Protecting device for an access orifice to a tank

Claim 2

A protecting device for an access orifice to a tank, said orifice comprising : a movable cover adapted to be locked in the locked position; locking means for said cover ; at least one controller means for controlling the unlocking of said cover ; resilient return means for returning said locking means into the locking position ; a power source connected through a transmission line to said actuator ; manual means for remote controlling said controller provided at a distant location and inserted into said power transmission line ; a stationary structure surrounding said access orifice to which said movable cover is pivotally connected to and wherein said controller is mounted, said locking means comprising a movable lock-bolt and a boltclasp adapted to cooperate with one another ; said controller holding said lock-bolt in the locking position in its normal de-energized rest position, wherein said controller is mounted in said stationary structure surrounding completely said access orifice and comprises a movable element surrounding at least partially said access orifice and being linearly moved in said stationary structure, in the direction of the lines of the field of force produced by said controller.

Claim 3

A device according to claim 1 with said controller means comprising electromagnet control means consisting of an electro-magnet with an energized solenoid coil connected to said power transmission line to said power transmission source, and of a movable magnetic armature, said solenoid coil bding adapted to exert a pull upon said magnetic armature when being energized.

Claim 4

A device according to claim 2 for an automotive vehicle powered by a heat engine with electric ignition and start circuits, fed by an electric supply source and operated through an ignition and start switch and with an electromechanical anti-theft apparatus with a safety lock operated by a removable key, said distant location for remote controlling said controller being the drivers station of said vehicle, the manual remote control means comprising an electric cut-out switch integrated to said ignition and start switch, wherein said electric cut-out switch consists of a contactor integrated into said anti-theft apparatus and adapted to be closed in one specific angular position of said key.

Claim 5

A device according to claim 3, wherein the key of said anti-theft apparatus is adapted to be moved successively to the ''''STOP'''', ''''PARKING'''', ''''RUNNING'''', ''''START'''' and ''''ACCESSORIES CONTROL'''' positions, respectively and wherein said specific angular position of said key is the ''''ACCESSORIES CONTROL'''' position in which all the other electric circuits of the automotive vehicles are cut off.

Claim 6

A device according to Claim 3, for an automotive vehicle comprising an accelerator pedal and wherein one additional cut-out switch comprises means for interlocking the control of said switch with the relative position of said pedal, so that said switch is closed only in the inoperative rest position of said pedal.

Claim 7

A device according to claim 2, with a pivoting cover forming a flap cover pivotally connected to a stationary structure surrounding said access orifice and subjected at least in the closed position to the action of at least one biasing spring tending to open said flap cover, wherein said electro-magnet comprises a winding surrounding said access orifice substantially coaxially and housed in a stationary support surrounding said orifice whereas said movable armature consists of an annular disk substantially parallel to said orifice and displaceable in axial translation and the central opening of which is in registering relation to said orifice, said disk being mounted on said support and subjected to the permanent action of at least one biasing spring urging said disk to move away from said electro-magnet ; and said lock-bolt is slidably mounted transversely with its return spring in said flap cover so as to co-operate with an aforesaid bolt-clasp carried by said support, said lock-bolt comprising a transversaly projecting pin adapted to engage in the locking position of said lock-bolt a corresponding hole of said disk in the rest position of the latter ; said flap cover comprising means for manually operating said lock-bolt to move it to the unlocking position.

Claim 8

A device according to claim 6, comprising a filler pipe the free end of which forms said access orifice and wherein said support is a collar mounted on said pipe end and to which is pivotally connected said flap cover forming a filler cap adapted to tightly fit said collar in its closed position whereas said bolt-clasp consists of a retaining abutment integral with said collar and formed with a nose adapted to be caught and engaged by said lock-bolt ; said lock-bolt being formed with an active slantwise cut guide surface for sliding engagement with said bolt-clasp to assist said lock-bolt in snapping into said bolt-clasp upon manual closing of said flap cover.

Claim 9

A device according to claim 6, wherein said means for manually operating said lock-bolt consists of an eccentric finger integral with an outer rotary knob mounted on said cover and co-operating with said lock-bolt.

Claim 10

A device according to claim 2, with a swinging cover forming a flap cover pivotally connected to a stationary structure surrounding said access orifice and subjected at least in the closed position to the action of at least one biasing spring urging said flap cover to the open position and wherein said electro-magnet comprises a stationary U-shaped armature encompassing said orifice and both legs of which carry each one an energizing coil, said electro-magnet being accommodated in a stationary support surrounding said access orifice whereas said movable armature consists of a yoke-like strip transversely integral with said lock-bolt, said lock-bolt consisting of a hooked lever forming a spring-loaded latch pivotally connected to said stationary support and adapted to co-operate with a bolt-clasp consisting of a catch integral with said flap cover.

Claim 11

A device according to claim 9, for a tank comprising a filler pipe the free end of which forms said access orifice and wherein said support is a collar mounted on said pipe end and to which is pivotally connected said flap cover forming a filler cap adapted to tightly fit said collar in the closed position thereof whereas the hook portion of said hooked lever comprises a nose formed with a slantwise cut outer guide surface for sliding engagement with said catch so as to promote automatic snapping engagement of said lever with said catch upon manual closing of said flap cover.

Claim 12

A device according to claim 1, wherein said controller comprises a vacuum chamber communicating through a Duct with a vacuum source and one wall of which is formed of said movable element slidably mounted in sealing relationship within said chamber ; said remote-control means consisting of at least one manually operable cut-out valve inserted in series in said duct.

Claim 13

A device according to claim 11, wherein said vacuum chamber is of annular shape and provided in a stationary structure coaxially surrounding said access orifice and said movable element is a ring-shaped disk the central opening of which substantially corresponds to said access orifice and which is formed with a hole forming a catch for said lock-bolt, whereas said lock-bolt consists of a spring-loaded rolling member adapted to be jammed between said hole and a retaining nose-like catch integral with said stationary structure in the closed position of said cover, said catch comprising an outer sloping guide surface for sliding engagement with said rolling member to assist the latter in snapping into its operative locking position.

Claim 14

A device according to claim 12, for a tank provided with a filler pipe the free end of which forms said access orifice and wherein said stationary structure consists of a mouth-piece forming a collar fitted and secured onto said pipe end and to which is pivotally connected said cover forming a flap cover adapted to tightly fit said collar in its closed position, said disk being urged towards said cover by a plurality of springs mounted in said collar and the strokes of which are limited by corresponding stop members associated therewith.

Claim 15

A device according to claim 11, wherein said valve is a slide valve operable by a spring-loaded push-button resiliently urged towards the cut-off position.