WO2010013077A1

WO2010013077A1 - Set of equipment for protecting storage tanks against being drained

Info

Publication number: WO2010013077A1
Application number: PCT/HU2009/000066
Authority: WO
Inventors: Zoltán KUTHI
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-07-31
Filing date: 2009-07-28
Publication date: 2010-02-04
Anticipated expiration: 2011-01-31
Also published as: HU0800149V0; HU3516U

Abstract

The subject of the invention relates to a set of equipment for protecting storage tanks against being drained, especially to prevent fuel tanks from being emptied, which contains a sealing unit that can be connected to the filling-emptying pipe-end of the storage tank. The characteristic feature of the invention is that the sealing unit (10) has a second fixing body (11) that works with the first fixing body (2a) of the filling-emptying pipe-end (2), as well as a protective housing (12) fixed to the second fixing body (11) and surrounding the reception space (13), where in the protective housing (12) there is a movement-sensing part-unit (20) supplied with a signal-emitting output (21) and a signal-forwarding part-unit (30) connected to its signal-emitting output (21), as well as an energy supply (40) to power these, furthermore, the signal-forwarding part-unit (30) is connected to an alarm management unit (60) with a receiver (61) connected to it via a wireless information transfer channel (50), and the alarm management unit (60) is located separate to the liquid storage tank (1), e.g. at a distance from it or separated with a space-dividing element (3a).

Description

Set of equipment for protecting storage tanks against being drained

The subject of the invention relates to a set of equipment for protecting storage tanks against being drained, especially to prevent fuel tanks from being emptied, which contains a sealing unit that can be connected to the filling-emptying pipe-end of the storage tank.

Numerous solutions have become known to date in connection with the storage of liquids for foodstuff or industrial use. One of the oldest storage methods is placing the liquid in barrels, while the fuels used to power vehicles are located in tanks fixed to the vehicles themselves. However, in recent times the unauthorised theft of wine from barrels fixed in cellars and of the fuel from the tanks of vehicles has become increasingly widespread.

This is an especially great problem when the fuel is stolen from vehicles, as here not only is a financial loss caused, but it also may become impossible to move the vehicle itself, which in the case of transportation vehicles may lead to the goods being damaged, and in unpopulated areas in extreme cases this may also endanger human life. Numerous attempts have been made to date in order to overcome these problems.

Patent specification number EP 1.772.302 includes an auxiliary device the central part of which needs to be fitted to the external side of the fuel tank and its extensions are located in the tank. The device monitors any change in the amount of the fuel and emits a signal if it senses unauthorised removal.

One of the deficiencies of this solution is that it is easily accessed; therefore a person with the appropriate know-how may easily deactivate the protection device.

Another deficiency is that for the installation of the alarm device it is necessary to cany out alterations on the fuel tank, which, with respect to the flammable and explosive nature of the material in the tank, is a risky task and may be a source of other accidents.

Patent specification number GB 2.433.999 presents an alarm device that monitors the status of the vehicle's engine, the liquid level in the fuel tank, and the position of the given vehicle, what is more, in a given case it also monitors if another liquid, e.g. water, is being filled into the tank in the place of the sucked out fuel.

The disadvantage of an alarm device set up in this way is that with its help only the location and time of the fuel theft may be recorded but the theft itself cannot be prevented with it.

However, patent specification number US 2008/0156800 presents a solution that endeavours to prevent the fuel being extracted with a mechanical sealing device fitted into the filling opening of the fuel tank.

The deficiency of the solution, however, is that the cover of the filling-emptying pipe-end of the tank can be easily opened and if the thief has sufficient time, then the mechanical obstruction can be simply removed essentially without any noise. Therefore, this solution is only suitable to protect against fuel thieves and to directly prevent fuel theft in quite a restricted sphere of application.

Our objective with the invention was to overcome the deficiencies of the known constructions and to create a version that practically excludes the possibility of the unnoticed removal of the sealing cap placed on the filling-emptying pipe-end of the fuel tank and that even in the case of an attempt to manipulate the sealing cap emits an immediate alarm at the location of the act, and, in a given case, at a more remote location so that fast and effective intervention can be carried out within a short period of time. The recognition that led to the structure according to the invention was that thieves can access the fuel inside the fuel tank simply by removing the cap of the filling- emptying pipe-end. Therefore, if we place a signalling unit with a suitable sensor in the sealing cap which we 'connect to an alarm centre in a novel way, then even the slight movement of the sealing cap will generate an alarm signal, and through this the theft attempt will be disclosed at the very beginning which essentially excludes the thief gaining access to the inside of the fuel tank, and so the task can be solved.

In accordance with the set aim the set of equipment according to the invention for protecting storage tanks against being drained, especially to prevent fuel tanks from being emptied, - which contains a sealing unit that may be connected to the filling- emptying pipe-end of the storage tank, - is set up in such a way that the sealing unit has a second fixing body that works with the first fixing body of the filling-emptying pipe- end, as well as a protective housing fixed to the second fixing body and surrounding the reception space, where in the protective housing there is a movement-sensing part-unit supplied with a signal-emitting output and a signal-forwarding part-unit connected to its signal-emitting output, as well as an energy supply to power these, furthermore, the signal-forwarding part-unit is connected to an alarm management unit with a receiver connected to it via a wireless information transfer channel, and the alarm management unit is located separate to the liquid storage tank, e.g. at a distance from it or separated with a space-dividing element .

A further feature of the set of equipment according to the invention may be that the sealing unit is supplemented with a locking device.

In the case of a possible embodiment of the set of equipment the movement-sensing part-unit has a magnetic switching body and a permanent magnet is fixed to the liquid storage tank in the vicinity of the path of movement of the magnetic switching body.

In a favourable embodiment of the invention the permanent magnet is fixed in the internal space of the liquid storage tank. In a further, different embodiment of the set of equipment the movement-sensing part-unit has a switch that includes a moving locking body. The moving locking body of the switch is a drop of mercury, and the switch is a mercury switch, or the moving locking body of the switch is a ball and the switch is a ball switch.

In the case of another different embodiment of the invention the alarm management unit is in connection with a sound-signalling part-unit and/or a light-signalling part-unit. In a given case, the alarm management unit is connected to a communication connection-establishing part-unit.

In the case of another embodiment of the set of equipment, the alarm management unit is located in a sealed monitoring space of the carrying unit of the liquid storage tank.

The set of equipment according to the invention has numerous advantageous features. The most important of these is the novel construction of the protective housing of the sealing unit, and due to the unique movement-sensing part-unit located in it with a simple structure it becomes possible to continuously monitor the position of the structural element sealing the filling-emptying pipe-end of the liquid storage tank and to emit a signal immediately if it moves. In this way it becomes possible to signal an attempt to drain the liquid storage tank even in the initial phase, and due the possibility of quick intervention as a result of an alarm raised in good time no loss occurs whatsoever, and what is more the damage caused by the theft attempt may be reduced to a minimum as a result of the short length of time.

Another feature that must be evaluated as a significant advantage is that it is not necessary to carry out alterations on the liquid storage tank, what is more for an external observer a liquid storage tank fitted with such protection appears no different to the traditional solutions. Therefore, it may be viewed as an added advantage that the thieves lose confidence in connection with the success and risk of the theft attempt, which may be realised in the reduction of the number of attempts. Another advantage is that due to the unique structure of the sealing unit in the case of the use of the set of equipment there is not risk of explosion whatsoever, therefore the set of equipment according to the invention can be very well applied to protect the fuel tanks of vehicles as well.

Another favourable feature is that the part-units of the set of equipment can be fitted quickly and in a given case their repair or replacement can be solved easily. Also the part-units of the set of equipment can be produced with traditional production technology and may be acquired from commercial distribution channels, which may significantly reduce the cost price of the set of equipment.

Another advantage that may be mentioned is that the solution is not only suitable for sealing liquid storage tanks for fuel but is also exceptionally suitable for vessels with an opening closed with a cap that may be opened by twisting and suitable for storing other valuable materials, e.g. pharmaceuticals and chemicals tanks, water tanks, etc., therefore its area of use is quite wide.

In the following we present the set of equipment according to the invention in more detail in connection with construction examples, on the basis of a drawing. On the drawing

figure 1 shows a possible version of the sealing unit of the set of equipment in front view, in partial cross-section figure 2 shows the sealing unit according to figure 1 inside view, in partial cross- section, figure 3 in an outline picture of a version of the movement-sensing part-unit located in the sealing unit figure 4 is the arrangement of a possible version of the set of equipment according to the invention. On figure 4 a version of the set of equipment according to the invention can be seen that - in the present structure - serves to protect the fuel tank located on the tractor unit of a goods transportation truck. It may be observed that the liquid storage tank 1 , which in this case is a fuel tank, is fixed to the carrier unit 3, which here is the tractor unit. The space-delimiting element 3a of the carrier unit 3, which here is the driver's cab of the tractor unit, encloses the monitoring space 4. It is in this monitoring space 4 that the alarm management unit 60 is located, which, via cables, is connected to the sound- signalling part-unit 62, to the light-signalling part-unit 63 and the communication connection-establishing part-unit 64. Here the sound-signalling part-unit 62 is a horn fitted to the space-delimiting element 3 a of the carrier unit 3, while the light-signalling part-unit 63 is formed by the pair of headlights on the carrier unit 3. The communication connection-establishing part-unit is a mobile telephone located in the monitoring space 4 of the carrier unit 3 that is capable of automatically initiating a call on the effect of an external signal. The structure and operation of such a device is contained in detail in patent specification number HU P 99 03069, therefore, here we have not elaborated on this in more detail. The alarm management unit 60 also has a receiver 61, which with the help of a wireless information transfer channel 50 is in connection with the sealing unit 10, which sealing unit 10 is fitted to the filling-emptying pipe-end 2 of the liquid storage tank 1.

The more detailed structure of the sealing unit 10 is illustrated by figures 1 and 2. This version of the sealing unit 10 is precisely a tank cap that^'is located on the filling- emptying pipe-end 2 of a liquid storage tank 1. On figure 2 it can be seen well that the first fixing body 2a of the filling-emptying pipe-end 2 of the liquid storage tank 1 - in other words in this case the threaded part of the filling-emptying pipe-end 2 - works together with the second fixing body 11 of the sealing unit 10 and, and in this way the sealing unit 10 is fixed in the filling-emptying pipe-end 2, preventing the internal space 1 a of the liquid storage tank 1 from being accessed through the filling-emptying pipe- end 2. It is obvious that here the second fixing body 11 of the sealing unit 10 is a threaded plug which thread complies with the size, pitch and type of the thread of the first fixing body 2a.

A part of the sealing unit 10 is also formed by the protective housing 12 which surrounds the reception space 13. In order for it to be not possible to turn the sealing unit 10 fitted into the filling-emptying pipe-end 2 the protective housing 12 also has a locking device 14, which includes the lock that is well known in the case of tank caps.

The movement-sensing part-unit 20 may also be found in the reception space 13 of the sealing unit 10, which has a signal-emitting output 21 and this signal-emitting output 21 is connected to the signal-forwarding part-unit 30. The signal-forwarding part-unit 30 may also be found in the reception space 13 of the protective housing 12 of the sealing unit 10. Finally the signal-forwarding part-unit 30 is in a radio frequency connection with the receiver 61 of the alarm management unit 60 via the wireless information transfer channel 50 indicated on figure 4. In order to operate the movement-sensing part- unit 20 and the signal-forwarding part-unit 30 the energy source 40 is also located in the reception space 13 of the sealing unit 10, which, favourably, is a high capacity accumulator or battery.

It is important to highlight that the protective housing 12 of the sealing unit 10 is made from a material, favourably high-strength plastic, that is capable of withstanding any possible damage inflicted, and so at least temporarily protects the movement- sensing part-unit 20 and signal-forwarding part-unit 30 located in the reception space 13 of the protective housing 12 from damage. This restricted protective ability is, however, sufficient to set off the alarm-management unit 60 through the wireless information transfer channel 50, and give off an emergency alarm that may be noticed in a suitable wide area about the unauthorised penetration attempt. The reception space 13 of the protective housing 12 is insulated in an appropriate way in the interest of no kind of spark being created originating from electrical discharge in the vicinity of the filling- emptying pipe-end 2 of the liquid storage tank 1 while the sealing unit 10 is being used. Naturally when the set of equipment according to the invention is being used when the liquid stored in the internal space Ia of the liquid storage tank 1 is not flammable and/or explosive the safety insulation of the reception space 13 of the protective housing 12 is unnecessary. '

Returning now to figure 1 , it may be seen on it that here the movement-sensing part- unit 20 is a magnetic switching body 22 the contacts of which are positioned separated from each other in a basic status, while if the get into a magnetic field the come into contact with each other so creating an electric contact. For this the magnetic switching body 22 works with the permanent magnet 70 fixed in the internal space Ia of the liquid storage tank 1. In actual fact the movement-sensing part-unit 20 consisting of the set of the magnetic switching body 22 and the permanent magnet 70 appearing in the given embodiment here is a reed relay, known in itself.

The operation of the set of equipment according to the invention with the sealing unit 10 appearing in figure 1 and figure 2 is the following. The person responsible for the carrier unit 3 places the sealing unit 10 onto the filling-emptying pipe-end 2 of the liquid storage tank 1 of the carrier unit 3, then by rotating the protective housing 12 twists the second fixing body 11 working with the first fixing body 2a of the filling-emptying pipe-end 2 of the liquid storage tank 2 into the filling-emptying pipe-end 2 until the protective housing 12 of the sealing unit 10 rest upon the edge of the filling-emptying pipe-end 2. Then -he/she fixes the sealing unit 10 with the locking device 14, which, now, cannot be unscrewed from the filling-emptying pipe-end 2 by hand.

When the carrier unit 3 needs to be left unguarded then with the alarm management unit 60 switched on it starts to monitor if a signal arrives at the receiver 61. As long as the receiver 61 receives no signal the alarm management unit 60 remains in a rest state. If an unauthorised person starts to force the protective housing 12 of the sealing unit 10 and turns it, then while being turned the magnetic switching body 22 of the movement- sensing part-unit 20 fixed in the reception space 13 of the protective housing 12 approaches the permanent magnet 70 fixed in the internal space Ia of the liquid storage tank 1. The magnetic switching body 22 entering into the magnetic field of the permanent magnet 70 closes and the electric signal initiating the alarm appears on the signal-emitting output 21 of the movement-sensing part-unit 20. On the effect of the signal sent on the signal-emitting output 21 the movement-sensing part-unit 20 starts the signal-forwarding part-unit 30, which using a radio frequency "get into contact" with the receiver 61 of the alarm management unit 60 through the wireless information transfer channel 50. The receiver 61 forwards the received signal to the alarm management unit 60, which, as a result of this sets off the sound-signalling part-unit 62, the light- signalling part-unit 62 and, in a given case, initiates a telephone call with the help of the communication connection-establishing part-unit 64 to the person who is at a distance from the carrier unit 3 to inform this person of the sabotage.

Figure 3 shows a movement-sensing part-unit 20 with a signal-forwarding part-unit and energy source 40 where there is a moving locking body 23 in the switch 24 of the movement-sensing part-unit 20. Here also in the switch 24 there are two elements separated from each other in a given position, so they do not conduct electricity, which otherwise form the signal-emitting output 21 of the movement-sensing part-unit 20. In the switch 24 there is a drop of mercury or metal ball, or some other free-moving body with the ability to conduct electricity suitable for the purpose, as the moving locking body 23. When the switch 24 of the movement-sensing part-unit 20 moves this moving locking body 23 - on the effect of gravity - changes its shape ^"and/or position and gets into a position where it forms an electrically conducting connection between the two signal-emitting outputs 21 of the switch 24. The well-known mercury switch or ball switch operates on this principle.

Naturally in the case of a movement-sensing part-unit 20 with such a moving locking body 23 and switch 24 there is no need to place a permanent magnet 70 in the internal space Ia of the liquid storage tank 1. The operation of the set of equipment with a sealing unit 10 fitted with the movement-sensing part-unit according to figure 3 is essentially the same as that of the version presented in connection with figure 1. The difference here is only that in locked state the sealing unit '10 must be in an end position where the moving locking body 23 does not connect together the signal-emitting outputs 21 of the switch 24. If during a theft attempt the sealing unit 10 is twisted then the moving locking body 23 by changing its position - in the case of a ball - or by changing its shape — in the case of a drop of mercury connects the signal-emitting outputs 21 and with this sets off the operation of the signal-forwarding part-unit 30 as a result of which the alarm management unit 60 - in the way presented previously - generates an emergency signal with sound-signalling part-unit 62, the light-signalling part-unit 63 and the communication connection- establishing part-unit 64.

The set of equipment according to the invention may be applied well in all cases where simple and effective protection is needed against the draining of liquid storage tanks that have a filling-emptying pipe-end, therefore it is especially advantageous for raising an alarm in the initially phase of theft attempts to suck out the fuel stored in fuel tanks.

List of references

1 liquid storage tank Ia internal space

filling-emptying pipe-end 2a first fixing body

carrier unit 3 a space-delimiting element

monitoring space

10 sealing unit 11 second fixing body

12 protective housing

13 reception space

14 locking device

20 movement-sensing part-unit 21 signal-emitting output

22 magnetic switching body

23 moving locking body

24 switch

30 signal-forwarding part-unit

40 energy supply

50 wireless information transfer channel

60 alarm management unit 61 receiver

62 sound-signalling part-unit

63 light-signalling part-unit

64 communication connection-establishing part-unit

70 permanent magnet

Claims

1. Set of equipment for protecting storage tanks against being drained, especially to prevent fuel tanks from being emptied, which contains a sealing unit that may be connected to the filling-emptying pipe-end of the storage tank, characterised by that the sealing unit (10) has a second fixing body (11) that works with the first fixing body (2a) of the filling-emptying pipe-end (2), as well as a protective housing (12) fixed to the second fixing body (11) and surrounding the reception space (13), where in the protective housing (12) there is a movement-sensing part-unit (20) supplied with a signal-emitting output (21) and a signal-forwarding part-unit (30) connected to its signal-emitting output (21), as well as an energy supply (40) to power these, furthermore, the signal-forwarding part-unit (30) is connected to an alarm management unit (60) with a receiver (61) connected to it via a wireless information transfer channel (50), and the alarm management unit (60) is located separate to the liquid storage tank (1), e.g. at a distance from it or separated with a space-dividing element (3a).

2. The set of equipment according to claim 1 characterised by that the sealing unit (10) is supplemented with a locking device (14).

3. The set of equipment according to claim 1 or 2 characterised by that the movement-sensing part-unit (20) has a magnetic switching body (22) and a permanent magnet (70) is fixed to the liquid storage tank (1) in the vicinity of the path of movement of the magnetic switching body (22).

4. The set of equipment according to claim 3 characterised by that the permanent magnet (70) is fixed in the internal space (Ia) of the liquid storage tank (1).

5. The set of equipment according to claim 1 or 2 characterised by that the movement-sensing part-unit (20) has a switch (24) that includes a moving locking body

(23).

6. The set of equipment according to claim 5 characterised by that the moving locking body (23) of the switch (24) is a drop of mercury, and the switch (24) is a mercury switch.

7. The set of equipment according to claim 5 characterised by that the moving locking body (23) of the switch (24) is a ball and the switch (24) is a ball switch.

8. The set of equipment according to claims 1-7 characterised by that the alarm management unit (60) is in connection with a sound-signalling part-unit (62) and/or a light-signalling part-unit (63).

9. The set of equipment according to claims 1-8 characterised by that the alarm management unit (60) is connected to a communication connection-establishing part- unit (64).

10. The set of equipment according to claims 1-9 characterised by that the alarm management unit (60) is located in a sealed monitoring space (4) of the carrying unit (3) of the liquid storage tank (1).