Flow control system, jumper hose elements and fluid flow management method

A method for controlling fluid flow in an automotive wash system, comprising:

• supplying a toroidal body portion formed by an annular wall open at its top and its bottom and having annular upper and bottom flat surfaces, substantially cylindrical upper and lower inner surfaces, and a convex outer wall surface surrounding and coaxial with an axis to form a central through passageway;
• forming in said body portion at least three inwardly-extending, flexible tabs extending inwardly from said wall between the upper and lower inner wall surfaces and into said through passageway;
• spacing said tabs around the circumference of the inner wall to form spaced, radially-extending slots and a central opening, wherein said tabs at rest form a maximum fluid flow area through said slots and central opening and are responsive to fluid flow through said passageway to reduce said fluid flow area to limit the flow rate of the fluid, and
• selecting the characteristics of the material used to form the flexible tabs, selecting the dimensions of the tabs and thus the dimensions of the slots between the tabs, and selecting the thickness of the flexible tabs to determine a selected pressure/flow point at which the tabs reach a closed position in which flow is constricted to the area of the central aperture.

An automotive wash system containing a fluidic, shear, or jet nozzle for washing sensors or lens components for automotive devices as well as glazing, mirrors and headlamps, comprising:

• a source of fluid capable of providing a supply fluid flow rate of between 1 and 2500 ml/min with a supply pressure of between 1 and 80 psi;
• a spray nozzle;
• a pressure control device fluidly connected between said source of fluid and said nozzle in such a way that flow to the nozzle does not exceed 90% of the nominal flow rate without the pressure control device for supply pressures between 30 and 60 psi, or with a lower target flowrate for the same pressure range;
• wherein the pressure control device is an elastomeric body incorporating multiple flexible tabs in a fluid flow path through the body and wherein the flexible tabs are responsive to flow rate and pressure to vary the area of the flow path.