AU657526B2

AU657526B2 - Improvements in anchors

Info

Publication number: AU657526B2
Application number: AU15049/92A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Terrence Malcolm Gould
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-04-22
Filing date: 1992-04-22
Publication date: 1995-03-16
Anticipated expiration: 2012-04-22
Also published as: AU1504992A

Description

657526

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: Invention Title: TERRENCE MALCOLM GOULD TERRENCE MALCOLM GOULD H.R. HODGKINSON CO.

Patent Trade Mark Attorneys 26A Alfred Street MILSONS POINT NSW 2061 IMPROVEMENTS IN ANCHORS

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S S Details of Associated Provisional Application: No: PK5749 filed 22 April 1991 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: S. S 5* S S S

S.

THIS INVENTION relates to anchcrs and more particularly to an anchor which is able to assume either one of two configurations and which is especially safe for use in small craft.

Anchors generally fall into four main categories. The traditional stocked anchor comprises a 'shank' having a 'head' at one end and a 'crown' at the other, a pair of 'arms' extending either side of the crown and each terminating in a point known as a 'fluke'. A 'stock' extends either side of the head normal to the arms and a 'shackle' is provided at the head of the shank, to which an anchor cable is attached. Such stocked, or stock, anchors appear now to be used only in large sailing vessels.

The present-day stockless anchor has no stock on the shackle 15 end of the shank and the arms which carry the flukes pivot in the crown so that the flukes are able to assume either a posi 4 tion at about 30 0 to the axis of the shank or a position parallel to the said axis. These stockless anchors, and variations thereof, are very widely used, including large vessels where their construction permits them to lay compactly against the side of the hull.

The third type of anchor is the so-called 'mushroom anchor' which is sometimes employed in small craft. These have a shank with, at one end, an anchor cable shackle and, at the other, a weight shaped like the cap of a mushroom. The shank of the anchor simu'..ates the stem of the 'mushroom'.

The fourth and last category is the grapnel, which is particularly useful for small vessels. A grapnel consists of a shank with the usual shackle at one end, the other end dividing into a number of curvilinear, fluked arms (usually from three to six) spaced equidistantly and radially about the shank.

As will be appreciated, both the mushroom anchor and the grapnel, and, indeed, virtually all presently-known small craft anchors are difficult to stow inboard which is where they are generally required to be stored. Hence they are likely to cause injury to the feet and legs of passengers and crew as they move about the vessel. Moreover such anchors are very prone to fouling on submerged rocks or other immersed objects on the seabed on which they rest in use.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the above and other disadvantages of these prior art devices by the provision of a dual-configuration anchor, particularly for use on small waterborne vessels, which anchor comprises, inter alia, a shank portion, having a shackle on one end and a crown at the other; a first pair 20 of arms fixed to the shank portion and extending rigidly either side thereof and a second pair of arms fixed to eel• opposite sides of a collar and extending rigidly therefrom, said collar being mounted on and adapted to move slidably along the shank portion, said shank portion being of square 25 cross-section provided with a 900 twist along the length thereof and being so formed that the collar and its associated said second pair of arms is able to assume a first position in which said second pair of arms lie in the .i same plane as the first pair of arms for storage pi ',-oses, 30 and a second position in which the two pairs of arms lie at right-angles to each other for anchoring purposes; and means to restrain the two pairs of arms twisting relative Sto each other in said second position.

Preferably, each arm of the anchor terminates in a fluke.

Preferably, the collar abuts the crown when the device is used as an anchor. More preferably, locking meens are provided to lock the collar and associated second arms in the second (anchor use) position. Such locking means could for example include a locking pin or grub screw arrangement.

Preferably, the shank portion is so formed that the collar and its associated pair of arms is able to assume an intermediate position between the said first and second positions, in which the second pair of arms lie at the shackle end of the shank or at a position intermediate along the shank.

In one preferred embodiment the twisted shank section extends substantially over the whole of the length of the shank except for the shank portion which is directly adjacent the shackle. This portion is of reduced cross- 20 section (and is for example circular) in order to allow free rotation of the collar thereabout, when the second pair of arms is in the intermediate position.

ago In another preferred embodiment the twisted section extends only over a lower portion of the shank, whilst a portion of the shank intermediate its length is of reduced crosssection as described above in order to allow free rotation of the collar thereabout, again when the second pair or arms is in the intermediate position, in either case the 30 square cross-section itself together with a correspondingly S•shaped collar provides the facility to restrain the two pairs of arms twisting relative to each other in the second position, when used as an anchor.

Preferably, the anchor is also provided with mineans for attaching a secondary anchor cable to the crown.

In order that a better understanding of the invention may be gained, hereinafter will be described a preferred embodiment thereof, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 Figure 2 so ooeo oooo 15 P oo o~o oeoe Figure 3 Figure 4 is a perspective view of an anchor in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, showing its arms in the normal, operative position; is a similar perspective view of the anchor of Figure 1, but showing the arms disposed at opposite ends of the shank portion; is a side view of the anchor of Figures 1 and 2, showing its arms in the compact position for storage; is a "sketch" showing the anchor of Figures 1 to 3 in use and fouled, or snagged, on an object on the seabed; shows how the inventive anchor (as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4) may be operated to easily and rapidly free it from its fouled, or snagged, condition; is a perspective view of another anchor in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, showing its arms in the normal, operative position;

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Figure 5 20 Figure 6 Figure 7 is a similar perspective view of the anchor of Figure 6, but showing the arms disposed at opposite ends of the shank portion; and Figure 8 is a side view of the anchor of Figures 6 and 7, showing its arms in the compact position for storage; Referring to Figures 1 to 3 there is shown an inventive anchor, generally referenced 1. Anchor 1 comprises a shank portion 2 which terminates at one end in a head 3 and at the other end in a crown 4. Head 3 is provided with a shackle to which an anchor cable 6 (not illustrated) is attachable refer to Figures 4 and 5. Shackle 5, in the usual way, includes a fixed ring 7 and a captive ring 8 for the actual splicing of anchor cable 6.

oeo 15 Extending rigidly, one on either side of the crown 4, is a first pair of arms 9, each of which terminates in a fluke integral with arms 9. In traditional nautical parlance, the outer, sharp-pointed end of the anchor fluke, such as 10, is known as the "pee", 11. At the midpoint of the pair 20 of arms 9 is a means 17, for example in the form of a flange or the like, for attachment of a secondary anchor cable, the :i purpose of which will be later described.

A second pair of arms 12, each of which again terminates in a fluke 13 having a "pee" 14, extends rigidly from either side of a collar 15. This collar 15, together with its associated arms 12, is adapted to be able to move slidably along shank portion 2, from end to end thereof.

Shank portion 2 is of square cross-section (ideally of 16 mm side steel stock) and is formed with a 900 twist, as indicated at 16, while arms 9 and 12 are fabricated from Smm side steel stock.

As will have now been realised, by virtue of collar 15 being movable along the twisted section 16 of the shank portion 2, the second pair of arms 12, on associated collar 15, are able to assume a first position, or mode, in which both pairs of arms lie in the same plane when collar 15 abuts crown 4, as specifically illustrated in Figure 3, for the purpose of compact storage. A second position clearly shown in Figure 1 is provided in which the pairs of arms lie at right angles to each other with collar 15 abutting crown 4 to enable the anchor to be used normally. An intermediate position exists in which the arms lie adjacent opposite ends of the shank portion 2 see Figure 2.

To achieve the respective positions of the two pairs of arms i relative to each other, that end of shank portion 2 which is adjacent shackle 5 is of reduced, circular cross-section referenced 18 so as to permit free rotation of collar 20 thereabout. Thus, arms 12 may be aligned with the faces of shank portion 2 (after sliding the collar 15 and associated second pair of arms 12 along the shank 2 to the head 3 and back to the crown 4) to either cause the pairs of arms 9 and 12 to lie in a common plane as illustrated in Figure 3, or to cause them to lie in cruciform configuration, as illustrated in Figure 1.

Furthermore, while it is preferred that the shank portion 2 be formed with a 90 twist, it is also envisaged that a non-twisted shank portion would nevertheless function quite efficiently, although the impact of the second pair of arms 12 and the collar 15 on both the crown 4 and head 3 would be more severe, resulting from a more rapid descent down the straight shank portion.

Therefore, whilst the invention will work equally well with a straight shank it is with advantage that the twisted shank, as illustrated at 16, is used. This follows from the fact that the twist of the shank slows down travel of the collar 15 thereby avoiding damage or injury if the anchor 1 is carelessly or quickly inverted. Furthermore the twist 16 prevents the collar 15 moving along the shank 2 once the anchor 1 is lain flat in storage, whether on the deck or against a wall etc.

Thus when both pairs of arms 9 and 12 are disposed in the same plane, the inventive anchor 1 can be safely stowed on 15 deck or aga, nst the inboard side of a vessel's bulwark with negligible risk to the feet and legs of persons moving about the vessel.

4 Figures 4 and 5 are "sketches" which show the invention in 2 use in the anchoring of a vessel. In Figure 4, an inventive anchor 1 is seen to be fouled, or snagged, on a submerged object 19. A vertical lift on anchor cable 6 will only result in fluke 13 becoming even more firmly fouled on ',000. object 19, while kedging the vessel in either of the directions A or B may well cause the anchor to be still more b. S 25 immovably snagged.

Turning now to Figure 5, it will be seen that a secondary anchor cable 20 is attached to the crown 4 and is lighter than the main anchor cable 6. This may be brought into play as follows. A vertical lift on cable 20 will invert the anchor 1, cause arms 12 to move to the shackle end 5 of the shank portion 2 and simultaneously free the captive fluke or flukes 13 etc from the snagging object 19.

While Figure 4 shows the inventive anchor I with the arms 9 and 12 in the cruciform configuration, it could well, in certain marine localities, be employed with the arms 9 and 12 in the planar mode, for example over reefs or sunken vessels.

Figures 6 to 8 show a second embodiment of the anchor, generally referenced 21. Anchor 21 comprises a shank portion 22 which terminates at one end in a head 23 and at the other end in a crown 24. Head 23 is provided with a shackle 25 to which an anchor cable (not illustrated) may be oo attached. Shackle 25, in the usual way, includes a fixed portion 27 and a captive ring 28 for the actual splicing of an anchor cable.

Extending rigidly, one on either side of the crown 24, is a first pair of arms 29, each of which terminates in a fluke integral with arms 29. The outer, sharp-pointed end of the anchor fluke 30, is the "pee", 31. At the midpoint of the pair of arms 29 is a means 37, for example in the form of a flange or the like, for attachment of a secondary anchor cable, the purpose of which has been described above in relation to the first embodiment.

A second pair of arms 32, each of which again terminates in a fluke 33 having a "pee" 34, extends rigidly from either side of a collar 35. This collar 35, together with its associated arms 32, is adapted to be able to move slidably along the lower portion of shank 22, from the crown 24 to a position 38 intermediate the length of the shank 22, travel being indicated by the arrow in Figure 6.

Shank portion 22 is of square cross-section (ideally of 16 mm side steel stock) and is formed with a "90° twist, as indicated at 36, while arms 29 and 32 are fabricated from 12 mm side steel stock.

As with the first embodiment, by virtue of collar 35 being movable along the twisted section 36 of the shank portion 22, the second pair of arms 32, on associated collar 35, are able to assume a first position, or mode, in which both pairs of arms 29 and 32 lie in the same plane when collar 10 abuts crown 24, as specifically illustrated in Figure 8, for the purpose of compact storage. A second position clearly shown in Figure 6 is provided in which the pairs of arms 29 and 32 lie at right angles to each other with collar abutting crown 24 to enable the anchor 21 to be used normally. An intermediate position exists in which the arms 32 lie at portion 38 intermediate the length of the shank S. portion 22 see Figure 7.

To achieve the respective positions of the two pairs of arms 29 and 32 relative to each other, the intermediate portion 38 of the shank 22 is of reduced, circular cross-section so as to permit free rotation of collar 35 thereabout. A S• "double headed rivet 39, for example with D-shaped heads, or similar, is affixed through the shank 32 adjacent the intermediate portion 38 to limit the travel of collar further along the shank 22 towards the head 23.

Thus, arms 32 may be aligned with the faces of shank portion 22 (after sliding the collar 35 and the second pair of arms 32 along the shank 22 to the intermediate portion 38 and back to the crown 24) to either cause the pairs of arms 29 and 32 to lie in a common plane as illustrated in Figure 8, or to cause them to lie in cruciform configuration, as illustrated in Figure 6.

Once again, while it is preferred that the lower portion of the shank be formed with a 900 twist (as at 36), it is also envisaged that a non-twisted shank portion would nevertheless function quite efficiently, as discussed above in relation to the first embodiment (Figures 1 to 3), although the impact of the second pair of arms 29 and the collar 35 on the rivet 39 or crown 24 would be more severe, resulting from a more rapid descent down the straight shank portion.

i i Therefore, as with the first embodiment, whilst the invention will work equally well with a straight shank 22 it is with advantage that the twisted shank 36, as illustreted in Figures 6 to 8, is used. This follows from the fact that the twist of the shank 36 slows down travel of the collar thereby avoiding damage or injury if the anchor 21 is carelessly or quickly inverted. In any event should this happen when using an anchor 21 according to this second 20 embodiment, damage is essentially avoided by allowing the free pair of arms 32 to travel only as far as the intermediate portion 38 of the shank 22, further movement along the shank 22 being limited by the rivet 39.

S Furthermore the twist prevents the collar 35 moving along the shank 22 once the anchor 35 is lain flat in storage, whether on the deck or against a wall etc.

Thus, when both pairs of arms 29 and 32 are disposed in the same plane, the inventive anchor 21 can be safely stowed on deck or against the inboard side of a vessel's bulwark with negligible risk to the feet and legs of persons moving about the vessel.

From the abovegoing, it will be fully appreciated by those skilled in the art that numerous variations and modifications may be made to the invention without materially departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described and illustrated hereinbefore.

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Claims

2. An anchor according to claim 1, in which each arm of the anchor terminates in a Sfluke.
3. An anchor according to either claim I or claim 2, in which the collar abuts the crown when the device is used as an anchor,
4. An anchor according to any one of the preceding claims, in which locking means are provided to lock the collar and associated said second pair of arms in the second position. an anchor according to claim 4, in which the locking means includes a locking pin or grub screw arrangement.
6. An anchor according to any one of the preceding claims in which the shank portion is so formed that the collar and its associated pair or arms is able to assume an intermediate position between the said first and second positions, in which the second 14 pair of arms lie at the shackle end of the shank or at a position intermediate along the shank.
7. An anchor according to claim 6, in which the twisted second extends substantially over the whole of the length of the shank except for the shank portion which is directly adjacent the shackle, this portion being of reduced cross-section in order to allow free rotation of the collar thereabout, when the second pair of arms is in the intermediate position.
8. an anchor according to claim 6, in which the twisted section extends only over a lower portion of the shank, whilst a portion of the shank intermediate its length is of reduced cross-section in order to allow free rotation of the collar thereabout, when "the second pair of arms Is in the intermediate position.
9. An anchor according to either claim 7 or claim 8, in which the shank portion of reduced cross-section is of circular cross-section.
10. An anchor according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the square cross- section of the shank cooperates with a correspondingly shaped said collar to restrain the two pairs of arms twisting relative to each other in the second position,
11. An anchor according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the anchor is also :provided with means for attaching a secondary anchor cable to the crown, a first anchor cable being attachable to the shackle.
12. An anchor according to any one of the preceding claims substantially as described herein in conjunction with either Figures 1 to 5 or Figures 6 to 8. Dated this 20th day of December 1994 TERR2NCE MALCOLM GOULD By: I U, 0**0 00 0 0 0* 0r 0r 0* 0 Patent Attorneys for the Applicant ABSTRACT An anchor is provided with a first pair of arms fixed to a shank and extending rigidly either side thereof, together with a second pair of a.-ms which are fixed to opposite sides of a collar and extending rigidly therefrom. In one configuration, for use as an anchor, the two pairs of arms lay at right angles to each other, means being provided to restrain the pairs of arms twisting relative to each other. In a second configuration, the second pair of arms assume an alternate position in which they lie in the same plane as the first pair of arms to facilitate storage of the anchor when not in use. In a preferred embodiment, the shank of the anchor is of square cross section provided with a 900 twist along the length thereof. A portion of the shank is also of reduced cross section to facilitate rotation of the collar and hence the second pair of arms after they are slid along the shank, thereby allowing the second pair of arms to assume the respective configurations.