AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR WORKING AND STOWING ANCHORS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Wasteneys Smith, of Newcastle-on-
Tyne, in the County of same Town, Civil and Consulting Engineer,
for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR
WORKING AND STOWING ANCHORS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Wasteneys
Smith at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 20th February 1873.
I, WILLIAM WASTENEYS SMITH, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, in the County
of same town, Civil and Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARAT S
FOR WORKING AND STOWING ANCHORS," to be as follows:-
--
A table or framework of iron or other suitable material is fixed on
bearings, which are secured to the deck or to the gunwale at the side of
the vessel where the anchor is usually stowed, this table or platform is
of dimensions suitable for the anchor conveniently to rest on, and is
generally in a horizontal position secured by a long bar or bolt, which,

page_text: when drawn out, serves as a lever to tilt or recline the table so that the
anchor may slide overboard; a derrick is fixed to same axis, and when
not in use lays flat on deck.
The modus operandi, supposing the anchor to be laid on the table, is
to draw out the bar as far as possible (the table and weight is so balanced
for safety as to require some force to be applied), one man may then
casily tilt or incline it so that the anchor will slide overboard, the
table is then replaced bolt pushed in again to restow the anchor, the
derrick is lifted up and projected over the vessel's side sufficient to allow
the anchor to clear it, and is secured in that position by a guy; a chain
is led over the pulley at top of the derrick and has at one end a fish
hook, the other end being connected either to set of blocks, or winch, or
capstan direct; a small line is attached to fish hook, and by it is easily
made to catch the shackle provided on the anchor, power being applied
to lift the anchor towards the top of the derrick; when at a proper
height a stop or ball on the chain comes in contact with the pulley cap,
and the power being still applied it is obvious the derrick will be
"topped" inwards until it comes in contact with a stop or pawl on the
table which supports it nearly vertical; being thus secured, and the
anchor being fairly over the table, it can be lowered to its seat; the
pawls are now removed and the derrick lowered flat again on deck;
the anchor is now ready for immediate use, and only needs securing
to the deck in case of bad weather.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Wasteneys Smith in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 20th August 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
WASTENEYS SMITH, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, in the County of same Town,
Civil and Consulting Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her:
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Wasteneys Smith, Her
special licence that I, the said William Wasteneys Smith, my exc-

page_text: cutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Wasteneys Smith, 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 AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR WORKING AND STOWING
ANCHORS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Wasteneys Smith, 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 William Wasteneys Smith, 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 :-
This Invention is specially adapted for the "stockless" anchor, and
consists of a table or framework of iron or other suitable material fixed
on bearings, which are secured to the deck or to the gunwale at the side
of the vessel where the anchor is usually stowed; this table or platform
is of dimensions suitable for the anchor conveniently to rest on, and is
generally in a horizontal position, secured by a bar or bolt, which when
drawn out serves as a lever to tilt or incline the table, so that the anchor
may slide overboard; a derrick is fixed to same axis as table or any
convenient part, and when not in use lies flat on deck.
The modus operandi, supposing the anchor to be laid on the table, is
to draw out the bar as far as possible (the table and weight is so balanced
for safety as to require some force to be applied, one man may then
easily tilt or incline it so that the anchor will slide overboard, the table
is then replaced and bolt pushed in again to rest on the anchor, the
derrick is lifted up and projected over the vessels side sufficient to allow
the anchor to clear it, and is secured in that position by a guy; a chain
is led over the pulley at top of the derrick, and has at one end a fish
hook, the other end is passed through a snatch block and connected
either to set of blocks, or winch, or capstan direct; a small line is attached

page_text: to fish hook, and by this the hook is easily made to catch the shackle
provided on the anchor, power being applied to lift the anchor towards
the top of the derrick; when at a proper height a stop or ball on the
chain comes in contact with the pulley cap, and the power being still
applied, it is obvious the derrick with the "topped" inwards until about
vertical, in which position it is held with a guy, which is secured to an
outrigger; the anchor being fairly over the table it can be lowered to its
seat, the outrigger turned inboard, fish hook removed, and derrick
lowered flat again on deck; the anchor is now ready for immediate use,
and only needs securing to the deck in case of bad weather.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner of working the same, I wish it to be understood that what I
claim is the construction of a table, platform, or framework of such a
form, and so fix it that when required to "let go" this table can be tilted
or inclined with ease, and the anchor side off clear of the ship; by this
method the anchor is always stowed safely within board, always ready
for instant use, and easily worked by one hand.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Wasteneys Smith, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of August,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.
WILLIAM WASTENEYS SMITH. (L.S.)