Improvements in Combined Spring-shackles and Oil Ejectors, for Attachment to Anchor-cables and Towing-hawsers of Vessels.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Nov., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 12th Aug.. 1898-Accepted, 5th Nov.. 1898
Improvements in Combined Spring-shackles and Oil Ejectors, for
Attachment to Anchor-cables and Towing-hawsers of Vessels.
I, JAMES BENNETT STONE, 185, Vernon Street, in the City and County of
Worcester and State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Civil Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide a combined spring-shackle and oil-
ejector, adapted to be attached to the anchor-cable, or towing-hawser of a vessel,
to relieve said cable or hawser from excessive or sudden strain, and thereby
preventing breakage, and also to cause oil to be discharged and distributed upon
the surface of the water in a heavy sea, as in a storm, while the vessel is anchored
or being towed; said discharge of oil being caused by the draught upon the cable
or hawser to which the vessel is attached while thus anchored or towed, the degree
of strain governing the amount of oil discharged according to the severity of the
storin, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.
I employ a tight cylinder or shell, threaded externally for a short distance at
each end, and having hollow, conical-shaped caps or heads, screwed onto the said
threaded ends.
The chamber so formed, is designed to contain the oil for ejection and
distribution, and also the mechanism for effecting said ejection when any tensional
strain is imparted thereto.
The mechanism consists preferably of a central longitudinal rod or spindle, and
encircling which are a series of spiral springs, preferably three in this instance, the
ends of the said springs rest within shoulders or steps formed upon the inner side of
one of the conical caps.
The springs are of different diameters and arranged one within another, or in any
other suitable manner, to obtain the necessary resistance to the draught upon the
cable or hawser, to which the device is attached; the said resisting power being
increased or decreased by the size and number of said springs employed, and also
by adjusting the head of the longitudinal rod longitudinally, towards or from the
springs; the said head being screwed on to one end of the rod. The head may be
locked after adjustment.
The opposite end of the longitudinal rod or spindle passes out through the other
conical cap or head, and slides longitudinally in a stuffing-box fitted in said cap or
head.
Upon the outer end of the rod or spindle may be formed or secured a suitable
eye-loop, preferably a swivel eyeloop, or if desired it may form part of the rod or
spindle, and attached in any suitable manner.
At the opposite end of the device a second eye-loop for connection with the cable
or hawser is preferably formed integral with the cap or head.
The oil is supplied to the cylinder or chamber through suitable plugged inlets
arranged in the cap or head attached to the hawser, and said oil is discharged from
said chamber by forming longitudinal grooves in the rod or spindle, which
terminate just inside of the cap or head at the opposite end of the device; this
[ Price Rd1

page_text: discharge being produced by the strain which may be imparted to the cable or
hawser with which the device is connected, as when the vessel is anchored in a
heavy sea, or being towed by another vessel."
In order that the amount of oil discharged may be regulated to correspond to
the severity of the storm and consequent disturbance of the sea, I form the grooves
of different lengths, or, in other words, terininate the same each a little back of the
others from the end opening in the body of the device.
Therefore, it will be apparent that in a light storm, when only a comparatively
small disturbance of the sea is produced the strain upon the cable or hawser may
cause the rod or spindle to be pulled out only a sufficient distance to bring the
forward end of the longest groove outside of the stuffing-box, and the oil is
discharged through that groove only, but as the storm increases and a greater
amount of oil is necessitated to insure the safety of the vessel, the consequent
greater strain upon the cable or hawser thereby produced, causes the next and
possibly the third or other grooves to be brought into action for discharging an
additional quantity of oil into the sea, according to the severity of the storm, which
rising to the surface and spreading, causes the well known calming and smoothing
effect upon the waves, thereby relieving the strain upon the cable or hawser, and
allowing the vessel to ride the said waves with safety.
The head of the longitudinal rod may be provided with holes or perforations
for the free passage of the oil to either side of said head in the cylinder or
chamber.
If desired, instead of forming grooves in the rod or spindle for the discharge of
the oil, the same result may be effected by slotting said rod or spindle clear
through.
Improvements in Combined Spring-shackles and Oil Ejectors, for
Attachment to Anchor-cables and Towing-hawsers of Vessels.
I, JAMES BENNETT STONE, of 185, Vernon Street, in the City and County of
Worcester, and State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The object of my invention is to provide a combined spring-shackle and oil
ejector, adapted to be attached to the anchor cable or towing hawser of a vessel, to
relieve said cable or hawser from excessive or sudden strain, and thereby preventing
breakage, and also, to cause oil to be discharged and distributed upon the surface
of the water in a heavy sea, as in a storm, while the vessel is anchored or being
towed, said discharge of oil being caused by the draught upon the cablo or lawser
to which the vessel is attached while thus anchored or towed, the degree of strain
governing the amount of oil discharged according to the severity of the storm, as
will be hereinafter more fully set forth.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 represents a side view of my said improved combined spring shackle and
oil oiector

page_text: Fig. 3 18 a central longitudinal section, partly in side view, through the spring-
shackle and oil-ejector.
Fig. 4 is a transverse section therethrough, taken at the point indicated by
line aa in Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is an enlarged view showing a central longitudinal section, partly in side
view, of a part of the device shown at the right-hand end of Fig. 3, showing also a
modification in the construction hereinafter described.
Figure 6 is a transverse section of the central longitudinal spindle of the device
taken on line b b Fig. 5; and
Figs. 7, 8, and show other modifications in the construction, which will also be
hereinafter described.
A represents a tight cylinder or shell, threaded externally for a short distance at
each end, and having the hollow conical-shaped caps or heads BC screwed onto
said threaded ends, the latter being provided with internal threads corresponding
to and adapted to fit said external threads on the cylinder. The chamber A¹,
formed by thus uniting said cylinder and caps or heads, is designed to contain the
oil for ejection and distribution, and also the mechanism for effecting said ejection
when any tensional strain is imparted thereto. Said mechanism consists of the
central longitudinal rod or spindle D, the head E, secured at its inner end, and a
series of spiral springs F, three in this instance, arranged over said rod or spindle
between said head E and the cap or head C, the latter being provided with steps
or shoulders C upon its inner side for the ends of said springs to bear against.
The springs are of different diameters and arranged one within another to obtain
the necessary resistance to the draught upon the cable or hawser to which the
device is attached, said resisting power being increased or decreased by the size
and number of said springs employed, and also by adjusting the head E longitudin-
ally toward or from the springs, said head being provided with a threaded opening,
and the rod or spindle correspondingly threaded to fit said opening, as is shown in
Fig. 3. The head may be locked after adjustment, by a set nut E¹, and also by a
key c, adapted to fit in a longitudinal slot d in the rod or spindle, said key being of
course removed to permit the head being turned to adjust the same, and replaced
after said adjustment. The opposite end of rod or spindle D passes out through
the cap or head C, the same being fitted to slide longitudinally in a stuffing-box. G.
fitted in the opening in said cap or head, and made air tight at the joints by
suitable bushings e f.
Upon the outer end of the rod or spindle D may be formed or secured a suitable
eye-loop, preferably a swivel eye-loop y, such as is shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. If
desired, however, it may be made integral with the rod or spindle, as is shown at h
in Fig 5, or made as a separate part and fastened by a transverse pin i, as is shown
in Fig. 7, or otherwise fastened in any suitable manner. At the opposite end of
the device the eye-loop H for connection with the cable or hawser, is preferably
formed integral with the cap or head B, as is shown in the drawings, but I do not
limit myself thereto.
The oil is supplied to chamber A¹ through suitable plugged inlets J, in this
instance arranged in the cap or head B, and said oil is discharged from said chamber
by forming longitudinal grooves in the rod or spindle D, which terminate just
inside of the cap or head C when the parts are in their normal positions, and thus
discharge the oil only when the rod or spindle is drawn out of the body of the
device, a sufficient distance to bring one or more of the ends of said grooves out-
side of stuffing-box G, this result, it is obvious, being produced by any strain
which may be imparted to the cable or hawser with which the device is connected,
as when the vessel is anchored in a heavy sea or being towed by another vessel.
In order that the amount of oil discharged may be regulated to correspond to
the severity of the storm and consequent disturbance of the sea, I form the grooves k
of different lengths, or, in other words, terminate the same each a little back of
the others from the end opening in the body of the device, as is shown in Fig. 5.

page_text: Therefore it will be apparent that in a light storm, when only a comparatively
small disturbance of the sea is produced, the strain upon the cable or hawser may
cause the rod or spindle to be pulled out only a sufficient distance to bring the
forward end of the longest groove outside of the stuffing-box, and the oil is
discharged through that groove only, but as the storm increases and a greater
amount of oil is necessitated to insure the safety of the vessel, the consequent
greater strain upon the cable or hawser thereby produced causes the next and
possibly the third or other grooves to be brought into action for discharging an
additional quantity of oil into the sea, according to the severity of the storm, which,
rising to the surface and spreading, causes the well-known calming and smoothing
effect upon the waves, thereby relieving the strain upon the cable or hawser and
allowing the vessel to ride said waves with safety.
It will of course be understood that the device is in practice applied to the cable
near the anchor and to the hawser in towing at some distance from the vessel, so
as to distribute the oil on the surface of the water at a considerable distanco from
or in advance of the vessel, so as to calm the waves before reaching the same.
In Fig. 3 I have shown the head E provided with holes or perforations for the
free passage of the oil to either side of said head in chamber A¹, but as the head is
designed to be made to fit loose in the cylinder or casing, and thus permits the oil
to pass through around said head, I do not limit myself to said openings or to any
particular shape of head, the essential point being to provide in said head a guide
for the rod or spindle, and at the same time allow of a free passage of the oil to
either side thereof. Neither do I limit myself to the number or arrangement of
springs F in the cylinder A or to the number of grooves k in the rod or spindle D,
an important feature as to the springs being their arrangement in the oil-chamber,
where they will always be protected from injury by corrosion.
If desired, instead of forming grooves in the rod or spindle for the discharge
of the oil the same result may be effected by slotting said rod or spindle clear
through, as is shown at k¹ in Fig. 8.
I prefer the first described method, since it does not weaken the rod or spindle
as by the other method.
By making the caps or heads B C of conical shape, pointing toward each end, it
is obvious that the same will assist in preventing or prevent the device catching on
projecting rocks or other obstructions, and thus injuring the same by sudden shocks
thereby imparted thereto. This is an important feature in the practical application
of the device.
Although I prefer the arrangement of springs F over the central rod or spindle,
as hereinbefore described, if desired they may be disposed about the rod or spindle,
as is shown in Fig. 9, instead of being arranged over and concentric with it, as
previously described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. An improved, combined spring-shackle and oil-ejector for attachment to anchor-
cables and towing-hawsers, consisting of the cylinder or casing A; the caps or
heads B, C, adapted for attachment to said cylinder ends to form an oil reservoir or
chamber A¹ within, extending the entire length of the interior of the device and pro-
vided with suitable plugged inlets for admitting the oil, the cap or head C being
provided with a central longitudinal opening in its outer end; the stuffing-box Gand
bushings fitted in said opening; the longitudinal rod or spindle D, provided with the
adjustable head E at its inner end, with means for attachment to the cable or
hawser at its outer end, and with longitudinal grooves or slots, preferably made of
different lengths, and the spiral springs F interposed between the head E on the
rod or spindle and the cap or head C forming one end of the device, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 2. In a spring-shackle, the combination of the cylinder or case A, and the caps
or heads B, C secured to the ends thereof to form the oil reservoir or chamber A¹,
with the grooved or slotted rod or spindle D having the head E and the springs F
arranged in said oil reservoir or chamber, substantially as set forth.
3. In a spring-shackle, the combination of the cylinder A and caps or heads B, C,
with the grooved or slotted rod D having the head E and means for attachment
to the cable or hawser and springs arranged in the oil reservoir or chamber for
exerting a resistance to the tensional strain of said cable or hawser, substantially
as set forth.
4. In a spring-shackle, the combination of the cylinder A, caps or heads B, C
and stuffing box G, with the central rod or spindle D having grooves or slots
formed therein, whose forward ends are arranged at different distances from the
opening in the cap or head C and the springs arranged in the oil reservoir or
chamber, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
5. In a spring-shackle, the cylinder A having heads B, C, in combination with
the central rod or spindle with which the cable or hawser is connected, having a
series of longitudinal grooves or slots whose forward ends are arranged to begin at
different distances from its outer end, substantially as set forth.
6. In a spring shackle, the combination of the cylinder A, caps or heads B, C,
stuffing box G, central rod or spindle D, springs F arranged in the oil reservoir or
chamber A', and the head E provided with perforations or openings to permit a
free passage of the oil, also adapted to be adjusted and locked on said rod or
spindle, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 11th day of Amount 1000
JOHN E. WALSH,
Of Crossley Street, Halifax, and
Royal Exchange Chambers, Boar Lane, Leeds,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.