IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPS' ANCHORS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Walter Morgan, of Saltney, in the County of
Flint, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPS' ANCHORS."
Sealed the 7th December 1866, and dated the 21st September 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Walter Morgan at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
21st September 1866.
I, JOHN WALTER MORGAN, of Saltney, in the County of Flint, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPS'
ANCHORS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the conformation and construction of ship's anchors
and mooring anchors, combining the shank and arms of anchors in such a
manner that they will take a double angular position to each other, so that
the palms of the flukes are always certain to be pressed into the ground, so
that when the strain.comes on the cable the shank will take the same angular
position as the cable; the knuckle joint impinges on the strap in which
"swivel" the arms, so that the palms are always certain to take hold of the
ground in whatever direction the anchor may fall on the bottom, or in what-
ever direction the strain may be on the cable.
A, A, the shank; B, the arm; C, the shackle to which is attached the
ship's cable; D, D, are two straps, which are fastened to the shank by the
oval "cotter" E, forming at their upper ends a joint for the "gab strap " F to
work in on the pin G, the angle being limited by the two planes H and I coming

page_text: in contact when the strain is put on the anchor by the pull of the cable; these
in combination form a "toggle joint," the crown shackle J playing between
the "gab strap," and working on the pin K. The arms and flukes swivel
between the "gab strap" on the pin L, so that in whatever direction the strain
may be on the shank the flukes or "palms "M, M, are certain to be depressed
and forced into the ground.
Another and important advantage in anchors of this construction is, that
the several parts are put together without a "weld," the shank is in one piece,
having an oval cotter hole punched through it at one end, to which are fastened
the two straps between which "swivels " the "gab strap," and between which
again swivel the arms and flukes at right angles, each piece being made with-
out "welds," the whole being rivetted or attached by the cotters and bolts as
shewn in the Drawings.
The advantages are, firstly, great strength without welding; secondly,
simplicity in construction; thirdly, great strength with a small amount of
material; fourthly, the anchor can be "fished" up without danger of fouling;
fifthly, the anchor will bite immediately on touching the bottom...
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Walter Morgan in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 20th March 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
WALTER MORGAN, of Saltney, in the County of Flint, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Walter Morgan, Her special licence that I, the said John Walter
Morgan, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or.such others as I, the said
John Walter Morgan, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SHIPS ANCHORS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said John Walter Morgan, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-.

page_text: ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and: in'
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same. to bė
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 John Walter Morgan do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed; to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to the conformation and construction of ships' and
mooring anchors where both "flukes" are made to enter the ground at one
time, combining the "shank" and arm in such a manner that the palms of
the "flukes" are always certain to take and press into the ground in whatever
position the anchor may fall on the bottom or in whatever direction the strain
may be on the cable. Other advantages are in the certainty of their action,
less liability to foul either cables or ships' sides, simplicity of construction, and
the dispensing with "welding," as all the parts may be drawn or forged to
the required size under the steam hammer, and readily fitted or put together,
thereby effecting a considerable saving in their construction.
Anchors made as herein described and shewn in the accompanying Drawing:
will lay flat against and in line with ship's side, and can be worked either
with or without a cathead, and the pin on which the arms swivel being:
placed inside the crown causes the points of the "palms," in whatever position:.
the shank may be, to hang perpendicularly with the back of the arm, thereby:
rendering it.impossible for the points of the palms to foul the ship's side when:
entering dock, or coming in contact with the pier heads, or in collision with:
other ships.
Also the peculiar construction of stocks for anchors by placing a plate on
each side of the shank, being bolted together at the ends, and moving on two.
lugs forged with the shank, so that in the event of the cable fouling the
stock it will cant or move on the lugs so as to readily free the cable.
"
Anchors of this description will act as well without as with a "stock," so
that if the stock be broken (an occurrence not infrequent) the biting or;
holding qualities would not be materially impared, and both flukes being
down the anchor in shallow water could not damage the ship's bottom in case
of overriding the anchor or grounding. All the parts can be made in,
separate pieces, conveniently stowed away, and readily put together when
required..
In order to explain. this Invention more fully I now proceed to describe the :
best means for carrying the same into practical effect, reference being had
1

page_text: to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked
thereon.
Figures 1 and 2, a front and side view of the anchor; Figure 3, a sectional
view of the arm, shewing an edge view of the palm; Figure 4 shews
position of shank when the anchor has entered the ground; Figure 5,
front view shewing second mode of fastening the shackle to the crown of
the anchor; Figure 6, a side view of the same; Figures 7 and 8, view
shewing an additional method by which the angle of the shank may be regu-
lated; Figure 9, a view shewing the manner in which the straps may be
forged solid with the shank; Figures 10 and 11, edge and side views of
the arm, palm, and gab strap previous to being bent to the required forms;
Figure 12, a side view and plan showing the mode of attaching a stock to
the shank; Figure 13, a side view shewing another form and method of
fastening the gab strap to the arm.
"
A, A, the shank; B, the arm; C, the shackle, to which is attached the
ship's cable; D, D, are two straps, which are fastened to the shank by the
oval "cotter" E (or the-same may be forged solid with the shank, as shewn
in Figure 9, marked D, thereby dispensing with the cotter E; the planes H
and J coming into contact limit the angle of the shank A, when the strain is
on the cable G, the pin by which the two straps D, D, are fastened to the
gab strap F, these parts in combination form toggle joint." Other
methods of limiting the angle of the shank A are by forming the end of
the gab strap F, as shewn in Figure 7, marked P, P¹, in which case the
toggles P, P, Figure 2, may be dispensed with, or as in Figure 8, where the
end of the shank A has on each side planes J, J, which come into contact
with the plane H¹ on the end of the gab strap F, the shank swivelling on the
pin G. The manner of securing the arms B and flukes M is by the pin L
in Figures 1 and 2 passing through the gab strap F, or it may be keyed to
the back of the crown by the key K, shewn in dotted lines, Figure 5, passing
through the keyway K', Figure 6.
The novelty of and manner in which stocks of anchors may be attached to
the shank A will be readily understood by the following description, reference
being had to the Drawing, Figure 12, where the stock is formed of two
plates S, S, fastened together by the bolts and nuts T, T. To prevent the
cable fouling around the stock I forge into the shank A two lugs P*, P',
and cut gaps J, J', in the plates S of such a form as will allow the stock to
radiate on the lugs P, thereby readily slipping off the cable; by this arrange-
ment the hole N, Figures 1 and 2, can be dispensed with.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention, and the manner in

page_text: which the same is or may be carried into effect, I do not limit myself to
the precise conformation of parts, as they may be modified without departing
from the essential features of my Invention; what I claim is,―
Firstly, the introduction of the "gab strap," and the peculiar conformation
of such where it impinges on the shank.
Secondly, in the peculiar construction of the toggles.
Thirdly, placing the pin on which swivel the arms inside the crown.
Fourthly, the peculiar construction of the stock, which may be applied to
ordinary anchors.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Walter Morgan, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of March, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-seven.
JOHN W. MORGAN.
(L.S.)