A PROJECTILE, ANCHOR, AND BLOCK FOR LAUNCHING OF THE LIFE BOAT AND OTHER BOATS INGH WEATHER, AND POR SHIPS' USE IN CASES OF LOSS OFAGE
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Banting Rogers, of St. Andrew's Road,
Hastings, in the County of Sussex, for the Invention of "A PROJECTILE,
ANCHOR, AND BLOCK FOR LAUNCHING OF THE LIFE BOAT AND OTHER BOATS IN
Sealed the 3rd March 1868, and dated the 7th September 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Banting Rogers
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Pétition, on the
7th September 1867.
I, JOHN BANTING ROGERS, of St. Andrew's Road, Hastings, in the County
of Sussex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "A PRO-
JECTILE, ANCHOR, AND BLOCK FOR THE LAUNCHING OF THE LIFE BOAT AND OTHER
BOATS IN ROUGH WEATHER, AND POR SHIPS' USE IN CASES OF LOSS OF ANCHORAGE,"
to be as follows:-
In offering to the public this Invention I do so from observation made of
the, uselessness of that valuable invention the life boat in rough weather, where
the crew, ready,in, the cause of life saving, anxiously watch the disabled. vessel
with the means if they could only get their boat through the surf or broken
If they do so now by the means, at their command; it is as fatigued

page_text: men when they have all the need of strength, of freshness, to do the hardy
task before them. And where life boats are floated from harbour or deep
water they may be in such position that they have to work up against wind
and tide, and thus lose time and possibly opportunity of usefulness.
My Invention consists of a cone to be fired from a mortar (and which cone
is subdivided at the top into an equilateral angle, thus getting the full strength
of the cone in point of fulcrum and leverage, and from each angle is a hinge
and flap the 8 flaps take the form of grapnels or anchor flukes; the form
of the fluke I do not confine myself to.as that will depend upon the nature of
the anchorage ground); when fired it carries with it a chain for secure
anchorage, and from that chain a spring block, so that in the firing a small
double line can be carried out, and by that means a larger rope passed which
would take the form of an endless rope. By that means the crew could take
position in the boat, and the horses that conveyed the boat to the place with its
launch and my apparatus could be bent on to the rope, and upon a favorable
moment offering (a smooth) run away with the line, and thus carry the boat
and crew through the surf or broken waters.
Some of the advantages ofered by my Invention are that it could be fired
from the most desirable spot for the run down upon the stranded or disabled
vessel, and the wear and tear to the gear. only be upon the emergency of the
occasion, whereas ropes laid down at given distances as now upon the coast
may not be in the best position when required, and may be chaffed and worn
that at the time of requirement they would be useless or worse than useless by
endangering life by their unfitness in point of strength. Even allowing these
ropes to be good and strong the men by hauling out on them are fatigued by
the exertion of getting the boat through the surf or broken waters and not
fit for the arduous duties before them as they would be by the worst of the
labour being done by my Invention.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Banting Rogers in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 7th March 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
BANTING ROGERS, of St. Andrew's Road, Hastings, in the County of Sussex,
send greeting.
.-WHEREAS. Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters

page_text: Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her.
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me,
the said John Banting Rogers, Her special licence that I, the said John.
Banting Rogers, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said John Banting Rogers, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at
all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for.
"A PROJECTILE, ANCHOR, AND BLOCK FOR LAUNCHING OF THE LIFE BOAT AND OTHER
BOATS IN ROUGH WEATHER, AND FOR SHIPS' USE IN CASES OF LOSS OF ANCHORAGE,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Banting Rogers,
my executors, or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
و"
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Banting Rogers, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
My Invention consists of a tri-fluked hinged or folding anchor so constructed
that the shank can be so formed and so made that it can be fired from a mortar
or other piece of ordnance; attached to this anchor is a block of a peculiar
make (hereafter described) so as to prevent its becoming choked in beds of
seaweed or such like obstructions, and to allow ropes of different sizes to pass
freely or to wind kinks or knots that may occur in the transit; this block also
has a swivel or swivels to allow for rotary motion. The connection of the block
to the anchor can be either chain, hemp rope, Manilla rope, green hide, or
other suitable appliances. A double line can be fired out by means of this
block by being rove in the same and can be fired from pin boxes or lines faked
down. Thus means can be obtained to meet the various requirements as
delineated in Diagrams, Sheet B.
As a general anchor it is shewn in Diagrams, Figs. 10 to 15, and would be
found to merit especial notice from the great saving on board, ships which
the ponderous stock as of the ordinary anchor
would be effected
by its
use,

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS SHEET A.
Figs. 1 and 2 shew the open and shut view of anchor as a projectile which
is constructed in the form of an elongated cone, the top of which is cut or made,
in the shape of an equilateral triangle; from, each side of this angle is a plane
at. an obtuse angle to allow the flukes when fitted to lay and take the form of
the elongated cone; this, can be formed in framework of iron or in wood,
suitable for the, purpose, so that it will, withstand the, concussion in firing and
immersion in water (such as elm). To this cone (if made of wood), suitable.
flukes can be fitted or hinged to meet, the requirements of the ground. Figs. 3
and 3* shew the top and side views of hinges, to fit the flukes as, shewn at
Figs. 4 and 4, the latter would be advantageous in shingle or live, sand. Up.
the centre of the cone, Eig. 2, is seen the opening.or groove, for, chain, rope, or
whatever, suitable appliance is used, to work freely, (see, enlarged Diagram
Fig. 5). The three small chains A, A, A, Fig. 5, are made fast to the top of the
flukes in, radius to the pull by, which, they can be opened as soon as, a strain,
came upon the main haul B and act as a check to the jerk produced by firing
in the propelling of the block. The main haul is not upon these 3 small
chains but upon a bar through the cone, Fig. 1; so placed that the long, link C,
Fig. 5, takes the purchase, see, also, Fig. 2, letter, B, thus keeping the flukes,
taut and the small chains are not strained by the hauling. The main.rope, or
whatever, is used, can be returned up a groove on the outside, on, the cone
and to this would be attached "the block," (Figs. 6 and 6*, being front and side,
views, of same), and, which has two sheaves, the bottom or larger, sheave being,
upon a fixed centre or, spindle to allow the full strength for hauling, upon the
upper. or lesser, sheave working up, the slot c, Fig. 6, the two spindles of the
block connected by spring action as shewn in Fig. 6, thus allowing room for larger
ropes, wind, kinks, knots, seawead, &c. to, pass freely, and thus preserve, the
utility of the block for the passing, of, larger lines. By the aid of the block
double line or, whip can be rove through, and fired with, the projectile, and
upon this whip.a larger rope, or hauser can be passed, away, and upon the
return, end, of, the larger, ropes can be joined and thus formed into a round
hawser and meet the uses as shewn on Sheet B. This block instead of being
outside the mortar, as, shewn, at Fig. 1, Sheet A, can be fitted, and fired, as
sbewn in Fig. 2, Sheet, A, and, Fig. 9, Sheet 4, shewing front, and side,
section, thus, save resistance of jerk (if found necessary); in the case of block
a

page_text: being used in this position the line rove through the block would return up. the
two grooves outside as B, B, Fig. 9; Sheet A. To preserve this block, chain, and
projectile from the effects of the explosion a cup or inverted cone will be used,
see Fig. 7 and 7* (side view and section) which being placed in the mouth of the
piece of ordnance, which it will be made to fit, thus save windage, at the same
time being square at the bottom and the concave equal to the convex of the cone
end of the projectile. If great distance is required the cup, see Fig. 8, can bé
placed upon the lead of the projectile, see dotted line, Fig. 2; in which case the
three small chains will be detached, and the flukes will take their hold as an
ordinary anchor by being hauled from the end or spring of the ropes, or hawser,
or cable.
Fig. 9 shews a form of projectile which can be used with the block, the
ropes returning as at B, B, when anchorage is not required, as for throwing
over a ship in distress; so that her crew can use it as a means of help:
Instructions being painted upon the projectile in various languages to enable
such crew to use the aid sent to them as a means for their rescue. It could
also be fired from a ship to shore, see Diagrain, 3, Sheet B.
.
Figs. 10 to 15; Sh A; shew the principle applied to a general anchor, and
which will meet all the requirements laid down by the Admiralty as a safe
anchor, the merit in my Invention being the smallness of space it would.
occupy; it is hinged and tri-fluked; see Fig. 10, which shews the three flukes
open, the hold it would take when so would be equal to the mushroom
anchor. Fig. 11 shews the hold it would obtain if two of the flukes took hold..
Fig. 12; its position as a holding, power where one fluke only grips, and the
weight in the crown and the lap of the fluke or flukes; in Figs: 11 and 12
show the maintaining hold by the compact weight upon the fluke or flukes
when immersed: Fig: 13 shews the shank and hinge form. Figs. 14 and 15:
the side and inner face of flukes to fit to shank 13: The shape of flukes cau
be various to meet the requirements of the anchorage ground:
EXPLANATION OF SHEET B.
View No. 1, slewing the means by which it can be used as a projectile.
The apparatus can be taken to the most advantageous point for making the
launch or communication. The simplicity of the whole arrangement is such
that the drill might be learnt in a few hours by men in the coastguard
service, seamen, or others used to the sea' shore. The whole of the appliances
consist of a mortar, "say eight inch," ropes, say one thousand yards. whip
and hawser, pin boxes, two anchors and blocks, and all the requirements could

page_text: be arranged to fit a cart six feet long by four feet ten inches wide, and to the
cart could be constructed a drum or horizontal windlass, so that the whip line
could be wound in upon this drum, and the hawser paid out from a large box
at the end of the cart, thus save confusion of the ropes lying about upon the
beach or other places it might be required to be used.
Directions for Use. The mortar would be detached from the cart to prevent
damage by concussion, the pin boxes placed one on each side of the mortar and
well to the front, thus prevent damage to the party firing by the ropes being
well clear. The mortar 'would be loaded in the usual way with charge sufficient
for the distance required, the cup would then, be placed in, and so protect the
projectile from damage and save windage, which would otherwise be by the
hollow of the cone and the groove or grooves up the side; the projectile,
anchor, and block would then be placed in, care being taken to have all free,
the lines would be rove through the block, and the two ends, "one from each pin
box," joined securely together. In filling the pin boxes, care being taken to leave
sufficient end to return out of the side of the box, so that it could be joined
to a second pair of pin boxes or lines faked down when required, the two ends
of the whip being in hand, one end could be made fast to a hawser, the other
to be hauled upon, or if such cart appliance is used could be made fast to the
drum and wound in by windlass handle, and thus in bringing in the whip the
hawser would be passed round by the aid of the block at the end of the pro-
jectile, and thus form a round rope or hawser, the whole being in a compact
form. Its use (see No. 2) where in making the launch from the shore it. is
done without exertion to the crew, thus leave them fresh when outside for
their hardy task or errand of mercy, and when outside and clear they can cast
off their painter, and thus leave the round rope for further use; if required,
the anchor, block, and ropes can be recovered when the storm is over or other
time, thus the wear and tear would only be upon the emergency of the occasion,
the strength of the ropes could always be depended upon, at the same time the
launch could always be made at the most advantageous point to windward of the
wreck or required goal, thus save time and labor which would be a great
advantage, especially in the case of life boats, for by their construction they
are not "weatherly," their buoyancy preventing their beating up against the
wind; and in launching this good quality (buoyancy) becomes an enemy for
the men in the boat are not equal to the task without great fatigue, thus when
outside they are nearly beaten and have not that strength left to grapple with
their hardy task that they would have if the launch was accomplished by the
means I prouose.

page_text: Many times wrecks occur and lives might be saved if the boats could be
got off at all.
Where the strength of the men is not equal to the getting
them off, and they can have no assistance from the shore, where by the means
I propose all the assistance is on the shore, and it is only a question of
numbers to bend on to the hawser to effect the launch; and there are always
persons of known skill to arrange for safety of the hauling and make. the
launch secure, and being made to windward of wrecks, could bear down upon
them, thus save time when (this is of the utmost importance) it would then
be a question of skill, coolness, and courage, which are the essentials of those
composing the crews of that valuable aid the life boat. Its uses are shown in
Views 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8, and which make it à question of interest of govern-
ment and shipowners generally to have such appliance on board their vessels not
only as a means of life saving, but as a question of saving their property;: the space
it would occupy and the expense would be no consideration equal to its utility.
The appliance could be more simple than land arrangements, they (the ships)
having ropes in constant store; as No. 3 it is shown whereby communication
can be made from the ship to the shore in positions. at home and abroad
where that valuable institution the National Life Boat Association has not
means to render aid to the distressed mariner. At such a moment time is of
the greatest consideration. A vessel may lay to upon her anchors long enough
to save the valuable lives of all on board and even large amounts of property
by the means as shown in View 6, where boat communication can be made
with the shore by aid of the fired projectile, anchor, block, and ropes; as shown
in View 4 it is seen as a means by the use of the projectile how. ground
could be held and a large anchor paid away crown first, thus save the ground a
vessel would lose if she had to pay away to the spring of her cable. Thus,
applied it would be the means of saving ground when it is of the utmost
importance to do so, for a few fathoms might be the means of saving ship and
cargo, or, as seen in View 8, a vessel could be club-hauled out of the light of
a bay or off a lee shore by its means, and that in less time than sending out
boats with kedge anchors; even in case of the loss of an anchor or so there
would be no loss of hawser, as that could be recovered by running clear
through the block.
The View No. 7 deserves great consideration, for as there shown its value
can be understood as a means it would be for a boat leaving a vessel's side; such
vessel lying at anchor in a heaving sea, thus prevent the danger which boats
are subject to of being stove in, in which case it is generally at the loss of
life and danger to the crew, as well as to the property, namely, the boat.

page_text: Clifford's" Patent meets this to a great extent, but only as a means of
dropping away clear of the vessel's side, whereas by the means I propose of
the fired projectile and round rope, she could as soon as lowered away by such
appliance as Clifford's Patent, be hauled away and held away from the suction
produced by the rolling of the ship, and when clear the painter could be cast
off and run the boat free, leaving a buoy line to assist in the return to the
ship. The many accidents which occur in this way, and the remedy I propose
to meet the requirement, I trust deserves 'consideration.
Thus far in Sheet B I have shown it as a projectile anchor. In View 3 the
anchor would not be required, only the elongated cone and block, as Fig. 9,
Sheet A, for firing over a ship in distress. This cone would be of wood capped
with metal, with spikes to grapple rigging, &c.; upon this cone will be
instructions in different languages as to the best means to use the aid sènt. As
soon as the crew on board the disabled vessels make secure the block the
hawser would be paid away and returned to the shore; upon this hawser
cork jackets and other life-saving appliances could be passed out; which
the crew could fit on and make themselves fast to the lee side of the block,
and could be hauled on shore by this mode and quickly brought to larid, or
communication by boats to and from the shore could be inade:
The superiority of my Invention over the existing "rocket apparatus" is
allowed by all practical men, for the distance to be obtained is far greater, the aim
more accurate, the two lines & block with instructions are sent at the same
time; thus much time is saved when time is of the greatest importance when
used as an anchor or shore anchor, as shown in Diagram, Sheet A, 1 to 10.
I meet all points of merit in my Invention as quick carting, holding on well,
strength of form and material, exemption from fouling, quick tippling, ease of
fishing in a heavy sea, facility of stowage, facility of sweeping, and ease of
transport in boats. The whole of these points being absolutely met by my
Invention, such having been proved by actual experiments, in addition to
which opinions have been given by competent judges that place the practical
nature of my Invention beyond doubt.
I claim the method of the making of a tri-fluked hinged or folding anchor.
I also claim the method of laying out an anchor by projectile force.
I also claim the method of making a block by means of which two lines can
be carried at one time for the forming of the rove rope when used with the
'projectile.
I also claim the method of making the block and the double sheaves and
spring action to prevent its becoming choked, as is the case in the ordinary

page_text: block for outlaying purposes, also for its uses in places or parts of rigging
where blocks are subject to become fouled, also the method of manufac-
turing such blocks with sheaves and springs, either single, double, three, or
four-fold.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Banting Rogers, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
JOHN BANTING ROGERS. (LS.)