GB2078641A - Preventing stealing of liquid from a tank - Google Patents

Abstract

A fuel tank having an orifice is guarded by a perforated obturator (12) at the end of a short tube that is inserted into the tank or forms part of the tank, the obturator being at that part of the tube that is inside the tank and above the fuel level. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in and relating to tanks for liquid storage The theft of liquid from a tank is an age old problem and it is today vexatious in regard to the fuel tanks of automobiles and the like. Fuel is now a high priced and scarce commodity and the filching of fuel from a tank of petrol or diesel oil for example is usually done by the simple act of inserting a tube illegally into the tank and siphoning or pumping the fuel out of the tank.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a tank having an orifice that is guarded by a perforated obturator at the end of a short tube that enters the tank the obturator being at that of the tube that is inside the tank and above the fuel level.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a stub tube for insertion and fixing to a tank orifice, said stub tube having a perforated obturator at or close to the end of the tube that enters the tank. Ideally the obturator is a metal or plastics screen having a plurality of small apertures but it must be of such a nature as to be able to resist removal by or penetration from a pipe or other instrument that is forced against it.

The invention will be more fully understood from the following description given by way of example only with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawing in which:- Figure 1 is s stub tube with an obturator shown in perspective.

Figure 2 is a part view of another stub tube similar to that of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a stub tube similar to that of Figures 1 and 2 but of frusto-conical form.

Figure 4 is a schematic showing a fuel tank fitted with a stub tube.

Figure 5 is a schematic showing a fuel tank with two integral inlets each protected by a perforated obturator.

In Figure 1 a stub tube 1 1 has a neck 11 for spot welding to a tank entry pipe and a perforated obturator 121. A number of small holes 13 in the periphery of the tube provide an increased outlet for fuel when the tube is used for filling the tank to which it is fitted. The tube 10 is preferably constructed from a good quality non-corrosive metal alloy of heavy gauge. The obturator 12 is also made from a heavy gauge alloy and welded to *the the tube end as shown at W1, W2 for example.

Clearly the form and rigidity of the obturator must -be such as to be able to withstand the attempted penetration of an intruding pipe or tool used maliciously to disrupt it.

The tube pipe 102 of Figure 2 is an alternative form to that shown in Figure 1. Two large outlet holes 131, 1 33 are shown to replace the small holes 13 of Figure 1.

The form of the stub pipe in both Figures 1 and 2 is that of a right cylinder of circular cross section cut obliquely at the end where the obturator is fitted and welded, the obturator 12 having the form of a true ellipse.

In Figure 3 a stub pip 102 has a frusto-conical form of circular cross section and the end where the obturator 1 23 is fitted and welded may be cut normal to the axis XX1 of the cone (generator G1, G2) or oblique thereto as shown in dotted lines.

The frusto-conical form gives excellent sealing in divers size orifices and may be used to advantage in a variety of tank orifices.

The invention may be used to prevent illicit removal of liquid from any tank but is especially useful in the fuel tanks of automobiles and the like.

Figure 4 is self-explanatory, a stub-tube 10 is shown inserted and spot welded to a tank entry orifice 14.

In Figure 5 there is shown a tank 1 5 provided with two entry orifices 16,. 1 62 each made as a part of the tank, either welded to it in manufacture or an integral part of it as when moulded from a heavy duty plastics material. The orifices 161,162 may conveniently each have a form as that of Figure 1; Figure 2 or Figure 3 with an obturator 12 at the end above the liquid line L1L2.

1. A tank having an orifice that is guarded by a perforated obturator at the end of a short tube that enters into the tank, the obturator being at that part of the tube that is inside the tank and above the fuel level.

2. A stub tube for insertion and fixing to a tank orifice, said stub tube having a perforated obturator at or close to the end of the tube that enters the tank.

3. A stub tube according to claim 2 when spot welded in position in a tank orifice.

4. The stub tube according to claim 2 or claim 3 when the tube has a frusto-conical form.

5. The tube according to any preceding claim wherein the obturator is of a heavy gauge metal alloy that is welded to the tube.

6. The stub tube according to any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein the tube has one or more holes in the periphery close to the obturator.

7. The tank according to claim 1 when fitted with a stub tube according to any one of claims 2 to 5.

8. A tank constructed and arranged substantially as herein described and as shown in Figure 4 or Figure 5 of the accompanying drawing.

9. A stub tube constructed and arranged substantially as herein described and as shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing.

1 0. A stub tube constructed and arranged substantially as herein described and as shown in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawing.

1 A stub tube constructed and arranged substantially as herein described and as shown in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (9)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in and relating to tanks for liquid storage The theft of liquid from a tank is an age old problem and it is today vexatious in regard to the fuel tanks of automobiles and the like. Fuel is now a high priced and scarce commodity and the filching of fuel from a tank of petrol or diesel oil for example is usually done by the simple act of inserting a tube illegally into the tank and siphoning or pumping the fuel out of the tank. According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a tank having an orifice that is guarded by a perforated obturator at the end of a short tube that enters the tank the obturator being at that of the tube that is inside the tank and above the fuel level. According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a stub tube for insertion and fixing to a tank orifice, said stub tube having a perforated obturator at or close to the end of the tube that enters the tank. Ideally the obturator is a metal or plastics screen having a plurality of small apertures but it must be of such a nature as to be able to resist removal by or penetration from a pipe or other instrument that is forced against it. The invention will be more fully understood from the following description given by way of example only with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawing in which:- Figure 1 is s stub tube with an obturator shown in perspective. Figure 2 is a part view of another stub tube similar to that of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a stub tube similar to that of Figures 1 and 2 but of frusto-conical form. Figure 4 is a schematic showing a fuel tank fitted with a stub tube. Figure 5 is a schematic showing a fuel tank with two integral inlets each protected by a perforated obturator. In Figure 1 a stub tube 1 1 has a neck 11 for spot welding to a tank entry pipe and a perforated obturator 121. A number of small holes 13 in the periphery of the tube provide an increased outlet for fuel when the tube is used for filling the tank to which it is fitted. The tube 10 is preferably constructed from a good quality non-corrosive metal alloy of heavy gauge. The obturator 12 is also made from a heavy gauge alloy and welded to *the the tube end as shown at W1, W2 for example. Clearly the form and rigidity of the obturator must -be such as to be able to withstand the attempted penetration of an intruding pipe or tool used maliciously to disrupt it. The tube pipe 102 of Figure 2 is an alternative form to that shown in Figure 1. Two large outlet holes 131, 1 33 are shown to replace the small holes 13 of Figure 1. The form of the stub pipe in both Figures 1 and 2 is that of a right cylinder of circular cross section cut obliquely at the end where the obturator is fitted and welded, the obturator 12 having the form of a true ellipse. In Figure 3 a stub pip 102 has a frusto-conical form of circular cross section and the end where the obturator 1 23 is fitted and welded may be cut normal to the axis XX1 of the cone (generator G1, G2) or oblique thereto as shown in dotted lines. The frusto-conical form gives excellent sealing in divers size orifices and may be used to advantage in a variety of tank orifices. The invention may be used to prevent illicit removal of liquid from any tank but is especially useful in the fuel tanks of automobiles and the like. Figure 4 is self-explanatory, a stub-tube 10 is shown inserted and spot welded to a tank entry orifice 14. In Figure 5 there is shown a tank 1 5 provided with two entry orifices 16,. 1 62 each made as a part of the tank, either welded to it in manufacture or an integral part of it as when moulded from a heavy duty plastics material. The orifices 161,162 may conveniently each have a form as that of Figure 1; Figure 2 or Figure 3 with an obturator 12 at the end above the liquid line L1L2. CLAIMS

1. A tank having an orifice that is guarded by a perforated obturator at the end of a short tube that enters into the tank, the obturator being at that part of the tube that is inside the tank and above the fuel level.

2. A stub tube for insertion and fixing to a tank orifice, said stub tube having a perforated obturator at or close to the end of the tube that enters the tank.

3. A stub tube according to claim 2 when spot welded in position in a tank orifice.

4. The stub tube according to claim 2 or claim 3 when the tube has a frusto-conical form.

5. The tube according to any preceding claim wherein the obturator is of a heavy gauge metal alloy that is welded to the tube.

6. The stub tube according to any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein the tube has one or more holes in the periphery close to the obturator.

7. The tank according to claim 1 when fitted with a stub tube according to any one of claims 2 to 5.

8. A tank constructed and arranged substantially as herein described and as shown in Figure 4 or Figure 5 of the accompanying drawing.

9. A stub tube constructed and arranged substantially as herein described and as shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing.

1 0. A stub tube constructed and arranged substantially as herein described and as shown in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawing.

1 A stub tube constructed and arranged substantially as herein described and as shown in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawing.