Ships – Anchor – Sea anchor
Patent
1994-07-07
1995-11-07
Avila, Stephen
Ships
Anchor
Sea anchor
114294, B63B 2148
Patent
active
054639719
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to an improved drogue or sea-anchor.
A device of this general description is described and illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,969,413 and has a hollow rigid body for towing behind a vessel by a hawser connected to the leading end of the body. While this device functions satisfactorily there is a need for a device which can be compactly stored and is preferably lightweight.
An object of the invention is to provide a collapsible sea anchor or drogue.
According to the present invention there is provided a collapsible sea anchor or drogue comprising: frusto-conical shape; frusto-conical shape; and the towing line coupling means such that the towing line coupling means is located forwardly of a narrower end of the first body portion and the second body portion is located adjacent to a wider end of the first body portion with a wider end of the second body located adjacent to said wider end of the first body; is collapsible when in a non-operative position.
Preferably, both of said first and second body portions are collapsible when in non-operative positions.
Preferably said first and second body portions are made from flexible material.
Preferably the material comprises canvas or fabric.
Embodiments of the invention are shown, by way of illustrative example only, in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of part of the embodiment of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of an alternative embodiment; and
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of a further alternative embodiment.
The drogue or sea anchor 50 of the invention includes a nose portion 52 which has vanes formed in a cruciform form shape so as to function as a paravane. The nose portion can be fabricated or moulded from metal or plastics material. The portion 52 includes a triangular plate 54 which forms a vane which would normally lie in a vertical plane. The portion 52 includes laterally extending vanes 56 which would normally lie in horizontal planes. The plate 54 includes an eyelet 58 to which a towing hawser (not shown) can be attached. Each of the laterally extending vanes 56 includes a number of eyelets 59 to which the hawser can be selectively attached so as to cause the sea anchor or drogue to track laterally from the towing point if desired. Extending rearwardly from the extremities of the vanes are four flexible lines 60, 62, 64 and 66. FIG. 4 illustrates one technique for connecting the lines to the nose portion 52. In this arrangement the ends of the vanes include slots 67 through which the lines are looped and fastened by means of stitching 69 or other fastening means.
In an alternative embodiment shown schematically in FIG. 5 the front ends of the lines 60, 62, 64 and 66 could be spliced directly to an eyelet 65 to which the hawser is, in use, connected. The lines may comprise of webbing, metal cable or rope. The lines are connected to first, second and third rings 68, 70 and 72. The rings are preferably formed from stainless steel or galvanised steel. Alternatively the rings could be formed from rope, webbing or other flexible material. The diameter of the ring 68 relative to the ring 70 is chosen so that the lines 60, 62, 64 and 66 lie on a generally conical surface with the ring 68 approximately midway between the ring 70 and the eyelet 56. The rings 68 and 70 together with the lines form a support surface for a first frusto-conical cover 74 formed of flexible sheet material. The cover 74 is connected to the rings 68 and 70 and the lines by bonding and/or stitching. The material for the cover may comprise of canvas, flexible plastic sheet material or other strong flexible fabric.
The drogue or sea anchor includes a rear portion 76 which is generally frusto-conical in shape but having an oppositely directed taper to the forward part of the sea anchor. In the illustrated arrangement, the rearward ends of the lines 60, 62,
REFERENCES:
patent: 396229 (1889-01-01), Pagan
patent: 4534306 (1985-08-01), Rutten et al.
patent: 4766837 (1988-08-01), Parish
patent: 5016556 (1991-05-01), Abernethy
patent: 5241922 (1993-09-01), Allen
Avila Stephen
Schindler Edwin D.
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