Patent Document

RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional patent application serial No. 60/276,611, filed Mar. 16, 2001, entitled AUTOMATIC KEEP FILL SYSTEM FOR WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID SQUEEGEE BUCKETS, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to windshield washer squeegee buckets commonly found at gas stations or convenience stores. More specifically, the invention includes apparatus and methods for automatically maintaining the level of windshield washer fluid within the squeegee buckets. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In recent decades, gas stations have evolved from full service gas stations having the attendant pumping gasoline to current self-service gas stations where the customer pumps their own gasoline. This has allowed service station operators to lower their costs and to expand their sales by moving toward the convenience store model, selling other items in addition to gasoline. The shift from full service to self-service and convenience store has shifted the washing of windshields from attendant to customer. The gasoline stations commonly provide a container or bucket filled with windshield washing or cleaning fluid, and a squeegee where the customer can dip the squeegee into the bucket to saturate the squeegee sponge and provide sufficient fluid to clean the windshield and other vehicle windows. It is common for a gas station or convenience store to have several windshield washing fluid squeegee buckets, usually positioned at each fuel pump, or at each cluster of fuel pumps. Squeegee buckets are discussed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,230,939 and 5,960,513, while windshield washing fluid dispensing systems are discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,311,873, all of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
     The squeegee sponges remove windshield washer fluid from the squeegee bucket to clean the windshields and windows, thereby depleting the windshield washer fluid supply in the squeegee bucket. The emptying of the squeegee buckets thus requires periodic replenishing of fluid. This requirement to replenish the fluid presents a problem in that the attendant must leave the cash register area to refill the buckets. Additionally, the fluid used to replenish is often obtained by opening a bottle of product from a retail shelf within the gasoline station or convenience store, creating inventory discrepancy issues. To further complicate matters, the attendant is often unable to replenish the fluid in the squeegee buckets. In some situations, the attendant is working alone, and is not allowed to leave the cash register. In other situations, there is no attendant, as the gasoline pumps are unattended for hours or even days at a time, as the pumps are entirely self-service, taking credit cards and dispensing gasoline. 
     The fluid squeegee buckets are thus often not replenished, leaving dissatisfied customers, as one or all buckets are empty of fluid. Even when having some fluid, the grit, road grime, and bugs are continually carried from the windshields into the squeegee bucket, with the grime and grit building up to substantially dirty the remaining fluid. 
     What would be desirable is a system for automatically replenishing the windshield washer fluid in the squeegee buckets, requiring much less human intervention. What would also be desirable is a system for automatically filling windshield washer squeegee buckets while allowing removal of the buckets for cleaning dirt and other foreign matter accumulated within the buckets. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides systems and sub-systems for maintaining a prescribed level of windshield washer fluid in one or more windshield washer fluid squeegee buckets, with the fluid being fed from an elevated reservoir disposed above the squeegee buckets in some systems. The squeegee buckets can include fluid quantity sensors such as level sensors or weight sensors giving an indication of the quantity of fluid contained within the squeegee buckets. Upon reaching a prescribed low level or low quantity of fluid, systems according to the present invention cause windshield washer fluid to be added to the squeegee bucket requiring fluid. 
     The present invention includes a system for supplying windshield washer fluid to squeegee buckets, the system including a squeegee bucket for holding windshield washer fluid, a fluid quantity sensor operably coupled to the squeegee bucket for indicating fluid quantity in the bucket, a fluid supply conduit operably coupled to the squeegee bucket interior, a fluid supply source coupled to the fluid supply conduit, and a controller having an input coupled to the fluid quantity sensor and an output operably coupled to at least one of the fluid supply conduit and fluid supply source. The controller output can cause fluid to be supplied to the squeegee bucket through the fluid supply conduit responsive to a low quantity indication from the fluid quantity sensor. In one system, a fluid supply source includes a pump in fluid communication with both the fluid supply conduit and a fluid storage vessel. In another system, the controller output is operably coupled to a pump. In a preferred system, the fluid supply source includes a fluid reservoir coupled to the fluid supply conduit and disposed to gravity feed the squeegee bucket. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the system includes a valve coupled to the fluid supply conduit to allow fluid flow through the conduit in a first position and to preclude fluid flow through the conduit in a second position. The controller output can be operably coupled to open and close the valve. 
     In one system, the fluid quantity sensor includes a vertically slidable mounting bracket for the squeegee bucket mounted to a surface and connected directly or indirectly to a spring, such that having more fluid in the squeegee bucket causes the spring to extend, allowing the bucket to lower. In this embodiment, the controller can include a lever arm coupled directly or indirectly to the spring to move with the changed elongation of the spring. The lever arm can further be linked to a valve for supplying fluid into the squeegee bucket interior. When the combined squeegee bucket and fluid weight drops below a preset fluid quantity or weight limit, the lever arm can move to open the valve and allow fluid flow into the squeegee bucket interior. As the squeegee bucket becomes heavier, the spring can extend, moving the lever arm in the opposite direction to close the valve. 
     In another system, the fluid quantity sensor includes a level sensor such as a float sensor. In one embodiment, the float sensor is adapted to electrically signal a low fluid level condition, which can be used directly or indirectly to open a fluid supply valve to provide fluid into the squeegee bucket interior. In one system, the float switch electrical output is used directly to trigger a valve for a preset time period to allow a given quantity or aliquot of fluid to be dispensed into the bucket interior. In another embodiment, the float switch signal is fed to a controller, which in turn opens a valve to allow fluid to flow into the squeegee bucket interior. In yet another embodiment, the float switch output is fed to the inflow valve to open the valve until the low level condition is no longer indicated. 
     The system can also include fluid reservoirs mounted in an elevated position above the squeegee bucket so as to gravity feed the buckets. In one system, the reservoirs are mounted on the support columns near a gasoline pump on a service island. In another system, the reservoirs are mounted atop the canopy of a service station island. Some systems have multiple fluid reservoirs interconnected with fluid equalization conduits, allowing the level of the multiple reservoirs to be equalized, thereby allowing heavier used or smaller reservoirs to be replenished from less used or larger reservoirs. 
     One system utilizes a dual reservoir system including an upper reservoir open or vented to the atmosphere feeding a lower reservoir acting as a second stage siphon tank which can be closed to the atmosphere through operation of valves above and below the siphon tank. A fluid supply conduit can extend downward from the siphon tank and into a squeegee bucket, extending below the fluid level in the squeegee bucket interior. When the fluid level of the squeegee bucket drops below the lower extent of the fluid supply tube from the siphon tank, air can bubble up into the siphon tank, thereby allowing fluid from the siphon tank to drop down through the fluid supply conduit into the squeegee bucket. This can continue until the squeegee bucket fluid level is above the lower extent of the fluid supply conduit extending down from the siphon tank. After the siphon tank is low or empty, the siphon tank outflow valve can be closed and the siphon tank inflow valve opened, to allow replenishing fluid to enter from an upper reservoir or pump. The siphon tank inflow valve can then be closed and the siphon tank outflow valve opened to repeat the process. 
     Systems can also include controllers for controlling operation of the fluid supply at both a local and supervisory level. The controller can be used to open and close valves as well as to perform monitoring functions. Some systems utilize controllers to detect excessive fluid flow over a predetermined time interval. The excessive fluid flow may indicate leakage and/or pilferage of the washer fluid. Some systems include data output functions as part of the controller. In these systems, the system may report out fluid usage, frequency of usage, excessive fluid use alarms, as well as fluid bulk storage tank low levels indicating a need for more washer fluid. In some systems, the reservoirs used to fill the squeegee buckets are also used to supply hoses which can be used to fill the washer fluid reservoirs in automobiles. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1A is a schematic view of a windshield washer fluid replenishment system including a squeegee bucket gravity fed from an elevated reservoir; 
     FIG. 1B is a schematic view of a windshield washer fluid replenishment system including two squeegee buckets each coupled to a reservoir through a fluid supply conduit and having a controller coupled to a level control valve, and a fluid quantity sensory to control the fluid level in the squeegee buckets; 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a windshield washer fluid replenishment system having lower reservoirs which can be closed to the atmosphere to act as siphon tanks, and having upper reservoirs coupled to each other through a fluid equalization conduit; 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a windshield washer fluid replenishment system including closed reservoirs fed from a supply tank with a pump, with the closed reservoirs having fluid quantity sensors; 
     FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram of a squeegee bucket-mounting bracket, which is vertically slidable and coupled to a spring and a valve lever arm; 
     FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram of the squeegee bucket mounting bracket of FIG. 4A, having a low fluid quantity within the bucket, causing the spring to contract and the lever arm to open the valve to replenish the fluid in the squeegee bucket; 
     FIG. 4C is a schematic diagram of the squeegee bucket of FIG. 4B, after fluid replenishment, the fluid weight causing the spring to extend and pull the lever arm downward to close the fluid in-flow valve; 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a squeegee bucket having a float switch coupled to a controller and acting as a fluid quantity sensor; 
     FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram of a vertically-slideable squeegee bucket-mounting bucket coupled to a spring and lever arm for electrically indicating a low level condition; 
     FIG. 6B is a schematic diagram of the squeegee bucket mounting bracket of  6 A, having the squeegee bucket mounted on the bracket and a low fluid quantity, allowing the spring to extend and make an electrical contact to indicate a low level condition; 
     FIG. 6B is a schematic diagram of the squeegee bucket of FIG. 6B, shown after fluid replenishment, the spring contracted to electrically indicate the fluid level is not low; 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a squeegee bucket fluid replenishment system having a dispensing valve for dispensing windshield washer fluid; 
     FIG. 8 is a highly diagrammatic perspective view of a gasoline station island having fluid reservoirs disposed on the island canopy; 
     FIG. 9 is a highly diagrammatic, perspective view of two gasoline station islands having fluid reservoirs disposed on the island canopy; 
     FIG. 10 is a highly diagrammatic, perspective view of a gasoline station island having fluid dispensing hoses and nozzles; 
     FIG. 11 is a fragmentary, highly diagrammatic side view of a gasoline station island having squeegee buckets, reservoirs, and a reservoir fill conduit; 
     FIG. 12 is a fragmentary, highly diagrammatic side view of a gasoline station island having squeegee buckets, reservoirs, and coiled dispensing hoses and nozzles; 
     FIG. 13 is a fragmentary, highly diagrammatic side view of a gasoline station island having squeegee buckets, dispensing coils and nozzle, reservoirs, and a pump and fluid bulk storage tank; 
     FIG. 14 is a fragmentary, highly diagrammatic side view of a gasoline station island having a ground level reservoir and pump for replenishing the squeegee bucket fluid; and 
     FIG. 15 is a fragmentary, highly diagrammatic side view of a gasoline station island having reservoirs disposed below the canopy and having an inter-reservoir fluid equalization conduit disposed between the reservoirs. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following detailed description should be read with reference to the drawings, in which like elements in different drawings are numbered identically. The drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, depict selected embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Several forms of invention have been shown and described, and other forms will now be apparent to those skilled in art. It will be understood that embodiments shown in drawings and described above are merely for illustrative purposes, and are not intended to limit scope of the invention as defined in the claims, which follow. 
     FIG. 1A illustrates a squeegee bucket fill system or subsystem  50 . System  50  may also be viewed as a subsystem as, in some embodiments, other elements are present, being added to the system or subsystem  50 . System  50  and the other systems in the present application may also be referred to as “Stay Fill” systems, as the systems enable squeegee buckets to stay filled. System  50  includes a reservoir or fluid supply source  54  containing windshield washer fluid or windshield cleaner fluid  72 . As will be discussed later, reservoir  54  may be open to the atmosphere at the top, or closed and valved at the top, depending on the system. As used herein, the term “fluid” refers to windshield washer fluid, glass cleaner fluid, and, in a less preferred embodiment, water. 
     Reservoir  54  can feed into a fluid supply conduit  56  which further feeds into a squeegee bucket level control valve or inflow valve  74 , which further feeds downward into a lower portion of the fluid supply conduit which can be viewed as a separate tube, forming a squeegee bucket fluid tube  58 . Valve  74  can be located either inside of or outside of the squeegee bucket. In some embodiments, valve  74  is located outside of the bucket, and disposed to drop fluid through another aperture into the bucket interior. Squeegee bucket fluid tube  58  can terminate in an open port  60 , for adding fluid to the squeegee bucket. 
     A squeegee bucket  52  may be seen to include a body  62  defining a bucket interior  68  and having a bucket aperture  70  which can be used to admit a squeegee (not shown in FIG.  1 A). Squeegee bucket  52  includes fluid  64  having a fluid level  66 , and the bucket may be seen to include a quantity of fluid, which may be quantified by the level, volume, or weight of the fluid, either alone or together with the weight of the squeegee bucket. As used herein, the term “squeegee bucket” refers to a container capable of containing windshield washer fluid and having an aperture through the squeegee bucket for admitting a squeegee handle. Squeegee buckets are commonly found in gasoline stations and convenience stores, which sell gasoline. 
     A local fluid level controller can be used to control the level of fluid in squeegee bucket  52 . The squeegee bucket level controller may also be referred to as a squeegee bucket fluid quantity controller, as the amount of fluid in the squeegee bucket is to be controlled, which can be accomplished in many ways, as described in detail below. The terms “fluid level controller” and “fluid quantity controller” should be considered as interchangeable with each other in the present application. A fluid quantity sensor  76  can be used to sense the quantity of fluid in squeegee bucket  52 . Controller  78  may also be referred to as control linkage or linkage between the low fluid quantity sensor and the valve for admitting fluid into the squeegee bucket 
     The fluid quantity sensor in some embodiments senses a continuous range of fluid quantities, and outputs a signal having a continuous range of values indicating the quantity of fluid in the squeegee bucket. Some fluid quantity sensors may output analog electrical signals, for example, a range of voltages or currents. Other continuous fluid quantity sensors may output a digital signal having effectively a continuous range of values, limited by the resolution of the number of bits. Some embodiments of fluid quantity sensors output discreet values, for example, a low level signal and/or a high level signal. Some fluid quantity sensors output a discreet value indicating a low—low signal, as will be explained further below. Still other fluid quantity sensors output several discreet values indicating discrete fluid quantities. One such example of a fluid quantity sensor outputs a series of discreet signals, spaced at substantially regular intervals from a low—low value to a high value. One such system outputs a discreet level signal for every 20 percentage points between a very low fluid quantity level and a very high fluid quantity level. 
     Fluid quantity sensor  76 , in some systems, measures weight directly. Some systems measure the combined weight of the fluid together with the squeegee bucket. Some systems may effectively tare the bucket weight to allow reading the fluid weight directly. Fluid quantity can also be measured by the pressure or head of the fluid in the squeegee bucket. Fluid quantity sensor  76  can indicate the level of fluid, for example, through a float switch or other level gauging systems well known to those skilled in the art. One system utilizes a float switch for the fluid quantity sensor, which is directly wired to valve  74 , with the electrical linkage serving as the controller. Valve  74  may remain open until the low level signal goes away. 
     Controller  78  can include an input  80  coupled to fluid quantity sensor  76  and an output  82  coupled to squeegee bucket level control valve  74 . Squeegee bucket level control valve  74  may also be referred to as a squeegee bucket inflow control valve  74  in some systems. Fluid level controller  78  may be any suitable control device or element and can be microprocessor based, electrically based, mechanically based, or even pneumatically based, depending on the embodiment. A mechanical or electrical linkage between sensor  76  and valve  74  can serve as the controller in some systems. 
     In use, the customers using the squeegee bucket can remove fluid from the bucket, thereby depleting the fluid level. Some fluid is also lost through evaporation. As fluid level  66  drops, fluid quantity sensor  76  senses the fluid level and sends the fluid quantity sensed to controller input  80 . Controller  78  can then send an output signal through controller output  82  to squeegee bucket inflow valve  74 , to open valve  74 . Fluid can exit reservoir  54  through fluid supply conduit  56 , passing through valve  74  and further through squeegee bucket fluid tube  58 , exiting through port  60  into the squeegee bucket  52 . As the level becomes sufficiently high, the level is sensed by fluid quantity sensor  76 , sent to controller  78 , which can then close valve  74  through output signal  82 . It should be noted that squeegee bucket fill system  50  employs a gravity feed system to provide fluid to squeegee bucket  52 . As used herein, the term “gravity feed” refers to a system in which a fluid reservoir disposed higher than the squeegee bucket provides fluid through a conduit into the bucket through the force of gravity. Fluid reservoirs can be located on service is/and support pillars o 9 r canopies, on other buildings, and atop embankments. 
     FIG. 1B illustrates a squeegee bucket fill system  100 , employing many of the elements previously described in FIG.  1 A. Some elements have been omitted in FIG. 1B to simplify the drawing. In particular, fluid quantity sensor  76  and fluid level controller  78  have been left out of FIG. 1B to simplify the drawing. Squeegee bucket inflow valve  74  is illustrated in FIG.  1 B and can be controlled through controller  78  or other similar device. 
     Squeegee buckets  52  are coupled through fluid supply conduit  56  as previously described. System  100  includes reservoir  54  as previously described as well as a second reservoir  120 . Reservoir  120  can include a reservoir fluid quantity or level sensor  108  having a probe  110 . Both reservoirs  54  and  120  can have the reservoir outflow controlled by reservoir outlet valves  104 , in fluid communication with, and able to block fluid flow through, fluid supply conduit  56 . As will be discussed further, reservoir outlet valves  104  can be used to reduce or stop pilferage, leakage, and can be used to stop fluid flow during squeegee bucket removal and cleaning. 
     In some embodiments, reservoir outlet valves  104  may be metering devices, for example, small metering pumps. In other devices, an additional and separate flow-metering device can be disposed in fluid communication with fluid supply conduit  56 . 
     A third, optional reservoir or storage reservoir  118  is also illustrated in FIG.  1 B. Optional reservoir  118  can be used to store additional fluid at substantially the same level as the other reservoirs, with reservoir  118  not being directly coupled to any squeegee buckets. Reservoirs  54  and  120  can be coupled through an inter-reservoir equalization conduit  116  connecting both reservoirs. Equalization conduit  116  can allow the fluid levels within various reservoirs to be equalized between the reservoirs, allowing a less used reservoir to effectively supply a more frequently used reservoir. Optional reservoir  118  includes a first outlet conduit  124  coupled to equalization conduit  116 . Optional reservoir  118  may also be referred to as a storage reservoir. Storage reservoir  118  includes a second outlet conduit  126  coupled to reservoir  120 . An optional reservoir fill conduit  122  can be coupled from pump  180  to equalization conduit  116 . 
     The reservoirs themselves may be filled through a reservoir fill conduit  112  extending down to a reservoir fill conduit port  114 . Reservoir fill conduit  112  can be used to periodically refill the reservoirs themselves using a variety of systems, including truck delivery. A bulk storage tank or vessel  184  may be seen coupled to a pump  180 . Pump  180  can be further coupled through an outlet coupling  182  to reservoir fill conduit  112 . Bulk storage tank  184  and pump  180  can thus be used to periodically replenish the reservoirs by pumping fluid within bulk storage tank  184  through fill conduit  112  to reservoir  120 , and, indirectly, reservoir  54 . System  100  also includes a controller or master controller  140 . Controller  140  may be seen to include an output  142  coupled to pump  180  for starting and stopping the pump. Controller  140  may also be seen to have reservoir outlet valve control outputs  144  coupled to reservoir outlet control valves  104  for opening and closing the valves. Controller  140  is coupled to an input  148  coupled to the reservoir quantity or level sensor  108 . Level input  148  can be used by controller  140  to determine when to fill the reservoirs. Finally, controller  140  can include a communication output  146  coupled to a communication unit  150 . 
     Communication unit  150  can be used to communicate unidirectionally or bi-directionally with other communication systems remote from the service island, and often, remote from the service site itself. Communication unit  150  can be coupled to an antenna  152  for radio frequency communication. Communication unit  150  can also be coupled through its own output  160  to an infrared transceiver  154 , for local transmission of data, for example, to the service station operator. Communication unit  150  can also be coupled through an output  162  to a telecom or Internet communication device  156 , coupled to the outside world through a communication line  158 . Communication line  158  can be used to report the need for additional bulk fluid, as well as to warn of likely pilferage or leakage. The radio frequency signal can be a proprietary system and protocol, or a standardized protocol and system, such as Blue Tooth or even cellular communications including voice or data cellular. Communication unit  150  can be used in conjunction with control unit  140 , to communicate to a remote site that predetermined events have occurred. One such event is a low fluid level detected in a fluid reservoir. Another such event is the detection or inference of pilfering or leak detection. Communication unit  150  may also periodically transmit the amount of fluid dispensed, the time of fluid flow being dispensed, and the frequency of fluid being dispensed into the squeegee buckets. The absolute and average time between dispenses may also be reported. 
     Communication unit  150  can also be polled via remote system to ascertain system audit data. It should be noted that the remote system may be the supply vehicle used to periodically replenish reservoirs  54  and  120  or the option bulk storage tank  184 , and can be optionally used during replenishing to indicate that the reservoir is full. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a squeegee bucket fill system  200 . Squeegee bucket fill system  200  includes squeegee buckets  52 , as previously described. System  200 , however, can have a different tube or conduit extending into the squeegee bucket as well as a second set of reservoir or siphon tanks, discussed below. 
     System  200  includes a first upper reservoir  202  and a second upper reservoir  204 , with both reservoirs preferably being vented to the atmosphere. Reservoirs  202  and  204  may also be referred to as first stage siphon tanks. In many respects, reservoir tanks  202  and  204  are as previously described with respect to the reservoirs discussed in FIG.  1 A. Reservoir  204  may be seen to have, as a reservoir level or quantity sensor, several discreet level sensors  232 A- 232 E. Discreet level sensor  232 A indicates a very low reservoir level, discreet sensor  232 E indicates a very high reservoir level, with discreet sensors  232 B- 232 D indicating intermediate levels. The discreet level sensors are referred to collectively as level sensor  232 . The reservoirs  202  and  204  are coupled to reservoir outlet conduits  206 , which can in turn in couple to flow meters  208 . 
     System  200  also includes a second set of reservoirs, which can be referred to as lower reservoirs or as second stage siphon tanks  212 . Reservoirs  212  may be seen to be closable to the atmosphere through the use of valves. Fluid can flow into reservoirs  212  through a lower reservoir inlet valve  210 , and exit through a lower reservoir outlet conduit  218  and further through lower reservoir outlet valve  220 . Valve  220  may also be referred to as the squeegee bucket inflow valve. Flow can continue through a squeegee bucket supply conduit  222  exiting finally through a squeegee bucket supply conduit outlet port  224  disposed within bucket  52 . Lower reservoir  212  may be seen to have a lower reservoir fluid quantity sensor comprising a high level sensor  214  and a low level sensor  216 . 
     A controller or master controller  230  may be seen coupled to the various sensors and valves. Upper reservoir level sensor  232  can be coupled through level input  233  to controller  230 . Flow meter  208  can be coupled through controller flow input  250  while lower reservoir inflow valve  210  can be controlled through controller output  252 . The lower reservoir fluid quantity sensors  214  and  216  can be read through controller inputs  254  and  256 , respectively. Lower reservoir outlet valves  220  can be controlled through controller output  242 . 
     The use of the siphon tanks  212  of system  200  may now be discussed. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the squeegee bucket supply conduits  222  and outlet port  224  may be slightly different than those found in the previously described system. In particular, the relationship between outlet port  224  and the fluid level within squeegee bucket  52  should be noted. System  200  embodies a system utilizing a two-stage siphon system having a tube feeding fluid into squeegee bucket  52 . This is accomplished by the same principle as the inverted bottle in a pan of water. The water in the pan will rise until the lip of the bottle is reached and equilibrium is reached between the pressure inside and outside of the bottle. The pressure outside of the bottle is the atmospheric pressure, and the pressure inside is the combination of the fluid head, the air trapped in the bottle, and the neck of the bottle restricting flow. In the present invention, the neck of the bottle is effectively elongated to become the supply tube, and the body of the bottle becomes the second stage, siphon tank, or lower reservoir of the two-stage system. The upper reservoir is the first stage. As fluid is delivered to the bucket, through tube  222 , air will enter the tube and travel to lower reservoir  212  until the fluid level in bucket  52  reaches and seals off the bottom of the tube or port  224 . This will continue until lower reservoir  212  is emptied. When this occurs, the lower reservoir  212  is replenished and the air is purged. System  200  effectively uses a hydraulic linkage between the low fluid quantity and the fluid supply. The exposed tube port  224  acts as the low fluid quantity sensor, which is linked to the fluid source in reservoirs  212  by admitting air when the port is exposed. 
     In operation, upper reservoirs  202  and  204  may initially be filled. Lower reservoir outlet valve  220  may be closed, and lower reservoir inlet valves  210  opened, thereby allowing fluid to flow from upper reservoirs  202  and  204  through meters  208  and into lower reservoirs  212 . When the lower reservoir high-level sensors  214  indicate the reservoirs are sufficiently full, lower reservoir inlet valves  210  may be closed. Lower reservoir outlet valves  220  may be opened, allowing fluid to flow through squeegee bucket supply conduit  222  and into squeegee buckets  52 . As fluid is removed from the squeegee buckets, the fluid will flow into the squeegee buckets from the lower reservoirs  212 , as previously described. When the lower reservoir low-level sensor  216  indicates that the lower reservoirs require replenishing, the lower reservoirs can be replenished as previously described. The control of the system, as just described, can be accomplished through controller  230 . Controller  230  can be any combination of microprocessor-based control, PLC control, electrical control, hydraulic control, or even pneumatic control, using techniques well known to those skilled in the art. A controller using Boolean logic or binary logic may be referred to as a binary logic control linkage or linkage. A microprocessor based controller is considered to be a microprocessor control linkage or linkage for the purposes of the present invention. When controller  230  senses that the level within reservoirs  202  and  204  is sufficiently low, the fluid supply can be replenished through reservoir fill conduit  112 , as previously discussed. 
     Flow meters  208  can be utilized to detect various situations requiring human or automatic attention. One such situation is pilferage or leakage. When the flow past meter  208  exceeds a preset limit over a given time period, this may indicate either leakage through tube  222  or pilferage. With presently available squeegee buckets, pilferage is not an issue as only a small amount of windshield washer fluid is present in the buckets. With the present system, however,  50  gallons or more of windshield washer fluid might be available for the taking, absent human intervention and/or automatic detection. Controller  230  may be used to effect the detection and prevention of pilferage and leakage. In particular, controller  230  may significantly restrict or stop outflow of fluid into the squeegee buckets when pilferage or leakage is inferred. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates another squeegee bucket fill system  300 . System  300  is similar in many respects to the system  200  of FIG.  2 . In particular, siphon tanks  212 , together with meter  208 , siphon tank inflow valve  210 , siphon tank outflow valve  220 , and squeegee bucket supply conduit  222  can be as described with respect to FIG.  2 . Likewise, controller  230  can be similar to control  230  of FIG. 2, but may use slightly different logic. 
     System  300  has effectively replaced the upper reservoirs of FIG. 2 with a pump and bulk storage tank. System  300  includes a bulk storage tank  302  for storing fluid having a high level sensor  304  and a low level sensor  306 . Both sensors may be coupled to controller  230 . Bulk storage tank  302  is coupled to a pump  308  which is in turn coupled to a siphon tank fill conduit  310  which can be used to replenish the siphon tanks  212 . When the siphon tanks level sensors  216  call for fluid replenishment, siphon tank inflow valve  210  may be opened, valve  220  shut, pump  308  started, and fluid pumped from storage tank  302 , through pump  308 , through siphon tank fill conduit  310 , and into the appropriate siphon tank requiring fluid. In other aspects, the operation of system  300  can be as described with respect to FIG.  2 . System  300  allows use of the siphon tanks without the added upper reservoir tanks. 
     FIGS. 4A-C illustrate a squeegee bucket fill system or subsystem  400  having a mechanical control linkage or linkage. System  400  illustrates one example of a mechanical embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4A includes a vertically slidable bucket mounting or mobile bracket  402  mounted to a surface  401  and having bracket guides  404 . Slidable bracket  402  is coupled to a coupling member  406 , which is in turn coupled to a lever arm  408  at the lever arm end  410 . A spring  412  may be seen coupled to lever arm end  410 , with spring  412  being attached at the upper end to a spring mount  414 . A fluid supply conduit  424  may be seen coupled to a valve body  420  which is in turn coupled to a lower portion of the fluid supply conduit or squeegee bucket supply conduit  416 , terminating in a port  418 . In the example shown, valve body  420  includes a flow passage  422  therethrough. Passage  422  is not aligned with fluid supply conduit  424  in FIG. 4A, thereby closing the valve. 
     In FIG. 4A, spring  412  is fully contracted, indicating a low—low or cleaning position. As the squeegee bucket has been removed from slidable bracket  402 , the bracket has been allowed to slide vertically upward because of the extremely low weight on the bracket. Spring  412  effectively pulls the mounting bracket upward. Lever arm  408  may be seen to be upwardly displaced, thereby rotating the valve body  420  and valve body passageway  422 . FIG. 4A indicates the position of the system where the bucket has been removed for cleaning and flow through the fluid supply conduit is undesirable. 
     FIG. 4B illustrates system  400  after a squeegee bucket  430  has been added to bracket  402 , but where the fluid level within squeegee bucket  430  is too low, calling for additional fluid. Spring  412  may be seen to be only partially expanded, which can rotate lever arm  408  to a substantially horizontal position, thereby aligning passageway  422  in valve body  420  with fluid supply conduit  424 . Fluid is allowed to flow through valve body  420  and into bucket  430 . 
     FIG. 4C illustrates system  400  after sufficient fluid has been added to bucket  430 . The weight of the now filled bucket  430  has slid bracket  402  downward, thereby extending spring  412 , moving coupling member  406  and pulling lever arm  408  further downward. Valve body  420  has been further rotated, once again bringing passageway  422  out of alignment with fluid supply conduit  424  and closing the valve. 
     The example of FIGS. 4A-C is but one example of how the fluid quantity sensor and controller can be implemented using mechanical devices only. The fluid quantity sensor in FIG. 4A is implemented in the slidable bracket  402  and spring  412 . The controller may be viewed as implemented by the combination of spring  412 , lever arm  408 , and rotatable valve body  420 . FIGS. 4A-4C exemplify only one of several weight triggered flow systems. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a squeegee bucket fill system or subsystem  450  having an electrical or electronic control linkage or linkage. System  450  includes a fluid supply conduit  452  coupled through a valve  456  and further coupled to a squeegee bucket fluid tube  454  extending into a squeegee bucket  462 . Squeegee bucket  462  includes a fluid quantity sensor embodied in a float device. System  450  includes a float  464  constrained to ride on a float guide  466  within the squeegee bucket. Float guide  466  includes a high level sensor  468  and a low level sensor  470  which can detect when float  464  has approached either limit. High-level sensor  468  and low-level sensor  470  can be implemented using mechanical or electrical means, for example, reed switches. A float switch output line  474  may be seen to connect to a float switch or sensor  460 , which in turn is coupled to a controller input line  472  coupled to a controller  458 . Controller  458  is further coupled through an output line  476  to valve  456 . When float  460  approaches low level sensor  470 , more fluid can be called for and valve  456  opened by controller  458 . When high-level sensor  468  is approached, controller  458  can close valve  456 . In system  450 , the fluid quantity sensor therefore directly detects fluid level. 
     One system includes a float switch mounted inside the squeegee bucket to detect a low fluid level or lack of low level. One float switch includes a float guide having a reed switch within to complete a circuit through two wires extending out of the float guide. A donut shaped float including a magnet rides over the float guide to open and close the reed switch. The float switch can be mounted at the desired level within squeegee bucket. One suitable float switch is a miniature float switch made by Meder (Germany), being nominally {fraction ( 3 / 4 )} inch width and 2 ½ inch height. 
     One system includes a 12 VDC power supply mounted on a service island canopy, with one 12 VDC line connecting to one float switch lead. The other float switch lead can be coupled to a solenoid valve, for example one made by ASCO. The other solenoid valve lead can be coupled to the other power supply lead. 
     FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate another squeegee bucket fill system  480  having an electrical or electronic control linkage or linkage. System  480  is similar to some respects to system  450  of FIG.  5  and system  400  of FIGS. 4A-4C. System  480  includes a squeegee bucket inflow valve  456  and squeegee fluid supply conduits  452  and  454 . System  480  is similar to system  400  of FIGS. 4A-4C in having slidable squeegee bucket bracket  402  and spring  412 , as previously described. System  480  utilizes a simple electric switch to control the squeegee bucket inflow valve  456  rather than the mechanical device illustrated in FIG.  4 A. 
     System  480  includes an electrical switch including a lever arm  482  being connected at location  484  to the lower end of spring  412 . Lever arm  482  is pivotally mounted about pivot point  486  and has an electrical contact arm  488  disposed of pivot point  486  from spring connection point  484 . Electrical contact arm  488  can make contact with electrical contacts  492 . The electrical switch includes a low—low point  490  indicating a very low weight for the squeegee bucket indicative of a removed bucket. Contact arm  488  points to low—low point  490  in FIG.  6 A. The electrical switch further has a low contact  492  indicating a squeegee bucket and fluid weight sufficiently low so as to require filling. In the embodiment illustrated, low contact  492  is arcuate and has a length so as to allow filling over a range of weight values. System  480  has electrical contact arm  488  making contact with low contact  492  in FIG.  6 B. This contact is made as spring  412  has been partially extended relative to spring  412  in FIG.  6 A. The electrical switch also has a high point  494 , which is indicative of a sufficiently filled squeegee bucket. System  480  shows electrical contact arm  488  pointing to high point  496  in FIG.  6 C. This is caused by spring  412  being fully extended, further extended relative to spring  412  in FIG.  6 B. When the electrical contact arm  488  is in contact with low contact  492 , a circuit can be established from a power line  496 , through contact  492 , through arm  488 , than through second electrical line  497  to squeegee bucket inflow valve  456 . 
     FIG. 7 illustrates another squeegee bucket fill system  500 , similar in many respects to system  100  of FIG.  1 B. System  500  shares many of the same elements as system  100  of FIG. 1B, which are identically numbered and need not be further described. System  500  includes a slave controller  141  coupled through a communication line  143  to controller  140 . In some embodiments, the control can be distributed between a master controller and/or more slave controllers, such as controller  141 . System  500  also includes a hose  508  and nozzle  510  which can be used to fill the windshield washer fluid reservoir in automobiles. Reservoir  54  includes a hose outlet conduit  502  coupled through a hose flow meter  504  which is in turn coupled to a hose valve  506  which leads to hose  508 . Hose flow meter  504  can be coupled through a input communication line  505  to controller  140 . Output communication line  507  can send open and shut commands from controller  140  to hose valve  506 . In FIG. 7, system  500  has two sets of hoses, nozzles, meters and valves. System  500  can thus make dual use of the fill system including reservoirs  54  and  120 . The system overhead and reservoirs can be used to both fill the squeegee buckets and to provide windshield washer fluid to replenish the reservoir in automobiles. In some embodiments, slave controller  141  can be coupled to money input devices to activate controller  141  for the purposes of opening valve  506  and providing washer fluid through nozzle  510 . 
     FIG. 8 illustrates a service island  550  having fuel or gas pumps  554  thereon and support columns  552  supporting a canopy  556 . Fluid reservoirs  54  are disposed on top of canopy  556  and interconnected with equalization conduit  116 . Squeegee buckets  52  are mounted on support columns  552 . 
     FIG. 9 illustrates another use of the invention on service islands  550  having support posts  552  and canopy  556 . Reservoirs  54  may be seen disposed atop canopy  556 . FIG. 9 illustrates how the multiple reservoirs may be disposed on top of the canopy. 
     FIG. 10 illustrates another service island  550  having support posts  552  and canopy  556 , where reservoirs  54  are coupled with equalization conduit  116 . One support post includes a squeegee bucket  54  and hose reel  509  having hose  508  and nozzle  510  for replenishing automobile windshield washer fluid reservoirs. Another support post includes controller  140  and another squeegee bucket  54  as well as hose  508 . 
     FIG. 11 illustrates yet another service island  550  having squeegee buckets  52 , substantially as illustrated in FIG.  1 . Reservoir  54  and reservoir  120  are disposed beneath canopy  556  and secured to support post  552  directly. Equalization line  116  may be seen to extend down into the reservoirs through a downwardly extending conduit portion  117 . The downwardly extending portion  117  allows the fluid level to be equalized effectively from the top of the reservoirs. Reservoir fill conduit  112  may also be seen. 
     FIG. 12 illustrates still another service island  550  including numerous aspects previously described. Master controller  140  maybe seen as is slave controller  141 . Meter  504  and valve  506  may be seen for supplying hose  508  and nozzle  510 . The example of FIG. 12 shares many aspects with the example previously described in FIG.  7 . Reservoir fill conduit  112  may be seen disposed within one of the support posts. 
     FIG. 13 illustrates another service island  550  having aspects in common with FIG. 12 previously discussed, but having pump  180  and bulk storage tank  184  as discussed with respect to FIG.  1 B. Pump  180  and bulk storage tank  184  can be used to replenish reservoirs  120  and  54 . 
     FIG. 14 illustrates a service island  550  having master control unit  140  as well as slave control unit  141 . Reservoir  184  may be seen disposed on the ground rather than hanging from the pillar or supported by the canopy. Pump  180  and reservoir  184  may be used to supply both squeegee bucket  52  and hoses  508 . Pump  180  is coupled to a first hose supply conduit  582  as well as a second hose supply conduit  584 . A squeegee bucket fill conduit  586  may be seen coupled to squeegee bucket  52 . Reservoir  184  may also be referred to as a bulk storage tank as the embodiment of FIG. 14 has no gravity feed to squeegee bucket  52 , rather being pump fed. In some embodiments, reservoir  184  may be effectively pressurized so as to provide fluid under pressure to squeegee bucket  52  without requiring the intermittent and frequent operation of the pump. 
     FIG. 15 illustrates another service island having reservoirs  54  and  120  together with equalization conduit  116 . Reservoirs  54  and  120  may be seen mounted on support posts  552 , beneath canopy  556 . System  600  of FIG. 15 illustrates a system, which may require filling by directly filling reservoirs  54  and  120  by inserting a fill hose through the top of one or both reservoirs.

Technology Category: b