The present invention is directed to anti-siphoning devices, in particular an improved anti-siphoning device for use in a motorized vehicle.
It is recognized that fuel for motorized vehicles, such as boats and cars, can be scarce and expensive. As a result, it is not uncommon for people to attempt to siphon the fuel stored in the fuel tanks of motorized vehicles.
Siphoning of fuel from a fuel tank generally involves placing a hose through the filler tube inlet or opening and down into the fuel held within the fuel tank. A suction pressure is then applied to the opposite end of the hose such that fuel within the tank flows upwardly and out of the tank through the hose.
There are a number of known solutions to address this problem. One is to provide locks or other securing devices to the cap of a filler pipe. However, this solution does not prevent siphoning once the lock or cap is broken. Another, in applications such as cars, provides a hinged access door that incorporates a lock. Such an access door can be defeated in a short period of time with a screw driver or a small pry bar causing serious damage to the vehicle body and paint. As a result, a car owner is not only subject to the cost of repurchasing fuel but also repairing the damage to the vehicle. Yet another is to provide a device that is inserted in to the filler tube at the entrance of the filler tube or at a position in close proximity to the entrance of the filler tube. Numerous patents are directed to these types of devices, including British Patent Specification 739,386, U.S. Published Application 2008/0156800, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,931,335; 2,107,600; 2,145,759; 2,147,755; 3,888,381; 3,920,145; 3,951,297; 4,326,641; 4,345,694; 4,630,748; 5,476,185; and 7,040,360. These types of devices are deficient because they can be defeated by inserting an elongated element like a rod in the fill tube and applying sufficient force to puncture, dislodge, or destroy these types of anti-siphoning devices. Some of these devices can also be considered deficient because they can obstruct or deter the flow of fuel through the fill tube causing fuel to back up or collect in the fill tube. This can cause an unacceptable increase in the amount of time required to fill a fuel tank or trigger a fuel nozzle with an automatic cut off to prematurely stop dispensing fuel. If a fuel nozzle does not include an automatic cut off, the fuel can spill outside the vehicle and cause environmental damage, subjecting the vehicle operator to significant fines. Even if a fuel nozzle does include an automatic cut off, an anti-siphon device that is at the entrance of the filler tube can still cause fuel spill when the fuel nozzle dispenses fuel at a high rate, such as boat applications. An anti-siphon device used in this circumstance will cause a backflow of fuel, which the fuel nozzle cannot prevent from leaving the tank. Some of these devices are also deficient in that they have limited application. Devices that are inserted at the entrance of the filler tube are generally not useful with fuel systems that incorporate threading on the interior of the filler tube for attaching a fuel cap because such inserts can interfere with the ability of the filler tube threading to interact with the cap. U.S. Pat. No. 4,345,694 purports to address some of these deficiencies by incorporating an elastomeric element that is pressed against the walls of the filler tube. However, such an element would not prevent an individual from gaining access to the device with a rod and applying sufficient force to defeat the elastomeric element. Further, the effectiveness of the device depends upon the person installing the device sufficiently compressing the elastomeric element during installation to insure that there is sufficient friction between the elastomeric element and the filler tube.
What is needed is an anti-siphoning device and fuel system that inhibits the ability of a thief to defeat the anti-siphoning device. It would be beneficial if such a device and system could inhibit the ability of a thief to identify and locate the anti-siphoning device. It would also be beneficial if such a device could be easily implemented in existing vehicles.
These and other objects are achieved by providing an anti-siphoning fuel system that includes a fuel inlet, a fuel tank, at least one fill tube connecting the fuel inlet to the fuel tank such that fuel may flow from the fuel inlet to the fuel tank, and an anti-siphoning element or device coupled to the fill tube that obstructs a siphoning hose inserted in to the fill tube from entering the fuel tank. The fill tube comprises at least one bend between the fuel inlet and the anti-siphoning element or device.
It is another object of the invention for the anti-siphoning element or device to form a fuel flow path through which fuel may flow for storage in to the fuel tank and comprise at least one restriction element that projects into the fuel flow path and obstructs a siphoning hose inserted in to the fill tube from entering the fuel tank. The anti-siphoning element or device can further include at least one coupling element that couples the anti-siphoning element or device to the fill tube and encompass at least a portion of the fuel flow path.
It is yet another object of the invention for the anti-siphoning element or device to comprise a first coupling element that couples the anti-siphoning element to a first fill tube and a second coupling element that couples the anti-siphoning element to either an inlet to the fuel tank or a second fill tube. The first coupling element can comprise a first restriction element and the second coupling element can comprise a second restriction element. The first and second restriction elements can each further comprise one or more radial arms that are angularly offset relative to one another.
It is a further object of the present invention for the first coupling element to comprise an outer circumference that corresponds to the inner circumference of the first fill tube such that a portion of the first coupling element is disposed within the first fill tube. The second coupling element can comprise an outer circumference that corresponds to the inner circumference of either the inlet to the fuel tank or the second fill tube such that a portion of the second coupling element is disposed within either the inlet to the fuel tank or the second fill tube.
It is also objective of the present invention to provide an anti-siphoning device for use in the fuel system described above and a method for preventing the siphoning of fuel from a fuel tank in accordance with the steps described above.
Other objects of the invention and its particular features and advantages will become more apparent from consideration of the following drawings and accompanying description.
The following detailed description illustrates the invention by way of example, not by way of limitation of the principles of the invention. This description will enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives and uses of the invention, including what is presently believed to be the best mode of carrying out the invention.
Device 100 further comprises proximal 114 and distal 124 restriction elements disposed at the proximal and distal ends of device 100. As depicted, the restriction elements comprise a plurality of radially extending arms that are angularly off-set. As depicted in
The present anti-siphoning device and system provides a unique solution for preventing the theft of fuel from vehicles, such as a boat or car. Unlike prior known techniques, the disclosed anti-siphoning device can effectively prevent siphoning hoses from reaching a fuel tank and effectively incorporated into existing vehicles. This device allows the vehicle owner to place an anti-siphoning device at a location remote to the filler tube inlet, diminishing the ability of a thief to detect and locate the device. Further, by utilizing a filler tube with a bend or radius of curvature between the anti-siphoning device and the filler tube inlet, a thief is inhibited from inserting a tool into the filler tube for the purpose of damaging or defeating the anti-siphoning device.
The present invention has been described above in terms of a presently preferred embodiment so that an understanding of the present invention can be conveyed. However, there are alternative arrangements for an anti-siphoning device and an anti-siphoning fuel system within the scope of the present invention. The scope of the present invention should therefore not be limited by the embodiments discussed, but rather it should be understood that the present invention is widely applicable anti-siphoning devices and an anti-siphoning fuel systems in general. All modifications, variations, or equivalent elements and implementations that are within the scope of the claims should therefore be considered within the scope of this invention.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
249172 | Grinnell | Nov 1881 | A |
1512065 | Taylor | Oct 1924 | A |
1725537 | Ossian | Aug 1929 | A |
1808245 | Middleton | Jun 1931 | A |
1813554 | Wickline | Jul 1931 | A |
1873590 | Edward | Aug 1932 | A |
1931335 | Terry | Oct 1933 | A |
1931342 | Broderick | Oct 1933 | A |
1995007 | Myers | Mar 1935 | A |
2037499 | Collard | Apr 1936 | A |
2042921 | Arvintz | Jun 1936 | A |
2066202 | Webb | Dec 1936 | A |
2107600 | Darms | Feb 1938 | A |
2145759 | Fellows et al. | Jan 1939 | A |
2147755 | Roberts | Feb 1939 | A |
2155520 | Wolff | Apr 1939 | A |
2174743 | Groeniger | Oct 1939 | A |
2216846 | Lewis | Oct 1940 | A |
2281448 | Mathey | Apr 1942 | A |
2347988 | Burke | May 1944 | A |
2371241 | Jaffa | Mar 1945 | A |
2371449 | Langdon | Mar 1945 | A |
2372545 | Breedlove | Mar 1945 | A |
2373470 | Hanke | Apr 1945 | A |
2382427 | Langdon | Aug 1945 | A |
2496992 | Glidden | Feb 1950 | A |
2510395 | Goodrie | Jun 1950 | A |
2548734 | Mathey | Apr 1951 | A |
2598002 | Langdon | May 1952 | A |
2631049 | McGillis et al. | Mar 1953 | A |
2922437 | Rippingilla | Jan 1960 | A |
3002649 | Turley | Oct 1961 | A |
3016161 | Peplin | Jan 1962 | A |
3410939 | Driza et al. | Nov 1968 | A |
3463159 | Heimlich | Aug 1969 | A |
3631880 | Hansel | Jan 1972 | A |
3888381 | Russell, Jr. | Jun 1975 | A |
3902518 | Fischer | Sep 1975 | A |
3920145 | McGregor et al. | Nov 1975 | A |
3951297 | Martin | Apr 1976 | A |
3991792 | Kettler | Nov 1976 | A |
4122968 | Germain | Oct 1978 | A |
4286632 | Abel | Sep 1981 | A |
4295577 | Schmid et al. | Oct 1981 | A |
4326641 | Wilken | Apr 1982 | A |
4345694 | Chambers | Aug 1982 | A |
4529097 | Larson | Jul 1985 | A |
4610284 | Bartholomew | Sep 1986 | A |
4630748 | Keller | Dec 1986 | A |
4650087 | White | Mar 1987 | A |
4653539 | Bell | Mar 1987 | A |
4726390 | Franklin | Feb 1988 | A |
4911211 | Andersen | Mar 1990 | A |
5217044 | Schulte | Jun 1993 | A |
5246130 | Mondt et al. | Sep 1993 | A |
5303842 | Harp et al. | Apr 1994 | A |
5327871 | Gryc | Jul 1994 | A |
5363878 | Atkins | Nov 1994 | A |
5409042 | Kirchner | Apr 1995 | A |
5476185 | Jimerson | Dec 1995 | A |
5592964 | Traylor | Jan 1997 | A |
5640991 | King | Jun 1997 | A |
5641012 | Silversides | Jun 1997 | A |
6019127 | Orita et al. | Feb 2000 | A |
6182617 | Bigcharles | Feb 2001 | B1 |
D451200 | Johansen et al. | Nov 2001 | S |
6394128 | Concialdi | May 2002 | B1 |
6439939 | Jaeger | Aug 2002 | B1 |
6463965 | Rasche et al. | Oct 2002 | B1 |
6612621 | Oberheide et al. | Sep 2003 | B2 |
6837256 | Benjey | Jan 2005 | B2 |
6959727 | Krishnamoorthy et al. | Nov 2005 | B2 |
7011103 | Delgado | Mar 2006 | B2 |
7040360 | Watson | May 2006 | B2 |
7065962 | Boncodin | Jun 2006 | B2 |
7108293 | Van Der Meijden et al. | Sep 2006 | B2 |
7175612 | Felix et al. | Feb 2007 | B2 |
7258144 | Barthod et al. | Aug 2007 | B2 |
7404498 | Hattori et al. | Jul 2008 | B2 |
7458391 | Krishnamoorthy et al. | Dec 2008 | B2 |
D588055 | Moya | Mar 2009 | S |
7503343 | Krishnamoorthy et al. | Mar 2009 | B2 |
7721902 | Grote et al. | May 2010 | B2 |
8122904 | Wholey et al. | Feb 2012 | B2 |
8181678 | Ando et al. | May 2012 | B2 |
8281947 | Walkowski et al. | Oct 2012 | B2 |
20020043802 | Koster | Apr 2002 | A1 |
20030116202 | Krishnamoorthy et al. | Jun 2003 | A1 |
20030201014 | Krishnamoorthy et al. | Oct 2003 | A1 |
20040050428 | Benjey | Mar 2004 | A1 |
20040089154 | Le et al. | May 2004 | A1 |
20050028873 | Martin et al. | Feb 2005 | A1 |
20050051236 | Watson | Mar 2005 | A1 |
20050139271 | Krishnamoorthy et al. | Jun 2005 | A1 |
20070054228 | Fogliani et al. | Mar 2007 | A1 |
20080156800 | Mougenot | Jul 2008 | A1 |
20080257426 | Spink et al. | Oct 2008 | A1 |
20080283124 | Hatchett et al. | Nov 2008 | A1 |
20090134159 | Wholey et al. | May 2009 | A1 |
20090229675 | Hoskisson et al. | Sep 2009 | A1 |
20090320956 | Ando et al. | Dec 2009 | A1 |
20100193042 | Keefer et al. | Aug 2010 | A1 |
20120298213 | Forster et al. | Nov 2012 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
739386 | Apr 1954 | GB |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20100224260 A1 | Sep 2010 | US |