Abstract:
A weighted chisel-shaped tip is attached to a generally triangular and concave fluke. Extensions are attached to either side of the fluke, proximal to the aft edge and extending outward from the centerline of the fluke. A roll bar is attached to the extensions. A shaft is attached along the centerline of the top of the fluke, extending perpendicularly from and forward of the top of the fluke. The shaft provides an attach point for an anchor rode. A plurality of fasteners enables assembly and disassembly of the marine anchor.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of and is a continuation of prior U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/521,679, filed 9 Aug. 2011. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to apparatus for anchoring marine vessels and, more specifically, to a marine anchor apparatus for penetrating and holding in a mooring bed. 
         [0003]    Marine vessels may be damaged or destroyed, and property damage and bodily injury or loss of life may result from an anchor dragging or failing to set properly. For this reason, it is desirable to design anchors to maximize mooring bed penetration and holding power. 
         [0004]    Conventional anchor designs fit generally into three categories: fluke-style anchors, claw-style anchors and plow-style anchors. 
         [0005]    Fluke-style anchors have difficulty penetrating a mooring bed, particularly ones with a rocky or hard sand or clay bottom, due to their tendency to kite or skate over the mooring bed due to their large fluke area acting as a sail or a wing. Once set, fluke-style anchors have a tendency to break loose from the mooring bed and drag when the direction of force from the anchor rode changes, such as with the changing of the wind, current or tide. 
         [0006]    Claw-style anchors have difficulty penetrating weed or grass-covered bottoms. Additionally, claw-style anchors offer a low holding power-to-weight ratio, and generally must be over-sized relative to other anchor styles. 
         [0007]    Plow-style anchors may generally penetrate well in all mooring bed bottoms, but the penetration capability and holding power of each plow-style anchor is dependent upon that anchor&#39;s specific design. Conventional plow-style anchors tend to be heavy, owing to the necessity to concentrate weight on the penetrating tip of the anchor. The geometry of conventional plow-style anchors makes them awkward to transport and stow. 
         [0008]    As can be seen, there is a need for an improved apparatus that maximizes penetration capability and holding power while minimizing size and weight, and maximizing transportation and stowage capability. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    According to one aspect of the present invention, a marine anchor comprises a fluke assembly, comprising a fluke having a forward edge, an aft edge and a centerline, the fluke further having a plurality of holes configured to accommodate assembly and disassembly of a shank assembly to the fluke assembly; a chisel-shaped tip, attached to the forward edge of the fluke, designed to penetrate a mooring bed and to bias the weight distribution of said marine anchor toward the forward end of said marine anchor; and two extensions, located and attached proximal to the aft edge of the fluke, one of the extensions being located on either side of the fluke and extending outward from the centerline of the fluke, each extension having one or more holes designed to accommodate assembly and disassembly of a roll bar assembly to the fluke assembly, the extensions designed and configured to provide an increased effective width of said fluke assembly. The marine anchor further comprises a roll bar assembly, comprising a roll bar designed to cause the marine anchor to roll into a proper orientation for penetration and setting into a mooring bed; and two flanges, one of the flanges attached to either end of the roll bar, each flange having one or more holes designed to accommodate attachment of the roll bar assembly to the extensions of the fluke assembly. A first plurality of fasteners is designed to accommodate assembly and disassembly of said roll bar assembly to said fluke assembly. The marine anchor further comprises a shaft assembly, comprising a shaft, having a forward end and an aft end, the shaft having an attach point at the forward end designed to accommodate attachment of an anchor rode; and a base, attached to the aft end of said shaft, the base having a plurality of holes designed to accommodate assembly and disassembly of the shaft assembly to the fluke assembly. A second plurality of fasteners is designed to accommodate assembly and disassembly of the shaft assembly to the fluke assembly. 
         [0010]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a marine anchor comprises a fluke assembly, comprising a fluke having a leading edge, an aft edge, a centerline, and a plurality of holes configured to accommodate assembly and disassembly of a shank assembly to the fluke assembly, and two extensions located and attached proximal to the aft edge of said fluke, one of the extensions being located on either side of the fluke and extending outward from the centerline of the fluke, each extension having one or more holes designed to accommodate assembly and disassembly of a roll bar assembly to the fluke assembly. The marine anchor further comprises a roll bar assembly comprising a roll bar and two flanges, one of the flanges attached to either end of the roll bar, each flange having one or more holes configured to accommodate assembly and disassembly of said roll bar assembly to the extensions of the fluke assembly. A first plurality of fasteners is designed to accommodate assembly and disassembly of the roll bar assembly to the fluke assembly. The marine anchor further comprises a shaft assembly, comprising a shaft, having a forward end and an aft end, and a base, attached to the aft end of the shaft, the base having a plurality of holes configured to accommodate assembly and disassembly of the shaft assembly to the fluke assembly. A second plurality of fasteners is designed to accommodate assembly and disassembly of the shaft assembly to the fluke assembly. 
         [0011]    According to a further aspect of the present invention, a marine anchor comprises a fluke having a forward edge, an aft edge and a centerline; a chisel-shaped tip, attached to the forward edge of the fluke, designed to penetrate a mooring bed and to bias the weight distribution of the marine anchor toward the forward end of the marine anchor; and two extensions located and attached proximal to the aft edge of the fluke, one of said extensions being located on either side of said fluke and extending outward from the centerline of said fluke, said extensions designed and configured to provide an increased effective width of said fluke assembly. The marine anchor further comprises a roll bar, attached proximal to the aft edge of the fluke, designed to cause the marine anchor to roll into a proper orientation for penetration and setting into a mooring bed; and a shaft having a forward end and an aft end, said aft end of said shaft attached along said centerline of said fluke, said fluke having an attach point at said forward end designed to accommodate attachment of an anchor rode. 
         [0012]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  presents a perspective view of a high-penetration, high-holding power, stowable marine anchor according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  presents a perspective view of a fluke assembly of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  presents a perspective view of a roller bar assembly of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  presents a perspective view of a shaft assembly of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  presents an illustration of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  in use; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  presents an exploded view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  presents an exploded view of a marine anchor according to an alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0021]    Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. However, any single inventive feature may not address any of the problems discussed above, or may only address one of the problems discussed above. 
         [0022]    Further, one or more of the problems discussed above may not be fully addressed by any of the features described below. 
         [0023]    Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide an improved apparatus that maximizes penetration capability and holding power while minimizing size and weight, and maximizing transportation and stowage capability. More specifically, the apparatus of the present invention (hereinafter, “marine anchor”) is an improvement over conventional plow-style anchors. The marine anchor incorporates extension features that result in a geometry which increases the angle of penetration into the mooring bed. The increase in penetration angle results in a complementary decrease in the amount of weight necessary to achieve mooring bed penetration. Further, the extension features enable the marine anchor to achieve the increase in penetration angle without the added weight associated with the conventional approach of merely widening the fluke to increase the penetration angle. The marine anchor further incorporates a chisel tip that results in efficient weight distribution by concentrating the weight at the point of penetration. In addition, the marine anchor incorporates a concave geometry of the face of the fluke thereby maximizing setting capability and holding power by causing the fluke operate in the manner of a “shovel” rather than a “plow”. The marine anchor is designed to enable disassembly to accommodate transportation and stowage. 
         [0024]    Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  presents a perspective view of a marine anchor  10  according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the marine anchor  10  comprising a fluke assembly  12 , a roll bar assembly  28 , and a shaft assembly  38 . 
         [0025]    The fluke assembly  12  may comprise a fluke  14 , a chisel tip  24 , and two extensions  26 . The fluke  14  may be generally triangular in shape, drawing toward a point  60  at the forward edge  64  and widening increasingly from the forward edge  64  to the aft edge  62 . The fluke  14  may be formed from a plate of metal and may be given a concave shape by breaking the plate along bend lines  16  and  18 . The concave shape may increase both the setting capability and holding power of the marine anchor  10  by causing the marine anchor  10  to act in a “shovel” fashion rather than in a “plow” fashion. The fluke  14  may have a plurality of holes  20 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , designed and configured to accommodate attachment of the shaft assembly  38 . 
         [0026]    The chisel tip  24  may be machined from a metal plate and welded to the forward edge  64  of the fluke  14 . Alternatively, the chisel tip  24  may be a casting. The chisel tip  24  may be designed and configured to provide a sharp, beveled point to enable quick setting and superior penetration. The chisel tip  24  may be designed and configured to provide a structurally-strong point to resist bending or other damage due to operation in rocky or other hard bottoms. The chisel tip  24  may also be designed and configured to bias the weight distribution of the marine anchor  10  toward the point  60  of the marine anchor  10  and, thereby, concentrate weight at the point of penetration. 
         [0027]    The extensions  26  may be located proximal to the aft edge  62  of the fluke  14 , one on either side of the fluke  14 , and may extend outward from the forward-to-aft centerline of the fluke  14 . The extensions  26  may be formed integrally with the fluke  14 . Each extension  26  may have one or more holes  22 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , to accommodate attachment of the roll bar assembly  28 . The extensions  26  may be designed and configured to provide a greater effective width of the fluke assembly  12  without increasing the width and/or weight of the fluke  14 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the effective increase in the width of the fluke assembly  12  results in an increase in the angle of penetration □ (from □ PEN1  to □ PEN2 ) of the marine anchor  10  into the mooring bed, thereby increasing the downward component of the penetration force V PEN  directed into the mooring bed. 
         [0028]    The roll bar assembly  28  may comprise a roll bar  30  and two flanges  32 . The roll bar assembly  28  may be designed and configured to enable the marine anchor  10  to achieve proper orientation when the anchor assembly  10  is deployed on the mooring bed by causing the marine anchor  10  to roll over should the marine anchor  10  be deployed upside down on the mooring bed. The roll bar  30  may be made from a bar, pipe or tubing. The flanges  32  may be made from a metal plate. One flange  32  may be welded onto either end of the roll bar  30 . Each flange  32  may have one or more holes  34  designed and configured to accommodate attachment to the extensions  26  of the fluke assembly  12 . The roll bar assembly  28  may be structurally attached to the fluke assembly  12  by a fastener means. According to one exemplary embodiment, the fastener means may be bolt/nut/lock washer combinations  36 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . According to another exemplary embodiment, the one or more holes  22  in the extensions  26  may be threaded, a threaded stud  54  may be permanently fastened within each hole  22 , and the roll bar assembly  28  may be attached to the fluke assembly  12  by means of threaded stud  54  and nut/lock washer combination  58  pairs, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0029]    The shaft assembly  38  may be designed and configured to transfer an anchor rode load to the marine anchor  10 . The shaft assembly  38  may comprise a shaft  40  and a base  42 . The shaft  40  and base  42  may be separate elements made from a plate and welded together. Alternatively, the shaft  40  and base  42  may be manufactured as a single piece from a plate or a casting. The shaft  40  may have an anchor rode attach point  44  at the forward end of the shaft  40  which may serve as an attachment point for an anchor rode. The shaft  40  may also have an anchor release line attach point  46  located near the aft end of the shaft  40  which may serve as an attachment point for an anchor release line and/or an anchor marker buoy. The base  42  may be attached to the bottom/aft end of the shaft  40 , and may have a plurality of holes  48  designed and configured to accommodate attachment of the shaft assembly  38  to the fluke assembly  12 . The shaft assembly  38  may be structurally attached to the fluke assembly  12  by a fastener means. According to one exemplary embodiment, the fastener means may be bolt/nut/lock washer combinations  50 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . According to another exemplary embodiment, the plurality of holes  20  in the fluke  14  may be threaded, a threaded stud  52  may be permanently fastened within each hole  20 , and the shaft assembly  38  may be attached to the fluke assembly  12  by means of threaded stud  52  and nut/lock washer  56  pairs, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0030]    According to one exemplary embodiment, the fluke assembly  12 , the roll bar assembly  28  and the shaft assembly  38  may be made of galvanized steel. Alternatively, any one or all of these assemblies, or their component parts, may be made of other useful and practical materials, such as aluminum, titanium or stainless steel. 
         [0031]    According to one exemplary embodiment, the invention may be used in the following manner. The marine anchor  10 , attached to an anchor rode, may be slowly released from a marine vessel while the marine vessel is moving in a reverse direction at a low rate of speed; approximately one to three miles per hour. Upon contacting the mooring floor, the marine anchor  10  may assume the appropriate orientation, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , to begin penetration of, and setting into the mooring floor. The marine anchor  10  may rest on the mooring bed on three points of contact (Point A, Point B and Point C), at an angle □ PEN2  to the mooring bed. The anchor rode (not pictured) may apply a force V RODE  at the anchor rode attach point  44 , resulting in a penetration force V PEN . As the force V RODE  is applied, the chisel tip  24  may penetrate into the mooring bed and the fluke  14  may dig in a shovel manner into the mooring bed, thereby setting the marine anchor  10  into the mooring bed, and stopping and securing the marine vessel. 
         [0032]      FIG. 6  presents an exploded view of the marine anchor  10  according to one exemplary embodiment.  FIG. 6  illustrates the manner in which the marine anchor  10  may be disassembled for transportation and/or stowage and assembled for use. To disassemble the marine anchor  10 , the roll bar assembly  28  may be removed from the fluke assembly  12  by unfastening the bolt/nut/lock washer combinations  36 , and the shaft assembly  38  may be removed from the fluke assembly  12  by unfastening the bolt/nut/lock washer combinations  50 . The marine anchor  10  may be reassembled by reversing the disassembly operation. 
         [0033]      FIG. 7  presents an exploded view of a marine anchor according to an alternative exemplary embodiment of the invention. According to this alternative embodiment, the roll bar assembly  28  may be removed from the fluke assembly  12  by unfastening the nut/lock washer combinations  58  from the threaded stud  54 , and the shaft assembly  38  may be removed from the fluke assembly  12  by unfastening the nut/lock washer combinations  56  from the threaded studs  52 . The marine anchor  10  may be reassembled by reversing the disassembly operation. 
         [0034]    As can be appreciated by those skilled in the art, embodiments of the present invention provide an improved apparatus that maximizes penetration capability and holding power while minimizing size and weight, and maximizing transportation and stowage capability. 
         [0035]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.