Ships – Anchor – Fluke type
Patent
1990-11-01
1992-08-18
Sotelo, Jesus D.
Ships
Anchor
Fluke type
B63B 2140
Patent
active
051389673
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to anchors of the burying type and in particular to those of the C.Q.R. type.
Over the years a number of different forms of the so called burying type of anchor have been developed. The shape and form of these is generally designed so that as the anchor is dragged along a mooring bed at the bottom or a body of water, e.g. the sea bed, the flukes tend to bury themselves into the mooring bed. Various attempts have been made with greater or less degrees of success to produce a shape and configuration such that whatever the attitude of the anchor as it lands on the mooring bed, as it is dragged along the mooring body it automatically assumes the correct upright attitude for burying itself into the mooring bed.
A major problem that remains, however, is that when dragging of the turned anchor is continued it tends to "roll out" i.e. the anchor tends to continue to roll about an axis generally parallel to the direction of drag until the flukes emerge from the mooring bed whereupon the anchoring resistance is substantially lost. Some anchors of the burying type are also difficult or awkward to manufacture and/or handle. To achieve penetration existing anchors are usually pivotable or hinged about a point of the shank of the anchor. This results in anchors which are non-rigid and this can be dangerous when lifting of the anchor is required.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an anchor which obviates or mitigates at least one of the aforesaid disadvantages.
According to the present invention there is provided a one-piece anchor comprising a shank having a leading end adapted to be connected to a main anchor cable, a fluke rigidly fixed to the shank, said fluke generally being in the shape of a double-bladed ploughshare with the blades being disposed symmetrically about the median plane of the shank, the leading ends of the blades terminating in a single apex, the trailing ends of each blade diverging outwardly from said medial plane, and each blade having a generally inwardly dished shape said shank and fluke being arranged to define a buoyant center of gravity disposed between the shank and the fluke forwardly of the join of the shank and the fluke.
Preferably said buoyant center of gravity is disposed on the fluke side of a line drawn between the leading end of the shank and a line of maximum blade width. Preferably also said buoyant center of gravity being arranged so that the anchor, in use, lands on the seabed with a three-point contact, said three-point contact being provided by the leading end of the shank, said common apex and the trailing end of one of the blades Conveniently the blades are curved metal sheets. Conveniently the blades are welded together at a join on said median plane. Alternatively the blades consist of flat or angled surfaces.
Preferably the position of the buoyant center of gravity can be varied by incorporating buoyant or semibuoyant materials with in the shank or by removing material from shank to define holes therealong. Alternatively the buoyant center of gravity can be varied using material of different density. Conveniently this is achieved by disposing a heavy metal such as lead beneath the join of said blades.
Conveniently the shape of the flukes is such that when a pull is applied to the leading end of the shank when said anchor is lying on the seabed the apex penetrates the seafloor and the apex acts as a fulcrum on further pulling so that the fluke is self-burying. The anchor rotates upright with the shank upper most because of the large surface areas presented by the transverse portions of the blades as the pull is exerted at said leading end.
Preferably the anchor is a one-piece casting. Alternatively the anchor can be formed by welding the shank to the fluke to form a single unit.
Preferably also the shank incorporates a resilient portion therein to minimise deformation to the shank if a pull is effected on the shank transverse to the usual line of action.
Conveniently a support member is coupled between the trailing ends of the blade
REFERENCES:
patent: 1983481 (1934-12-01), Mortensen
patent: 2161906 (1939-06-01), Filby
patent: 2948249 (1960-08-01), Gesner et al.
patent: 3759212 (1973-09-01), Cluett
patent: 4602588 (1986-07-01), MacLean
Whitworth's Nautical World, 1979 Export & Mail Order Catalogue; p. 41; Anchors Fenders and Oars.
Lyall Gordon M.
McCarron Philip F.
Stewart James W.
Avila Stephen P.
Simpson-Lawrence Ltd.
Sotelo Jesus D.
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