IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ANCHORS.
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Michael Burke, of Liverpool, in the County
Palatine of Lancaster, Cabinet Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ANCHORS.".
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Michael Burke at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
11th December 1856.
I, MICHAEL BURKE, of Liverpool, in the County Palatine of Lancaster,
Cabinet Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ANCHORS," to be as follows.
My said Invention relates to the peculiar construction of the shanks of
anchors, by making the same with a joint or hinge near where the shank
joins the crown of the anchor, instead of being in the crown thereof, as has
been adopted. I divide the shank at such a distance from the crown, that
when the point of one fluke rests on the top side of the main shank while
placed horizontally, the opposite fluke shall be in a vertical or nearly vertical
position, by which arrangement the imbedded fluke will have all the requisite
hold at a shorter anglo than otherwise, and the shank itself suffer less strain,
and the division in the shank is jointed or binged in the usual manner.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Michael Burke in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th June 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MICHAEL
BURKE, of Liverpool, in the County Palatine of Lancaster, Cabinet Maker,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by IIer Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Iler
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Michael Burke, Her special licence that I, the said Michael Burke, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Michael
Burke, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUC-
TION OF ANCHORS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Michael
Burke, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Michael Burke, 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 said Invention relates to the peculiar construction of the shanks of
anchors, by making the same with a joint or hinge near where the shank
joins the crown of the anchor instead of being in the crown thereof, as
usually adopted.
And for the better understanding of my said Invention, I will now proceed
to detail the particulars thereof, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto
annexed, and the letters marked thereon.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved anchor. A, B, is the joint or
hinge, with a ring or shackle at B, attached to the pivot or bolt in the joint,
or that part of the shank above or below, as may be desired, for the purpose'
of fishing, or stowing the anchor on board; C, the main shank; C', the portion
of the shank joining the crown D; and a, b, the ground line.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, it will be observed that it
consists mainly in forming the joint or hinge in the shank, as at A, B, on
which position of the same the novelty of my improvement depends; and by
means of such construction of anchors their grip and holding power aro
increased, the fluke entering the ground in a position, as shown in the Draw-
ing, most favourable for the provention of draging. And I do declare that
what I claim as my Invention is, namely, the peculiar position or situation
of the joint or hinge in the shank of anchors, as described.
In witness whereof, I, tho said Michael Burke, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of June, in the year of our Lord
1857.
MICHAEL BURKE. (L.s.)