WO2007118291A2

WO2007118291A2 - Fraud detecting device applied to hydrometers

Info

Publication number: WO2007118291A2
Application number: PCT/BR2006/000254
Authority: WO
Inventors: José Luiz Sande GOIRIZ
Original assignee: Actaris Ltda
Priority date: 2006-04-17
Filing date: 2006-11-24
Publication date: 2007-10-25
Also published as: BRMU8600698U; WO2007118291A3

Abstract

'Fraud detecting device applied to hydrometers', which comprises an extension of the lower capsule base (1), named lower lip (4), whose section is much more fragile and thin than the rest of the capsule and which protects an area of the hydrometer body (3), where an identifying ring (5) is inserted, in plastic material with a contrasting color from the capsule; after these components are assembled and fixed, it is impossible to remove them and, should such an attempt to violate or fraud be made, it will be immediately perceived.

Description

"FRAUD DETECTING DEVICE APPLIED TO HYDROMETERS"

The present Utility Model Patent Request concerns a Fraud Detecting Device Applied to Hydrometers or, more precisely, a form of identifying if the primary closing system of the hydrometer was violated, for any attempts made to this end will be easily perceived, leaving visible marks or ruptures, which will evidence the fraud or the attempt to fraud, providing a series of advantages inherent to its applicability; its characteristics are innovative in this area.

The hydrometer security systems using capsules found in the market are, in a certain manner, quite similar, having no identification system to immediately denounce if a violation or fraud attempt was performed on the hydrometer. Thus, the water supply companies are harmed by unscrupulous attitudes of badly inclined persons who, through their ingenuity, find the most vulnerable locations in the equipment and so take advantage of this to unduly fraud product consumed (water), causing significant losses and a series of damaging consequences to these companies.

In some cases, having no elements to prove this fraud, even though knowing they suffered fraud, the companies cannot punish the infractor, and continue being financially harmed.

Thinking of this, the applicant, a company connected to this type of activities, after various studies and much research, developed an innovative Fraud Detecting Device Applied to Hydrometers, which impedes any type of action on the part of badly inclined persons who wish to attempt fraud or to violate the hydrometers, for the device applied denounces this type of situation and proves its characterization, establishing proof and the conditions so the basic sanitation service company can take due measures against such persons.

The Fraud Detecting Device Applied to Hydrometers which is the object of the present Patent, is specially manufactured, with an extension on the bottom of the capsule which covers a plastic identification ring inserted into the hydrometer body; after these instruments are assembled and fixed it is impossible to remove them without identifying there was some type of violation attempted on the equipment.

The Fraud Detecting Device

Applied to Hydrometers and its applicability are known by reading the detailed description which follows and by observing the illustrative drawings enclosed, which are mentioned to better clear the description, in which: FIGURE 1 represents a perspective view of a Fraud Detecting Device applied to a Hydrometer, indicating section A-A;

FIGURE 2 represents section A-A of the hydrometer, specially showing the Fraud

Detecting Device installed;

FIGURE 3 represents section

B-B of the hydrometer, showing the Fraud Detecting Device installed; FIGURE 4 is an 'exploding' view in perspective, showing how the components are assembled to form the Fraud Detecting Device Applied to

Hydrometers; and

FIGURE 5 shows a perspective of a hydrometer which has been violated, clearly indicating this type of action and its easy detection.

According to these illustrations and the details shown, the Fraud Detecting

Device Applied to Hydrometers is formed by a capsule (1) preferably manufactured with high resistance plastic, which can also be of other material, involving the totalizer (2) of the hydrometer in its entire diameter, guaranteeing complete protection to exposition, avoiding adulteration.

The capsule has a closing system in its inside lower base with four supports which insert the hydrometer body (3) by interference, making it impossible to remove, except by cutting or breaking the capsule; this is why this region is more robust and resistant. Still in the adjacent region, below the supports, there is a lower lip (4), with a much more fragile section than the rest of the capsule, which protects an area of the hydrometer body.

Internally, in this region, an identifying ring (5) is installed, preferentially manufactured in plastic material, which is perfectly inserted into the diametral section of the hydrometer body. The ring is in a contrasting color from the capsule, so there is immediate identification of the violation or fraud attempt, as seen in Figure 5.

The Detecting Device furnishes an uncommon characteristic, for it assures the basic sanitation companies a condition heretofore unavailable, to prove if a violation or fraud attempt really occurred in these instruments, for any signs of rupture or marks on the lower lip (4) of the capsule and identifying ring (5) will be evidences that adulteration attempts occur, which can imply in fines or legal actions for losses and damages against the defrauder.

In this manner, the present

Fraud Detecting Device Applied to Hydrometers completely satisfies the objectives proposed, complying in a practical, efficient and secure manner the advantages inherent to its application, with its own, innovative characteristics and equipped with fundamental requisites of novelty.

Claims

1) "FRAUD DETECTING DEVICE APPLIED TO HYDROMETERS", characterized by the fact of having a capsule (1) preferably manufactured with high resistance plastic, which can also be of other material, involving the totalizer (2) of the hydrometer in its entire diameter, guaranteeing complete protection to exposition, avoiding adulteration; the capsule has a closing system in its inside lower base with four supports which insert the hydrometer body (3) by interference, making it impossible to remove, except by cutting or breaking the capsule; this is why this region is more robust and resistant; still in the adjacent region, below the supports, there is a lower lip (4), with a much more fragile section than the rest of the capsule, which protects an area of the hydrometer body.

2) "FRAUD DETECTING DEVICE APPLIED TO HYDROMETERS", according to claim 1 , characterized by having an identifying ring (5) in the region of the lower lip (4), preferentially manufactured in plastic material, which is perfectly inserted into the diametral section of the hydrometer body; the ring is in a contrasting color from the capsule, so there is immediate identification of the violation or fraud attempt.

3) "FRAUD DETECTING DEVICE APPLIED TO HYDROMETERS", according to claim 1 , characterized by the fact the detector device assures the basic sanitation companies a condition heretofore unavailable, to prove if a violation or fraud attempt really occurred in these instruments, for any signs of rupture or marks on the lower lip (4) of the capsule and identifying ring (5) will be evidences that adulteration attempts occur, which can imply in fines or legal actions for losses and damages against the defrauder.