US3742891A

US3742891A - Disc anchor

Info

Publication number: US3742891A
Application number: US00214167A
Authority: US
Inventors: F Diorio
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-12-30
Filing date: 1971-12-30
Publication date: 1973-07-03
Anticipated expiration: 1990-07-03

Abstract

A disc type anchor for holding projectile emplaced marine mines. The disc anchor has a pair of flukes separated by an elongated slot which rotatably holds therein a torque arm. The flukes lie in a plane directed opposite to each other and on opposite sides of the plane of the rear area of the disc. The torque arm is bimodal and is restrained from forming an angle with the disc plane of more than 150* with either side of the disc. The bimodality of the disc anchor permits it to return to a flush digging alignment with a water bed whenever it has been upended.

Description

United States Patent [191 Diorio July 3, 1973 DISC ANCHOR Primary Examiner-Duane A. Reger Assistant Examiner-Galen L. Barefoot 76 In tor: Frank Diori C scent D R.D. 4 ven 1 i gi 07849 A norney-Harry M. Saragovitz, Edward Kelly et a1.

[22] Filed: Dec. 30, 1971 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 214,167

A disc type anchor for holding projectile emplaced marine mines. The disc anchor has a pair of flukes sepa- [52] US. Cl. 114/208 R, 1 14/206 R rated by an elongated Slot which rotatably holds therein [5 1] Int. Cl B63) 21/40 a torque arm. The nukes lie in a plane directed pp of Search l Site to each other and on pp sides f the plane of the rear area of the disc. The torque arm is bimodal and [56] References C'ted is restrained from forming an angle with the disc plane UNITED STATES PATENTS of more than 150 with either side of the disc. The bi- 2,894,474 7/1959 Donaldson 114/208 R modality of the disc anchor permits it to return to a 2,948,249 8/1960 Gesner et al... 114/208 R flush digging alignment with a water bed whenever it 261,334 7/1882 Goldsmith ll4/206 R has been u ended, 1,057,600 4/1913 Warner 114/206 R 11 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A need has long existed for an anchor suitable for stabilizing air and artillery implanted marine mines. In fulfilling this need, the most significant design consideration has always been that of volume.

Existent practice in the prior art has been to utilize a type of folding anchor modeled, in unfolded form, after a conventional small boat anchor. This folding feature permits the mine and anchor assembly to fit into the required aerial dispenser. In general, provision was made to have the anchor spring open into conventional form when the mine impacted upon the water. Also, it should be noted, that the folding anchor could never, because of its excessive size, be considered for encapsulation in an artillery projectile.

The prior art design required a number of stamped pieces, including springs, lever arms, shanks, flukes and different types of metal stocks. Fabrication of such a design necessitated use of a variety of techniques, including riveting and brazing.

Despite the effort which has been put into development and simplification of fabrication of the foldableanchor, it currently does not represent an acceptable solution to the problem of space limitation. An anchor capable of performing the same function as the foldable anchor, yet occupying a far lesser volume is required in order to implement many of the more advanced concepts in water mining warfare.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an anchor suitable for use with marine mines.

Another object is to provide an anchor suitable to packaging in serially and artillery delivered mine systerm.

A further objectis to provide an anchor realizing the above objects while occupying a volume of only about one-hundredth of that previously required.

Yet another object is to provide an improved shallow water anchor.

Still another object is to obtain an anchor achieving the above objects while requiring a reduced number of components in its construction.

The present improved anchor comprises an essentially flat platform having a forward area and a rear area, wherein the forward area, comprises two flukes having their respective pointed edges directed opposite to each other with respect to the plane of said platform, and further wherein said flukes are separated by an elongated passage; a torque arm rotatably attached at one end across that cross-sectional width of said platform which comprises the elongated passage, said torque arm having a plane of rotation normal to said platform wherein said plane passes through, and symmetrically about, said passage; and restraining means affixed across said elongated passage, said restraining means coacting with said torque arm to limit its rotation to about 150 in a plane lying in that region of said passage located rearward of said restraining means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a top perspective view of the present disc anchor.

FIG. 2 is a tilted front perspective view of the anchor.

FIG. 3 is a front plan view of said anchor.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the torque arm of said anchor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present improved anchor comprises an essentially flat symmetric platform 10 (see FIGS. 1, 2 and 3). This platform is preferably circular in shape.

The platform is characterized by two flukes l2 and 14 which have their respective pointed edges oppositely directed. This feature imparts to the anchor a bimodal digging capability, i.e., either side of the anchor is equally capable of digging into the bed of a body of water. The flukes are separated by an elongated passage that forms a substantially triangular void 16 and a channel 18. This channel is (a) formed in communication with an apex 19 (of about 60) of the triangular void 16, (b) aligned along a segment of the line intermediate the geometric center and the center of gravity of the platform 10, and (c) disposed normal to the base of the triangular void 16.

A torq'ue arm 20 is attached across that crosssectional width which comprises the apex 19. The torque arm may take a variety of forms. These include: (1) a cylinder having a U-shaped cavity 22 wherein the mouth of the cavity is directed toward the apex l9; and (2) a loop 23 (see FIG. 4) that may be either circular, elliptical or square in shape. The torque arm 20 exhibits a plane of rotation which is normal to the platform 10 and which passes about the channel 18. Also, said plane or rotation is symmetrically centered about the platform 10.

A restraining means 24 is affixed across the apex 19. The function of the restraining means is to limit the rotation of the torque arm 20 to a substantially plane lying in the channel 18. The restraining means 24 is essential for preserving the bimodality or orientation insensitivity of the anchor. Bimodality requires that the anchor function identically in any position that it may find itself. Therefore, this requirement necessitates,'in the present application, that the torque arm enable the platform to readily flip from one side to the other and yet maintain a flush alignment with the water bed. This desired function is attained through the use of the restraining means 24 which assures that the torque arm 20 will not become stuck in a forward position. Rather, the restraining means 24 limits the forward rotation of the arm 20, thus obviating the possibility that the arm might become jammed forward. Hence, when the platform 10 is flipped; turned or twisted, it will readily return to a flush digging" alignment with the water bed.

At the end of the torque arm 20 a connecting means (not illustrated) serves to tie a line 26 (see FIG. 2) to an anchored object, such as a marine mine.

The center of gravity of the anchor should be located slightly to the rear of the geometric center at about point 28 (see FIGS. 1 and 4). This location of the center of gravity may be effected thru the tapering of the width 30 of the platform 10, the taper running from the rear area to the forward area.

The density of the material from which the platform 10 is made may vary considerably. However, its density must be greater than that of water (that is, it must have negative buoyancy). Platform density will be dictated by considerations of weight and volume which are themselves determined by the holding power required of the anchor. The desired holding power is computed by reference to a number of factors, namely, current velocity, river bed composition, and the drag coefficient of the anchored item. Drag coefficient is in turn related to the shape of the anchored item, its crosssectional area relative to the current flow, the density of the water, and the current velocity.

Tests have established that the present anchor can exert the same holding power as a prior art anchor, while occupying only about one-hundredth the volume that said anchor would occupy in its folded form. Also, the present anchor may be reduced in linear size to a degree not attainable in the prior art. In addition, procedures of fabrication are greatly simplified, with a resultant reduction in cost. Accordingly, packaging of the disc anchor for purposes of aerial and artillery emplacement of marine mines is greatly simplified. As a result, new concepts in remotely placed water mines are now able to more fully emerge.

It is thus seen from the above that the objects set forth in the Summary of the Invention are among those made apparent from, and efficiently attained by, the device of the preceding description.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact detail of construction shown and described for obvious modification will occur to persons skilled in the art.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, useful and nonobvious and accordingly, by; this instrument, secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A disc type anchor comprising:

an essentially flat circularly shaped disc platform having a forward area and a rear area, wherein the forward area comprises two flukes having their respective pointed edges directed opposite to each other with respect to the plane of said platform, and further wherein said flukes are separated by an elongated passage which includes;

a. a substantially triangular void having as its base a segment of the periphery of said forward area and having its apex directed toward the geometric center of said platform;

b. a channel formed in communication with said apex, lying along a segment of the line intermediate said geometric center and the center of gravity of such platform, and disposed normal to the base of said triangular void;

5 a torque arm rotatably attached at one end across that cross-sectional width of said platform which comprises the apex of said triangular void, said torque arm having a plane of rotation normal to said platform wherein said plane passes through,

and symmetrically about, said passage; and

restraining means affixed across said elongated passage, said restraining means coacting with said torque arm to limit its rotation to about 150 in the 5 plane lying in that region of said passage located 1 rearward of said restraining means.

2. The anchor as recited in claim 1 in which said anchor has negative buoyancy.

3. The anchor as recited in claim 2 in which said torque arm includes a connecting means located at free end of said torque arm, wherein said connecting means is used to tie the anchor to the anchored object.

4. The anchor as recited in claim 3 in which said torque arm comprises a partially split cylinder having the split portion thereof toward the apex of said triangular void.

5. The anchor as recited in claim 3 in which the apex of said triangular void forms an angle of approximately 60.

6. The anchor as recited in claim 3 in which the center of gravity of said anchor is located on the line joining said apex and the center of said disc, at a point to the rear of the center.

7. The anchor as recited in claim 6 in which the width of said disc is tapered in a direction running from said rear area to said forward area, whereby the location of the center of gravity of said anchor can be established by a selective choice of the angle of the discs taper.

8. The anchor as recited in claim 3 in which said torque arm comprises a loop.

9. The anchor as recited in claim 8 in which said loop is circular in form.

10. The anchor as recited in. claim 8 in which said loop is elliptical in form.

11. The anchor as recited in claim 8 in which said loop is square in form.

t t l i l

Claims

1. A disc type anchor comprising: an essentially flat circularly shaped disc platform having a forward area and a rear area, wherein the forward area comprises two flukes having their respective pointed edges directed opposite to each other with respect to the plane of said platform, and further wherein said flukes are separated by an elongated passage which includes; a. a substantially triangular void having as its base a segment of the periphery of said forward area and having its apex directed toward the geometric center of said platform; b. a channel formed in communication with said apex, lying along a segment of the line intermediate said geometric center and the center of gravity of such platform, and disposed normal to the base of said triangular void; a torque arm rotatably attached at one end across that crosssectional width of said platform which comprises the apex of said triangular void, said torque arm having a plane of rotation normal to said platform wherein said plane passes through, and symmetrically about, said passage; and restraining means affixed across said elongated passage, said restraining means coacting with said torque arm to limit its rotation to about 150* in the plane lying in that region of said passage located rearward of said restraining means.

2. The anchor as recited in claim 1 in which said anchor has negative buoyancy.

5. The anchor as recited in claim 3 in which the apex of said triangular void forms an angle of approximately 60*.

7. The anchor as recited in claim 6 in which the width of said disc is tapered in a direction running from said rear area to said forward area, whereby the location of the center of gravity of said anchor can be established by a selective choice of the angle of the disc''s taper.

8. The anchor as recited in claim 3 in which said torque arm comprises a loop.

9. The anchor as recited in claim 8 in which said loop is circular in form.

10. The anchor as recited in claim 8 in which said loop is elliptical In form.

11. The anchor as recited in claim 8 in which said loop is square in form.