US 12,287,653 B2
Sensing and control of vehicle wash components and systems and methods thereof
Ken Martin, Little Canada, MN (US); and Bryan Flood, Minneapolis, MN (US)
Assigned to Sonny's HFI Holdings, LLC, Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed by Sonny's HFI Holdings, LLC, Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed on Feb. 9, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/437,845.
Application 18/437,845 is a continuation of application No. 17/237,487, filed on Apr. 22, 2021, granted, now 12,001,230.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/021,161, filed on May 7, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0176369 A1, May 30, 2024
Int. Cl. G05D 7/06 (2006.01); B05B 12/00 (2018.01); B60S 3/04 (2006.01); G05B 15/02 (2006.01); G05B 19/042 (2006.01)
CPC G05D 7/0617 (2013.01) [B05B 12/00 (2013.01); B60S 3/04 (2013.01); G05B 15/02 (2013.01); G05B 19/0426 (2013.01); G05D 7/0688 (2013.01); G05B 2219/31131 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicle wash component configured to control delivery of a mixture of motive fluid and chemical, the vehicle wash component at a vehicle wash location, and comprising:
a processor integrated into an assembly of the vehicle wash component and configured to control an operational status of the vehicle wash component;
at least one solenoid valve integrated into the assembly of the vehicle wash component and communicatively coupled to the processor, the at least one solenoid valve configured to operate the vehicle wash component upon operation of an actuator coupled thereto,
wherein the vehicle wash component further comprises a motive fluid inlet, one or more chemical inlets, and one or more mixed chemical outlets, the vehicle wash component configured to cause the mixture of the motive fluid and the chemical to exit the one or more mixed chemical outlets upon operation of the actuator,
wherein the processor is configured to receive a control signal corresponding to a first set of vehicle wash operating parameters for controlling the operational status of the vehicle wash component from at least one of a car wash controller or from a communications gateway located at the vehicle wash location, and upon receipt of the control signal, the processor interprets the control signal, generates a separate signal for controlling the operational status of the vehicle wash component according to a second set of vehicle wash operating parameters that are different from the first set of operating parameters, and transmits the generated signal to the actuator such that the at least one solenoid valve operates to cause the mixture to be dispensed from the one or more mixed chemical outlets using the second set of operating parameters of the vehicle wash component.