FR2463694A3 - Car fuel tank anti theft device - has perforated pipe closed at base inserted into filler pipe to prevent introduction of siphon hoses - Google Patents

Abstract

The petrol tank insert has a hollow body (1) which goes into the filler pipe. This body is open at the top and has openings (10) on its side and bottom faces for the fuel. The insert prevents the introduction of pipes to siphon fuel but enables the tank to be filled. At the open end, the body has a flange (4) butting against the top of the filler pipe (2). The side and end surfaces are made of sheet with holes made in it. The body is prevented from removal by angled projections (20) on the side.

Description

 The present invention relates to a device for preventing fuel theft from the tanks of motor vehicles or other tanks.

 As everyone knows, there are currently many types of vehicles in circulation whose tank filler neck is placed on the body and accessible from the outside.

 To prevent malicious people from stealing fuel, the use of lockable caps has become more and more common; however, this solution was not entirely satisfactory; indeed, it is enough that the malicious person forces on the stopper to very often manage to remove it.

 There is another drawback, namely that to remove the plug, when it is locked, you have to pry against the edge of the plug and very often you damage the bodywork, resulting in more serious damage than theft fuel.

 The role of the proposed device is precisely to eliminate the drawbacks mentioned above by very simple means, which pocket access to the interior of the tank to steal gasoline, access which is generally carried out using 'a hose that is introduced into the tank.

 Within the framework of the problem to be solved, the particular aim of this invention consists in producing a device extremely extremely easy to install and which can be quickly mounted on all types of vehicle tanks, without it being necessary to make any modification to it. special.

 Another object of this invention is to provide a device which is able to offer the best guarantees of reliability and security, while ensuring extremely effective protection against theft of fuel.

 Another object of the invention is to provide a device which can prevent theft of fuel from the tanks of vehicles or the like, with elements and materials which are easily found on the market, without requiring special or complicated machining. , and which also has an extremely low cost price.

 These objects are achieved according to the invention thanks to a device preventing the extraction of fuel from the tank of vehicles or the like, characterized in that it comprises a hollow element which can be introduced into the filler neck of a tank. , said hollow element being open in its upper part corresponding to said neck, and having on the lateral and lower surface of openings allowing the introduction of fuel and preventing the introduction of pipes or other similar objects Z means suitable for prohibiting the extraction of the hollow body from the filler neck being also provided.

Other advantages and characteristics will be indicated in the detailed description of a device for preventing theft of fuel in the tank of vehicles or the like, illustrated by way of indication and not limiting in the appended drawing in which
Figure 1 shows schematically, and in exploded view, the device to be mounted on b tank
2 shows the device in section, according to the invention, applied to the tank
Figure 3 shows the device according to the invention, still in section, placed on the filler neck of the tank.

 Referring to these figures, the device for preventing theft of fuel in the tanks of vehicles or the like, is composed of a hollow body (indicated as a whole by 1) which can be introduced into the filler neck 2 of a tank or the like 3.

 More precisely; said hollow body has a generally cylindrical configuration with a flange 4 at one of its ends, the length of said hollow body being substantially equal to that of the filling pistols of petrol pumps.

 The flange 4 is provided to abut against the head of the filling neck 2; in this way, the seal 5 of the plug 6 can be located directly on the flange or else ensure normal sealing on the neck 2.

 The hollow body 1 is open in its upper part, in correspondence with the end where the flange 4 is located, which, as already indicated, abuts against the filling neck 2, while the lateral surface of the hollow body 1, as well that its lower end (opposite the flange 4), have a number of openings 10.

 These openings 10 have a dimension which allows the introduction of gasoline, that is to say the passage of gasoline through the body 1, while they prevent the passage of pipes or other similar objects that l 'we would try to introduce into the tank to steal gasoline there.

 The embodiment described above provides for making the body 1 in perforated sheet metal, but nothing eventually changes in the case where one wishes to use grids or filters with very fine mesh, or any other element capable of '' ensure good mechanical resistance to breakage.

 The body 1 has means on the lateral surface capable of pocketing the outlet of the body 1 from the neck 2; these means, in the example described, consist of a number of projections 20 on the lateral surface of the body 1, folded outwards so as to present their end towards the upper part. These projections, thus arranged, are characterized in that they allow, by pushing slightly, the introduction of the body 1 into the neck 2, while by widening again thanks to their elasticity, they prevent their exit, because these cut parts abut against the wall and possibly against the reservoir 3.

 Reference is now made to FIG. 2, in which the neck 2 is directly provided on the reservoir 3. In this case, a part of the projections 20 acts inside the neck 2 and exerts a resistance force against the internal surface of the neck; another part of these projections, in the event that one seeks to extract the body 1, would come to oppose and exert a resistance force against the walls of the reservoir 3 in the zone of connection with the neck 2.

 In the case of FIG. 3, where the filling orifice is provided on a neck 3a fixed on the tank, all the projections 20 act against the walls of the neck so that they exert a sufficient locking action to prevent the extraction of the body 1, even if tools for breaking in are used.

 The use and operation of the device are extremely simple; indeed it is clear that when the body 1 is introduced into the neck, this in no way hinders the introduction of the fuel into the tank, because it is studied in such a way that it can easily receive the gun normally used in pumps gasoline, and on the other hand, the presence of a large number of openings 10 allows fuel to pass normally, without any drawback.

 If malicious people tried to steal the fuel by inserting, as is customary in these cases, a pipe into the tank, this pipe could not pass because the dimension of the openings 10 is studied in such a way that it would not be possible to introduce a pipe of extremely small dimensions and therefore completely unusable for stealing fuel.

 In addition, since the body 1 is generally made of pierced t8le, it is practically impossible to break the body 1 so as to create inside an opening which can allow the passage of the pipe.

 To this it should also be added that, in the case where the filler neck is curved or has particular shapes, it would suffice, of course, to provide for the body a shape which can match the shape of the body of the neck so as to allow the 'introduction and blocking inside the neck; in addition, to facilitate the introduction of the device, in the case of curved necks, circumferential open slots have been provided on the body 1, and these slots allow the body 1 to be folded easily relative to its axis, thus allowing its introduction in a curved neck.

 This description shows that the invention in question can solve the problems posed, and in particular the fact that the device according to the invention, while being extremely simple, is very practical and functional, because it prevents, by means simple and efficient that you can access inside the tank.

 In practice, the materials used, as well as the shapes and dimensions, may vary according to circumstances and needs.

Claims (6)

 1. Device for preventing theft of fuel in a tank, in particular of a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a hollow body which can be introduced into the filler neck of the tank, said hollow body being open in its upper part, in correspondence with the neck and having in its lateral and lower surface openings allowing the introduction of the fuel, but preventing the introduction of pipes and other similar means, means being provided to prevent the extraction of the body from the filling neck.  2. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said hollow body has, in correspondence with its open end, a flange which can be placed in abutment against the head of the filler neck.  3. Device according to either of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lateral surface and the end opposite to the above-mentioned flange are produced in pierced shape defining said openings.  4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said means suitable for preventing the extraction of the body in question from the filling neck consist of a certain number of projections present, at least, on the lateral surface of the said hollow body, the projections being folded outwards relative to said hollow body and having their free end facing towards the upper part  5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the free end of at least some of the aforementioned protrusions can catch on in the connection zone between the tank and the neck.  6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the free end of the aforementioned projections can catch on the inner surface of the filler neck, between the orifice and the reservoir.