Patent Publication Number: US-2022226792-A1

Title: Flow rate metering device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This continuation-in-part application claims priority back to U.S. Provisional No. 62/939,266, filed Nov. 22, 2019, and the U.S. Non-Provisional Ser. No. 16/952,717, the contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     This invention was not federally sponsored. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to the field of pump systems for metering viscous fluids. In particular, the present disclosure relates to an improved flow rate metering device that provides for the mixing and dispensing of two or more fluids to form final mixture, for example, for automatic washing of cars and trucks. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present subject matter. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed subject matter, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. 
     Truck and car wash apparatus are generally well known in the art. A great variety of configurations have been and are being employed in the field. These vary from largely manually-operated devices to nearly completely automated machines. Whether the washing fluids are applied to a vehicle by an automated gantry, or the like, or by a hand-held wand, there must be some method or means for mixing fluids, such as chemicals or soaps, with the water. Such method or means should be accurate, economical and reliable. 
     There are several methods in use, all of which have some problem or another. One method which has been used is to mix one or more chemicals before being applied to a vehicle that is to be washed. Prior to being applied to the vehicle, each chemical is diluted using water. Dilution may occur in a solution tank, from which a point-of-use dispenser pulls the chemical(s)-water combination for application to a vehicle. Alternatively, dilution may also occur as the chemical(s) and water are being dispensed at substantially the same time by a point-of-use dispenser to a vehicle. In either case, the actual solution applied to each vehicle includes a concentration of one or more chemicals and water. A responsibility typically reserved for a vehicle wash operator relates to defining the type and amount of appropriate chemicals, and thus, concentrations thereof, that are to be applied by a vehicle wash facility to the various vehicles utilizing the facility. 
     Currently, vehicle wash operators will use an assortment of measuring beakers and scales along with chemical viscosity calculations to determine flow rate and usage. The chemicals being applied will be poured into a beaker that sits on a high-end scale. When the chemical flow&#39;s and is drawn out of the beaker, the amount drawn is noted along with the difference in weight. There is some critical math at this point that must be calculated into the process based on the chemical&#39;s viscosity and any other volume influence that affect the draw such as the size of a feed tubing that was dropped into the beaker. If any of the math that has been injected into this process is not accurate, the results are inaccurate. The manufacturers of the products typically provide this math for their chemicals, unfortunately, it is not always accurate. This then opens the door for a sizable percentage of error in the final calculations, as any errors can be magnified significantly further down the line of the operation. More or less, the vehicle wash operators have tolerated this issue due to being “close enough” is good enough. 
     Therefore, there is a need in the art to move into an electronic space for metering the amount of chemicals applied on a vehicle during a washing cycle which eliminates the need for any scales, beakers or math from the vehicle wash operators. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy are as listed hereinbelow. 
     A general object of the present disclosure is to move into an electronic space for metering the amount of chemicals applied on a vehicle during a washing cycle which eliminates the need for any scales, beakers or math from the vehicle wash operators. 
     An object of the present disclosure is to provide a method or apparatus whereby chemicals could readily be mixed with water in a vehicle wash system which would not waste chemicals and/or time, and which would be reliable and accurate in operation. 
     Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an automated mechanism metering the amount of chemicals applied on a vehicle during a washing cycle which removes the inefficient method of physical inspection of usage of one or more chemicals and/or products involved in a vehicle washing. 
     These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent when reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings. 
     SUMMARY 
     This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to an improved flow rate metering device that provides for the mixing and dispensing of two or more fluids to form final mixture, for example, for automatic washing of cars and trucks. The concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     The present disclosure relates to a monitoring system for measuring quantity of multiple fluids of varied viscosities while being supplied to form a final mixture. The system includes a plurality of feed lines for feeding multiple fluids to a fluid intermixing device and a box-type flow rate metering device detachably coupled to the plurality of feed lines through quick-release fittings. The quick-release fittings facilitate the ease of hooking-up and un-hooking of the box-type flow rate metering device from the plurality of feed lines. The box-type flow rate metering device includes a plurality of flow meters, where one flow meter being arranged per feed line to measure a flow rate of respective fluid during each of a plurality of operation cycles, wherein each of the plurality of flow meters having a digital display unit to display the flow rate of the respective fluid measured by that flow meter during each of the plurality of operation cycles. The system further includes a processor coupled to the box-type flow rate metering device to measure the quantity of the respective fluid utilized during of the plurality of operation cycles based on the flow rate of that fluid. 
     In an aspect, each of the plurality of feed lines includes an input hole and an output hole. 
     In an aspect, the flow meters are mounted on a flow meter mounting plate using mounting holes. 
     In an aspect, the mounting holes are counter sunk on one side for tapered machine screw. 
     In an aspect, the mounting holes are having size of 3/16″. 
     In an aspect, the mounting holes are formed of ¼″ thick 80 PVC. 
     The present subject matter further relates to a portable box-type flow rate metering device for measuring flow rate of multiple fluids of varied viscosities while being supplies to form a final mixture. The flow rate metering device includes quick-release fittings for fluid-in and fluid-out detachable connections with the plurality of feed lines. The device includes a flow meter coupled to the plurality of feed lines of multiple fluids to measure a flow rate of respective fluid during each operation cycle; and a digital display unit coupled to each of the flow meters to display the flow rate of respective fluid during each operation cycle. 
     The present subject matter further relates to a method for measuring quantity of multiple fluids of varied viscosities while being supplied to form a final mixture. The method includes receiving multiple fluids from a plurality of feed lines; intercepting a flow rate of each of the multiple fluids by a flow rate metering device detachably coupled to the plurality of feed lines; and measuring, by a processor directly or indirectly coupled to the flow rate metering device, a quantity of respective fluid feed during each operation cycle based on the flow rate of that fluid. 
     Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments. 
     It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiments of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiments may be combined to form a further embodiment of the disclosure. 
     The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter, and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. The features listed herein, and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
     It should be understood that while the preferred embodiments of the invention are described in some detail herein, the present disclosure is made by way of example only and that variations and changes thereto are possible without departing from the subject matter coming within the scope of the following claims, and a reasonable equivalency thereof, which claims I regard as my invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments and, together with the description, serve to explain the disclosed principles. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system and/or methods in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a first example of a box-type flow rate metering device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a second example of a box-type flow rate metering device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates electrical connection lines layout in the second first example of the box-type flow rate metering device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrates a mounting plate with mounting holes for mounting of flow meter on the flow rate metering device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any block diagrams herein represent conceptual views of illustrative systems embodying the principles of the present subject matter. Similarly, it will be appreciated that any flow charts, flow diagrams, state transition diagrams, pseudo code, and the like represent various processes which may be substantially represented in a computer-readable medium and executed by a computer or processor, whether or not such computer or processor is explicitly shown. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the number of details provided herein is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims. 
     It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof. 
     In the present document, the word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment or implementation of the present subject matter described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. 
     While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail below. It should be understood, however that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the tennis “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof. 
     It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may, in fact, be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved. 
     Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. 
     It should be noted that the present disclosure is not restricted to be used with a single vehicle-wash bay. Indeed, it is anticipated that the present disclosure will be used in conjunction with multiple vehicle-wash bays, wherein the variation of demand might be even greater and wherein the need for and desirability of the present inventive apparatus and method will be even greater. 
     An example of a box-type flow rate metering device, for measuring flow rate of multiple fluids of varied viscosities while being supplies to form a final mixture, is depicted in a diagrammatic view in  FIG. 1 , and is designated therein by a reference character  100 . The flow rate metering device  100 , or simply, device  100 , can measure flow rates of up to sixteen products/fluids at the same time. Although the device  100  is shown with sixteen input holes  102  and sixteen output holes  104  for sixteen feed lines, the device  100  can be modified to increase or decrease the number of input and output holes  102 ,  104  without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. In the example described herein, the device  100  can be brought to any type of vehicle-wash facility that is utilizing a dispensed metered fluid. The device  100  works by intercepting the feed line of any fluid to flow through the device  100 . The fluid then exits the device  100  from output holes  104  to a fluid intermixing device (not shown in figures) at the facility is being used to dispense it. The device  100  also contains quick-release fittings for the in and out detachable connections. The quick-release fittings facilitate the ease of hooking-up and un-hooking of the device  100  from chemical lines. 
     The device  100  includes flow meters  302 - 1 ,  302 - 2 ,  302 - 3 ,  302 - 4 , collectively referred to as  302 , ( FIG. 3 ) arranged on each of the plurality of feed lines to measure a flow rate of respective fluid during each operation cycle. These flow meters  302  does not care what flows through or what is the viscosity of that fluid, Such flow meters  302  are further connected to respective digital display unit  106  ( FIG. 1 ) which displays the flow rate of respective fluid during each operation cycle. Using the flow rate of the fluid, the quantity of respective fluid utilized during each operation can be measured. 
     With such configuration of the device  100 , the proposed device  100  arranged on the feed lines of a vehicle-wash facility can cut the process time for an operator or manufacturer to calculate amount of the fluid usage by 80%. As can be appreciated by those skilled in the art, an express wash, for example, using sixteen fluids/products may take up to five hours for an individual to calculate the amount usage per fluid/product. However, with the proposed device  100 , the quantity of respective fluid utilized during each operation can be measured electronically. Such measurement can be in a tenth of a millilitre of a fluid/product which was used in a given operation cycle, which enhances the accuracy of the measured data. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates another example of the box-type flow rate metering device  100 . In this example, the device  100  is designed as a mobile portable device with four input holes  102 - 1 ,  102 - 2 ,  102 - 3 ,  102 - 4  (collectively referred to as  102 ) and four output holes  104 - 1 ,  104 - 2 ,  104 - 3 ,  104 - 4  (collectively referred to as  104 ) for four feed lines. Each of these feed lines include a detachable flow meter  302  coupled to respective digital display unit  106 - 1 ,  106 - 2 ,  106 - 3 ,  106 - 4  (collectively referred to as  106 ). 
     In this example shown in  FIG. 2 , the device  100  is connected to a power source  202 . In an aspect, the power source  202  can be a 24 V direct current power source. 
     Further, the device  100  is connected to a circuit breaker reset button  204  to restrict the supply of the power from the power source  202 . As can be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the circuit breaker reset button  204  will open/close a 3 Amp circuit breaker switch  306  arranged on a positive power supply line of the power source  202 . 
     Yet further, the detailed line diagram of circuit layout of the power supply in the device  100  is shown in  FIG. 3 . As can be seen from  FIG. 3 , the negative power line (−) and the positive power line (+) of the power source  202  are connected to corresponding negative and positive terminals of respective digital display units  106 . Each of these digital display units  106  includes three connection lines, namely 12 V positive line (Black)  304 - 1 . Ground line (Green)  304 - 2 , and negative line (White)  304 - 3 ), to establish an electronic connection with the respective flow meter  302 . 
     In an aspect, each of the digital display units  106  include a Light Emitting Diode (LED) display to display the flow rate measured by a give flow meter  302  of respective fluid during each operation cycle. 
     Further, the flow meters  302  are detachably mounted on a flow meter mounting plate  402  using mounting holes  404 - 1 ,  404 - 2 ,  404 - 3 ,  404 - 4 ,  404 - 5 ,  404 - 6 ,  404 - 7 ,  404 - 8 ,  404 - 9 ,  404 - 10 ,  404 - 11 ,  405 - 12 , (collectively referred to as  404 ) as shown in  FIG. 4A . 
     The mounting holes  404  are counter sunk on one side for tapered machine screw, as shown in  FIG. 4B . The mounting holes  404  can have size of 3/16″ and may be formed of ¼″ thick 304 Stainless Steel (SS). 
     An exemplary configuration of the mounting holes  404  is shown below in the Table 1: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
            
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 dk 
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Screw 
                   
                 Cross Hole 
                 Reference 
                   
                 k 
                 c 
                 m 
               
               
                 Nominal (d) 
                 Pitch P 
                 Number 
                 Dimensions 
                 Tolerance 
                 Reference 
                 Approx. 
                 Approx. 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 M4 
                 0.7 
                 2 
                 8 
                 0-0.5 
                 1.3 
                 0.3 
                 4.1 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Various modifications may be made to the present disclosure without altering its value or scope. For example, alternative methods and/or means for monitoring flow of the fluids and/or the chemicals might be employed. 
     The inventive system and device  100  and associated method for metering quantity of fluid supplied through the device  100  are intended to be widely used in the vehicle wash industry. In particular, the present disclosure is particularly applicable to vehicle washes, wherein a great quantity of chemicals is used and, thus, it is extremely important to keep the ratio of chemical to water solvent at an ideal proportion. It should be noted that the method and device proposed herein will work with almost any viscosity of chemical/product/fluid, and that the method and device can be adapted for use with a great variety of vehicle-washing facilities. 
     All of the above are only some of the examples of available embodiments of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous other modifications and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. For example, the present disclosure may be used in systems other than vehicle-washing systems, such as conveyor-type vehicle wash systems, drive-through wash systems, or other types of stationary, variable demand spray-wash systems. Accordingly, the disclosure herein is not intended as limiting and the appended claims are to be interpreted as encompassing the entire scope of the invention. 
     While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the present disclosure, other and further embodiments of the present disclosure may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The present disclosure is not limited to the described embodiments, versions or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the present disclosure when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art. 
     All of the material in this patent document is subject to copyright protection under the copyright laws of the United States and other countries. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in official governmental records but, otherwise, all other copyright rights whatsoever are reserved.