WO1994016936A1

WO1994016936A1 - An anchor device

Info

Publication number: WO1994016936A1
Application number: PCT/SE1994/000058
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ray J. Gotto; France Bouchier
Original assignee: Gotto Ray J; France Bouchier
Priority date: 1993-01-27
Filing date: 1994-01-27
Publication date: 1994-08-04
Also published as: AU5982294A; DE9301099U1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an auxiliary device for improving the anchorage of watercraft (10) anchored by means of an anchor (12) secured to one end of an anchor hawser (11). The invention is characterized by at least one further anchor device (13) which includes one or more fins and which also includes means (17; 55) which enable the further anchor device (13) to slide along the anchor hawser (11).

Description

AN ANCHOR DEVICE

The present invention relates to an auxiliary device for improved anchorage of watercraft which are an- chored by means of an anchor connected to one end of an anchor hawser or cable.

When anchoring watercraft, particularly small sail¬ boats and motorboats where the crew have only slight experience of anchors and their use under different weather conditions, the anchor will often slide on the sea floor or bed as a result of poor floor conditions and strong winds, therewith dragging the vessel. In other words, the vessel is driven with the wind de- spite supposedly being anchored.

On occasions such as these, one or more additional anchors are laid-out. This is difficult to achieve, however, and requires the crew of a jolly-boat, yawl or like vessel to take a reserve anchor onboard and to row or sail with the anchor sufficiently far out to extend the anchor hawser and therewith strengthen the anchorage and prevent the vessel from dragging.

Another known method involves providing the anchor hawser with weights so as to prevent wrong angling between anchor and cable which would result in the anchor being drawn-up. Ideally, these weights will lie on the sea floor so that in favourable instances, sudden gusts of strong winds will merely cause the anchor hawser to jerk and therewith dampen at least powerful upwardly acting pulls on the anchor cable, i.e. forces which are liable to pull the anchor from the bottom.

The object of the present invention is to provide an auxiliary device which will considerably improve the anchoring of watercraft and therewith alleviate the problems associated with laying-out reserve anchors. This object is achieved with an arrangement according to the following main Claim.

As a result of this arrangement, two anchor devices are caused to coact with one and the same anchor hawser or cable, of which devices one is attached to one end of the hawser in a conventional manner and the other is slidable along the same hawser. As a result of this twin-anchor arrangement, the total "burying surface" of the anchor is twice as large as in conven¬ tional cases and in the event of strong stresses (wind, water movement), the forces of attack are distributed over the two anchor devices while being dampened at the same time. It will be understood that the arrangement may include more than such additional anchor device.

Advantageous embodiments of the inventive principles will be apparent from the subsidiary Claims.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to a number of exemplifying embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the possibilities of improving the anchor- ing of watercraft by means of the inventive auxiliary device.

Fig. 1 illustrates the general principle of the inven¬ tion and its application in practice; Fig. 2 illustrates a first embodiment of the inventive auxiliary device;

Fig. 3 illustrates the device of Fig. 1 in an unassem¬ bled state; Fig. 4 illustrates a second embodiment of the auxilia¬ ry device, which includes a stop means which enables the device to be positioned at a prede¬ termined distance from the main anchor, i.e. closer to the anchored vessel; Fig. 5 is a side view of a third embodiment of the inventive auxiliary device; Fig. 6 illustrates the device shown in Fig. 5 in an unassembled state; Fig. 7 is a front view of the device shown in Figs. 5 and 6; and Fig. 8 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the inven¬ tion with the device in an unassembled state.

Fig. 1 illustrates the principle of the inventive auxiliary device, wherein a watercraft or sailboat 10 is shown anchored by means of an anchor hawser or cable 11 (either chain or cable or a combination thereof), where one end of the hawser is attached to a foreward part of the vessel and the other end is at¬ tached to a conventional anchor 12. An inventive auxiliary anchor device is indicated generally at 13.

Fig. 2 illustrates a first exemplifying embodiment of the auxiliary device 13, which comprises essentially a conventional anchor body having two fins 14 pivotally mounted on a fin shaft 15. The pivotal angle of the fins is limited by bolts 16 that project out from an anchor body. The anchor body is comprised of two semi- cylindrical parts 17 which are held together to form a cuff-like member. The fins 14 are detachably secured to the fin shafts 15 by means of nuts or other fasten¬ er means mounted on the ends of respective fin shafts.

Fig. 3 illustrates the inventive auxiliary device of Fig. 2 in an unassembled state. It will be seen from Fig. 3 that the two cuff-halves 17 are held together by hinge means 24. It will also be seen from Fig. 3 that the fin shafts pass through bores 26 in respec¬ tive cuff-halves 17 and are then accommodated by respective fins 14. As illustrated, the fin shafts extend through respective sleeves 28 which have nuts 22 screwed onto corresponding ends of said sleeves. The inwardly facing ends of the fin shafts have flat heads 30. Fig. 4 illustrates a second embodiment of the inven¬ tive auxiliary device 13. This embodiment includes further trapezoidal stiffenings which function to improve holding of the anchor fins against the anchor body. In the case of this embodiment, the fins are not quite so pointed as the fins of the first embodiment, and are in fact rounded slightly. The fins of the Fig. 4 embodiment are more suitable for use with stony lake or sea floors, while the pointed fins of the earlier embodiment are able to penetrate soft lake or sea floors more easily. A stop device 32 can be fitted to the chain 11 so as to prevent the inventive auxiliary device 13 from coming too close to the main anchor. This stop device 32 can be fitted to the anchor chain before the main anchor is used and can be connected to a separate lanyard or rope so as to enable it to be withdrawn from the stop position independently of the anchor.

The auxiliary device 13 can be taken up by means of a hawser connected thereto.

As will be understood from the aforegoing and from Figs. 2-4, the auxiliary device may have a construc- tion similar to a Danfort anchor. Other types of existing anchors may also be used. The auxiliary device can be said to be comprised of two fin shafts 15, an anchor body 17, two fins 14 and two nuts 22.

Figs. 5-8 illustrate further embodiments of the inven¬ tive auxiliary device, these embodiments differing considerably from the embodiments illustrated in Figs. 2-4 in different respects.

Fig. 5 is a side view of a third embodiment of the invention and clearly shows a more marked division of the elements forming part of said device. For in¬ stance, the actual anchor body, which is consistently referenced 50 in Figs. 5-8, is comprised of a single piece which has a central, fin-like part 51 which is relatively round at the front thereof and which is also slightly curved in a downward direction, and an upper slightly "scooped" surface so as to be able to scoop-up soft floor-layer material and therewith take- on additional weight which will enable the fin-part 51 to penetrate the lake or sea floor more easily. The same effect will be obtained when the floor layer of the lake or sea is comprised of small pebbles, stones and the like.

When seen in front view (for instance in Fig. 7), the fin-part 51 has a wing-like configuration, with wings 52 that extend obliquely upwards from opposite sides. This wing-like configuration will stabilize the auxil¬ iary device 13 against tipping, i.e. will prevent the device from being wrongly positioned on the sea floor when dropped into the water. The bridging parts 53 between fin-part 51 and wings 52 are spaced relatively far apart, and it will be seen clearly from Fig. 5 that the auxiliary device therewith obtains a broad abutment surface for engagement with the sea floor. Any tilting or tipping tendencies are also counteract¬ ed by the obliquely upward extending wing-parts 52.

As illustrated in Fig. 5, the rear end of the fin-part 51 includes a slightly and forwardly curved support 55, the upper part of which in the case of the illus¬ trated embodiment supports the tubular body 55 through which the chain 11 is intended to run, in a manner which enables the body to be detached from and locked to said support surface 54. In the illustrated case, the length of the support 54 is somewhat shorter than the full length of the anchor body 50 and is welded to the rear end of the fin-part 51. In the case of the Fig. 5 embodiment, the tubular, generally horizontal body 55, includes a slot 56 which extends from one end of the body 55 to the other end thereof. The slot 56 provides an inlet through which the chain 11 can be inserted into the tubular body 55, said chain being easily passed through the slot 56 so as to lie within said body. The chain 11 is prevented from sliding unintentionally through the slot 56 and out of the body 55 by means of a forward stop device 57 in the form of a slotted cap which can be twisted so as to cover the slot. The cap 57 is shown in Fig. 5 twisted to a position in which the chain 11 can be removed from the tubular body. A small twist of the sleeve 57 in either direction will close the slot 56 in said body 55. The other end of the tubular body 55 has mounted thereon a fixed stop member 58 and it will be seen from the Figure that the chain 11 is able to slide along the inner surface of said member. As will be seen from Fig. 5, the free end of the stop member 58 is located below the slot 56. In the embodiments illustrated in Figs. 5-8, the slot 56 extends lateral¬ ly, which is to be preferred.

Fig. 6 illustrates the auxiliary device shown in Fig. 5 in an unassembled state and it will be seen from Fig. 6 that the device 13 is comprised of two main parts, namely the anchor body 50 and the support 54, which together form an integrated unit. It will also be seen from Fig. 6 that the support 54 has a flat upper horizontal part 59 which includes two outwardly projecting, headed elements 60, for instance screws, which are intended to engage in keyhole-like apertures 61 provided in a plate 62 welded to the undersurface of the body 55. The body 55 is connected to the sup¬ port surface 59 by placing the headed elements in the corresponding keyhole apertures 61 and displacing the body 55 appropriately along said support surface, whereafter the body 55 is securely locked with the aid of a locking nut or grub screw 63. It has been found practical to construct the inventive auxiliary device in at least two mutually lockable parts. This is because sailboats normally include a forward cockpit. When the auxiliary device is bulky, it may be difficult to push the device through its lead-way when the device is comprised of one single piece. Insertion of the chain 11 through the slot 56 and into the tubular body 55 is also made easier when the device is comprised of two mutually connectable parts. Once the chain 11 has been inserted through the slot 56 and rests within the tubular body 55, which is located outside the cockpit, the body can be easily pushed along the upper part of the support 54 and firmly locked by means of the grub screw 63, whereafter the auxiliary device is able to slide along the chain to a suitable, predetermined location along the length of said chain, for instance at a distance of from 3-5 metres from the main anchor on the sea floor. The device may be provided conveniently with a foreward

(and optionally also a rearward) eye-like device 64 to which one end of a line (not shown) can be fastened, the other end of said line being secured to the ves¬ sel, thereby enabling the auxiliary device 13 to be pulled-up on its own.

Practical tests have shown that the auxiliary device illustrated in Figs. 5-8 has a superior function to the devices illustrated in Figs. 2-4, since the device according to Figs. 5-8 will always take the intended position on the floor of a lake or the sea floor and because its function is improved as a result of the support 54. It is found that when the main anchor drags and the chain 11 tends to stretch, the rear end of the body 55 will be acted upon in the upward direc¬ tion, causing the fin-part 51 to be acted upon in an opposite direction, i.e. a downward direction, thereby facilitating the gripping action of the fin on the sea floor, i.e. the fin will dig into the sea floor and therewith prevent further dragging of the vessel.

The embodiment illustrated in Fig. 8 differs from the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 5-7 solely by virtue of the fact that the tubular body 55 and the support 54 form a single unit, and because there is provided on the bottom part of the support 54 a curved part 65 which coacts with the central rear part of the anchor part 50 through frictional engagement.

The forward end of the tubular body 55 projects out slightly in front of the fin-part 51 while the rear end of said body lies in essentially the same vertical plane as the rear end of the support 54. Although such dimensions have been found suitable in practice, the body 55 may be made both longer or slightly shorter than what is shown in Figs. 5-8.

In summary, it can be said that the inventive auxilia- ry device 13 illustrated in Figs. 5-8 shall include a sea-floor engaging anchor part which comprises one or more fins which are intended to penetrate down into the surface layer of the sea floor in a known manner, a hollow body, which need not necessarily be tubular but which can slidingly accommodate an anchor chain or a hawser and which is spaced from the sea-floor engag¬ ing anchor part. For instance, the body 55 may be com¬ prised of a coil spring within which the chain 11 can rest. The support 54 with associated body 55 has been given a position on the actual anchor part which according to tests is to be preferred. The body 55, however, will preferably be located centrally in relation to the part 50.

The dimensions of the auxiliary device will be gov¬ erned to a large part by the weight of the water-going vessel concerned. Although the inventive auxiliary device is primarily intended for pleasure boats, it may also be dimensioned for use with larger vessels or with other floating constructions such as drilling rigs. The auxiliary device may be made from steel plate, in which case it will have considerable weight. Although not shown in the drawings, the anchor part, and particularly the anchor part of the embodiments illustrated Figs. 5-8, may include a rear stabilizer, rear upwardly extending walls between respective side surfaces of the support 54 and respective wing-parts 52, with the intention of forming barrier means which function to hold sand or other material excavated from the sea floor by the fin-part 51 and therewith in¬ crease the weight of the anchor part and enable said anchor part to dig down into the sea floor more quick¬ ly.

It will be evident from the aforegoing that the anchor part of the inventive auxiliary device 13 may be constructed in one of a number of ways, although it must always include fins or similar wings, and the anchor part must also coact with a device in which a chain or an anchor hawser can slide.

The invention is therefore not restricted to the illustrated and described exemplifying embodiments thereof, since changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the following Claims.

Claims

1. An auxiliary device for improving the anchor of watercraft (10) anchored by means of an anchor (12) fastened to one end of an anchor hawser (11), charac¬ terized by at least one further anchor device (13) which is provided with one or more fins and which also includes means (17; 55) which enables the further anchor device (13) to slide along the anchor hawser (11).

2. A device according to Claim 1, characterized in that said means (17; 55) is hollow so as to enable the anchor hawser to slide therethrough.

3. A device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said means (17; 55) is comprised of a tube through which the anchor hawser (11) can slide.

4. A device according to Claim 3, characterized in that the tube is comprised of two half-round parts (17) which are mutually joined by a hinge (24); and in that the device includes means, for example screws, for securing said parts (17) together.

5. A device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said means (17; 55) has the form of a coil spring through which the anchor hawser (11) can slide.

6. A device according to Claim 3, characterized in that the tube (55) includes a slot (56) which extends from one end of the tube to the other and through which the anchor hawser (11) can be inserted into the tube; and in that there is provided at least at one end of the slot (56) means (57) which function to prevent an inserted anchor hawser (11) from being released unintentionally from the tube (55).

7. A device according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the means (55) through which the anchor hawser (11) runs includes a support (54) which is spaced vertically from the anchor part (50).

8. A device according to Claim 7, characterized in that the support (54) and the means (55) form a unit; and in that the support (54) can be detachably and lockably fitted to the anchor part (50).

9. A device according to Claim 7, characterized in that the anchor part and the support (54) form a unit; and in that the means (55) can be detachably and lockably fitted to the support (54).

10. A device according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the auxiliary device is intended to coact with a stop device (32) located somewhere along the length of the anchor hawser (11) so as to stop the auxiliary device (13) in a predeter¬ mined position in relation to the main anchor (12).

11. A device according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the anchor part of the auxiliary device is a conventional anchor.

12. A device according to any one of Claims 1-10, characterized in that the anchor part of the device (13) has a plough-like forward end, the base of which merges with or is provided with obliquely upwards and sideways extending wings (52).

13. A device according to any one of Claims 7, 8 and 9, characterized in that the support (54) which sup¬ ports the means (55) is located at the rear end of the anchor part and extends obliquely upwards and for¬ wards.

14. A device according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the means (55) has a length which is greater than the length of the anchor part.

15. A device according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the support (54) is located approximately in the centre of the longitudi¬ nal axis of the anchor part.

16. A device according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the tubular means (17; 55) is provided with means for attaching one end of a line or the like so as to enable the auxiliary device (13) to be pulled up separately from the anchor.

17. A device according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the anchor part includes a rear stabilizer.