FORM - 2
THE PATENTS ACT 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
The Patent Rules, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(S. 10 and rule 13)
1. TITLE: A locking device for storage tanks
2 APPLICANTS:
NAME: ACC Limited
NATIONALITY: Indian Company registered under the Companies Act, 1913
ADDRESS: Cement House, 121 Maharshi Karve Road,
Mumbai 400 020, Maharashtra, India
3. PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION: The following specification describes the invention:
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FIELD OF INVENTION: The invention relates to a locking device, which is fitted within and at the neck of storage tanks for liquids.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION: Pilferage of high cost liquids like petrol, diesel or gasoline or any other kind of liquids is a perennial problem, and all types of safety locking devices have been used, without any permanent solution to this issue. The most common way of preventing theft of fuel, is by using an external padlock on the cap or lid of storage tank. These padlocks however are easily broken or maneovoured to be open, and the liquid contents of the storage tank are effortlessly and quickly siphoned out.
U.S.Patent no: 4317345 discloses a fuel tank locking device which is fitted to the filler neck of the tank. This device has a key activated cylinder lock, which blocks the filler neck of the tank, and thus locks the tank. However, being a key activated mechanism, it has its limitations, especially if the key itself can be duplicated.
The present invention, discloses for the first time, a simple mechanical blocking device to prevent pilferage of liquids from the filler pipe of storage tanks, by using a siphon. The device is easily fitted in to fuel tanks of heavy and light motor vehicles, and is an inexpensive and fully reliable means for preventing theft of fuel from fuel tanks.
SUMMARY:
In its main aspect, the invention describes a locking device for storage tanks with filler necks. The device consists of a hollow first housing, having at least -two openings. One opening is fitted with a flange to connect to the filler neck. The other opening is fitted with a perforated base plate. . A non-perforated stopping plate of a surface dimension less than that of the base plate is removably engaged or welded to the base plate through a spacer. The stopping plate overlaps the perforations (13) in the base plate completely.
2

In another aspect of this invention, the housing may be in the shape of a sphere, a cylinder, or a polysided tube. In a modified aspect of this invention, the cylindrical or polysided housing is preferably fitted along the vertical axis. In yet another aspect of this invention, the housing is fitted along the vertical axis such that there is atleast one opening oppositely located to the filler neck end, such opening covered by a base plate/stopping plate arrangement.
In a further aspect of this invention, the housing wall may have one or more apertures. One or more of these apertures may be fitted with upwardly directed nozzles, extending outwardly from the wall of the housing.
In a final aspect of this invention, a second housing encases the first housing, the housing wall extending to the flange at one end and open at the other end, such that no tube can ever pass between the walls of the two housing.
Drawings:
Fig. 1 gives the overall view of the fuel device as placed within the storage/fuel tank
Fig 2. Gives the vertical sectional view of the invention
Fig. 3 gives the view of the individual parts that are configured in to the invention
Fig 4 gives the outer view of the housing with the apertures
Fig 5 is the cross sectional bottom view of the invention! with the stopping plate
Fig 6 is the sectional view of the invention with the base plate and without the
stopping plate showing.
Fig7 is a perspective view of the base plate without central perforation
Fig 8 is a perspective view of the base plate with central perforation
Fig 8 is the perspective view of the stopping plate
Fig 10 is a cross sectional view of a polysided housing
Fig 11 is a cross sectional view of a polysided housing
Fig 12 is cross sectional view of a quadrate housing.
Fig 13 gives an outer view of the device with a casing
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DESCRIPTION:
The following is a brief description of working of this invention:
In its main embodiment, the invention describes a locking device for storage tanks (1) with filler necks (2). The device is fitted within or at the filler neck of the tank under the cap (5) or lid (5) of the tank. The device consists of a hollow first housing, (7) having at least -two openings (8, 9). One opening (8) is fitted with a flange (10) to connect to the filler neck. The other opening (9) is fitted with a perforated base plate. (11). The base plate (11) may be fitted to the housing wall with threadable screws or welded to the housing wall. A non-perforated stopping plate (17) of a surface dimension less than that of the base plate is removably engaged or welded to the base plate through a spacer (19). The stopping plate overlaps the perforations (13) in the base plate completely. If the stopping plate is removably engaged, the spacer has a dowel (21) that fits in to the central perforation (1.5) of the base plate.
In another embodiment of this invention, the housing may be in the shape of a sphere, a cylinder, (Fig 4), a polysided tube (Fig 10, 11) or a quadrate (Fig 12). In a modified embodiment of this invention, the cylindrical or porysided housing may be fitted to the filler neck along its vertical or horizontal axis, but preferably along the vertical axis. When fitted along the horizontal axis, there is one opening along the surface to connect to the filler neck, and openings at one or both ends along the horizontal axis of the housing, and one or both openings being fitted with the base plate/stopping plate arrangement. In its preferred embodiment, the housing is fitted along the vertical axis such that there is a least one opening oppositely located to the filler neck end, such opening covered by a base plate/stopping plate arrangement. The base plate/stopping plate arrangement prevents any tube from entering the fuel or liquid level in the tank, and hence the liquid or fuel cannot be siphoned off.
4

In its improved embodiment, the housing wall may have one or more apertures (23). One or more of these apertures may be fitted with upwardly directed nozzles, (25) extending outwardly from the wall of the housing. Preferably all the apertures are fitted with nozzles. This allows easy flow of fuel or liquid in to the tank when it is being filled, and when there is any backward regurgiitation, the liquid flows through these apertures in to the tank. The upwardly directed nozzles prevent any tube from being inserted through these apertures in to the fuel or storage tank to reach the liquid or fuel levels.
In a further improved embodiment of this invention , a second housing (27) encases the first housing, the housing wall extending to the flamge at one end and open at the other end, such that no tube can ever pass between the walls of the two housing.
The device is fitted ideally in to the filler neck of the fuel tank of any light or heavy motor vehicle. A cap or lid with a gasket is sufficient to ensure that there is no loss of fuel through evaporation. With the fitting of this device, no additional lock would be necessary to prevent pilferage of fuel through siphoning from the filler neck end.
5

CLAIMS:
1. A locking device for storage tanks with filler necks, fitted within or at the filler
neck of the tank, consisting of:
i. a hollow first housing, having at least two openings; ii. A flange around the first opening, to connect to the neck; iii. A perforated base plate fitted over the other opening: iv. A non-perforated stopping plate of smaller surface dimension, engaged within
the hollow, to the base plate, through a spacer, such that it overlaps the
perforations.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1, where in the defined hollow is a sphere, cylinder or a polysided tubular housing.
3. A device as claimed in claim 2, where in at least one of the openings fitted with perforated plate is oppositely located to the first opening .
4. A. device as claimed in claim 1 and 2 having one or more apertures on the housing surface.
5. A device as claimed in claim 4, where one or more of the apertures are fitted with
upwardly directed nozzles, extending outwardly from the housing.
6. A device as claimed in claim 5 where in the non -perforated plate is engaged to the perforation in the perforated plate through the spiacer having a dowel.
7. A device as claimed in claim 1 to 6, where in the housing is enclosed within a second housing open at one end and fitted around the first housing at the flange end.
6

8. A device as claimed in claim 6 or 7 is vertically fitted in to the storage tank.
9. A device as claimed in claim 8, where in the storage tank is a fuel tank.

ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to a locking device for storage tanks (1) with filler necks (3), fitted within or at the filler neck of the tank. The device consists of: a hollow first housing, (7) having at least two openings (8,9); A flange (10) around the first opening, to connect to the neck; a perforated base plate (11) fitted over the other opening; a non-perforated stopping plate (17) of smaller surface dimension, engaged within the hollow, to the base plate, though a spacer,(19) such that it overlaps the. perforations (13).
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