WO1986007319A1

WO1986007319A1 - Method and means for preventing theft of a powered means of transportation

Info

Publication number: WO1986007319A1
Application number: PCT/SE1985/000234
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kari Koljonen
Original assignee: FORSBERG, Torbjörn; LÖFGREN, Elisabeth; Gustafsson, Johnny
Priority date: 1983-12-14
Filing date: 1985-06-05
Publication date: 1986-12-18

Abstract

A method for preventing theft of a motor-driven means of conveyance such as a car, motorcycle, boat etc., by which at least one relay (13, 113) is used for breaking an electrical circuit for starting the motor. According to the invention the relay (13, 113) is connected to the electrical circuit immediately adjacent one of the poles of a battery (1) or alternatively immediately adjacent a spark plug (119), and furthermore the battery pole, alternatively the spark plug (119), is encased together with the relay (13, 113) in order to make it impossible to by-pass the relay (13, 113). The invention also relates to a device for preventing theft of motor-driven means of conveyance.

Description

METHOD AND MEANS FOR PREVENTING THEFT OF A POWERED MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND THE PRIOR ART

The invention relates to a method for preventing theft of a motor-driven means of conveyance, wherein a relay is used for breaking the current for starting the motor, and also relates to a device for preventing theft.

A serious problem today is the constantly increasing thefts of especially cars but also motorcycles, mopeds, boats etc. Even if the car, motorcycle etc. is insured such a theft always involves costs and trouble on behalf of the owner, and moreover the increasing thefts natural¬ ly also bring about increasing insurance premiums. This in turn has had the result that there are presently a great number of alarm systems on the market, but the dis¬ advantage of these is that, they all are essentially directed to the alarm function, i.e. their main function is to have a deterrent effect in order to prevent that vehicles are damaged and to prevent that vehicles are broken into and that equipment is stolen therefrom.

Some of these electronic burglar alarms on the market have also been combined with a relay which prevents starting of the vehicle motor when the alarm is acti¬ vated, but the disadvantage is that by these known systems it is comparatively easy to by-pass the relay due to the fact that this is only connected to a cable leading for instance to the ignition coil or the starter motor.

Moreover, through French patent specification 2 397 958 a device for preventing theft is also known, which is intended to be fitted to a battery pole in order to make it possible to connect and disconnect the starting current. However, by this known solution the current is connected and disconnected by means of a purely mechani¬ cal switch which is operated through a key and which through a braid conducts the current to the cover of the theft preventing device so that it may be supplied from an auxiliary pole piece mounted on the cover. Since this braid is moved back and forth over the inner side of the cover when the switch means is operated, no guarantee of a good contact between the braid and the cover can be expected after some time of use. It must also be consi¬ dered to be inconvenient that the whole theft preventing device is made current carrying when the starting current is switched on.

Other serious disadvantages of the device according to said French patent specification is that it cannot be dismounted once it is fitted in place, but will have to be removed by violence from the battery, and that the attachment to the battery pole is not reliable since the stop screws that are screwed in towards the battery pole, are not sufficient to prevent that the device is forced off the soft, usually of lead, battery pole when a theft is attempted.

Through DE-OS 24 37 726 it is further known to fit a vehicle battery together with the relay in a box of armour steel and to operate the relay from the drivers stand through an operating rod or a Bowden wire which likewise is provided in a tube of armour steel extending from the battery box to the instrument panel of the car. Although this solution makes it impossible to by-pass the relay, it is totally unacceptable in view of the large space required and the high weight of the complete arrangement. With regard to the large space required it would hardly be possible to retrofit this arrangement on any of the current car models, and even if it would be possible it would bring about substantial costs. It is also quite out of the question that a car manufacturer initially would fit such an arrangement in view of the fact that great efforts are made today within the auto¬ mobile industry to save weight and space. It would also be totally unrealistic to modify the above mentioned arrangement for use on for instance motorcycles or boats.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a method and a device of the kind indicated above, for preventing theft of a motor-driven means of conveyance, by means of which the above mentioned dis¬ advantages are eliminated.

This object is achieved by means of a method and a device of the kind indicated in the claims, which state the characteristic features of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments^" of the invention will be more closely described below with reference to the enclosed drawings, on which:

Fig. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the theft pre¬ venting device according to the invention fitted on one of the poles, of a battery,

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of a second embodiment of the theft preventing device,

Fig. 3 is a circuit diagram of a preferred embodiment of the electric circuit of the theft preventing device, and

Fig. 4 illustrates, in section, a further embodiment of the theft preventing device according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The embodiment of the theft preventing device illustrated in Fig. 1 is applicable to all types of motor vehicles, boats etc. where a battery is employed for starting the motor, and preferably the theft preventing device is fitted to the positive pole of the battery. However, it is likewise possible to fit the theft preventing device to the negative pole of the battery. Referring to Fig. 1 the theft preventing device basically comprises a box or casing 2 manufactured from strong material making it impossible to open the box with violence without special tools. A suitable material may be stainless steel. As illustrated in Fig. 1 the box may be angular in shape having a portion 2a which in Fig. 1 extends horizontally and which in the fitted condition abuts the top of the battery, and a vertical portion 2b abutting the side of the battery. This configuration makes it impossible to turn the box when it is fitted on the battery. The box may also have a quite straight shape, i.e. having only the horizontally extending portion 2a, as illustrated in Fig. 2. In this case the box may also be provided with a flange along at least one of its lower edges, said flange abutting the side of the battery and correspondingly pre¬ venting turning of the box.

As is clear from the exploded view in Fig. 2 the theft preventing device according to a second embodiment basic¬ ally comprises a base 3, preferably of a synthetic mate¬ rial resistant to heat, cold, battery acid etc., and a cover 4 fitting over the base 3 in such a way that it in its fitted condition completely surrounds the base 3 except its bottom. The cover 4 is manufactured from a strong material, for instance stainless steel. The cover 4 is provided with a lock 6 by means of which the cover may be locked to the base 3 after fitting thereover. For this purpose the base 3 is provided with a securing plate 7 which is firmly attached to the base so that it resists any attempt to break it away. Accordingly the securing plate is U-shaped having one leg fitted into the bottom of the base 3, the web extended over a portion of the side wall of the base and the other leg extended inwardly towards the interior of the base for engagement with the lock.

Two relays 13 and an integrated circuit 16 associated with a connection terminal 15 are mounted on the base 3, and these will be described more closely below with reference to Fig. 3. An auxiliary pole 22 is also mounted on the bottom side of the base 3, and through this auxiliary pole the starting current is supplied. This makes it possible to use the original battery cable of the car etc. for connection to the pole 22.

Fig. 2 also illustrates that the bottom of the base 3 is provided with a hole 8 through which a pole of the battery 1 is inserted when the box is fitted onto the battery. Due to the fact that the base 3 in the fitted condition will make flat contact with the upper side of the battery, with the pole inserted through the hole 8, the pole will accordingly be inaccessibly encaged within the box. Due to the fact that the cover 4 is removable the interior of the base may easily be made accessible for cleaning, repair or dismounting.

When mounting the device the battery pole is inserted through the hole 8 in the bottom of the base 3 in the manner described above, and subsequently a tension plate 9 is positioned around the pole. The tension plate 9 is provided with a cut-out portion 10 open to one side and two flanges 11 having upwardly open recesses. A conven¬ tional pole shoe 12 is placed on the pole, with its clamping screw 12a resting in the recesses in the flanges 11 of the tension plate 9. When the clamping screw of the pole shoe is tightened the flanges 11 of the tension plate 9 are simultaneously forced towards each other so that the edges of the cut-out portion 10 are pressed in towards the pole, thereby firmly securing the base to the battery. Experiments have shown that this attachment is sufficient to prevent breaking away of the theft preven¬ ting device by violence from the pole of the battery since the pole comes loose from the battery long before that. For further protection against breaking away the pole shoe could alternatively also be provided with an internal thread or serrations so that this thread or these serrations engage the battery pole when the pole shoe is clamped around the same. A further possible alternative is to provide a protrusion or ridge 14 on the inner surface of the pole shoe, along the length thereof, which protrusion, when the pole shoe is mounted on the pole cuts a vertical notch in the pole and prevents the entire theft preventing device from being turned when it is fitted onto a battery of the type having a completely planar upper side.

In orde to permit a correct centering of the theft pre¬ venting device on batteries of different shape, the hole 8 in the base 3 has a larger diameter than that of an ordinary pole, and moreover the tension plate 9 is "floatingly." mounted in the base 3. Thus, the tension plate is free to move within an area determined by the two cooperating guide pins 17a in the base 3 and quide grooves 17b in the tension plate 9. Hereby the tension plate is maintained in position but is at the same time free to move in relation to the hole 8 for adaption to different batteries.

To provide a further protection against breaking away a protective plate 19 may finally also be provided which is positioned between the battery and the base 3 and which therefore has a hole 19a corresponding to the hole 8 of the base, for insertion of the battery pole. The plate 19 is manufactured from a material that is sufficiently flexible to permit that, after the theft preventing device has been fitted, the free ends of the plate are brought together such that the protective plate complete¬ ly surrounds the base 3 as well as the cover 4. In this case the lock 6 is removable and is inserted through the upper opening 20 of the plate for the final locking of the cover to the base. Hereby the protective collar 20a will contribute further to the security or protection since it makes it quite impossible to get hold of the lock in order to forcibly remove it in its locked condi¬ tion.

Fig. 3 illustrates the electrical coupling circuit of the theft preventing device, and the phantom line indicates what components are mounted in the base 3 and are protec¬ ted by the cover 4. A current is continously supplied over a fuse 21 for supplying the electrical system of the car, but the fuse is of such capacity (preferably 60 to 100 ampere) that this current cannot be used for starting the engine. If, by an attempt to steal the car, this current would be used for starting the engine, through a by-pass connection, then the fuse would immediately melt. Over the fuse a current is also supplied for operating the relays 13 via the code lock circuit 16. The code lock circuit 16 is in turn supplied from the ignition lock, when the ignition key has been turned to the ignition position, and moreover the keyboard is supplied via the code lock circuit and through wire 27. The starting current to the starter motor M is supplied from the battery pole through the copper plates 23a and 23b illu¬ strated in Fig. 2 and to the normally open relays 13 from which the starting current, when the relays have closed, is conducted to the starter motor M through the copper plate 24 and the auxiliary pole 22. The reason why two relays 13 are used is that one single relay could not without doubt handle the load when the engine is started. Outside the theft preventing device a further relay 25 is connected to the control current cable to the solenoid of the starter motor, and this relay 25 which is likewise normally open, is like the relays 13 closed through the code lock circuit 16 when this is activated by means of the keyboard.

As mentioned above the electrical system of the car is supplied over the fuse 21, and when the ignition key is turned to the ignition position the code lock circuit and the keyboard are supplied, whereupon the keyboard is preferably lit up in order to indicate that the ignition is on and that the code may be entered. When the correct code has been entered on the keyboard an indication of this is given, for instance by putting out the light on the keyboard, and the code lock circuit is activated and the relays 13 and 25 are closed so that the car can be started by turning the ignition key to the starting posi¬ tion.

In this connection it should be emphasized that it is of vital importance for the invention that the relays 13 are closed at a time when no starting current is supplied to the starter motor, so that spark formation and the like can be avoided. The starter motor M does not pull until the ignition key is turned to starting position after the correct code has been entered on the keyboard, and thus after the relays 13 have already closed. Hereby it is possible to avoid that the relays melt, which could be the result if the starting current was supplied imme¬ diately when the relays close.

Preferably the code lock circuit is given such a function that it can be set in two different modes through the keyboard, namely a so called "save input"-mode for normal use and a so called "lock input"-mode for special occasions. If the code lock circuit has been set in the "save inρut"-mode the code lock circuit is set to zero approximately 10 seconds after the engine has stopped, and therefore the correct code must be entered each time the engine is to be started. However, if the code lock circuit is set in the "lock inρut"-mode once the correct code has been entered, the car can be started without the necessity of entering the code prior to every start. This mode is preferably set when the car is left at a garage or whenever the car is used by someone who does not know the code. These functions are achieved by means of conventional electronics which in itself does not form any part of the invention, and for that reason the code lock circuit will not be described in closer detail.

In a less sophisticated version the box may be provided with an electrical key switch so that the relays may be operated by means of a key immediately on the box.

A further possible variation for operating the relay is to use remote control by means of a radio transmitter. Such a version could for instance be used on value trans¬ port trucks and the like, so that, by an attempted robbery, the electrical system of the car can be. blocked from a central. The remote control may in such a case preferably be performed through the communication radio that these types of trucks are usually fitted with.

In certain cases it may also be preferable to employ a power thyristor^" which is more reliable in operation.

Preferably the box is also provided with a partition 18 (see Fig. 1) separating the relay and the integrated circuit from the battery pole in order to prevent impuri¬ ties such as battery acid or the like from entering and damaging the relay or the integrated circuit. It may also be preferable to provide a layer of heat insulating mate¬ rial on the bottom in order to prevent heat transmission.

Fig. 4 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention especially suitable for use on motorcycles or mopeds and generally for use on any motor vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine, and where it for some reason is not suitable to fit the theft preventing device onto the battery. In this embodiment the box 102 is locked to the engine by means of a spark plug 119. The box is once again provided with an upper cover 105 which may be secured by means of a conventional lock 106. The cover is also provided with a lead-through for a spark plug cable 120. Like in the embodiment described above the box is provided with a hole 103 in its bottom. When the box is mounted or fitted it is placed with its bottom against the engine so that its hole 103 is aligned with the spark plug channel. With the cover 105 removed or swung up the spark plug is inserted from above into the box and is screwed in and tightened in place in the spark plug channel, thereby clamping the box between the spark plug and the engine. Subsequently the spark plug cable 120 is introduced through the led-through of the cover 105 and is connected to the spark plug. Finally the cover 105 is locked in place. The box is also provided with a not shown protrusion or shoulder engaging a suitable part of the engine and preventing turning of the box when it is mounted. The input of the relay 113 is connected to the spark plug cable 120 through a branch 121, but as distinguished from the first embodiment the output of the relay is connected to earth. When the theft preventing device is activated in any of the above described manners the relay 113 is closed, and if an attempt is made to start the engine the starting current is conducted directly to earth without passing the spark plug. It is important that the resistance across the contact of the relay, in the open position, is greater than the resis¬ tance across the electrodes of the spark plug, and this in order to guarantee that the current goes to the spark plug when the theft preventing device is disabled.

Finally it shall also be pointed out that in accordance with the method of the invention it is possible to effect the theft protection by encasing the relay and its opera¬ ting means in the actual battery when this is manufac- tured, and thereby the relay breaks the electric circuit as early as between the battery plates and one of the poles.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated herein it shall be pointed out that the invention also covers the modifications that are obvious to a man skilled in the art. Thus, the scope of the invention is only restricted by the enclosed claims.

Claims

1. A method for preventing theft of a motor-driven means of conveyance, such as a car, motorcycle, boat etc., by which at least one relay is used for breaking an electrical current for starting the motor, characterized in that the relay is connected to the electrical circuit immediately adjacent one of the poles of a battery or alternatively immediately adjacent a spark plug, and in that the relay and its operating means together with the battery pole, alternatively the spark plug, are encased in order to make it impossible to by-pass the relay.

2. The method of claim 1, characterized in that the relay and its operating means are encased in the battery casing and in that the connection bewteen one of the battery poles and the corresponding battery plates is closed and broken by means of the relay.

3. The method of claim 1, characterized in that the casing with the relay and the operating means mounted therein, is dismountably secured to the battery pole, alternatively to the spark plug.

4. The method of any of the preceding claims, charac¬ terized in that a control current insufficient for star¬ ting the motor is continously supplied from the casing over a fuse.

5. A theft preventing device for motor-driven means of conveyance such as cars, motorcycles, boats etc. having at least one relay (13, 113) for breaking an electrical circuit for starting the motor, characterized in that the relay (13, 113) and its operating means (16) are pro¬ vided in a strong casing (2; 3, 4; 102) which may be secured to and dismounted from one of the poles of a battery (1) or alternatively, when the motor is an inter¬ nal combustion engine, a spark plug (119) of the engine, the casing thereby encasing the pole or the spark plug (119) in order to prevent by-passing the relay.

6. The device of claim 5, characterized in that the casing comprises a base (3) that can be secured to the battery pole and in which the relay (13) and its opera¬ ting means (16) are mounted, and a cover (4) which can be secured to the base (3) and which in its locked condition surrounds the base (3) except its bottom.

7. The device of claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the bottom of the casing (2; 3, 4; 102) is provided with a .hole (8, 103) through which the battery pole may be inserted or alternatively the spark plug (119) may be screwed in for clamping the casing.

8. The device of any of the preceding claims, charac¬ terized by a tension plate (9) for positioning around the battery pole between the bottom- of the casing (3, 4) and a pole shoe (12) and intended to engage the material of the pole when the pole shoe is attached.

9. The device of any of the preceding claims, charac¬ terized in that the operating means of the relay (13, 113) comprise an integrated circuit (16) which is acti¬ vated by means of a keyboard (26).

10. The device of claim 9, characterized in that the integrated circuit (16) and through this the keyboard (26) are supplied from a continous output via for instance an ignition lock, the continous output being insufficient for starting the engine due to that fact that a fuse is connected which is likewise mounted within i the casing.