Lockable outlet of a tank

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

[0002] Fuel tankers normally comprise a horizontal generally cylindrical housing which is mounted on road wheels, and which may have one or more containers for fuel. The containers each have an outlet passage including a flow control valve. The passages lead to one or more discharge conduits, each which is provided with a cylindrical end union having an outlet end outside the housing. The outlet end is arranged to have a delivery pipe attached thereto, and is fitted into a connector at one end of the delivery pipe. As is known a number of delivery pipes may be connected to the end union so that fuel discharged from the end union may be delivered to a suitable storage container, for example a bowser located underground at a petrol vending garage. The outlet end of the union has an external peripheral groove into which a part of the connector at the end of the delivery pipe engages. The flow control valve(s) may be controlled from a unit at the side of the fuel tanker to permit a determined amount of fuel to pass to the discharge conduit, and thence via the end union and delivery pipes to the storage container.

[0003] In general terms, such an arrangement works very well, providing accurate amount of fuel to be dispensed and preventing unauthorised removal of fuel from the tanker. Unfortunately miscreants have acquired techniques for opening of the valves so that fuel is discharged in an unauthorised manner and the miscreants are able to steal the fuel which is thus discharged. The value of fuel misappropriated in this way can amount to significant volumes valued in millions of Rands. Accordingly, the present

invention seeks to provide means to inhibit or prevent unauthorised discharge of fuel from the tanker via the end union.

[0004] According to one aspect of the invention there is provided an accessory for use with the outlet end of the end union of a fuel tanker, the accessory comprising a part which is capable of being attached to the outlet end and to be locked thereto and which is of such a shape as to prevent the attachment of a delivery pipe to the outlet end.

[0005] The accessory conveniently comprises a large head, preferably incorporating control means, and a body portion which fits within the outlet end of the union. The body portion preferably includes a movable detent which is moved between a retracted position within the body portion and a projecting position outside of the body portion. The union is preferably provided with an internal groove in on the inside surface of the outlet end into which groove the detent can enter when in the projecting position to hold the accessory to the union.

[0006] In another embodiment of the invention, the accessory comprises a collar into which the outlet end of the union may fit and a housing including control means attached thereto. The accessory preferably includes a movable detent which is moved between a retracted portion within the housing and a projecting portion position in which it can engage in the peripheral groove to lock the accessory to the union. A dust cover or closure is provided on the collar to prevent ingress of dirt or detritus through the union.

[0007] Each accessory mentioned above preferably incorporates a drive motor that is connected via a rotary moving device to the detent to move the detent between the two positions mentioned above. The drive motor is preferably operated by a control device actuated by at least one and preferably two Dallas keys. In practice, one of the Dallas Keys is held by the driver of the fuel tanker and the other by the person in charge of the storage unit (hereinafter called the "storage operator"). Thus, the accessory can only be removed at the instance of both the driver of the fuel tanker and the storage operator. In addition in order to replace the accessory after fuel has been delivered, action is required by both the storage operator and the driver to lock the accessory to the union. Preferably, there is provided a control member at the location of each storage container, which control member can be remotely operated to program the Dallas Keys, so that they may actuate the drive motor. The Dallas Keys preferably incorporate memory means to maintain a record of their operation.

[0008] Two embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0009] In the drawings: -

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an internal security device of the invention

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the internal security device in an end union of a fuel tanker, Figure 3 is a perspective exploded view of the head of the internal security device with the cover removed, Figure 4 is an inverted perspective exploded view of the body portion of the internal security device with the lower cover removed, Figure 5 is a perspective exploded view of the locking member and its operating means,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of an external security device of the invention, Figure 7 is a detail section through the external security device attached to the outlet end of the union,

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6 with the upper cover of the external security device removed, and

Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of the detent operating device.

[0010] Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 there is shown an accessory for a fuel tanker comprising an internal securing device 110. The device 110 is adapted for use with an end union 112 forming part of a fuel tanker (not shown). The end union 112 comprises an inner section 114 externally threaded to engage the downwardly inclined discharge conduit (not shown), a peripheral flange 116 midway along its length and an outlet end 118. As is known to those skilled in the art, the outlet end 118 in use fits into a connector on a delivery pipe (also not shown). Formed in the outlet end 118 is a shallow external groove 120 to engage the connector. The outlet end 118 is modified by having an internal groove 122 for the purpose which will be described.

[0011] The internal securing device 110 comprises a plastics moulding consisting of a cylindrical head 124 and a smaller diameter cylindrical body portion 126 which can fit closely within the bore of the union 112. The head 124 has a disc like cover 128 (best shown in Figure 3) overlying - its upper surface 130 which is formed with recesses 132.1 and 132.2 for the purpose which will be described. The lower end of the body portion 126 has a disc like closure 134 (best shown in Figure 4) covering or lying beneath the under face 136 of the body portion and closing off recesses 138 and 140 therein.

[0012] The recess 138 extends to the end outside surface of the body portion 126 where it forms a window 142 (see Figure 1). Slidably mounted within the recess 138 is a locking member 144, the end of which constitutes a detent 146 located at the window 142. The locking member 144 has a main portion 150 which is taller than of the detent 146 (best shown in Figure 5). A vertical groove 152 is formed in one side of the portion 150 and extends over its eentire height.

[0013] The recess 140 which is adjacent to the said side of the portion 150 contains a drive motor 154 having an outlet shaft 156 carrying a rotary moving device 158. This device 158 consists of a cylindrical member 160 carrying a radial arm 162 at the end of which is a pin 164 that is slidably receivable in the groove 152.

The moving device 158 is rotatable through 180°. It will be seen that on rotation of the arm 162, the pin 164 moves the locking device 144 from a first position to a second position. The first position is a retracted position in which the detent 146 is within the body portion 126. The second position is a projecting position in which the detent 146 projects beyond the outside surface of the body (see Figure 1) to be received within the groove 122. When the detent 146 is received in the groove 122, it holds the internal securing device 110 firmly in the union 112 so that it cannot be removed as will be discussed more fully below.

[0014] The recesses 132.1 and 132.2 receive respectively a power pack 166 comprising a pair of batteries and an operating PC board with memory 168 connected to the power pack 166 and to the drive motor 154 by wires 170. Mounted in the centre of the cover 128 is a Dallas reader 172 (also known as an iButton Touch Socket) which is connected to the PC board 168.

[0015] The body portion 126 is a close fit in the outlet end 118 of the union 112

(as shown in Figure 2). Three longitudinally extending grooves 174 (only one shown) are provided in the body portion 126 so that air may escape when the body portion is being inserted into the union 112. These grooves 174 merge into radial grooves 176 in the under surface of the head 124. Large vertical hemi-cylindrical grooves 178 are provided at the upper end of the head 124 to facilitate gripping of the securing device 110.

[0016] The Dallas reader 172 is programmed to be operated by two Dallas Keys

(or Dallas tags) 180. Thus, one Dallas key 174 will be provided to the driver of the fuel tanker and the other to a third-party normally the storage operator at each delivery site. A programming device (not shown) is also provided at each delivery site.

[0017] The covers 128 and 134 are connected respectively to the head and body by any convenient means such as screws passing through registering bores in the relevant parts.

[0018] The fuel tanker and the accessory 110 are used as follows. The compartments within the fuel tanker are filled at the depot. The internal securing device 110 is applied to the outlet union 112. The Dallas Keys held by the driver and an official at the depot are used to cause the drive motor 154 to move the locking member of 144 so that the detent 146 is moved into the projecting position where it engages in the groove 122 locking the securing device 110 to the union 112. When the fuel tanker arrives at delivery site, such as a fuel vending garage, it is ready to dispense fuel into the underground bowser. The programming device mentioned above is provided at this location. The storage operator and the driver fit their Dallas Keys 180 to the

programming device so that they, the Dallas Keys are programmed to work in combination to actuate the PC board 168 and the drive motor 154. These keys are then applied to the Dallas reader 172. The signal from the Dallas reader 172 will cause the drive motor 154 to rotate the radial arm 162 and pin 164 to move the locking member 150 into the retracted position. The securing device 110 can now be removed from the union 112. The delivery pipes are now attached to the union. The various compartments can discharge fuel as desired. The fuel flow will be controlled by the internal valves and flow metering devices in the fuel tank. After the storage container is filled, the delivery pipes are removed from the union 112. The body 126 of the se- curing device outlet 110 is now inserted into the end of the union 112. By means of the

Dallas Keys in the drive motor 154 is operated to remove the locking device 144 so that the detent 146 is moved into the operative position locking the locking device. The memory device will note that the detent has been moved to the projecting position so that there will be a record of the time when the locking means is in the retracted or operative positions.

[0019] It will be seen that the shape and size of the securing device 110 is such that when the internal securing device 110 is attached to the outlet union 112, it will not be possible for the connector of a delivery pipe to be attached to the outlet union 112. Thus the contents of the tanker will be protected against robbery.

[0020] Reference is now made to Figures 6 to 9 wherein there shown an accessory for a fuel tanker in the form of an external securing device 210. This device 210 is adapted for use with the end union 112 described above.

[0021] The external securing device 210 comprises a generally cylindrical plastics moulding in which is formed an eccentric blind bore 216. The base 218 of the bore 216 forms a dust cover for the end outlet of the union 112 as will be described below. The moulding constitutes a collar for the end outlet 118 with the larger generally crescent shaped portion 220 forming a housing for the device.

[0022] Formed in the upper face 222 of the housing 220 are a number of recesses. There is a major radial recess 224 which opens at its inner end at the bore 216. A narrow recess 226 receives a PC board 228 including a memory unit (not shown). On the other side of the radial recess 224 are two larger recesses 230 and 232 which receive respectively a power pack 234, comprising batteries, and a server motor 236. A transverse recess 238 connects the recesses 224 and 232 for the purpose which will be described. There are additional, shallow, recesses indicated generally at 244 for wire connections between the power pack 234, the server motor 236 and the PC board 228. The upper face 222 is covered by a relatively thin plate-like cover 246 of generally the same shape (shown in Figures 7 and 8).

[0023] Projecting radiantly from the wall of the recess 216 are two shallow projections 248. The projections 248 and the recess 224 are equally spaced around the wall of the blind bore 216.

[0024] Within the major recess 224 is a locking device 250 comprising a rectangular section member 252 with an inner nose or detent 254 adjacent the inner end of the recess 224. A vertical slot 256 is formed in the member 252 to receive a pin 258 of a moving device 260 which is identical to the moving device 158 and received within the recess 238. The pin 258 moves the locking device 250 from a first position to a

second position, as was described in the first embodiment hereof. When in the first position, the locking device 250 is retracted and wholly received within the radial recess 224. When in the second position, the projecting position, the detent 254 projects beyond of the wall of the blind bore 216.

[0025] A Dallas reader 262 is provided on the cover 246 to be externally accessible. It connects with the PC board 228, and the batteries 234. As in the first describe embodiment the Dallas reader 262 is programmed to be operated by two Dallas Keys (or Dallas tags).

[0026] In use the external securing device, 210 is applied to the outlet end 118 of the union 112. The depth of the blind bore 216 is such that when the locking device 250 is in the retracted position, the external securing device can be applied to the outlet end 118 of the union 112 and the projections 248 engage in the recess 120.

The end face of the outlet butts and seals against the dust cover. When the locking device 250 is moved into the projecting position the detent 254 engages in the groove 120 locking the securing device 210 to the outlet union 112.

[0027] The operation of the fuel tank and accessory 210 is generally the same as the operation of the fuel tanker was the accessory 110 with obvious variations.

[0028] It will be seen that when the external securing device 210 is attached to the outlet union 112 it is not possible for any to the connector of the delivery pipe to be attached to the outlet union 112. Thus miscreants cannot steal petrol from the fuel tanker. Should the miscreants open the control valve, the fact that the outlet union will seal against the base of the blind bore will prevent any fuel escaping therefrom.

[0029] The invention is not limited to the precise constructional details hereinbefore described and illustrated in the drawings.