Fuel Tankers and Accessories Therefor

[0001] This invention relates to fuel tankers and accessories therefor.

[0002] Fuel tankers each normally comprise a horizontal generally cylindrical housing, which is mounted on road wheels, and which has one or more containers for fuel. When such tankers are adapted for use in delivering fuel by means of an "envelope drop" or a "parcel load, " i.e. , where the entire content of the container or containers is discharged, a special type of delivery valve may be provided. This delivery valve is of the kind which consists of a main body having an end face and a flange upstream of the end face; and within the end face is a circular opening closed by a valve member. When it is desired to discharge fuel, a delivery pipe is attached to the valve with the delivery pipe connected to the flange; the valve member then being drawn into the main body by means of an operating lever acting against spring means. The fuel then passes the valve member and escapes through the opening in the valve. Such a valve is hereinafter called a "valve of the kind set forth".

[0003] In order to prevent unauthorised access to the fuel through a valve of the kind set forth a protective dust cover is usually provided. The dust cover normally comprises a cup shaped member having a cylindrical body and a base closing one end of the body. Near the open end of the body there are a plurality of, normally two, fixed projections and a closure member. The closure member comprises a locking part connected to a shorter arm of an L-shaped locking lever. The design of the locking lever is such that when the longer arm lies parallel to and above the outside of the base, the locking part engages the flange and cooperates with the projections to hold the dust cover firmly thereto. This position of the lever is called herein "the locking position" .

When the locking lever is normal to the base, the locking part will be spaced from the flange so that the dust cover may be removed from the flange. This position of the lever is called herein "the retracted position". The inside surface of the base of the dust cover has a resilient part so that when locking lever is in the locking position the resilient part butts against the end face, or a projection thereon, sealing thereagainst in order to prevent the unauthorised movement of the locking lever from the locking position, which would result in the dust cover being capable of being removed, there is provided a locking arrangement for the lever. This locking arrangement comprises pair of robust lugs provided on the outside of the base and lying on the either side of the longer arm when the latter is in the locking position and registering eyes are provided in the lugs and in the lever so that a locking device can pass there through. This locking device may be the hasp of a padlock, or plastic or wire sealing means. A device as described in this paragraph is hereinafter called a "security device of the kind set forth".

[0004] Security devices of the kind set forth are reasonably successful. However in practice it has been found that often miscreants will break the padlock or cut the sealing means. It then will be easy to move the locking lever into the retracted position so that the dust cover can be removed. The miscreants are now able attach the discharge pipe to the valve, which is easily opened by the operating lever, and fuel can be stolen from the tanker.

[0005] According to one aspect of the invention areas provided a security device of the kind set forth, comprising a housing on the base of the dust cover, the housing having a slot therein which has a part receiving the lugs on the base and into which the longer arm of the locking lever can enter when in locking position, there preferably being little space on either side of the lugs and the sides of the grooves, the security

device further comprising a locking member, preferably comprising an operative part in the form of a strong metal locking pin, capable of moving between a securing position in which the operative part of the locking member passes through the registering apertures in the lugs and in the longer arm of the locking lever, and a release position in which the locking lever is free to be moved to the retracted position and holding means movable between holding and withdrawn positions, in the former of which it holds the locking member in the securing position.

[0006] The holding means preferably comprises a detent and, preferably electrical, moving means for moving the detent between the holding and withdrawn positions. The electrically operated moving means preferably comprises a rotary motor, a swinging arm movable by the motor, a drive pin at the end of the arm, which drive pin engages in a groove in the detent, the arrangement being such that the pin can move the detent between an engaging position in which it engages the securing member when the latter is in the locking position to hold it against movement and a withdrawn position. The electric motor is preferably actuated by a Dallas reader actuated by means of Dallas Keys of Dallas Tags.

[0007] An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0008] In the drawings :- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a valve of the kind set forth incorporating a security device of the invention;

Figure 2 is a detail section through a valve of the kind set forth with a dust cover of the invention applied thereto;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view showing how the operating lever is locked in position; Figure 4 is a view of the security device in an inverted position with the under-cover removed;.

Figures 5 and 6 are perspective view of the detent in different positions; and Figure 7 is a front view of the moving means.

[0009] Referring now to the drawings there is shown a valve 10 of the kind set forth for use in delivering fuel in an envelope drop of about thirty five to thirty eight litres. The valve 10 is an API male adapter with a 4 inch nominal bore. The valve 10 comprises a hollow body 12 closed by an end face 14. The end face 14 is surrounded by a projecting flange 16. The end face 14 has a central circular opening 18 therein within which is sealingly received a spring loaded valve member 22. An operating lever 24 (only partially shown in Figure 2) which is provided on the side of the body 12 is connected through the valve body 12 with the valve member 22 to move the valve member 22 from its normal sealing position (as shown in Figure 2) to an open position. When the valve member 22 is in the open position, fuel can pass through the valve 10 to be deposited through delivery pipes attached to the valve 10 into a storage device such as a bowser at a fuel vending garage.

[0010] A protective dust cover 30 is provided for the valve 10. The dust cover 30 comprises a cup shape member having a base 32 and cylindrical body 34, the internal dimensions of which are such that it can fit snugly over the valve flange 16. Near the open end of the cylindrical body 34 are two projections 36 spanned by a pivot pin 37. An "L"-shaped locking lever 42 is provided. It has a shorter arm 40 and a longer arm 44 at right angles thereto. The shorter arm 40 has a bore therethrough through which the pivot pin 37 passes so that the lever 42 can pivot about the pivot

pin 37 between locking and retracted positions that will be described below. At the end of the shorter arm 40 is an enlarged part 38 forming a locking member. This part 38 has its outer face an arcuate end face 39. movable locking member 38 is pivotally connected to the cylindrical body 34. This locking member 38 is mounted on the short arm 40 of an L-shaped locking lever 42. The lever 42 has a longer arm 44 connected at right angles the end of the short arm 40. The longer arm 44 has an upstanding end part 46 having a through bore 47 through which is passed a ring 48 to facilitate manipulation of the lever 42. An operative eye (not shown) is provided through the arm 44 near its end. On the outside of the base 32 of the dust cover 30 are a pair of parallel locking lugs 50 each having an eye 51 therethrough.

[00011] The locking lever 42 is movable from a retracted position (shown in

Figure 2) with the longer arm 44 upstanding from the base 32 and the locking position (as shown in Figures 1 and 3) in which the longer arm 44 is substantially parallel to and overlying the base 32. In the locking position, the longer arm 44 fits closely between the lugs 50. When the lever 42 is in the retracted position, the locking member 38 is retracted outwardly from the cylindrical body 34. When the lever 42 approaches the locking position, the locking member 38 projects through the wall of the body 34 and engages the flange 16 to force this against the opposite side of the body, so that the dust cover is held by the projections 36 and cannot be removed from the valve body 12. The locking member 38 also forces the flange 16 slightly upwardly relatively to the dust cover so that the end face butts against inside surface of the base 32 of the dust cover 30. A sealing ring 33 is provided on the inner surface of the base 32 to provide a seal between the base 32 and a cylindrical projection 15 on the end face 14.

[00012] The operative eye (not shown) through the locking lever 42 registers with the eyes 51 through the lugs 50 when the locking lever 42 is in the locking position. The valve 10 and dust cover 30 are known products known to those skilled in the art.

[00013] A security device 52 is provided. It comprises a moulded plastic housing 54 which is permanently attached to the base 32 by any convenient means. In the under surface 56 of the housing 54 (See Figure 4) there is provided a number of grooves or recesses which will be described below. The under surface 56 is closed by a cover 58. The housing 54 comprises a main radial slot 60 which terminates in an enlarged recess portion 64 near the centre of the housing 54. The enlarged recess 64, which like the remainder of the slot 60, extends through the housing 54 and received the lugs 50 therein. There is little space between sides of the lugs 50 and the recess portion 64. The longer arm 44 of the locking lever 42 is received in the radial slot 60 when the locking lever 42 is in the locking position as is illustrated in Figure 1.

[00014] A pair of lugs (not shown) are provided on the side of the dust cover 30 and the valve 34. A robust cable is secured to these lugs so that the dust cover 30 can be attached to the valve 34 to ensure that the dust cover 30 is not inadvertently lost when fuel is being discharged from the valve.

[00015] A second recess 66 in the housing 54 extends at right angles to the slot 60 and is aligned with the lugs 50. This recess 66 terminates at a wall 68 short of the enlarged recess 64. At its outer end the recess 66 opens through the outer face 55 of the housing 54. Slidably received within this recess 66 is a locking member 70. The locking member 70 comprises a rectangular section main part 72. This main part has a slightly enlarged upstanding outer end part 74 and an operative inner part in the form

of end pin 76. The end pin 76 comprises of strong material and is of sufficient length to pass through the eyes 51 of the lugs and the operative eye through the arm 44 when the locking lever 42 is in the locking position. There is a vertical slot 78 in one face of the locking member 70. In the underside of the locking member 70 is a recess (not shown) which receives a stop (also not shown) on the base to limit movement of the locking member 70. This locking member 70 is movable by hand in the recess 66 from a securing position to a release position. The upstanding end part 74 facilitates holding and moving of the locking member 70. In the operative position, the member 70 is fully within the recess 66 and the pin 76 has passed through the eyes 51 of the lugs 50 and the arm 44 of the locking lever 42 to hold the lever 42 in the locking position. In the release position, the pin 76 is removed from the eyes in the lugs 46 and the body of the locking member 70 lies largely outside of the body 54.

[00016] In another recess 80 within the container is a detent 82 (best shown in

Figures 5 and 6) that is aligned with the slot 78 when the locking member 70 is in the securing position. The detent 82 has a vertical slot 84 in one side (best shown in Figures 5 and 6). An electric motor 86 is also received within the third recess 88. On the shaft 90 of the motor 86 is carried moving means including a radial arm 92 having a pin 94 at its end. The pin 94 engages in the slot 84. The shaft 90 is rotatable through 180° from one position in which the pin 94 has moved the detent 82 in a withdrawn position in which it is clear of the locking member 70 (as seen in Figure 5) and a holding position in which it holds the detent 82 engaged in the slot 78 holding the locking member 70 in the securing position.

[00017] Further recesses in the housing are provided for a power pack comprising batteries 96 connected to the motor 86 through wires (not shown) to the PC board 98 of the control device.

[0018] On the upper surface of the container (see Figure 1) is a Dallas reader 100 which is connected via the PC board 98 to control operation of the motor 86.

[0019] The PC board 98 includes a memory device to maintain a record of the operation of the various parts. A detector device (not shown) will detect when the locking lever 42 is in the locking position and will prevent the motor 86 operating, unless the locking arm 42 is in that position.

[0020] In use, the Dallas reader 100 is programmed to operate when two Dallas keys or tags 102 engage it. One Dallas key will be given to the driver of the vehicle. The other Dallas key would be provided to the storage operator in charge of a storage unit where the fuel is to be deposited. A further Dallas key would be provided at the depot, where the tankers prepared for dispatch.

[0021] At the depot, after the tanker is filled, an official will check to ensure the dust cover 30 is in position and locked and further that the locking member 70 is in the securing position and the detent 82 is in the holding position. When the tanker arrives at a location where it is to deliver fuel, the tags 102 of the driver and the storage operator are applied to the reader 100. This will cause motor 86 to rotate the arm 92 to move the detent 82 out of the slot 78 to the withdrawn position. It is now possible to move the locking member 70 manually to the release open position so that the pin 76 may be withdrawn from the eyes of the lugs 50 and the lever 42. The locking lever 42

can now be lifted from its locking position to its retracted position. The dust cover 30

^■ can be moved slightly laterally so that the flange 16 is free of the projections 36 so that it, the dust cover 30, can then be removed from the valve body 12. The delivery pipes are attached to the valve 10. By means of the operating lever 24, the valve member 22 is now moved backwardly out and fuel is discharged into a storage tank.

[0022] After the load of fuel had been deposited, the dust cover 30 is returned to the valve 10 and locked in position by means of the L-shaped locking lever 42. The moving means 30 is moved forward so that the pin 76 passes through the registering eyes. By means of the Dallas keys 102 the motor 86 is actuated to move the detent 82 to engage in the groove 78 in the moving member 70 locking the lever 42 in the locked position.

[0023] It will be seen that the pin 76 provides a strong connection between the lugs 46 and 48. Because of the fact that sides the recess portion 64 lie closely to the sides of the lugs 48 it is extremely difficult for a miscreant to assess the pin 76 and cut it. Thus there is a very secure protection provided to hold the dust cover 30 in position.

[0024] It may be desirable to provide a control unit at the location where the fuel is to be deposited, which control unit may be used to activate the Dallas keys for the appropriate use.

[0025] The invention is not limited to the precise constructional details hereinbefore described and illustrated in the drawings. For example the housing 54 may be moulded integrally with the base. The dust cover and securing device may be connected to different valves of the kind set forth.