Axle Load Sensor Fuel Theft Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel theft detection systems in vehicles require time-consuming and expensive sensor installation on the tank neck, and are prone to false alarms due to weight changes from other causes.
Innovation Solution
A device using axle load sensors on multiple axles and sides of the vehicle to detect changes in axle load, integrated with a digital tachograph for evaluation and alarm triggering, which distinguishes fuel theft from other weight changes, and includes an independent energy supply for continuous operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sensor is mounted on tank neck for fuel theft detection, then detection capability is improved, but installation time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses axle load sensors as an intermediary measurement point instead of directly measuring fuel level at the tank. By measuring the weight of the vehicle on its axles and calculating fuel mass from weight changes, the system achieves fuel theft detection without requiring physical sensors on the tank, thus reducing installation time and cost while maintaining detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical sensor mounting system on the tank neck with an electronic/computational system that uses existing axle load measurement infrastructure. Instead of physically attaching sensors to the tank, the system uses software-based fuel mass calculation from axle weight data, eliminating the need for additional mechanical installation components and reducing installation time
2Ease of manufacture
If axle load sensors are used for fuel theft detection, then installation cost is reduced, but false alarms from other weight changes increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the vehicle into multiple measurement zones by using sensors on different axles and/or different sides. This allows the system to detect localized weight changes near the fuel tank while filtering out general vehicle weight changes, thereby reducing false alarms while maintaining the cost advantage of using existing axle load sensors
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors axle load changes and uses feedback mechanisms to distinguish between fuel theft and other causes of weight change. By analyzing patterns of weight change over time and comparing measurements from multiple sensors, the system can identify characteristic fuel theft patterns versus normal vehicle operations, reducing false alarms while maintaining detection accuracy
3Reliability
If multiple axle load sensors are deployed on different axles and sides, then false alarm reduction is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages the multi-functionality of existing axle load sensors, which are already installed on vehicles for other purposes such as weight monitoring and billing. By repurposing these existing sensors for fuel theft detection, the system achieves improved reliability through multiple measurement points without adding significant complexity, as the sensors and their installation are already part of the vehicle's standard equipment
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a device for detecting fuel theft from a vehicle (5), comprising a sensor, an evaluation unit (9), and an alarm unit (18). According to the invention, the sensor is an axle load sensor (11, 12, 21, 22, 31, 32, ..., 61, 62).