Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02637998 2008-07-16
1838
ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM FOR FLUID-FUEL POWERED APPARATUS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a system for preventing the theft of fluid-fuel
powered
apparatus, such as motor vehicles, construction equipment and powerboats.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Anti-theft systems installed on apparatus, such as, for example, motor
vehicles,
construction equipment and powerboats that are powered by on a fluid-fuel,
such as gasoline,
diesel or hydrogen, invariably include mechanical or electronic locking
systems operable
with the doors or starting ignition systems of the apparatus. One locking
system comprises a
remote-located wireless signal transmitter that activates a co-operable
receiver to lock or
unlock the door(s) or start the ignition system of a vehicle. The remote
transmitter may be,
operable, manually or automatically activate the locks or ignition when within
a certain
distance from the receiver.
However, such anti-theft systems are not always effective in preventing the
theft of
vehicles, construction equipment and powerboats, and the like fitted with such
systems.
Thus, there is a need for an alternative anti-theft system that makes it more
difficult
for the aforesaid apparatus to be stolen.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus having an
improved anti-
theft system.
It is a further object to provide said anti-theft system for use with said
apparatus.
Accordingly, in one aspect, the invention provides a fluid-fuel driven
apparatus
comprising
1
CA 02637998 2008-07-16
an engine;
a fluid-fuel tank; a fluid-fuel conduit connecting said engine with said tank;
and remote-activated, wireless signal receiver valve means adapted to receive
an
activating or deactivating wireless signal from a remote wireless signal
transmitter, and
connected to said fuel conduit to operably block or allow passage of fuel from
said tank to
said engine, when desired.
The apparatus includes motor vehicles, equipment, particularly construction
and
excavation equipment, power boats and the like, powered by fluid fuel such as,
for example,
gasoline, diesel, natural gases, such as methane, propane and butane, and
hydrogen, in whole
or in part, but is not so limited.
Most preferably, the valve is located within the fuel conduit.
In preferred embodiments the valve is a 90 action rotatable ball valve means,
connected to rotatable drive shaft means and shaft rotating means engagable
with said drive
shaft means wherein said rotatable ball valve means is connected to said drive
shaft means.
The shaft rotating means comprises means for operably effecting rotation of
the drive
shaft means selected from the group consisting of electric motor operated
means and solenoid
operated means.
The apparatus as hereinabove defined is preferably co-operable with an
electric power
source in communication with relay controlled microswitch means operably under
the
influence of the remote transmitter to effect activation of said valve means.
The electric
power source is preferably a d.c. battery.
The apparatus as hereinabove defined is as far as is practicable, located
within a
secure housing, suitably affixed to the apparatus, and, most preferably,
located to provide
difficulty to a person desirous of tampering with the valve means.
In preferred embodiments the conduit comprises a reservoir portion between the
engine and the valve means defining a reservoir adapted to hold a volume of
fuel selected
from 50m1 to 250ml fuel. This reservoir feature is provided to allow the
apparatus, for
example, an automobile or truck, if other anti-theft systems present in the
apparatus are
overcome, to move a short distance with only the fuel contained in the fuel
conduit and
2
CA 02637998 2008-07-16
reservoir being available and, thus, cause the vehicle to stall in a location
most probably
unwanted by the thief.
In a further aspect, the invention provides an assembly comprising in
combination
apparatus as hereinabove defined and the remote wireless transmitter.
In a yet further aspect the invention provides an anti-theft device for use
with a fluid-
fuel powered apparatus having an engine, a fluid-fuel tank, and a fluid-fuel
conduit
connecting the engine with the tank, the device comprising a
(a) housing;
(b) remote-activated, wireless signal receiver valve means operably locatable
within said housing and adapted to receive an activating or de-activating
wireless signal from
a co-operable remote wireless signal transmitter, and adapted to be connected
to said fuel
conduit to operably block or allow passage of fuel from said tank to said
engine, when
desired; and
(c) said co-operable remote wireless signal transmitter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order that the invention may be better understood, preferred embodiments
will now
be described, by way of example, only, with reference to the accompanying
drawings,
wherein
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the underside of a vehicle fitted with an
anti-theft
device, in combination with a remote wireless signal transmitter according to
the invention;
Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an anti-theft device connected to
a fuel
conduit of a vehicle under the influence of a remote-operated wireless signal
transmitter,
according to the invention;
Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the
device
shown in Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic, perspective view of an anti-theft device as shown in
Fig. 2,
in part, within a housing; and wherein the same numerals denote like parts.
3
CA 02637998 2008-07-16
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Figure 1 shows generally as 10 a vehicle having an underside 12, wheels 14 and
an
engine 16 connected to fuel tank 18 by a fuel conduit 20.
Valve conduit 30 is connected to reservoir 38, which holds a reserve supply of
fuel to
enable vehicle 10 to move a short distance even when ball valve 26 is closed.
Suitably located on conduit 14 is an "open-close" valve switch shown generally
as 22,
which controls the passage of fuel from tank 18 to engine 16 under the
influence of an
electronically-operated remote controlled "off-on" wireless signal transmitter
24.
With reference also to Fig. 2, in more detail, valve switch 22 has a
rotatable, 90
action ball valve 26 located within valve body 28 and in communication with
front and rear
valve conduits 30,32, respectively, which are connected to front conduit
portion 34, and rear
conduit portion 36, respectively, of conduit 20.
Valve 26 is connected to a drive shaft 40 having a valve connecting collar 42,
a rotary
switch disc 44 and worm wheel 46, which engages worm 48, rotatable by d.c.
electric motor
50.
Flanking rotary switch disc 44 is a pair of micro-switches 52, 54, which are
in
electrical communication with motor 46, and battery 56 through a wireless
signal receiver
relay switch 58, which is adapted to receive an activating or a de-activating
wireless signal
from manually operated transmitter 24, as appropriate, when desired. By
activation is meant
that ball valve 26 is put in its "open" position to allow the passage of fuel
from tank 18
through conduit 20 to engine 16.
By de-activation is meant that ball valve 26 is turned through 90 by drive
shaft 40 to
block passage of fuel through conduit 20.
Activation of relay switch 58 causes current from battery 56 under the control
of
microswitch 52 to motor 50 which turns worm 48, and, thus, worm wheel 46,
drive shaft 40
and valve 26 to its "open" position. Rotary switch disc 44 is reversibly
rotatable through
only 90 to effect a "stop or start" rotary movement of drive shaft 40.
When a de-activation wireless signal is sent by remote transmitter 24 and
received by
relay switch 58, current from battery 56 is fed to motor 50 through
microswitch 54 to effect
4
CA 02637998 2008-07-16
contrary rotation of motor 50 and 90 rotation of worm 48, worm wheel 46,
drive shaft 40
and to close valve 26.
Fig. 3 shows an alternative embodiment to that of Fig. 2 while having many
common
features. Fig. 3 shows a solenoid 60 and associated rack 62 in guide 64 and
spur gear 66
fitted to drive shaft 40 as a placement for motor 50, worm 48 and worm wheel
46 of Fig. 2.
Solenoid 60 is activated in an analogous manner as the activation of motor 50
and
produces the same "opening" and "closing" result of ball valve 26, shown in
Fig. 3 in the
closed position.
The operation of the electrical control system is now described with reference
to the
Figures.
The electrical system consists of two electrical circuits combined to effect a
controlled
opening and closing of ball valve 28, wherein with reference to Figs. 3 and 4,
when the valve
is in the open position, fuel is provided to engine 16, and microswitch 52 is
in a closed
position with its operating button riding on the circumference of rotary disc
44.
When remote 24 is manually operated, a wireless signal is transmitted to power
coil
94 of latching relay 92 holding contacts 96 in a position allowing power 98
through
microswitch 52 to maintain holding power on relay coil 94 and power to
terminal 100 of
motor 50 to provide an anti-clockwise rotation. Relay disc 44 positioned on
shaft 40 and
driven by motor 50 via worm 48 and wonn gear 46 rotates 90 until microswitch
52
operating button clicks into one of the two circumferential notches 45 on
relay disc 44,
causing an open circuit on microswitch 52 and terminating power to relay 92
and motor 50,
and, thus, put valve ball 26 in valve 28 in its open position.
Putting the valve in the closed position i.e. no fuel is available for engine
16 occurs by
means of relay disc 44 revolving 90 to cause microswitch 54 to be set in an
operative mode
for reverse operation.
When remote 24 is manually operated, a wireless signal is transmitted to power
coil
86 of latching relay 88 holding contacts 90 in position to allow power 98
through normally
closed contacts 96 of relay 92 through microswitch 54 to maintain holding
power in relay coil
86 and power to terminal 102 of motor 50 to provide a clock-wise rotation.
Relay disc 44 positioned on shaft 40 and driven by motor 50, via worm 48 and
wormgear 46 rotates 90 until microswitch 54 operating button clicks into the
other notch 45
5
CA 02637998 2008-07-16
on relay disc 44 to cause an open circuit in microswitch 54 and terminating
power to relay 88
and motor 50, to put valve ball 26 in valve 28 in its closed position.
Fig. 4 shows the device of Fig. 2 encased in a housing 70 by which the device
is to be
fitted to the underside 12 of vehicle 10.
Housing 70 is formed of any suitable material, most preferably steel, and
suitable
dimensions, such as, in the embodiment shown 20cmx8cmx8cm. Components may be
supported in an retained to housing 70 by suitable support brackets 72, 74 and
76.
Although this disclosure has described and illustrated certain preferred
embodiments
of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not restricted
to those particular
embodiments. Rather, the invention includes all embodiments which are
functional or
mechanical equivalence of the specific embodiments and features that have been
described
and illustrated.
6
