US3327673A - Anchor apparatus - Google Patents

Description

June 27, 1967 0. K. GOODWIN 3,327,673

ANCHOR APPARATUS Original Filed Sept. 18, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .Q Egg m INVENTOR OLLlE KGo'oomM MMW ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,327,673 ANCHOR APPARATUS Gllie K. Goodwin, Newport News, Va, assignor to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Newport News, Va, a corporation of "irginia (triginai application Sept. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 397,381, now Patent No. 3,292,565, dated Dec. 20, 1966. Divided and this application June 28, 1966, Ser. No. 573,435

5 Claims. (Cl. 114208) ABSTRACT 9F THE DISCLGSURE A support means includes an elongated shank having a hole at the upper end for connection to an anchor cable. The lower end of the shank has a pair of arcuate slot portions formed therethrough. The lowermost end of the shank portion is tapered to provide clearance with the associated body means. Side surfaces of the shank are provided with arcuate cutout portions to provide clearance with certain portions of the body means and to serve as stop means. The body means has a central hole for receiving the lower end of the shank and a pair of pin members are supported between upwardly extending portions of the body means, each of these pin members extending through one of said slot portions. The body means is provided with conventional flukes and tripping palms. The over-all center of gravity of the body means is positioned in the trim position such that it is spaced slightly away from a plane or line passing through the pivot axes defined by the longitudinal axes of the pin members, this center of gravity being spaced away in a direction toward the upper end of the shank. This center of gravity is also positioned between planes each of which passes through one of said pivot axes, these two planes being disposed substantially parallel with one another and further extending substantially perpendicular to the plane or line passing through the two pivot axes. This causes the flukes to tend to trim to a position substantially parallel with the shank of the anchor.

The present application is a division of US. patent application Ser. No. 397,381, filed Sept. 18, 1964, now US. Patent No. 3,292,565.

The present invention relates to new and novel anchor apparatus, and more particularly to anchor apparatus of the type including a support means and a body means wherein the body means is pivotally supported by the support means and is adapted to trim to a position wherein the flukes are disposed substantially parallel with the shank when the anchor is aweigh, thereby facilitating raising of the anchor into a stowed position.

Anchor apparatus of the type discussed hereinafter is generally referred to as a stockless anchor, and the construction of conventional stockless type anchors presents major problems in anchoring a vessel and raising the anchor when it is desired to get under way, particularly where large anchors are involved as employed with marine ships and large boats. These relatively heavy anchors are cumbersome and unwieldy for manhandling and many of the larger vessels have no provision for such handling. The anchor and chain generally are lowered under Winch and/or brake control from the stowed position and when leaving anchorage are hauled by winch back into the stowage position. Stockless anchors are generally designed to stow with the shank of the anchor drawn into a hawse pipe and with the flukes hauled snug against the shell plating or stowage recess plating. However, while hoisting a stockless anchor, the angle of the flukes has proven to be a problem and has resulted 3,327,573 Patented June 27, 1967 ice 11111 severe scarring and damage of the outer shell of the s 1p.

In fact, when employed with modern ships having side shells with extreme flare, the flukes may be pivoted inwardly toward the shell and will not be cammed outwardly and on occasion may penetrate the hull.

Accordingly, it is a principal objective of the present invention to provide an anchor apparatus wherein a pivotal interconnection is provided between the support means and the body means of the anchor which is positive operating and trouble-free and which requires no contact by the operators when lowering or raising the anchor such that when the anchor is weighed, the flukes of the anchor will trim to a position substantially parallel with the anchor shank which represents the optimum position for hauling in and stowing of this type of anchor.

The arrangement of the present invention is also such that the flukes will remain substantially parallel with the shank until the shank is very nearly in a horizontal position. This permits the anchor to be drawn into its stowage position while requiring a minimum aperture in the shell and without damaging the shell. Furthermore, this arrangement eliminates the necessity of providing bolsters about the end of the hawse pipe which are generally employed in the prior art to position the anchor when hauling it snug or aboard the vessel.

A particular advantage of the stowage arrangement of the present invention is the fact that the anchor can be stowed entirely inboard of the line of the hull form such that there is no protuberance on the part of the anchor extending outwardly of the shell. This is of course a very desirable end result.

Prior art anchors have been provided with arrangements for causing the flukes to trim out substantially parallel with the shank of the anchor, and this type of anchor has generally been termed a balanced anchor. In order to obtain this result, such prior art balanced anchors have employed an arrangement wherein the overall center of gravity of the body means of the anchor is disposed below the pivot axis which pivotally interconnects the body means with the support means or shank of the anchor. This arrangement will of course tend to cause the flukes to trim into the desired lifting position, but this arrangement also causes the flukes to re main substantially vertical even when the shank moves from its vertical position into a non-vertical position as it is being hauled into the ship. This is highly disadvantageous since the flukes do not remain substantially parallel with the shank as it is being hauled into the ship thereby causing the flukes to be in such a position as to inflict injury and damage on the shell. Additionally, a much larger aperture must be provided for receiving the anchor in such a case. i

A further disadvantage of the so-called balanced anchor arrangement is the fact that since the weight of the body means is normally below the pivot axis, this arrangement tends to keep the flukes up when the anchor is resting on the bottom of the sea. In other words, the center of gravity of the body means is such as to create a moment tending to keep the flukes up out of anchoring operative position. This is of course disadvantageous since it then becomes necessary for the tripping palms to develop sufiicient forces to overcome this moment created by the weight of the body means and to trip the fluke means into the operative position.

The present invention employs a novel arrangement wherein the body means is pivotally supported for movement in opposite directions with respect to the support means or shank, the body means being mounted for such pivotal movement about two separate spaced independent pivot axes. The center of gravity of the over-all body means is located in a unique manner with respect to these two pivot axes.

Considering a line drawn through the pivot axes, the overall-center of gravity of the body means is disposed above this line or away from the line in a direction toward the upper end of the shank. This arrangement is such that when the anchor is on the bottom of the sea, the weight of the body means will develop a moment which actually tends to pivot the flukes of the anchor into their operative position. This is highly advantageous and is a completely different result than is obtained with conventional balanced anchors.

In addition, the center of gravity of the over-all body means is disposed such that it is spaced between a pair of parallel planes which pass through the said two pivot axes and which also are disposed substantially perpendicular with the said line passing through said axes. The anchor is further provided with limit stop means which limits the pivotal movement between the body means and the shank of the anchor. This pivotal movement is so limited that the center of gravity always remains within the aforedescribed desired limits such that when the anchor is aweigh, a constant trim moment is produced which tends to cause the fiukes to trim into a position substantially parallel with the shank of the anchor.

Accordingly, it is apparent that with the arrangement of the present invention, the over-all center of gravity of the body means is so disposed as to develop the desired moments both when the anchor is aweigh and when it is on the sea bottom. This is a unique concept and a substantially improved result not obtainable with prior art anchors.

Additionally, by positioning the center of gravity of the over-all body means such that it is relatively close to the said line passing through the pivot axes, the flukes will remain substantially parallel with the shank until the shank is nearly in a horizontal position. Only when the shank is nearly horizontal is a suflicient moment developed by the weight of the over-all body means so as to cause the force to overcome frictional forces involved so that the body means will then tend to pivot into a position wherein the flukes would be out of parallel relationship with the shank.

An object of the present invention is to provide new and noveel anchor apparatus which provides a continuous return moment which when the anchor is aweigh causes the flukes to move to a trim position wherein the flukes are disposed substantially parallel with the shank of the anchor.

Another object of the invention is the provision of anchor apparatus wherein the flukes will remain trimmed to a position substantially parallel with the shank while the anchor is aweigh until the shank is nearly in a horizontal position thus facilitating movement of the anchor into a stowed position and requiring a minimum aperture in the shell.

A still further object of the invention is to provide anchor apparatus wherein the body means is so pivoted with respect to the support means that the weight of the body means develops a moment which assists in tripping the flukes into operative position when the anchor is on the sea bottom.

Other objects and many attendant advantages of the in- 'vention will become more apparent when considered in connection with the specification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of anchor apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the anchor apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 5 is a top exploded perspective view partially broken away of the shank and body means of the anchor shown in FIG. 1. i i

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the anchor includes a support means indicated generally by reference numeral and a body means indicated generally by reference numeral 152. The support means includes an elongated shank 154 substantially rectangular in cross sectional configuration throughout the major portion of its length, the shank including a reduced upper end portion 156 having a hole 158 formed therethrough which is adapted to receive any suitable attaching means for securing an anchor cable to the anchor.

The lower end of the shank includes a support portion indicated generally by reference numeral 160, this support portion having a pair of arcuate slot portions 162 and 164 formed completely therethrough. This lower support portion includes downwardly and outwardly extending surfaces 166 and 168 which in turn join with downwardly and inwardly tapering lowermost surfaces 170 and 172 which terminate at a lowermost extremity 173 of the support portion. These tapered surfaces 170 and 172 provide clearance between the lower support portion of the shank and the surrounding portion of the body means to enable the desired pivotal movement between the body means and the support means. The side surfaces of the shank 154 are also provided with cutout arcuate portions 174 as seen most clearly in FIGS. 4 and 5, these arcuate cutout portions further serving to provide sufficient clearance between certain portions of the body means to enable the necessary pivotal movement between the body means and the support means and additionally serving as a stop means as hereinafter described.

The body means includes a central portion 180, this central portion having a substantially rectangular hole 182 extending vertically therethrough as seen in FIG. 4, a pair of upwardly extending portions 184 and 186 being formed integral with portion 186 and at either side of the hole 182 therethrough. These upwardly extending portions 184- and 186 taper inwardly to points as seen in FIG. 5, and each have pairs of openings 184 and 186 formed therethrough. These holes serve to support pin members 190 and 192, the opposite ends of each of the pin members being supported in aligned holes 184 and 186'. These pin members extend through the elongated slot portions 162 and 164 formed in the lower end of the shank and serve to pivotally support the body means about the lower support portion of the shank as discussedmore in detail hereinafter.

The body means includes two laterally extending portions 200 and 202 which extend outwardly from opposite sides of the central portion 180. Flukes 204 and 266 extend upwardly from portions 200 and 202 respectively, flukes 204 and 206 being of relatively conventional configuration.

A first pair of outwardly extending tripping palms 208 and 210 extend in opposite directions from portion 200 of the body means, and a second pair of tripping palms 212 and 214 extend outwardly from opposite sides of the portion 202 of the body means. The tripping palms are illustrated as extending substantially normally through a vertical plane extending through the body means.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 4, the body means is illustrated in its normal trim position when the anchor is aweight in the full line position shown wherein the two pin members 190 and 192 are positioned in the lower ends of the elongated slots 162 and 164 formed in the bottom support portion of the support means. Let it now be assumed that the body means is caused to pivot into the phantom line position shown in FIG. 4 due to the action S of the tripping palms. If the body means pivots into this position, it will pivot about the longitudinal axis 190' of the pin 190, the pin 192 moving into the uppermost extremity of slot 164 into the phantom line position illustrated. When the pin 192 reaches the upper end of slot 164, it will positively prevent any further relative pivotal movement between the body means and the support means, and in addition, a surface on the central portion 180 of the body means will engage a lateral surface of the shank of the support means to further positively prevent any further relative pivotal movement. The arrangement is such that the body means is enabled to pivot from a position wherein the flukes are disposed substantially parallel with the shank to a position wherein the flukes are disposed substantially at a 45 degree angle with respect to the shank.

If it is again considered that the body means is in the trim position as shown in FIG. 4, and the body means tends to pivot into a position such that the flukes thereof would appear to the right of the shank 154 as seen in FIG. 4, the body means would then tend to pivot about the longitudinal axis 192 of pin 192. In this case, the pin 190 will move to the upper extremity of the slot 162 there by positively preventing any further relative pivotal movement between the components. At the same time, a surface on portion 180 of the body means will engage a lateral surface of the shank to also positively prevent any further pivotal movement, this pivotal movement being limited to a position wherein the flukes are disposed at substantially a 45 degree angle with respect to the shank.

It is accordingly apparent that the body means is mounted for pivotal movement about two separate spaced independent axes which in this case comprise the longitudinal axes 190' and 192' of the two pins 190 and 192 respectively.

As seen in FIG. 4, the over-all center of gravity of the body means is positioned along a line indicated by the designation c.g. The center of gravity in the trim position is illustrated as well as the center of gravity in the phantom line position, this latter position being indicated by the designation c.g.'. It will be noted that the center of gravity of the body means is normally positioned in the trim position such that it is spaced slightly away from a plane or line f--f passing through the two pivot axes, the center of gravity being spaced away in a direction toward the upper or attaching end of the shank. Also, it will be noted that the center of gravity is positioned be: tween planes g'-g and hh each of which passes through one of the pivot axes, these two planes being disposed substantially parallel with one another and further extending substantially perpendicularly to the plane or line f-f. These planes gg and hh are also disposed substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the shank and equidistantly therefrom.

It will be noted that in the limit of pivotal movement, the center of gravity of the body means is still positioned in the desired relationship wherein it is spaced away from the plane or line ff toward the attaching end of the shank and further the center of gravity is positioned within the two planes gg and hh.

It will be readily appreciated from the foregoing description that this interrelationship of the center of gravity of the body means with respect to the pivot axes is such that the arrangement provides at all times a trim moment when the anchor is aweigh which causes the flukes to tend to trim to a position substantially parallel with the shank. Additionally, the center of gravity of the body means is so positioned that when the anchor is being set and the shank is being towed in a more or less horizontal position, the weight of the body means will be such as to tend to pivot the flukes downwardly under the influence of gravity toward the operative anchoring position and in this manner assist the tripping palms in this action.

Furthermore, it will again be apparent that the center of gravity of the body means is disposed in the trim position only a relatively short distance away from the line or plane ff so that the flukes of the body means will re main in substantially parallel relationship with the shank until the shank is moved into an almost horizontal position whereuopn the weight of the body means will develop a sufficient force so as to overcome frictional forces and permit the flukes to pivot out of parallel relationship with the shank.

The incorporation of the pin means permits the support means and the body means to be readily assembled in operative relationship with one another whereupon the pin means may be inserted so as to retain the components of the anchor in operative relationship.

It will be apparent as seen in FIG. 4 that the tapered downwardly extending surfaces and 172 of the lowermost portion of the shank will provide a clearance with the adjacent surfaces of the central portion of the body means so that the body means can readily pivot into the phantom line position. In addition, it will be apparent from this figure that the arcuate cutout portions 174 provide clearance with the arcuate outer surfaces of the upwardly extending portions 184 and 186 formed on the body means. The undersurfaces of cutout portions 174 also serve as a stop means to limit downward movement of the shank with respect to the body means, particularly when the anchor is dropped on the bottom.

It is apparent from the fore-going that there is provided according to the present invention new and novel anchor apparatus incorporating a support means adapted to be connected to an anchor chain and a body means including flukes formed thereon for digging into the sea bottom. The construction is such that the body means is pivotally interconnected with the support means in a manner whereby there is always provided a constant return moment to cause the body means to move into a trim position when the anchor is aweigh whereby the flukes will be disposed substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the shank of the anchor. When the anchor is being raised, the flukes will remain substantially parallel with the shank in the trim position until the shank is nearly in a horizontal relationship thereby facilitating movement of the anchor into its stowed position and requiring a minimum size aperture in the shell of the ship. The pivotal interconnection of the body means with the support means and the relationship of the center of gravity of the body means with respect to the pivot axes are such that the weight of the body means Will assist in tripping the flukes into operative position when the anchor is being set into anchoring position on the sea bottom.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, and since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims, all changes that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents are therefore intended to be embraced by those claims.

I claim:

1. Anchor apparatus comprising a support means including an elongated shank having attaching means at the upper end thereof, the lower end of said shank comprising a support portion, said support portion including a pair of elongated curved slot portions formed therein, body means including fluke means formed thereon and tripping means extending outwardly thereof for tripping the fluke means into operative anchoring position, said body means including a portion having a pair of pin means supported thereon, each of said pin means extending through one of said elongated slot portions formed on said lower support portion of the shank whereby said body means is mounted for pivotal movement about two spaced independent pivot axes for pivotal movement in opposite directions with respect to said support means.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the overall center of gravity of said body means is disposed rela- I tive to a line passing through said pair of pivot axes such that the center of gravity is spaced away from said line toward the upper end of said shank, said center of gravity also being spaced between a pair of planes extending substantially parallel with one another and passing through said pivot axes and further being disposed perpendicular to said line passing through said pivot axes, and means for limiting pivotal movement of said body means with respect to said support means for maintaining the over-all center of gravity in said relationship so as to maintain a constant trim moment tending to cause the tl'luke means to trim parallel with said shank when the anchor is aweigh.

3. Anchor apparatus comprising support means including an elongated shank having attaching means at the upper end thereof and having a support portion formed at the lower end thereof, said support portion having a pair of elongated arcuate slots formed therethrough, said arcuate slots curving downwardly and away from one another, body means including fluke means formed there-on and having tripping means thereon for tripping the fluke means into operative position, said body means including spaced portions which serve as support means, a pair of pins supported between said last-mentioned support means, each of said pins extending through one of said elongated slots whereby each of the longitudinal axes of the pins is adapted to comprise a pivot axis, such that the body means is supported by the support means for pivotal movement about apair of spaced independent axes such that the body means can pivot in opposite directions relative to the support means.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the overall center of gravity of said body means is disposed relative to a line passing through said pair of pivot axes such that the center of gravity is spaced away from said line toward the upper end of said shank, said center of gravity also being spaced between a pair of planes extending substantially parallel with one another and passing through said pivot axes and further being disposed perpendicular to said line passing through said pivot axes, and means for limiting pivotal movement of said body means with respect to said support means for maintaining the overall center of gravity in said relationship so as to maintain a constant trim moment tending to cause the fluke means to trim parallel with said shank when the anchor is aweigh.

5. Anchor apparatus comprising a support means including an elongated shank having attaching means at the '8 upper end thereof, the lower end of said shank defining a support portion, said support portion including a lowermost tapered portion which tapers downwardly andtinward- 1y with respect to the long dimension of the shank, said support portion having a pair of spaced arcuate slot portions which extend completely therethrough, body means including a pair of spaced fiukes, said body means including a central support portion between said flukes, said support portion including a pair of spaced portions, a pair of pin members fixedly supported between said spaced portion of the body means, each of said pin members passing through one of said slot portions formed in the lower support portion of said shank, said support portions defining a space therebetween which is adapted to receive the lower support portions such that the body means may pivot with respect to the shank, said pin members each defining a pivot axis, whereby the body means is supported for pivotal movement in opposite directions with respect to said shank about a pair of separate spaced pivot axes, said body means including tripping means extending laterally therefrom adjacent each of said flukes for tripping the flukes into operative anchoring position, the center of gravity of the over-all body means being disposed relative to a line passing through the pivot axes when the body means is in its trim position such that the said center of gravity is disposed away from said line toward the upper end of said shank means, said center of gravity also being disposed between a pair of parallel planes each of which passes through one of said pivot axes, said planes being disposed substantially perpendicular to the line passing through said axes, and interen-gaging means for-med on said body means and said support means for limiting pivotal movement between said body means and support means to retain the center of gravity in said relationship to the said line and said planes tomaintain a constant trim moment when the anchor is aweigh which tends to cause the flukes to trim into a position substantially parallel with said shank.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,270,704 9/ 1966 Ekberg 114 208 FOREIGN PATENTS 512,519 2/1955 Italy.

MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

T. M. BLIX, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. ANCHOR APPARATUS COMPRISING A SUPPORT MEANS INCLUDING AN ELONGATED SHANK HAVING ATTACHING MEANS AT THE UPPER END THEREOF, THE LOWER END OF SAID SHANK COMPRISING A SUPPORT PORTION, SAID SUPPORT PORTION INCLUDING A PAIR OF ELONGATED CURVED SLOT PORTIONS FORMED THEREIN, BODY MEANS INCLUDING FLUKE MEANS FORMED THEREON AND TRIPPING MEANS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THEREOF FOR TRIPPING THE FLUKE MEANS INTO OPERATIVE ANCHORING POSITION, SAID BODY MEANS INCLUDING A PORTION HAVING A PAIR OF PIN MEANS SUPPORTED THEREON, EACH OF SAID PIN MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH ONE OF SAID ELONGATED SLOT PORTIONS FORMED ON SAID LOWER SUPPORT PORTION OF THE SHANK WHEREBY SAID BODY MEANS IS MOUNTED FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT TWO SPACED INDEPENDENT PIVOT AXES FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS WITH RESPECT TO SAID SUPPORT MEANS.

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