Pipes and tubular conduits – With closures and plugs – Inflation stem type
Patent
1998-08-21
1999-12-21
Brinson, Patrick
Pipes and tubular conduits
With closures and plugs
Inflation stem type
220314, 138 96R, F16L 5510
Patent
active
060035587
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention refers to a lock system for the filling caps of closed tanks, especially those tanks containing inflammable liquids such as the fuel tanks of service (gas) stations.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Fuel supply to service stations takes place upon the arrival of the transporting tanker truck, when each tank of said service stations is opened.
The filling is achieved by removing the filling cap at the feeding nozzle of the fuel tank, which opens toward the surface of the service station and through which a suitable conducting element, such as a hose, is introduced, providing a temporary fluid communication between the reservoir of the tanker truck and the tank of the service station. The removal of the filling cap is achieved by the easy opening of a conventional padlock, which hinders the movement of the cap lock arms and retains the cap against the nozzle of the tank.
Due to the easy access to the inside of the service station tanks, resulting from the precarious closing system thereof, the contents of said reservoirs are liable to composition adulterations, such adulterations being difficult to prove.
One solution for this problem is to provide the tank filling caps with closing and locking systems which are electrically activated at well determined time periods. Nevertheless, said solution cannot be applied to fuel tanks, due to the danger of explosion caused by electrical sparks, which may occur in this type of lock systems.
Moreover, even though the electrically activated systems present the most elaborate closures in the state of the art, they are still easily activated by conventional electric connectors, which leave no trace of having had the tank cap removed at times which are not solely for the purpose of supplying the tank.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a lock system for the filling caps of closed tanks which can deny access to the inside of said tanks between supply periods of time.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a lock system such as that cited above, which does not pose risks, as for example explosions, to those environments in which said reservoirs to be locked are located.
These and other objectives are reached through a lock system for the filling caps of closed tanks, especially those tanks containing inflammable liquids, said cap comprising: a body seated over the respective tank nozzle and articulating at least one lock arm, bearing a respective lock which can be displaced between the locking and releasing positions in relation to the nozzle, when there is a corresponding angular movement of the lock arm, said system further comprising an arm activating assembly provided in the cap body and including a drive shaft, mounted axially on the cap body in a freely rotating manner and having an end which is accessible on the outside of the cap and to which a torque tool is selectively applied; at least one impelling piston, mounted axially through the cap body, so that one outer end may be coupled to the lock arm and the opposite inner end to the filling cap, each impelling piston being axially displaced between a first position corresponding to the lock arm locking position and a second position corresponding to the lock arm releasing position; at least one electromagnetic clutch, mounted to the cap body, so as to cause the selective axial displacement of the impelling piston between the first and second operational limit positions thereof when the drive shaft rotates, said clutch comprising a coupling means, which is displaced between an engaging position, in which the rotation of the drive shaft causes the axial displacement of the impelling piston and a disengaging position, in which the drive shaft rotates freely upon torque application; at least one coil means coupled to the cap body, so as to cause, when energized, the displacement of the coupling means toward the engaging position; an electronic switch provided with a transformer primary (L1) energized at low po
REFERENCES:
patent: 2946215 (1960-07-01), Eshbaugh et al.
patent: 3672403 (1972-06-01), Wilson et al.
patent: 3722549 (1973-03-01), Wilson et al.
patent: 3907155 (1975-09-01), Smith et al.
patent: 4351446 (1982-09-01), Madden
Neto Manoel Antonio Dutra Rodrigues
Sacchi Rogerio de Araujo
Brinson Patrick
Locktron Ind. E Com. LTDA
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