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Title:
FUEL GAP LOCKING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF UNLOCKING A FUEL CAP
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2015/154102
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A fuel cap locking System (10) including a housing (12) securable to the inlet of a vehicle (32) fuel tank, a cap (14) hingedly connected to the housing (12), the cap (14) being movable between a closed position in which it covers the inlet and an open position in which it permits access to the inlet, a global positioning system (24) for, in use, determining the location co-ordinates of the vehicle (32) to which the housing (12) is secured, a transmitter (26) for transmitting the location co¬ ordinates of the vehicle via a cellular communication network (40), a receiver (28) for receiving an unlocking signal via s cellular communication network (40), and a mechanism (22) for locking the cap (14) in the closed position and unlocking the cap (14) to permit the cap (14) to move to the open position upon receipt of the unlocking signal.

Inventors:
VAN DER MERWE ESTEVAN (ZA)
CHRISTINK BLAIR MAURICE (ZA)
Application Number:
PCT/ZA2015/000007
Publication Date:
October 08, 2015
Filing Date:
February 11, 2015
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
VAN DER MERWE ESTEVAN (ZA)
MERWE SCHALK WILLEM V D (ZA)
International Classes:
B60K15/05
Domestic Patent References:
WO2009108109A12009-09-03
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
SIBANDA & ZANTWIJK (Houghton 2041,Johannesburg, Gauteng, ZA)
Download PDF:
Claims:
CLAI S

1. A fuel cap locking system including: a housing- securable to the inlet of a vehicle's fuel tank; a cap hingediy connected to the housing, the cap being movable between a closed position in w ich It covers the inlet and an open postio In which it permits access to the inlet; a global positioning system for, in -use, determining the location co-ordinates of the vehicle to which the housing is secured; a transmitter for transmitting the location co-ordinates, of the vehicle via a elkn&r communication network: a receive for receiving an unlocking signal vi a cellular communication network; and a mechanism for: (I) locking the cap in the closed position; and (II) unlocking the- cap to permit the cap to move to the open position upon receipt of .the- unlocking signal.

2. .A fuel cap locking system Including: a housing sscursble to the inlet of a vehicle's fuel t k a cap hingediy connected to the housing, th¾ ca being movable between a closed position in which it covers the inlet and an open position in which it permits access to the mist: a global positioning system for, in use, determining the location co-ordinates of the vehicle to which the housing Is secured; a transmitter for transmitting the location co-ordinates of the vehicle via a cellular communication network; a receiver for receiving an unlocking code vis a cellular communication network; an input device for permitting a user to input an unlocking code Into the device; a mechanism for; (!) locking the ca in. the dosed position; and (il) unlocking the cap to permit the ca to move to the open position, should, the unlocking code received by th receiver match the unlocking code received via the input device.

A fuel cap locking system according to either claim 1 or claim 2, further including a constrictor that extends Into the fuel inlet for Inhibiting insertion of a siphoning tube Into the fuel tank.

A f«el cap locking system according to daim 3, herei the locking / unlocking mechanism eomphses a locking pin and an actuator for actuating the locking pin.

A fuel cap locking system according to claim 4, further including a seal between t e cap and the housing.

A fuel ca locking system according to claim -5, further including batteries for providing electrical power to the system.

A fuel cap locking system according to claim β, further including an ignition sensor for sensing whether the Ignition of a vehicle to which the the fuel cap locking system is secured is switched: off, and, in use, permitting unlocking of the cap when in the closed position only when the sensor senses that the vehicle ignition is switched off;.

A fuel cap locking system according to claim 7, further Including a cap senso that senses whether the cap is in the closed position, and. In use, permitting the ignition of the vehicle to which the fuel cap locking system is secured to be switched on only when the sensor senses that the cap Is in the closed position.

A method for unlocking a fuel cap according to claim 1 , the method Including the steps of; a user communicating the location of the vehicle to a control station; the control station receiving the location co-ordinates of the vehicle via the transmitter; the control station comparing the location co-ordinates received via the transmitter with the location details received from the user; and should the location co-ordinates received via the transmitter correspond to the location details received from the ser transmitting an unlocking signal to the receiver to cause the mechanism to unlock the cap,

10,. A method according to claim S, further Including the step of causing unlocking of the caprto be delayed by a predetermined period of time following transmission of the unlocking signal to the receiver.

I t. A method for unlocking a fuel cap according to .claim iL the method including the ste s of: the fuel cap unlocking system storing an unlocking code;

-.a control station confirming -that the vehicle Is outside the coverag area of a oeiiuiar communication network; the co trol station transmitting the unlocking code to the user; the user inputting the unlocking code received from the control station via the input device; and should the unlocking code received via the input device correspond with the unlocking code stored by the fuel cap unlocking system, causing the mechanism to unlock the cap.

12, A method according to claim 1 1 , further including the step of transmitting a new unlocking code to the fuel cap unlocking system when the fuel cap unlocking system enters an area that is covered by a cellular communication network. A met od according io-. anyon© of daims β to 12, further including the step of transmitting a notification to the control station should: (i) the cap be forced into the open position cr otherwise be tampered with; or {ii} the vehicle start moving wi hout the ca being locked.

Description:
FUEL CAP LOCKING SYSTEM AMD METHOD OF UNLOCKING A FUEL CAP

S

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a fuel cap locking system and a me od of unlocking a feel cap. Mors specifically, the present invsntion relates to a device and method fors reducing the risk of theft of fuel by siphoning.

Remote unlocking systems are known. For instance:

VVO02/12661 " e od and system for unlocking of objects" to Volvo Teknssks Ufyeckling AB describes 3 emote system for un ocking vehicles using a cellular telephone netwo k while noting th position of the Vehicle asihg a global positioning system;

VVO2010/ 32981 ^Emergenc response system" to Anderson and Whyte0 describes a door locking system that transmits C3FS co-ordinates and, which can be opened by a uniq e identifying code transmitted from s satellite transmission system; and

EP2, 582,333 "Automotive and transportation control system" to Kale iiit DisS T caret Α.β, describes a cargo container locking system that permits the container doors to be opened Only when the ' container is at a predetermined location.; it is an object of the present invention to provide a system for unlocking fuel cabs, remotely and a method for controlling the locations where fuel caps are opened.

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SUMMARY OF THE NVENTION

According a first embodiment of a first aspect of the present . invention, a fuel ca locking5 system includes; a housing seeurahis to t inlet of a vehicle's fuel; tank; a ca hingetiiy connected to the housing, t e cap being movable between a dosed position in which it covers the inlet and an open position in which si permits access to the inie!; a global positioning system for, i use, determining the location co-ordinates of the vehicle to which the housing is secured; a transmitter for transmitting the location co-ordinates of the vehicle via a cei!ulsr communication network; a receiver fo receiving an unlocking sig al vi a cellular communication network; and a mechanism for ($) locking the ca in the closed p sih ' ci : and (ii) unlocking the cap to permit th cap to move, to the open position upon receipt of the unlocking signal

According & second embodiment of a first aspect of the present invention, a fuel cap iocking -system includes; a hcusfng secufable to the inset of a ve icle's iuel tank; a cap ingediy connected to the housing, the ca being movable between a ' dosed position: i which it covers the Intel and an open position in which Ii 'perm ts access io the inlet; a global positioning system for, in u e, determining the location co-ordinates of th vehiele to which the housing -s secured; a transmitter for transmitting the location co-ordinates of the vehicle via a ceiiuiar communication network; a receiver for receiving an unlocking code via a cellular communication network; an Input device for permitting a user to Input an unlocking code into the device; a mechanism for: (1) locking the cap in the dosed position; end (si) unlocking the cap to perms! the cap to move to the open position should the unlocking code received by the receive match the unlocking code received via the input device. Typically-, fuel cap locking system according to the first or second embodiments of the fi st aspect of the resent invention further ncludes a constrictor that extends into the fuel inlet for inhibiting insertion of a siphoning tube into the fuel tank.

Generally, the locking unlocking mechanism comprises a locking pin and an actuator for actuating the locking pin.

Preferably, the fuel ca locking system according to the first or second embodiments of the first aspect of t e present invention further includes a seal between the ca and the hou in .

The: fuel cap locking system according to the first or second embodiments of the first aspect of the present in entio " may further include batteries for providing electrical power to the system. Optionally, th fuet cap. locking system further Includes an Ignition sensor for sensing whether the ignitio of a vehicle to which the the fuel cap: locking system is secured Is switched off, and, :ih use, permitting unlocking of the cap when In the closed position only when the sensor senses that the vehicle ignition is switched off. Further optionally, the fuel cap locking system .further includes a cap sensor that senses whether the cap is In the closed position, and, in use, permitting the 1 Ignition of the vehicle to which the fuel cap locking system is secured " to be switched on only when the sensor senses thai the cap Is In the closed position. According a first embodiment of a second aspect of the present invention, a method for unlocking a fuel cap according to the first embodiment of the first aspect of the Invention Includes the steps of: a user comm unseating the location of the vehicle to a control station; the control station receiving the location co-ordinates of the vehicle via the transmitter; th control station comparing the location co-ordinates received via the transmitter with the location details received from the user; and should the location co-ordinates received via the transmitter correspond to the location details received from the user, transmitting an unlocking signal to the receiver to cause the mechanism to unlock the cap.

Typically, the method further includes the step of causing unlocking of the cap to be delayed by a predetermined period of time following transmission of the unlocking signal to the receiver. 5· According a second embodiment of a second aspect of the presen invention, method- for unlocking a fuel cap according to the second embodiment of the first aspect of the invention Includes the steps of: foe fuel ca unlocking system storing an unlocking code;

0

a control station confirming that the vehicle is outside the coverage area of a cellular communication network; the control station transmitting the unlocking code to the user;

S:

the user inputting the unlocking cede received from the control station via the input device; and should the unlocking code received via the nput device correspond with the0 unlocking code stored by the fuel cap unlocking system, causing the mechanism to unlock the cap.

Typically, the method according to the second embodiment of a second aspect of the present invention further includes the step of transmitting a new unlocking code to the fuel5 cap unlocking system when the fuel cap unlocking system enters an area that is covered by a cellular communication network. Optionally, each of the met ods according to the second aspect of the invention could further include the step of transmuting a notification; to the control station should: (i) the cap be forced into the opon position or otherwise be tampered with; or (is) the vehicle start moving without the cap being locked.

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The invention wii! now be described in more detail, by way of xample only, wit0 reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

F¾ re 1 is an upper perspective view of s fuel cap locking system according to a f rst embodiment of a first aspect of the invention with the cap in the closed position;

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Fig re 2 is a lower perspective view of the fuel cap locking system in Figure 1 :

Figure s is an upper perspective view of the fuel cap locking system in Figure 1 wit the cap in the open position:

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Figure 4 is an exploded v ew of the fuel cap locking system in figure 1 ;

Figure s Is an u per perspective view of a fuel cap locking system according to a second embodiment of a first aspect of the invention with the ca in the closed position;

Figure 6 Is a schematic diagram of a method for unlocking a fuel cap according to & second embodiment of a second aspect of the invention; and 0 F gure ? is a schematic diagram of a method for unlocking o fuel cap according to a second embodiment of a second aspect of the invention.

With reference to Figures 1 to A, a fuel cap locking system 10 according to first embodiment of a first aspect of the invention includes a housing 12 and cap 14. T e housing 12 includes means for se.aiably securing the housing 12 to the inlet of a fuel tank of a vehicle. A cylindrical pipe 18 extends from the housing 12, which pipe 16, in use, extends into the inset of a vehicle's fuel tank. A constrictor I S near the free end of the pipe 18 is in the. form of a mesh / fins, sized to inhibit passing of a siphoning tube (not shown) along the pipe 18 and into the vehicle's fuel tank. it will be appreciated that the housing 2 need not foe connected to the original fuel tank inlet. Instead, the original inlet can be dosed and the piping can he modified. o create a ne inlet to which the housing 12 can be secured.

The disk -shaped cap 14 is hlngediy connected to the housing 12 and movable betwee a closed position shown in Figure 1 , in whsch the cap 14 covers the Net to the fuel tank, and an open position shown in Figure 3, in which the cap 14 permits access to the fuel tank. A sea; (not shown) in the form of an o-hng creates a seal between the cap 14 and the: housing 12 whan the cap 1 is in the closed position.

Turning specifically to Figure 4 : a locking / unlocking mechanism 22 locks / unlocks th cap 14 when in the closed position. The mechanism 22 comprises a locking pin (not shown) and actuator (i. e. a servo motor / solenoid) for actuating the pin.

A global positioning system (iSPS) 24 is located ' within the housing 12 for determining the location co-ordinates of the system 10 / vehicle to which the system 10 / housing 12 is secured.

A transmitter 25 is also located within the housing 12 for transmitting the location coordinates determined by the GPS 24 vsa a cellular communication network.

Similarly, a receiver 28 is located within the housing 12 for receiving an unlocking signal via a cellular communicatio network.

Batteries 30 provide power to the mechanism 2.2, GPS 24, transmitter 26 and receiver 28. Alternatively, power to the mechanism 22 may be provided by the vehicle power source. The fuel cap locking system 10 may further include an ignition sensor (not shown), which confirms thai the vehicle 32 ignition system is switched off before permitting the cap 14 to be unlocked. A further cap 14· closure sensor (not shown) could confirm thai the cap 14 is property, dosed before permitting the vehicle 32 ignition to be .switched on.

Optionally, the system 10 could include a reed switch (not shown), which is operated / actuated by a user 134 via a magnet (not shown) placed in the vicinity of the reed switch, whereby operation / actuatio of the reed switch causes the transmitter 26 to transmit signals to the control station 36.

Further optionally, the fuel cap locking system 10 could incorporate a vehicle tracker (not shown .

To describe the system 10 in use {I.e. the method according to a first embodiment of the second aspect of the invention), we turn to Figures 1 to 4 and 6. The system 10 is secured to a vehicle 32, located at a fuel filling station; 35.

A user 34 (typically being either the dnver or an occupant of the vehicle 32), who wishes to fill the vehicle's 34 fuel tank with fuel, contacts a control station 36 vi telephon (preferably a cellphone) 38 and communicates his/her 34 location i the location of th vehicle 3:2 to the control station 38. The GPS 24 determines the location co-ordinates of the vehicle 32, which co-ordinates are transmitted by the transmitter 26 via the cellular communication network 40 to the control station 36, The control station 36 compares the location details communicated by th iiser 34 with th location co-ordinates transmitted by the transmitter 26. And, should they correspond, the control station 36 transmits an unlocking signal via the cellular communication network 4G to the receiver 28. Optionally. the control statio 36 could verify that the vehicle's location co-ordinates correspond with those of a fuel filling station 35 before transmitting the unlocking signal. Further optionally, the control station 36 could have regard to an authorised route / authorised locations, for the v hicle 34 and transmit an unlocking signal via the cellular communication network 40 to th receiver 28 only if the vehicle GPS co-ordinates correspond with such authorised route / location.

Upon race pi of the unlocking signal/the looking / unlocking mechanism 22 unlocks the cap 14, permitting access to the fuel tank of the vehicle 32 for filling. After the vehicle ' s 32 fuel tank has been filled, the cap 14 is returned to the dosed position and automatically locked in this position by the mechanism 22, Optionally, there could be a time delay between receiving the -unlocking signal and unlocking .the cap 14 in order to ensure thai the user 34 has sufficient time to return to the vehicle 32 before the cap 14 is -unlocked.

5 Furihemiore, the fuel cap unlocking system 10 could enter a "power-save * mode following predetermined ' triggers /-time lapses. For example, should the vehicle be in motion

With reference to Figure 5., a fuel ca locking system 110 according to a second embodiment of a first aspect of th invention is substantially similar to the system 1,0 10 according to the first embodiment shown in Figure 1. However, the system 1 10 according to the second embodiment is designed to provide a backup system for times where the vehicle is outside t e coverage area of a cellular communication network (i.e. 40 shown in Figure 6). The system 110 includes an input device 142 in the form of a keypad located on the housing 112.

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To describe, the system 110 In use (i.e. the method according to a second embodiment of the second aspect of the invention), we turn to Figure § and 7. The system 110 is secured to a. vehicle 32, located at a fuel filling station 135 outside the coverage area of a oetluiar communication network (he. 40 shown in Figure 8).

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The system 1.10 stores a one-time password / unlocking code ■(and not an unlocking signal) previously communicated to the receiver (similar to 28 in Figure 4) via a cellular cornmu ication neiwo rk.

25 A user 04 (typically being either the driver or an occupant of -the vehicle 132} 5 who wishes to fill the vehicle's 134 fuel tank with fuel, contacts a control station 136 via telephone ke. & iand!ine): 138 and communicates his/her 134 location / the location of the vehicle 21ο the control station 136. The control station 136 confirms that the vehicie Is outside of th coverage area of a ceilular communication network and communicates the

30 unlocking code to the user 134 (via the iandime 138).

The user 134 then enters the unlocking: code received via the land ine 138 Into the keypad 142. The system 110 compares the unlocking code stored by the system 110 with the unlocking code Inputted by the user 134 and, should the codes match, the locking / 35 unlocking mechanism .(similar to 22 in Figure 4) unlocks the cap 1 14, permitting access to the fuel tank of the vehicie 32 for filling. After the vehicle's 132 fuel tank has been filled, the cap 114 is returned to the closed position and automatically locked in this position by the mechanism {similar to 22 in Figure: ). When the vehicle 132 enters an area covered by a- cellular communication network, a new unlocking code is transmitted to the receiver {simiiar to 28 in Figure 4} and stored by the system 11:0.

The systems 10: and 1 10 and associated methods could also include the step; of transmitting a notification (e.g. via sms) to the control station 36 and 136 (or other select persons) should; (i) the cap 14 and 114 be forced into the open position or otherwise be tampered with;, or (ii) the vehicle 32 and 132 start moving without the cap 14 and 114 being locked. .Furthermore, the control station 36 and 135 could be fully automated, comprising a mere computer. The text of such notification can be modified to suit its purpose.

I? will be appreciated that the system 1,0 and 10 and methods described herein enables the control statio 136: to verify the location of the vehicle 32 and 132 be ore permitting access to the fuel tahR, thereby reducing the risk of rue; being siphoned from the vehicle's 32 and 132 fuel tank.