IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ANCHORS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Wastencys Smith, of Newcastle-on-
Tyne, in the County of the same Town, Engineer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ANCHORS."
Sealed the 1st August 1871, and dated the 2nd March 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Wasteneys
Smith at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 2nd March 1871.
I, WILLIAM WASTENEYS SMITH, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, in the County
of the same Town, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ANCHORS," to be as
follows:-
"
The first part of this Invention consists of certain arrangments in the
construction of anchors whereby the use of a stock is dispensed with and
greater stability is imparted, whilst at the same time they are rendered
more capable of being stowed and of being readily transported in case of
need than heretofore. The anchors thus constructed will also more

page_text: effectually take the ground and hold efficiently, and when holding offer
no possibility of fouling, of being fouled, or of damaging ships' bottoms
in shallow water, and as the arms are constructed so as to work
independently of each other should one of them meet with any obstacle
to prevent its obtaining good hold the other arm is free to do so.
A shank of the required size and shape is formed, and furnished at the
crown end thereof with a cross head or shaft which is fixed at right
angles to the shaft, the same being secured either by welding or by the
shank passing through the cross head or shaft, or vice versa. The ends
of the cross head or shaft are made round, and on each end is mounted
an arm, the extremity of which is of a pointed form and tapered towards
the base, at which part it is widened quickly so as to form a horn on
cach side. The arms are secured on the cross head or shaft either by a
key which passes through them and working in a groove in the cross
head or shaft, or by a pin and washer outside by rivetting. The horns
are made so as to project a little over at one side to form stops which
come in contact with the cross head or shank to prevent the arms moving
beyond the required angle. In some instances a double shank and cross
shaft or bolts may be used to carry the arms, but in such method of
construction the same principle is employed.
The first part of this Invention will be more clearly understood by
reference to the annexed Drawings.
Figure 1 represents a plan view of an anchor constructed in accordanco
with this Invention; Figure 2 is a side view; and Figure 3 an end view,
the same letters of reference indicating similar parts in the several
Figures. A is the shank; B, the cross head or shaft; O, C, the arms;
d, d, the horus; e, e, keys to secure the arms on the cross head or shaft;
f, key to secure the shank in the same; g, shackle for buoy rope; haro
the parts of the cross head or shaft with which the stops come in contact;
and i are holes through the arms for fishing.
Figuro 4 is a plan of another modification in which arms are dispensed
with, and the shank is made in two parts, which may be either bolted
or rivetted together, the cross head or shaft having an eye a forged on
it for the buoy rope.
In Figure 5 the shank is also represented in two parts, the same being
at a little distance from cach other and having a sliackle ₺ between them.
The shank has a socket c, on which is the cyc for the buoy rope with a

page_text: In Figure 6 the shank is also in two parts, which form a bow outside
the arms and meet at the shackle f. A cross shaft g is provided at the
crown end of the shank on which the arms work. A shackle & is placed
Instead of the shank
on the shaft between the arms for the buoy rope.
being made in two parts it may be made in one picce with a swivel
instead of the shackle f.
Figure 7 is a solid shank and cross head or shaft with a bolt i, which
passes through it for the arms to work on.
Figures 8 and 9 are plan and side views of the arms c with the horns d
and stops i.
The second part of this Invention is in many of its features similar to
the first part thereof, but it is intended to be used with a stock for the
purpose of steadying the arms, and the arms may be secured rigidly
on the cross shaft and not work independently of each other, as before
described.
Figure 10 in the annexed Drawings represents this modification in
plan. A, A, are the two parts to form the shank; B, the cross shaft;
C, C, the arms; D, D, the parts of the shank which form the stock for
steadying the arms; c, e, are the keys to fasten the arms on the cross
shaft the shackle; g, the shackle for the buoy rope; and i, holes
through the arms, which are useful for fishing the anchor or securing the
arms in any position.
Another method of constructing anchors, and which forms the third
part of this Invention, is shown in Figures 11, 12, and 13 in the annexed
Drawings. In this part of the said Invention it is intended to dispense
with the horns on the arms and to use in place of them a cross head or
crown piece which differs from those before described by being of a
different depth, to raise the arms to such an inclination as readily to take
the ground. Thus no horns are needed and a greater area of surface is
given in the cross head or crown piece for resistance to dragging. The
Figures lastly referred to are respectively a side view, plan, and front
view, with the shank and arms in section, the same letters referring to
similar parts in each Figure. A is the shank secured to the cross head
or crown piece B in a similar manner to that shewn in Figure 1. On this

page_text: cross head or crown piece are formed lugs m, through which are passed
bolts or pins ♪ ♫, which also pass through the arms C, C, leaving them
free to move until the stops d, d, come in contact with either of the
bevelled parts of the cross head or crown piece marked e, e, which hold
them at the required angle. Shackles for the cable and buoy rope are
provided.
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 1st September 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
WASTENEYS SMITH, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, in the County of the same
Town, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Second day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Wasteneys Smith, Her
special liceuce that T, the said William Wasteneys Smith, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Wastencys Smith, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any tinic 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 CONSTRUCTION OF ANCHORS," upon tho
condition (amongst others) that T, 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, de
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manne
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer

page_text: tained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the Figures and letters marked
thereon, that is to say :-
The first part of this Invention consists of certain arrangements in
the construction of anchors whereby the use of a stock is dispensed with
and greater stability is imparted, whilst at the same time they are
rendered more capable of being stowed and of being readily transported
in case of need than heretofore. The anchors thus constructed will also
more effectually take the ground and hold efficiently, and when holding,
offer no possibility of fouling, of being fouled, or of damaging ships
bottoms in shallow water, and as the arms are constructed so as to work
independently of each other, should one of them meet with any obstacle
to prevent its obtaining good hold, the other arm is free to do so.
A shank of the required size and shape is formed and furnished at its
crown end with a cross head or shaft which is fixed at right angles to
the shank, the same being.secured either by welding or by the shank
passing through the cross head or shaft, or vice versa. The ends of the
cross head or shaft are made round, and on each end is mounted an arm,
the extremity of which is of a pointed form and tapered towards the
base, at which part it is widened quickly so as to form a horn on cach
side. The arms are secured on the cross head or shaft either by a key
which passes through them and working in a groove in the crosshead or
shaft or by a pin and washers outside or by rivetting. The horns are
made to project a little at one side so as to form stops which come in
contact with the cross head or shank to prevent the arms moving beyond
the required angle. It will be seen from the accompanying Drawing
that these stops and the parts of the cross head with which they come
in contact are slightly dovetailed, so that when a strain is put on the
arms they firmly grip the cross head and thus take the pressure off the
keys or washers that secure the arms on to the cross head. In some
instances a double shank and cross shaft or bolts may be used to carry
the arms, but in such method of construction the same principle is
employed.
The first part of this Invention will be more clearly understood by
reference to the annexed Drawing.
Figure 1 represents a plan view of an anchor constructed in accordance

page_text: Figures 11 and 12 are a side view and plan of another modification
of this part of the Invention in which the arms are rigidly keyed on the
cross head, the cross head moving on the shank and forming the horns or
projections to cause the arms to enter the ground; A is the shank; B,
the cross head; C, C, the arms; d, d, the parts of the cross head to form
the stops; e, the pin passing through two lugs ff.
In neither of the two parts of my Invention do I confine myself to
the use of two arms only or to use or totally dispense with a stock,
and I may use any part of one with any part of the other at option.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would observe in
conclusion that beyond the general construction, arrangement, and
combination of parts as illustrated and described, what I claim is, the
construction of the horns or cross head in a line with or behind the centro
of axis, and of such a shape as to forin a most efficient bearing to steady
the anchor and dispense with a stock, and so fix them as always to
protrude beyond the rest of the anchor and therefore be bearing points
for it, so that immediately the anchor is dragged these horns or cross
head will force the points of the arms to enter the ground; also by the
extremities of the horns or cross head being in a line with or behind the
centre of axis. The weight of the anchor is most effectively used to
obtain a sure and speedy grip and thus not depend alone to the gravity.
of the arms to cause them to take the ground.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Wasteneys Smith, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of August,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-