FR2883808A1 - Antitheft, anti-intrusion, anti-discharge device for fuel tank of e.g. motor vehicle, has plunger tube body with set of narrow openings at upper part of its lateral surface, where openings are sealed when neck is placed in body - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a coaxial assembly of two cylindrical tubes formed of a plunger tube body (8) receiving a filler neck (7) that is moved between an anti-discharge re-entry position and a filling output position. The plunger tube body has a set of narrow openings (18) at an upper part of its lateral surface for liquid passage during the filling of a liquid. A closed volume is formed at a lower part of the body for collecting and recovering objects or products. The openings are sealed when the neck is placed in the body.

Description

2883808 1

  The present invention relates to an antitheft, anti-intrusion and anti-spill device for a liquid tank, in particular fuel or fuel, for example that carried by or fitted to a vehicle.

  The object of the invention is to provide an anti-theft device intended to be put in place as the original tank cap. This device must prevent the siphoning of the tank equipped with it and any attempt to fraudulently take fuel or other liquid from a tank.

  For safety reasons, this device is also intended to prevent the spill of the liquid contained in the tank in case of steep inclination, or even the overturning of the vehicle or loss of the cap. It also prevents overflow of the liquid during its filling.

  This device can be easily mounted on the inlet port of any type of liquid tank without having to modify it while retaining the original closure cap.

  The anti-theft device also includes anti-vandalism means for retaining small foreign bodies introduced by the tank cap so that they do not fall to the bottom of the tank.

  Advantageously, this device is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

  This device is particularly well suited to equip the fuel tanks of motor vehicles and trucks.

  To solve these technical problems, various tank caps have been proposed. For example, anti-intrusion devices are known to prevent the introduction of a conduit for siphoning the tank.

  2883808 2 There are also numerous sealed safety caps condemning access to the tank by a key lock. Generally, the latter type of device does not prevent siphoning the tank once the broken cap.

  Thus, by US Pat. No. 4,630,748 in the name of RUSSELL D. KELLER and US No. 5,476,185 in the name of SNYDER TANK CORPORATION, there is known an anti-siphoning filling device consisting mainly of a tube fixed on the opening of the reservoir and immersing in this last. Lateral openings on this tube allow the passage of the liquid and thus the filling of the tank but prohibit the introduction of a tube or other means for fraudulently withdrawing liquid. However, this device does not easily adapt to any type of tank and it has no anti-spill function A safety cap prohibiting access to the tank by a simple lock is disclosed in US Patent No. 5,533,766 to name of WEBASTON KAROSSERIESYSTEME GMBH. However, it does not prevent siphoning the tank once the opening of the latter unlocked or fractured. In addition, this device is removed for filling the tank, it does not act against overflow.

  To solve this technical problem, the device according to the invention comprises a tubular plunger held immobilized in position on the end of the neck of the tank orifice by a quarter turn and locked in position by tamperproof screws.

  The body comprises two coaxial envelopes, preferably cylindrical, a filling tube and a tubular plunger, forming a tubular plunger assembly. The filling tube is extractable projecting from the tubular plunger to form a retractable filling tube for filling to the brim. The tubular plunger body comprises a fastening collar adapted to be screwed onto the end of the neck of the reservoir orifice in place of the reservoir cap. This fastening flange is surmounted by an end flange forming a neck for the tank orifice on which can be adapted the tank cap. In its upper part, the tubular plunger body has transverse openings in order to let the liquid to the reservoir during filling when the retractable filling tube is in the up position.

  In case of unlocking or fracture of the tank cap, these transverse openings are too narrow to allow the introduction of a siphoning tube of sufficient diameter. At worst, only the upper volume liquid slice at the transverse openings can be siphoned off. With the antitheft device for the liquid reservoir of the invention, it is therefore impossible to fraudulently collect the quantity occupying the rest of the tank volume.

  Furthermore, when the filling tube is in place in the tubular plunger body, it closes the transverse openings of the tubular plunger, which prevents any spillage of liquid out of the tank, even in the absence of the tank cap.

  Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the detailed description which follows, a description given with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device according to the invention in position relieved of the filling tube; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device according to the invention in the lowered position of the filling tube; Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device according to the invention in the raised position of the filling tube; Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device according to the invention in the lowered position of the filling tube; Figure 5 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the device according to the invention mounted on the neck of a tank; Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the device according to the invention in the partially dissociated state; and 15. Figure 7 is a perspective view of an example of an anti-penetration device used in the invention.

  The safety device according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. The equivalent elements represented in the different figures will bear the same numerical references.

  Figures 1 and 3, there is shown an anti-theft device 1 for liquid reservoir in the open position. This antitheft device is mounted on a tank 2 of liquid and fitted on its neck piece 3 delimiting its filling orifice 4 closed by a plug 5.

  The safety device comprises a coaxial assembly 6 of two coaxial elements preferably cylindrical and hollow, namely a filling tube 7 and a tubular plunger 8, forming the tubular plunger assembly 6.

  The tubular plunger 8 has an upper end 9 and a lower end 10. The lower end 10 of the tubular plunger 8 comprises a blind end face 11 closed by a closure plate thus forming a lower volume 12 closed at its lower end 10 , serving as receptacle volume and recovery of objects or any product introduced following a malicious act.

  The upper end 9 of the tubular plunger 8 is lined with a fastening collar 13 designed to be mounted and immobilized longitudinally and pivotally locked by screwing as the cap on the neck piece 3 of the filling orifice 4 of the reservoir 2 in place of the closure cap 5 of the tank. This fixing collar 13 is fixed on the neck piece 3 of the filling orifice 4 of the reservoir, for example by means of tamper-proof screws such as 14 in order to make it difficult to disassemble and extract it.

  The fastening collar 13 of the tubular plunger body 8 is surmounted by a second end-flanged neck piece 14 forming a new neck 15 for the filling orifice 4 of the reservoir 2 on which the cap 5 also fits. origin of the tank.

  Indeed, it is preferably used the same piece of neck that the original with its two input slots 16 and 17 in each of which between a tongue-spring conventionally equipping the underside of the closure cap of the tank. This second neck piece 14 is commercially available as a spare part. The original part remains on the neck of the tank as secured by welding to it while the new neck piece is attached to the old through the clamping collar. It has the same characteristics, properties and benefits. In addition, the end of the neck seems identical seen at a distance, that of a tank not equipped with the device according to the invention.

  It can thus be the same piece or a similar piece whose skirt of the lower part is enlarged gradually by flaring or totally over all or a fraction of its length to get to be mounted on the neck piece. origin filled by the fixing collar 13 of the dip tube 8.

  Of course, the neck piece can take different technical forms depending on the particularities of the tank or the manufacturer without affecting the invention. It can also provide a special feature that will visually characterize the tank equipped with the device according to the invention.

  The coaxial assembly 6 is immobilized in position on the original neck piece by two diametrically opposed spring tabs equipping its underside and engaging in the notches provided for this purpose in the neck piece. The immobilization pivoting is effective after depression in the notches and a quarter turn relative to the neck piece.

  In the upper part of its lateral surface, over a certain length thereof, the tubular plunger body 8 has transverse openings such as 18 more or less large for the passage of the liquid. These transverse openings 18 affect the form of perforations, holes, slots or any other shape adapted to the passage of the liquid, cut, sunken, drilled or perforated in the metal of the side wall of the tubular plunger 8. In the As shown, these openings 18 are of oblong longitudinal shape or in the form of longitudinally enlarged perforations.

  The filling tube 7 is a tube open at both ends. It is mounted to slide freely in the dip tube 8 between a retracted retracted position and an extended or raised position of filling. For this reason, it will be referred to below as the retractable filling tube 7.

  In the open position of the reservoir shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the filling tube 7 is placed in the raised position out of the coaxial tubular assembly 6. Its upper part is open and allows, for example, the introduction and the maintenance the end of a liquid dispensing gun during the filling of the reservoir and the flow of the liquid from its upper end, that is to say from an outwardly outward entrance.

  It is mainly used to maintain the end of the filler gun beyond the orifice to allow filling to the brim without difficulty.

  The retractable filling tube 7 has a continuous lateral surface. It is mounted to slide freely but guided, for example in a sealed manner, in the tubular plunger 8. Thus, the filling tube 7 has a diameter substantially smaller than that of the tubular plunger 8 which delimits a cylindrical receiving volume in which comes lodge the filling tube when in the retracted position.

  A means for holding in position, for example quarter-turn type bayonet or other, allows the immobilization of the filling tube 7 in the raised position and its release.

  In a preferred embodiment, the retractable filling tube 7 is locked in the closed or open position by turning it by a quarter turn. Its immobilization in the high position comes from a lug 19 projecting from its lateral surface in its sliding lower part to guide, in an inverted longitudinal L-shaped guide slot 20, cut in the lateral surface of the tubular plunger body 8. The vertical bar of the L-shaped slot thus guides longitudinal longitudinal sliding of the filling tube 7 along the tubular plunger 8, while the horizontal bar of the guide slot 20 allows after its pivoting, an immobilization in the upper position of the tube filling 8.

  The stroke of the lug 19 corresponds to the length of the guide slot 20, which prevents the total exit of the retractable filling tube from the device by marking a high limit position.

  The diameter of the tubular plunger 8 and the retractable filling tube 7 must be provided so that the free space between them is as small as possible, so that when the retractable filling tube 7 is retracted into the tubular plunger 8, the liquid in the tank 2 can not penetrate through the transverse openings 18.

  When filling the tank 2, the retractable filling tube 7 is out of the tubular plunger 8 to form a connecting tube for filling. The liquid can be introduced into the tank 2 through the upper opening of this tube serving as a discharge channel in the tank. The liquid passes through the transverse openings 18 of the tubular plunger 8 to fill the reservoir.

  Preferably, the retractable filling tube 7 comprises a gripping means (not shown), for example in the form of a handle or a folding handle or other means, for its gripping and lifting out of its housing to the high abutment against the support flange of the neck piece corresponding to its raised position.

  It is also possible to provide a wire, chain or other link 21 connecting it to the cap 5 of the reservoir as shown in FIG. 6 in order to grasp it and to avoid the loss of the plug.

  According to another variant not shown, it may be provided a means, for example spring, automatically causing the exit of the retractable filling tube, for example when the cap of the tank is removed.

  The antitheft and anti-spill device for a liquid reservoir according to the invention is shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 in the closed position. In this position, the retractable filling tube 7 is inside the tubular assembly 6. Its outer walls thus come into contact with the inner walls of the tubular plunger 8, thus preventing the liquid from flowing through them. openings 18 existing in this envelope.

  Preferably, in this closed position, the retractable filling tube is almost completely housed in the tubular assembly. Only the gripping means of the handle type, handle, link or other, protrudes into the neck or is folded into it so that it can be grasped to allow the partial exit of the retractable filling tube out of its housing.

  According to a more complete variant of the invention, the filling tube may also contain an anti-penetration device 22 intended to allow the liquid to flow while preventing the introduction of a particularly flexible conduit or any other means to siphon the tank.

  In this preferred embodiment of this variant, the anti-penetration device 22 comprises a shutter assembly 23 developing around a substantially longitudinal support rod 24, secured to the inner wall of the dip tube 8 and spaced from it, so as to be in a substantially longitudinal central position. This support rod carries the shutter assembly 23 which may for example be in the form of a piece or a plurality of shutter pieces 25 constituting an anti-penetration shutter assembly formed for example by the angularly offset superposition of parts. shutters 25 in stars, finned, with radial blades straight or curved alternately in one direction then in the other or any other form, for example in baffles or with baffles, making it difficult or impossible to introduce a pipe for siphoning the tank, but allowing the passage of the liquid with a certain flow rate during filling.

  The shutter 23 is shaped so as to leave free a path or several ways allowing the natural or forced flow of the liquid, but is found to be too angular, complex and baffled to make it difficult or impossible to insert a conduit. any even flexible siphoning. An exemplary embodiment of such a shutter has been shown in perspective in Figure 7. Many other technical forms are possible for the same general function and the same results.

  This anti-penetration device makes it particularly difficult or impossible to introduce a conduit or similar means even flexible and small section to the through openings 18, which prevents any siphoning, even the upper volume of the tank.

  The shutter assembly 23 may not be as long as the height of the region of the openings 18. The support rod 24 may comprise a float 26 mounted to slide freely on the rod as shown, so as to further block further access to the lower part of the dip tube 8.

  The shutter assembly 23 may be made in another way, for example in the form of a set permeable to liquids under pressure and impenetrable by a conduit even flexible.

  An example of this is a cluster of metal ribbons, a piece pierced by deviated internal ducts, baffles, parts with remote passages, entanglements of ribbons, rods or other elements constituting as many successive obstacles to penetration of a siphon pipe.

  According to another variant of the invention, not shown, the filling tube may also contain a movable anti-spill valve and mounted to slide freely in the filling tube so as to bear in sealing support, against a sub-face stopper that the antipenetration device presents during a rise of the liquid in the filling tube 7. This function can be fulfilled by the float 26 shown or by any other movable shutter piece with or without a shutter assembly 23.

  Thus, in a preferred embodiment of this variant, combining these last two alternatives, the same support rod 24 may at the same time comprise the anti-penetration device and higher up to free sliding the anti-spill valve. Thus, when the tank is full or being filled, this floating anti-spill valve mounted to slide freely but guided in the filling tube is pressed against the underside of the anti-penetration device in a sealed manner. rising liquid in the filling tube. This makes it impossible to overflow liquid out of the tank during filling and prevents any spill of liquid out of the tank due to backflow or other cause.

  Referring to FIG. 6, which represents the device according to the invention in perspective in the partially dissociated state, we will now describe an example of setting up and using an antitheft and anti-spill device for a reservoir of liquid according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

  The installation of the device according to the invention is carried out according to the following steps: removal of the original cap 5 of the reservoir; introduction of the device according to the invention into the filling orifice of the reservoir 2 substantially along an axis perpendicular to the plane of the opening of the reservoir; positioning the fastening collar 13 of the tubular plunger body 8 on the neck part of the filling orifice of the reservoir; immobilizing the fastening collar 13 of the tubular plunger 8 on the original neck piece by rotating a quarter turn of the collar; 20. checking the quality of immobilization of the device according to the invention on the original neck piece of the filling orifice; fastening the fastening collar 13 of the tubular plunger body to the original neck piece with tamper-proof screws; mounting the new neck piece 14 on the assembly formed of the original neck piece and the fastening collar 13; replace the original cap 5 of the tank.

  Once in place, the device can not be removed without damaging the tank. Tamperproof screws are the only way to detach the device.

  The use of the device according to the invention during filling of the tank is done according to the following steps: removal of the original cap 5 of the tank; release of the retractable filling tube 7; raising the retractable filling tube 7 out of the tubular plunger body 8 by means of the gripping means and immobilization at the upper stop by a quarter of a turn; filling the tank with the dispensing nozzle in the upper position in the filling tube 7; retraction of the retractable filling tube 7 into the tubular plunger 8; replace the original cap 5 of the tank.

  When filling the tank, the retractable filling tube 7 serves as a guide, channel, extender outward and funnel for introducing the liquid from a remote liquid inlet. It allows to keep during all the filling the end of the gun in the high position for a complete filling. In the case of foaming or overflow, the stop of the anti-spill flotation valve against the anti-penetration device prevents overflow and spillage of the liquid.

  It should be noted that the constituent elements of the device of the invention must be manufactured in a suitable material. This material must be sufficiently rigid and resist the force and thrust of the liquid contained in the tank. In the case of a fuel tank, it is possible for example to manufacture the elements of the anti-theft device and anti-spilling stainless steel or a rigid plastic resistant to hydrocarbons.

  It will be noted that the device according to the invention, in its preferred embodiment, perfectly meets the requirements mentioned above.

  Other embodiments may be envisaged by those skilled in the art without departing from the general principle of the invention.

  Thus, in our invention there is described an antitheft device and anti-spout of preferably cylindrical shape. This has appeared more suitable, for example because of the usually cylindrical shape of the tank openings, but other suitable shapes may be envisaged. Thus, it is possible for example to use elements with square, polygonal, oval or other section without departing from the general principle of the invention.

  Furthermore, it will be possible to imagine various improvements to the device of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention.

  For example, it is conceivable to adapt a spring between the retractable tube and the inner cylindrical casing in order to constitute a closing force for closing the tube or, on the contrary, to constitute a thrust force that pulls the retractable tube out of the body. tubular plunger when removing the tank cap or both at once.

  It may also be envisaged to adapt a gauge to the device, for example by using the displacement of the float 26 of the spill valve. It is also possible to adapt an alarm system to the device of the invention in order to signal any attempt to tamper with and siphon the tank.

  Finally, this antitheft and anti-spill device is designed for liquid tanks. This application must not be restrictive and the device can be used in other areas and applications with some simple adaptations obvious to the skilled person. For example, the device of the invention may be adapted to containers of fluid, of pulverulent, semi-liquid, viscous, pasty or granular material.

Claims (22)

  1. Antitheft, anti-intrusion and anti-spill device for a liquid reservoir comprising a tubular plunger introduced into the reservoir through its neck piece filling orifice, characterized in that it comprises a coaxial assembly (6) of two cylindrical tubes formed of a dip tube (8) receiving a filling tube (7) slidably mounted in the dip tube (8) and in that E the filling tube (7) is retractable by its movable character between a position anti-spill back and a filler outlet position in which it protrudes outside and serves as an external filler, the plunger tube (8) has in the upper part of its lateral surface a series of openings (18). ) for the passage of the liquid during filling and delimiting at a certain height at its upper end, an upper volume of filling in fluid communication with the reservoir, the dip tube eur (7) having a lower volume (12) closed collecting and recovering objects or products introduced by the filler neck of the reservoir, and in that the coaxial assembly (6) is mounted in the reservoir and on the original neck piece by fixing on it in place of the closure cap, the new neck piece forming the new filling opening becoming that of the device being compatible with that of the tank at the origin.   2. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the upper volume of the coaxial assembly (6) in fluid communication with the internal volume of the reservoir is occupied by an anti-penetration device (22).   3. Device according to the preceding claim characterized in that the anti-penetration device (22) of the coaxial assembly (6) is a shutter assembly equipped with a shutter (23) making difficult access to the through openings (18) .   4. Device according to the preceding claim characterized in that the shutter (23) is mounted on a longitudinal central support rod (24) secured to the plunger tube (8).   5. Device according to the preceding claim characterized in that the shutter (23) is an assembly formed of at least one or more piece (s) closing (25) with radial branches, each of the parts being mounted on the support rod (24).   6. Device according to the preceding claim characterized in that the closure parts (25) are mounted superimposed on the support rod (24) angularly offset relative to each other.   7. Device according to the preceding claim characterized in that the radial branches of the closure parts (25) are curved in one direction and then in the other.   8. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the lower end of the plunger tube (8) is blind by a closed face by a closure plate allowing the lower volume (12) of the plunger tube (8) to fill the receptacle volume and recovery function for any object or product introduced following a malicious act or action.   9. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the upper end of the plunger tube (8) has a fastening collar (13) by which it is fixed on the orifice piece of the reservoir.   10. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the retractable tube (7) for filling comprises a gripping means.   11. Device according to the preceding claim characterized in that the retractable tube (7) filling is connected to the plug (5) by a link.   12. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the retractable tube (7) is provided with a means for its automatic output.   13. Device according to the preceding claim characterized in that the automatic output means of the retractable tube (7) for filling is a return spring.   14. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the new neck piece accepts the original cap (5) for closing the tank.   15. Device according to the preceding claim characterized in that the new neck piece has an enlarged diameter in its lower part.   16. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the coaxial assembly (6) is equipped with an anti-spill valve in the form of a float mounted on a longitudinal rod to the coaxial assembly.   17. Device according to the preceding claim characterized in that the movement of the float controls a gauge.   18. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the device comprises a gauge.   19. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the device comprises an alarm.   20. Apparatus according to claim 3 or 5 characterized in that the closure assembly or a closure piece (25) is a through assembly for the liquid arriving at high flow and impenetrable for a conduit even flexible 21. Device according to the preceding claim characterized in that the shutter assembly is mechanical.   22. Device according to the preceding claim characterized in that the closure assembly is an entanglement of flat or wire forms.