ROV DRAGS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark of the firm of A. M and W Clark of
53 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of
Patent Agents for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS
communicated to him from abroad by Ambrose James Clarke, of Brooklyn
in the County of Kings and State of New York, United States of America
IN MARINE DRAGS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th July 1883.
"
WILLIAM CLARK of the firm of A. M. and W. Clark of 53 Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MARINE DRAGS [communicated to him from abroad by Ambrose James Clarke,
of Brooklyn in the County of Kings and State of New York, United States of
America]
.
The object of the Invention is to facilitate the heaving to of vessels and it consists
in a marine drag constructed with a shank provided with a stationary collar and a
runner to which the ribs and stretchers whose outer ends are loosely connected together
are respectively hinged in combination with triangular plates hinged to each other
and to the ribs whereby the drag will be opened by the resistance of the water. The
shank of the drag is preferably made square in cross section, and the stationary
collar is secured to its outer end. The ends of the ribs are secured to the runner
by a wire ring or other suitable means and to them are hinged the edges of the
triangular metallic plates in such a manner that the said plates can fold outward.
The other edges of the adjacent plates are hinged to each other between the ribs in
such a manner that the said plates can fold inward.
To the corner of each alternate plate at the joint midway between the ribs is
attached a small plate the end of which projects beyond the said edge and is bent
at an obtuse angle, so that the outer side of the corner of the other wing will rest
against the said end, when the drag is opened, the said plates serving as stops to
prevent the wings folding in the wrong direction, and thus preventing the drag
from closing snugly, when the drag is reversed, and is being drawn in. The outer

page_text: ends of the stretchers are hinged to the outer ends of the ribs their inner ends
being hinged by a wire ring or otherwise to the inovable runner which slides upon
the shank and whose outward movement is limited by a stop. The inner end of
the shank has a clevis by which it is attached to the vessel. A chain is secured
to the outer end of the shank the end of which is made longer than the ribs and is
provided with a heavy ring attached to its free end. To this ring is attached the
end of a trip line extending to the vessel.
With this construction, when the drag is to be used, it is thrown overboard
folded, a suitable length of the hawser is payed out, and the hawser is then secured
to the vessel. When the drag is put under strain by the drifting of the vessel, the
resistance of the water, opens the said drag so that the water will offer a sufficient
resistance to the drag to hold the vessel to the wind.
When the drag is to be taken in, the trip line is drawn upon, which swings the
drag around, so that the resistance of the water will close the said drag and allow
it to be easily drawn in by the said trip line.
The weight of the chain holds the same below the lowest ends of the ribs so that
the trip line cannot be fouled by the movements of the drag.in the water.
.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Clark in the Patent Office on the 17th January 1884.
33
WILLIAM CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and W. Clark, of 53 Chancery Lane in the
County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, "IMPROVEMENTS*
IN MARINE DRAGS A communication to me from abroad by Ambrose James
Clarke, of Brooklyn, in the County of Kings, and State of New York, United
States of America,
The object of this invention is to facilitate the heaving to of vessels The.
Invention consists in a marine drag constructed with a shank provided with a.
stationary runner, to which are hinged the ribs, and a movable runner to which
are hinged the stretchers, the said ribs and stretchers being hinged to each other,.
and to the ribs are hinged, the edges of triangular plates, having the outer edges of,
the adjacent plates hinged to each other whereby the drag will be opened by the.
resistance of the water.
4
To the outer end of the drag shank, and to the trip line are attached the ends of.
a chain, the weight of which will hold the trip line below the ribs and plates so,
that the said trip line will be kept from being fouled as will be hereinafter fully
described.
Figure 1 is a sectional view of the drag. Figure 2 is a section on line x-x:
Figure 1. Figure 3 is a sectional view of the drag closed. Figure 4 is a cross,
section of the same on line y-y Figure 3. Figures 5 and 6 are end views of two
of the wings when closed and opened respectively. The same letters indicate the
same parts in all the figures.
A represents the shank of the drag which I prefer to make square in cross section,
and to the outer end of which is secured by rivets, collars or other suitable means
the stationary runner B.
To the runner B are hinged by a wire ring C or other suitable means the ends
of the ribs D to which are hinged the edges of triangular metallic plates E in such
a manner that the said plates E can fold outward. The other edges of the adjacent
plates E are hinged to each other between the ribs D in such a manner that the
said plates can fold inward.
To the corner of each alternate wing E, at the joint midway between the ribs D
is attached a small plate Q, the end of which projects beyond the said edge, and is
bent at an obtuse angle, so that the outer side of the corner of the other wing will
rest against the said end, when the drag is opened, the said plates Q, serving as
stops to prevent the wings from folding in the wrong direction, and thus preventing
the drag from closing snugly, when the drag is reversed, and is being drawn in.
To the outer ends of the ribs D are hinged by clevises or lugs F or other suitable
means, the outer ends of the stretchers G, the inner ends of which are hinged by a
wire ring H or other suitable means, to the movable runner I which slides upon
the shank A and the outward movement of which is limited by a collar J or other
suitable stop attached to the said shank A
To the inner end of the shank A, is attached by a clevis K or other suitable
means, the end of a hawser L, the other end of which is secured to the vessel.
To the outer end of the shank A is secured by a clevis M or other suitable means,
the end of a chain N, which is made longer than the ribs D and has a heavy ring O
attached to its free end. To the ring Ŏ is attached the end of a line P extending
to the vessel.
With this construction, when the drag is to be used, it is thrown overboard.
folded as shown in figures 3 and 4, a suitable length of the hawser L is payed out,
and the hawser is then secured to the vessel. When the drag is put under strain

page_text: by the drifting of the vessel the resistance of the water opens the said drag into the
position shown in figures 1 and 2 so that the water will offer a sufficient resistance
to the drag to hold the vessel to the wind.
When the drag is to be taken in, the line R is drawn upon, which swings the
drag around, so that 'the resistance of the water will close the said drag and allow
it to be easily drawn in by the said trip³line P.
With this construction the weight of the chain N holds the said chain below the
lowest ends of the ribs D so that the trip line P cannot be fouled by the movements
of the drag in the water.
膂
Having described the nature of the said invention and the manner of performing
the same I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is:
1. A. Marine drag constructed substantially as herein shown and described, and
consisting of the shank A, having stationary runner B, and movable runner I, the
hinged ribs D, the hinged plates E, and the hinged stretchers G as set forth.
2. In a marine drag, the combination with the shank A, the runners B, I, the
ribs D, and the stretchers G of the triangular plates E, hinged to each other and to
the ribs D, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the drag will be
opened by the resistance of the water as set forth.
3. In a marine drag, the combination with the hinged wings E of the angular-
stop,plates Q, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the said wings
are kept from folding in the wrong direction, as set forth.
2
4. In a marine drag, the combination with the shank A, runners-B, I, ribs D
stretchers G, hinged triangular plates E, and trip line P of the chain N, substan-
tially as herein shown and described whereby the said trip line will be kept from
being fouled as set forth. "'
In witness' whereof I the said William Clark, have hereunto set my hand and
seal this Seventeenth day of January A.D. 1884.