operate according to the separate instructions.

Abstract: A vehicle wash assembly for distribution of fluids at a vehicle wash location includes a vehicle wash component operable to dispense fluid into a fluid line for application onto a vehicle by a downstream applicator, and an inlet or outlet of the vehicle wash component is associated with a port configured with an adjustable effective orifice area. A control system receives instructions corresponding to timing information, a target flow rate and/or a target volume of the fluid to be dispensed from the outlet, analyzes the instructions, and generates separate instructions that differ from those received. The separate instructions include a time for when the vehicle wash component is to be actuated, a duration of operation upon actuation, and an effective orifice area of the port. Upon transmission, the separate instructions cause the vehicle wash component to dispense the fluid according to such instructions during a dispensing operation.

Abstract: A fluid delivery manifold for use with a fluid delivery system includes a fluid passageway and at least one integrated valve, each with a plunger housing having an air chamber. The air chamber and the fluid passageway are non-fluidly coupled relative to each other. A valve plunger in the plunger housing blocks a valve orifice of the fluid outlet in a closed position to prevent passage of fluid, and opens to permit fluid to pass from a fluid inlet of the passageway through the valve orifice for dispensing from a fluid outlet. An actuator assembly coupled to each integrated valve includes an actuator configured to adjust a position of a valve limiter to adjustably control an effective valve orifice area of the valve orifice based on a distance of movement of the valve plunger to the open position.

Abstract: A manifold for use with a fluid delivery system in a vehicle wash includes a fluid passageway with at least one fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet. At least one integrated valve includes a plunger housing having an air chamber and is configured to receive a valve limiter and a valve plunger arranged therein, which is movable between a closed position and an open position to block a valve orifice and to permit the passage of fluid from the fluid inlet through the valve orifice for dispensing from the fluid outlet. At least one actuator assembly including an actuator, and the valve limiter is configured such that the actuator adjusts a position of the valve limiter to adjustably control an effective valve orifice area of the valve orifice based on a distance of movement of the valve plunger to the open position.

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.

Abstract: A vehicle wash assembly at a vehicle wash location includes a chemical delivery device with a pneumatic drive mechanism operable to cause chemical to be received in a chemical chamber and pressurized chemical to be dispensed therefrom via a chemical outlet, and a control system communicatively coupled to the pneumatic drive mechanism and configured to cause the pneumatic drive mechanism to operate to cause the pressurized chemical to be dispensed from the chemical chamber via the chemical outlet. The control system receives instructions for operation of the chemical delivery device, and in response to receipt of the instructions, the control system analyzes the instructions, generates separate instructions for operating the chemical delivery device based on the analysis, and transmits the separate instructions to cause the chemical delivery device to undergo a dispensing operation according to the separate instructions.

Abstract: Controlling a dilution rate of mixed chemical dispensed by a fluid management system at a vehicle wash location involves, receiving, by a control system comprising a processor, flow rate data from at least one flow meter coupled to a chemical line of at least one mixing site. In response to the received flow rate data, using the control system to cause at least one metering device to adjust a flow rate of chemical passing through the chemical line. The control system further causes at least one integrated valve of a fluid delivery manifold to dispense motive fluid from a fluid outlet of said fluid delivery manifold. The control system controls an effective orifice area at least one of a valve orifice of the integrated valve or of the chemical line to thereby control the dilution rate.

Abstract: A chemical delivery device for use in a vehicle wash system includes a chemical chamber with a piston, a chemical inlet and a chemical outlet, and a one-way valve. A drive mechanism receives pressurized driving fluid from a pressurized fluid source, and a drive shaft is joined to the piston. During dispensing, the pressurized driving fluid causes the drive shaft to drive the piston to dispense an amount of the chemical, and the one-way valve is closed. During a resetting stroke, the pressurized driving fluid causes the drive shaft to retract the piston, and the one-way valve is open and permits passage of chemical therethrough for dispensing from the chemical chamber in a subsequent dispensing operation. After the resetting stroke, the pressurized driving fluid may retain the drive shaft in the retracted position and the drive mechanism is in an idle state until initiation of the subsequent dispensing operation.

Abstract: A chemical delivery device for use in a vehicle wash system includes a chemical delivery device with a chemical chamber having an inlet, an outlet, and a one-way valve, and a drive mechanism with a drive shaft joined to a piston in the chemical chamber. Upon the drive mechanism driving the piston in a dispensing direction, the one-way valve is closed and chemical in the chemical chamber is pressurized and the piston causes the pressurized chemical to be dispensed from the outlet, e.g., to a vehicle wash component, and during dispensing, a vacuum is created in the chemical chamber such that a corresponding amount of the chemical to an amount dispensed is drawn into the chemical chamber from a chemical supply via the chemical inlet. Upon the drive mechanism retracting the piston in a resetting direction, the one-way valve is open and permits passage of fluid therethrough for subsequent dispensing.

Abstract: A chemical delivery assembly for use in a vehicle wash system includes a chemical delivery device with a piston including a one-way valve and a drive mechanism with a drive shaft joined to the piston. A flow sensor and a control system communicatively coupled thereto are also integrated into the assembly. The control system uses information from the flow sensor to control chemical dispensing by causing the drive mechanism to operate to dispense chemical, while the one-way valve is in a closed state resulting in a corresponding amount of the chemical to the amount dispensed being drawn into the chemical chamber from an inlet via a chemical supply. The control system causes the drive mechanism to reset the piston, while the one-way valve is in an open state resulting in the chemical drawn in from the chemical supply being transmitted through the one-way valve for subsequent dispensing.

Abstract: An assembly for delivery of mixed chemical for use in a vehicle wash system includes a chemical delivery device for dispensing chemical having a piston with a one-way valve and a pneumatic drive mechanism; and a fluid delivery manifold configured to deliver motive fluid for mixing with the dispensed chemical having an integrated valve with a valve plunger therein configured to be pneumatically actuated. During a dispensing operation, chemical and fluid are dispensed and mixed at a mixing site of the assembly. During a resetting stroke of the chemical delivery device, the drive shaft and the piston are pneumatically retracted away from the outlet to a retracted position, and the one-way valve is in an open state and permits passage of chemical through the one-way valve for dispensing from the chemical chamber in a subsequent dispensing operation.

Abstract: Chemical delivery devices for vehicle wash systems include a chemical chamber with an inlet and an outlet and a piston arranged therebetween. The piston includes a one-way valve. A drive mechanism moves the piston in an advancing and retracting direction. Driving the piston in the advancing direction results in the one-way valve closing, and an amount of the chemical on a first side of the piston is dispensed from the outlet and a corresponding amount of the chemical to the amount dispensed is drawn into the chemical chamber at a second side of the piston, via the inlet. Retracting the piston in the retracting direction results in the one-way valve opening and the corresponding amount of the chemical drawn in from the chemical supply is transmitted through the one-way valve from the second side to the first side of the piston for subsequent dispensing from the chemical chamber.

Abstract: A fluid delivery system for dispensing fluid in a vehicle wash includes at least one integrated valve, each with a plunger housing having an air chamber configured to receive a valve limiter. A valve plunger in the plunger housing has open and closed positions, and blocks a valve orifice when closed, and permits the passage of fluid through the valve orifice for dispensing from a fluid outlet when opened. An actuator assembly is coupled to each integrated valve, and each includes an actuator and the valve limiter. A control system is communicatively coupled to each actuator and is configured to receive a selection corresponding to a selected outlet pressure and based on the selection, causes the actuator assembly to adjust a position of the valve limiter to reach a target flow rate or a target outlet pressure of the motive fluid when the valve plunger is in the open position.

Abstract: A chemical delivery device for use in a vehicle wash system includes two or more chemical chambers, each with an inlet configured to receive chemical and with an outlet configured for dispensing the chemical; a piston arranged between the inlet and the outlet and including a one-way valve and a circumferential seal; and a drive mechanism for simultaneously driving the pistons. In a dispensing stroke, the drive mechanism drives the pistons to cause chemical dispensing, and the one-way valves are in the closed state resulting corresponding amounts of the chemicals being drawn into the chemical chamber via the inlets as to the amounts being dispensed. In a resetting stroke, the drive mechanism retracts the pistons, and the one-way valves are in the open state such that the corresponding amounts of the chemicals drawn in from the chemical supplies are transmitted through the pistons for dispensing in a subsequent dispensing operation.

Abstract: A pneumatic excavator is configured to be pneumatically actuated using a safety mechanism, and includes a primary actuator; a secondary actuator fluidly coupled to the primary actuator; a flow valve fluidly coupled to the primary actuator; a shuttle valve fluidly coupled to the primary actuator, the secondary actuator and the flow valve; and a barrel coupled to an egress of the flow valve, the barrel defining an outlet of the pneumatic excavator. Actuating the primary and secondary actuators causes compressed air to be transmitted from the secondary actuator to the primary actuator and then to the flow valve to open the flow valve such that the compressed air exits through the outlet. Actuating one actuator and not the other causes the compressed air to be transmitted to the exit port of the shuttle valve and then to the flow valve to close the flow valve and prevent air flow therethrough.

Abstract: A pneumatic excavator includes: a barrel with an ingress configured to be fluidly connected to a supply of compressed air and an egress; an actuator; a releasable coupling to lock the actuator to the barrel in a plurality positions; and a flow valve fixedly arranged to the barrel, the flow valve in a communicative coupling with the actuator by an actuation conduit. The actuation conduit is flexible and slaved by an adjustment movement of the releasable coupling and actuator along the barrel to thereby maintain the communicative coupling therebetween. When the actuator is actuated, the actuation conduit sends causes the flow valve to open and the compressed air passes through the flow valve and exits the pneumatic excavator, and when the actuator is released, the actuation conduit sends a signal to the flow valve to close to prevent the compressed air from passing through the flow valve.