CA2132752A1

CA2132752A1 - Stockless anchor

Info

Publication number: CA2132752A1
Application number: CA002132752A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Edward Richard Petersen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-09-23
Filing date: 1994-09-23
Publication date: 1996-03-24

Abstract

This invention relates to a stockless twin-fluked anchor. The most frequently used anchor on commercial and pleasure boats today is the lightweight or twin-fluked anchor which requires a long stock to ensure that the anchor lies flat on the bottom and both flukes engage the bottom simultaneously. The long stock makes this type of anchor difficult to handle and stowe. In this invention the flukes are shaped so that the anchor will always lie flat on the bottom and both flukes will engage the bottom simultaneously without the need for a stock. In prior art anchors, the crown assembly is attached to the flukes and the stock, and limit the rotation of the flukes relative to the shank, and elevates the aft of the anchor so that the flukes are downward pointing. In this invention the crown assembly is part of the shank, and engaging both flukes simultaneously to limit the rotation of the shank and elevating the aft of the anchor.

Description

SPECIFICATIONS:
This invention relates to a stockless twin-fluked anchor. A common embodiment of a twin-fluked anchor is described in Danforth's Patent No. 515,818, which includes a long stock to ensure that the anchor is stable, that is, the anchor m~int~in~ an attitude such that both flukes engage the bottom simlllt~nt-ously. The long stock makes the anchor difficult to handle and stowe. A number of embodiments have included short stocks, however, these have poor stability and tend to roll about the shank and then breakout.
This greatly reduces the holding power of the anchor, and its ability to set quickly.

A second feature of the twin-fluked anchor is a crown assembly which is attached to the stock and flukes to limit the rotation of the shank and to elevate the rear of the 10 anchor, angling the flukes so they can penetrate the bottom. The crown assembly often fails when a heavy load is applied to the shank.

In this invention, the flukes are configured so that no stock is required to m~int~in stability and includes a simple but stronger crown assembly that is attached to the shank and engages both flukes simultaneously to limit the rotation of the shank. The crown assembly is lighter, permitting more of the weight to be in the flukes increasing the holding power of the anchor.

The stability of this anchor is achieved by pointing the flukes outward away from the shank. The tip of each fluke is at the widest point of the anchor, causing the anchor to naturally rest on each tip. When a horizontal force is applied to the shank both flukes 20 penetrate the bottom with no tendency to roll. If one of the flukes engages harder bottom, then greater force is applied to that fluke, ensuring both flukes penetrate the bottom The simpler crown assembly is achieved by attaching a plate to the shank that is wide enough to engage each fluke. This plate slopes upward and to the rear forming a shoe that elevates the rear of the anchor, angling the flukes dowllwald so as to penetrate the bottom. A support plate is attached from the rear of the shoe to the end of the pivot end of the shank, forming a strong triangular structure.
An embodiment of my invention which illustrates the above and other features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a plan view of the stockless anchor of the invention.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the stockless anchor of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the shank of the stockless anchor in Figures 1 and 2.
The stockless anchor 1 of the invention includes a shank 2 between twin flukes 3,4 mounted on a pivot pin 5 for pivoting movement about the axis of the pivot pin at the pivot hole in the shank 6. The shank includes a handle 7 with a pivot end 8 and a rode end 9 and a crown assembly consisting of two shoe plates 10,11 and a support plate 12 attached to the shank at the pivot end. Each shoe plate is at least 3 times the width of the handle and is sloped upward and to the rear. The support plate is attached to the outboard ends 13,14 of each shoe plate and to the pivot end of the handle forming a rigid triangular structure. Each fluke consists of a long side 16,17 and a short side 18,19 joined by a diagonal 20,21 and is mounted on the pivot pin 5 with the short side near the shank. As the shank pivots, the shoe plates contact each fluke along the short side, limi~ing the angle of rotation.
I have found that the greatest stability occurs when the outline of the flukes is approximately square and the length of the shank is about 1.45 times the length of the flukes.
In a tvnical embodiment. such as the Kin~ston Anchors' G-10 GRIPPER anchor, flukes are 1/4 inch plate with a width of 4 inches and an overall length of 8.5 inches, and a 1/2 inch round pivot pin. The crown assembly on the shank is fabricated from a single piece of 1/8 inch by 1 1/4 inch flatbar, and attached to the handle with 3 welds.
(Dimensions and materials for the Model G-10 anchor are provided here and below for the purpose of example only; the requirements for anchors of other sizes will be apparent to those skilled in the art.) It is understood that the present invention is not limited to the structure precisely as described and illustrated. For example, the handle may be tapper to better distribute the weight and strength.

Claims

1. A stockless twin-fluked anchor assembly comprising;
a shank consisting of a handle with a pivoting end, two shoe plates attached to the handle at the pivoting end sloping outwards and to the rear, with a support plate attached at each end to the outward end of each shoe plate and the end of the handle, a pivot pin a pair of flukes comprising a flat surface mounted upon the said pivot pin in a manner to pivot as a unit at the pivoting end of the shank, with the shank disposed between the fluke elements.

2. An assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein each fluke consists of a long side and a short side joined by a diagonal, with each fluke mounted on the pivot pin with the short side near the shank.

3. An assembly as defined in claim 1 and 2, wherein the length of the fluke is approximately equal to the distance between the long sides of the two flukes.

4. An assembly as defined in claim 1, 2 and 3, wherein the length of the shank is approximately 1.4 to 1.5 times the length of the fluke.

5. An assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the width of the shoe plate is 3 to 4 times the width of the handle.