Fuel anti-theft protection systems, apparatus, and methods

摘要

Fuel anti-theft systems, apparatus, and methods. Embodiments provide fuel anti-theft systems including a circuit and sensors which define nominal (secure) and tampered-with states. The tampered-with states are indicative of the sensor(s) being absent. Controllers of the current embodiment, moreover, senses a combined state of (all of a pre-selected number of) the sensors and determines therefrom whether all of the sensors are present and secure. In some embodiments, the controller senses the sensors (which can be wired in parallel) via a vehicle chassis ground. If desired, a resistor (which is about electrically equivalent to one of the sensors) and/or a geo-positioning system can be connected to the controller. The sensors can include normally open switches and clamps, cable ties, adhesives, etc. which close the switches. Some sensors include grounding straps while others include ground return leads. In some embodiments, sensors are positioned at vehicle fuel caps and/or fuel filters.

主权项

1. A fuel anti-theft system for a vehicle possessing a fuel system further compressing a plurality of fluid entry points, the fuel anti-theft system comprising:
a plurality of sensors of a pre-selected number positioned on a corresponding number of the fluid entry points, each sensor defining a secure state and a potentially tampered-with state, the potentially tampered-with state indicative of the sensor being absent, wherein actual states of the sensors combine to create an actual combined state of the sensors, the secure states of the pre-selected number of sensors combining to create a combined secure state of the pre-selected number of sensors; a controller in electrical communication with the sensors and being configured to sense the actual combined state of the sensors and to determine whether the actual combined state of the sensors is the combined secure state of the pre-selected number of sensors and to generate a signal responsive thereto whereby the signal indicates whether all of the pre-selected number of sensors are secure; and an output configured to output the signal indicative of whether all of the pre-selected number of sensors are secure.