Patent Publication Number: US-10780953-B2

Title: Anchor for a ship

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE IN THE RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to and benefit of KR10-2018-0019878, filed Feb. 20, 2018, of which disclosure is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an anchor for a ship, and more particularly to an anchor for a ship that may facilitate retrieval of the anchor as a folding operation of the anchor is smoothly performed by improving a design of a contact portion such that a mechanical contact resistance of components that perform an folding operation of the anchor is minimized. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     An anchor, for example, is a device that is submerged on the bottom of water when a ship moors on a seashore or a dock, and usually includes a long shank that is connected to a string or a wire and a hook-shaped anchor aim. 
     The anchor has to have a sufficient weight and a structure that allows the anchor to be fixed to the bottom of the water properly, for its purpose. 
     However, the anchors often cannot be easily retrieved due to an underground structure, and in this case, the string or wire connected to the anchor usually has to be cut in and a new anchor has to be purchased and mounted consequently. 
     In order to solve the problem, as disclosed in Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0110634 (Filing date: Aug. 30, 2016), the applicant developed an anchor for a ship that may allow the anchor to be easily retrieved without loss of the anchor even in a situation in which the anchor arm is caught by an underground structure and cannot be extracted when the ship leaves the harbor after mooring. 
     However, In the patent, the anchor am is mounted on a fixing piece at an end of a hollow fixing structure to be foldable so that a surface interference is generated and smooth folding is not possible in a process of contacting an inner portion of the anchor arm and an end of the shank when a folding operation is performed. Accordingly, a demand on design has been an interest to improve the problem. 
     PRIOR TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS 
     Patent Documents 
     Korean Patent No. 10-1185741 (Published on Sep. 19, 2012) 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been made in an effort to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides an anchor for a ship that may allow a smooth folding operation of an anchor aim by improving a design at a contact portion such that a mechanical contact resistance between components that perform the folding operation of the anchor am so that, for example, the anchor may be easily retrieved without cutting the wire or the iron chain, that is, without loss of the anchor in a situation in which the anchor arm is caught by an underwater structure not to be pulled out when the ship leaves a harbor after mooring. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an anchor for a ship including a shank having a structure in which one end of the shank is connected to a wire or an iron chain, and an anchor aim mounted to a lower end of the shank to be seated under the water to be fixed, wherein the shank includes a hollow cylindrical casing, a fixing cap is inserted into an opened upper portion of the cylindrical casing, the fixing cap is supported by a cap support member on a lower side thereof in the interior of the cylindrical casing, an elastic member is disposed on a lower side of the cap support member, a plurality of fixing pieces are disposed to form pairs on a radially outer surface of an end of the cylindrical casing, and third through-holes are formed at middle portions of the fixing piece, and wherein shank upper rod passes through a first through-hole that passes through the center of the fixing cap and extend downwards, a lower end of the shank upper rod is located in a second through-hole that passes through the center of the cap support member, the lower end of the shank upper rod is coupled to an upper end of a shank lower rod disposed below the shank upper rod, the elastic member is disposed on a radially outer side of the shank lower rod, a shank end is formed on a vertically lower side of the elastic member, the shank end has a structure that is inclined such that it becomes narrower toward a radially inner side as it goes downwards, and the shank end is disposed to be surrounded by the cylindrical casing, except for a portion that is inclined to become narrower to a radially inner side. 
     The anchor aim may be mounted between the fixing pieces to be foldable radially with respect to the cylindrical casing and the shank end. 
     The anchor aim may include an aim and a fluke, a crown in a curved form is formed at a fixed end of the aim, a fourth-through hole is formed at a middle portion of the crown, and in a state in which the crown is inserted between the fixing pieces, the anchor aim is mounted to be foldable in a radial direction with respect to the cylindrical casing and the shank end by a coupling bolt and inserted into the third through-holes of the fixing pieces and the fourth through-hole of the crown and a coupling nut. 
     The shank end may include a first linear portion extending vertically downwards by a predetermined length, a second linear portion extending from a lower end of the first linear portion to a radially inner side by a predetermined interval to form a step and then extending vertically downwards, a first inclined portion extending to be inclined to a radially inner side from an end of the second linear portion, and a second inclined portion extending to be inclined to a radially inner side from an end of the first inclined portion, and the crown includes an arc-shaped curved portion at a portion that contacts the shank end, a third inclined portion extending from one radial end of the arc-shaped curved portion to be inclined to a radially inner side by a predetermined angle, a fourth inclined portion extending to a radially outer side to be inclined with respect to the third inclined portion, and a fifth inclined portion extending to a radially inner side to be inclined with respect to the fourth inclined portion 
     The inclination angle of the second inclined portion may be larger than the inclination angle of the first inclined portion, the inclination angle of the fourth inclined portion may be larger than the inclination angle of the third inclined portion, the inclined portion of the fifth inclined portion may be the same as the inclined angle of the fourth inclined portion, and the fourth inclined portion and the fifth inclined portion may be connected to each other to form a conic shape. 
     When the anchor aim is fully deployed horizontally, the first inclined portion of the shank end and the third inclined portion of the crown may be attached to each other while contacting each other, and the second inclined portion of the shank end and the fourth inclined portion of the crown are adhered to each other while contacting each other. 
     In a state in which the anchor aim is fully deployed with respect to the cylindrical casing and the shank end, an angle between the third inclined portion of the crown and the center line of the shank, that is, an imaginary line that connects the shank upper rod and the center of the shank lower rod may be 15 degrees, and an angle between the fourth inclined portion of the crown and the center line of theshank, that is, an imaginary line that connects the shank upper rod and the center of the shank lower rod may be 36 degrees 
     If the shank is pulled upwards in a state in which the anchor aim is fully deployed with respect to the cylindrical casing and the shank end, the shank upper rod and the shank lower rod are moved vertically upwards, and then, the shank end fixed to a lower end of the shank lower rod also moves vertically upwards while overcoming an elastic force of the elastic member that is a compression spring, and accordingly, the shank end adhered to the crown of the anchor arm is extracted from the crown and the contact support of the crown of the anchor and the shank end is released so that the arm of the anchor arm is prolonged while becoming narrower to the radially inner side, and by using the operation, the anchor for a ship caught by a rock escapes from the rock. 
     If the shank is pulled upwards in a state in which the anchor aim is fully deployed with respect to the cylindrical casing and the shank end, the shank upper rod and the shank lower rod are moved vertically upwards, and then, the shank end fixed to a lower end of the shank lower rod also moves vertically upwards while overcoming an elastic force of the elastic member that is a compression spring, and if the shank end moves vertically upwards, the first inclined portion of the shank end that contacts the third inclined portion of the crown moves upwards over the third inclined portion of the crown first, and then the contact of the outer surface of the shank end and the crown is released, and accordingly, the anchor arm is rotated counterclockwise about the coupling bolt that functions as a pivot shaft, and if the shank is continuously pulled upwards, a pivot operation of the anchor arm is smoothly completed without being hampered while the first inclined portion of the shank end and the arc-shaped curved portion of the crown contact each other so that a full folding state is accomplished. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view schematically illustrating an entire appearance of an anchor for a ship according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the anchor for a ship illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a partially cutaway view illustrating a main part of the anchor for a ship illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a longitudinal sectional view of the anchor for a ship illustrated in  FIG. 1 , and is a longitudinal sectional view for two anchor arms for convenience of description; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of portion A of the anchor for a ship illustrated in  FIG. 4 , and is a view in which illustration of a section is omitted for convenience of description; 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view illustrating an appearance in which the anchor arms of the anchor for a ship are deployed to the rear side according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view illustrating a state in which the anchor arms of the anchor for a ship according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is folded toward the inside for keeping or carrying; and 
         FIGS. 8A to 8D  are views illustrating appearances of a pivot shaft part of the anchor aim when the anchor arm is folded toward the inside as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     The drawings and a detailed description of the application simply relates to embodiments of the present invention. The advantages and other features of the mechanisms and methods described herein will become clearer to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains through a detailed description of the present invention, in which the accompanying drawings illustrating representative embodiments of the present invention are referenced. Otherwise emphasized, the similar or corresponding elements may be denoted by similar or corresponding reference numerals throughout the drawings. 
     Before a detailed description of at least one embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood that the present invention is not limited to the configurations and arrangements of components described in the specification or illustrated in the drawings in the application. According to the present invention, various embodiments are possible and may be performed and executed in various methods. Further, it may be understood that the grammars and terms employed herein are for description of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. 
     Hereinafter, an anchor for a ship having a foldable structure according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a structure of an anchor for a ship according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the anchor for a ship according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention basically includes a shank  100 , one end of which has a structure connected to a wire or an iron chain, and anchor arms  200  mounted to a lower end of the shank and seated under the water to be fixed. 
     First, the shank  100  includes a hollow cylindrical casing  110 . A fixing cap  112  is inserted into an opened upper portion of the cylindrical casing  110 , the fixing cap  112  is supported by a cap support member  114  disposed on the lower side thereof in the interior of the cylindrical casing  110 , and an elastic member ( 150 ) such as a compression spring is disposed on the lower side of the cap support member  114 . In this way, a screw thread  112   b  is formed circumferentially on the outside of the fixing cap  112 , and a screw thread  111  is also formed in the interior of the casing  110  corresponding to screw thread for the fixing cap  112  so that upward and downward manipulations of the fixing cap  112  are separately performed. A location of the cap support member  114  is adjusted together according to a fixing location of the fixing cap  112  due to the structure so that the elasticity of the elastic member  150  disposed in the interior of the casing  110  is arbitrarily adjusted. 
     Then, a shank upper rod  130  passes through a first through-hole  112   a  that passes through the center of the fixing cap  112  and extend downwards, and a lower end of the shank upper rod  130  is located in a second through-hole  114   a  that passes through the center of the cap support member  114 . The lower end of the shank upper rod  130  is coupled to an upper end of a shank lower rod  132  disposed below the shank upper rod  130 . A fastening piece  131  is disposed on the radially outer side of the lower end of the shank upper rod  130 , and a fastening nut  133  such as a hexagon nut is disposed on the radially outer side of the fastening piece  131 . The fastening piece  131  integrally extends upwards from the upper end of the shank lower rod  132  by a predetermined length, and the fastening piece  131  is fastened to the radially inner side by fastening the fastening nut  133  with a separate fastening tool (not illustrated) such as a hexagon wrench so that the lower end of the shank upper rod  130  is fastened and fixed. 
     The above-described elastic member  150  is disposed on the radially outer side of the shank lower rod  132  disposed below the lower end of the shank upper rod  130 . A lower surface of the cap support member  114  is supported by an upper end of the elastic member  150  while contacting the upper end of the elastic member  150 . A shank end  140  is formed on the vertically lower side of the elastic member  150 , and preferably, the shank end  140  has a structure that is inclined such that it becomes narrower toward the radially inner side as it goes downwards. The shank end  140  is disposed to be surrounded by the cylindrical casing  110 , except for the portion that is inclined to become narrower to the radially inner side. 
     Meanwhile, the anchor aim  200  is mounted to be foldable radially with respect to the cylindrical casing  110  and the shank end  140 . Preferably, three anchor aims  200  are mounted to be foldable radially with respect to the cylindrical casing  110  and the shank end  140  at an interval of 120 degrees. To achieve this, a plurality of fixing pieces  122  is formed on the radially outer surface of the end of the cylindrical casing  110  at an interval of 120 degrees to protrude. The fixing pieces  122  are disposed to form pairs, and third through-holes  122   a  are formed at the middle portions of the fixing pieces  122 , respectively. The anchor arms  200  are mounted between the fixing pieces  122  that form pairs. 
     The anchor aim  200  mainly includes an arm  210  and a fluke  220 , and then, the fluke  220  in turn includes a bill  222  and a palm  224 . The fluke  220  is integrally formed over a partial area of an upper surface of the aim  210 , the bill  222  is formed at a free end of the arm  210 , and two adjacent folding parts that form an angle such that the palms  224  having palm shapes are inclined with respect to each other at a radially inner location of the bill  222 . 
     A crown  230  in a curved form is formed at a fixed end of the aim  210 . A fourth-through hole  230   a  is formed at a middle portion of the crown  230 . In a state in which the crown  230  of the aim  210  of the anchor aim  200  is inserted between the fixing pieces  122  disposed to form a pair, the anchor aim  200  is mounted to be foldable in a radial direction with respect to the cylindrical casing  110  and the shank end  140  by a coupling bolt  116   a  inserted into the third through-holes  122   a  of the fixing pieces  122  and the fourth through-hole  230   a  of the crown  230  and a coupling nut  116   b . Then, the coupling bolt  116   a  functions as a pivot shaft that supports the anchor aim  200  such that the anchor aim  200  may pivot to the radially inner and outer sides. 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate a contact state of the crown  230  and the shank end  140  at a fixed end of the aim  210  in detail. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , as mentioned above, the shank end  140  formed at the vertically lower side of the elastic member  150  has an inclined structure to become narrower to the radially inner side as it goes downwards. 
     The shank end  140  includes a first linear portion  141  extending vertically downwards by a predetermined length, a second linear portion  142  extending from a lower end of the first linear portion  141  to the radially inner side by a predetermined interval to form a step and then extending vertically downwards, a first inclined portion  143  extending to be inclined to the radially inner side from an end of the second linear portion  142 , and a second inclined portion  144  extending to be inclined to the radially inner side from an end of the first inclined portion  143 . Then, the inclination angle of the second inclined portion  144  is larger than the inclined portion of the first inclined portion  143 . The second linear portion  142 , the first inclined portion  143 , and the second inclined portion  144  are connected to each other smoothly. 
     In correspondence to the outer shape of the above-configured shank end  140 , the crown  230  is adhered to the shank end  140  when the anchor aim  200  is deployed and is formed such that an folding operation thereof is not hindered when the anchor aim  200  is folded. 
     To achieve this, the crown  230  includes an arc-shaped curved portion  231  at a portion that contacts the shank end  140 , a third inclined portion  233  extending from one radial end of the arc-shaped curved portion  231  to be inclined to the radially inner side by a predetermined angle, a fourth inclined portion  234  extending to the radially outer side to be inclined with respect to the third inclined portion  233 , and a fifth inclined portion  235  extending to the radially inner side to be inclined with respect to the fourth inclined portion  234 . Then, the inclination angle of the fourth inclined portion  234  is larger than the inclination angle of the third inclined portion  233 , and the inclined portion of the fifth inclined portion  235  is substantially the same as the inclined angle of the fourth inclined portion  234 . The fourth inclined portion  234  and the fifth inclined portion  235  are connected to each other to form a conic shape. The arc-shaped curved portion  231 , the third inclined portion  233 , the fourth inclined portion  234 , and the fifth inclined portion  235  are connected to each other smoothly. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , when the anchor arm  200  is fully deployed horizontally, the first inclined portion  143  of the shank end  140  and the third inclined portion  233  of the crown  230  are attached to each other while contacting each other, and the second inclined portion  144  of the shank end  140  and the fourth inclined portion  234  of the crown  230  are adhered to each other while contacting each other. Through the adherence and contact of the shank end  140  and the crown  230 , the anchor aim  200  is supported while being fully deployed. 
     In a state in which the anchor aim  200  is fully deployed with respect to the cylindrical casing  110  and the shank end  140 , an angle (θ 1 ) between the third inclined portion  233  of the crown  230  and the center line of the shank  100 , that is, an imaginary line that connects the shank upper rod  130  and the center of the shank lower rod  132  is 15 degrees. Further, an angle (θ 2 ) between the fourth inclined portion  234  of the crown  230  and the center line of the shank  100 , that is, an imaginary line that connects the shank upper rod  130  and the center of the shank lower rod  132  is 36 degrees. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a state in which the anchor aim  200  of the anchor for a ship according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is deployed rearwards. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the anchor for a ship having a foldable structure according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention may be caught by an obstacle such as a rock when it is submerged under the water, and may be damaged due to a high load applied to the shank  100  or the anchor aim  200  if an excessive folding operation is performed in this state. 
     In order to solve the problem, according to the present invention, the shank  100  may be pulled upwards in the deployment state as in  FIG. 4 . Then, the shank upper rod  130  and the shank lower rod  132  are moved vertically upwards, and then, the shank end  140  fixed to a lower end of the shank lower rod  132  also moves vertically upwards while overcoming an elastic force of the elastic member  150  that is a compression spring. Accordingly, the shank end  140  adhered to the crown  130  of the anchor aim  200  is extracted from the crown  230  and the contact support of the crown  230  of the anchor  200  and the shank end  140  is released so that the aim  210  of the anchor aim  200  is prolonged while becoming narrower to the radially inner side. By using the operation, the anchor for a ship caught by a rock may escape from the rock. 
       FIG. 7  is illustrates a state in which the anchor aims of the anchor for a ship according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is folded toward the inside for keeping or carrying.  FIGS. 8A to 8D  illustrate appearances of a pivot shaft part of the anchor aim when the anchor aim is folded toward the inside as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . 
     A folding operation from a deployment state of  FIG. 4  to a folding state of  FIG. 7  is performed to keep the anchor for a ship according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the operation is sequentially illustrated in  FIGS. 8A to 8D . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8A to 8D , the shank  100  is pulled upwards in the deployment state illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Then, the shank upper rod  130  and the shank lower rod  132  are moved vertically upwards, and then, the shank end  140  fixed to a lower end of the shank lower rod  132  also moves vertically upwards while overcoming an elastic force of the elastic member  150  that is a compression spring. 
     If the shank end  140  moves vertically upwards, the first inclined portion  143  of the shank end  140  that contacts the third inclined portion  233  of the crown  230  moves upwards over the third inclined portion  233  of the crown  230  first, and then the contact of the outer surface of the shank end  140  and the crown  230  is released. Accordingly, the anchor aim  200  is rotated counterclockwise about the coupling bolt  116   a  that functions as a pivot shaft. 
     If the shank  100  is continuously pulled upwards, the pivot operation of the anchor aim  200  is smoothly completed without being hampered while the first inclined portion  143  of the shank end  140  and the arc-shaped curved portion  231  of the crown  230  contact each other. As a result, the full folding state illustrated in  FIG. 7  is accomplished. 
     According to the present invention, a mechanical contact resistance between the components may be minimized by improving the designs of the contact portions of the components that perform the folding operation of the anchor arm, and consequently, the anchor may be easily retrieved without cutting the wire or the iron chain, that is, without loss of the anchor in a situation in which the anchor aim is caught by an underwater structure not to be pulled out when the ship leaves a harbor after the mooring. Accordingly, loss of the anchor caused by cutting the wire or the iron chain due to the obstacle that catches the anchor aim may be solved. 
     Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be understood by an ordinary person in the art that the present invention may be variously corrected and modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention described in the claims.