Vehicle anti-theft device
OwnerLeslie L. Hetlerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle anti-theft device for controlling the operation of an electric fuel pump in the fuel tank of motor vehicles which includes a relay that is located in the fuel pump assembly and controlled by a radio-frequency receiver. The radio frequency-receiver is controlled by an input signal transmitted from a hand-held remote transmitter. As a safety precaution, an under-dash relay is provided so that system switching can only occur when the ignition switch is off. The relay in the fuel pump assembly also controls the illumination of an indicator light in the dashboard of the vehicle which indicates fuel pump status to the vehicle operator. Also mounted in the dashboard of the vehicle is an emergency plug into which the hand-held remote control transmitter can be inserted if the battery therein runs down.
Claims15
A vehicle anti-theft system for a vehicle which includes an ignition system, a battery, a fuel tank, and an electric fuel pump located in the fuel tank, said system comprising:
- a first relay located in the fuel tank;
- a receiver module located in the fuel tank;
- and
- a remote transmitter that can be activated to transmit an activation signal to the receiver module,
- the first relay including a first input that receives power when the ignition system is on, a second input that receives power from the battery, a third input that is coupled to the receiver module, and a first output that is coupled to the electric fuel pump,
- the receiver module including a first input for receiving a voltage, a second input for receiving a voltage, and an output that is coupled to the third input of the first relay,
- the receiver module being configured so that when receiver module receives an activation signal from the remote transmitter it alternatively connects one of the first input and second input to the output thereof,
- the first relay being configured so that upon receipt of a voltage from one of the first input and second input of the receiver module, the first relay supplies power to the fuel pump, and upon receipt of a voltage from another one of the first input and second input of the receiver module, the first relay prevents the supply of power to the fuel pump.
A method of disabling a fuel pump of a motor vehicle which is located in a fuel tank of the motor vehicle, the method comprising:
- providing a first relay located in the fuel tank which can be activated between a first state in which power is supplied therethrough to the fuel pump and a second state in which power is prevented from being supplied therethrough to the fuel pump;
- providing a receiver module located in the fuel tank and coupled to the first relay for toggling the first relay between the first and second states;
- providing a remote transmitter that can be activated to transmit an activation signal to the receiver module;
- and
- operating the remote transmitter to cause it to transmit an activation to the receiver module and thereby cause the receiver module to toggle the first relay between the first and second states.
A system for disabling a fuel pump of a motor vehicle which is located in a fuel tank of the motor vehicle, the system comprising:
- a first relay located in the fuel tank which is configured to be activated between a first state in which power is supplied therethrough to the fuel pump and a second state in which power is prevented from being supplied therethrough to the fuel pump;
- a receiver module located in the fuel tank and coupled to the first relay and configured to toggle the first relay between the first and second states;
- and
- a remote transmitter configured to transmit an activation signal to the receiver module and thereby cause the receiver module to toggle the first relay between the first and second states.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.