IMPROVEMENTS IN ANCHORS
Year: 1880

page_text: Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th August 1880.
THOMAS ELY NORTON, of Southampton, in the County of Hants. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN ANCHORS."
By these improvements I obtain a very compact anchor, easily stowed, and I
obviate the disconnecting of the "flukes."
I joint each "fluke" on to the "crown" independently of the other, and cut the
ends off nearly square so as to leave two projecting corners, one preferably rather
longer than the other. I recess the crown in such manner that these corners may
each come against a projecting portion and so take off a considerable quantity of
the strain from the pin. I also put a hole through the crown at right angles to the
axis of the flukes when open, through which to place a buoy rope.
The connecting pins through the flukes are preferably screwed in instead of
being driven with keys and rings in the usual manner, which are liable to get
broken when connecting or disconnecting.
When folded for stowing the flukes lie very close against the shank, but are
always ready for use without the usual difficulties attendant upon "connecting,"
and the whole anchor is very compact and handy for stowing and carrying.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Ely Norton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th February 1881.
THOMAS ELY NORTON, of Southampton, in the County of Hants. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN ANCHORS."
My improvements will be best understood by reference to the Drawings attached
hereto and forming part of this Specification; in these like letters of reference
represent like parts in the different views.
Fig. 1 is a side view of one form of my improved anchor with the flukes
distended; in this view each fluke moves upon a separate pin or pivot; Fig. 2 is an
edge view of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section upon line X, X, of Fig. 1, and shows hows
the pins may be arranged; Fig. 4 is a side view similar to Fig. 1, only in this case
both flukes are pivotted upon one pin, and one half the crown is in section,
otherwise it is similar to Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a section upon line Y, Y, of Fig. 4.
A. is the shank and B the "crown," to which the flukes C are jointed by pins or
equivalent D, by preference screwed at D¹, as shown, although of course an
ordinary pin could be substituted if necessary. I prefer however to use a screw
thread, because the ordinary plan of keys, rings, etcetera, causes much labour in
driving and drifting and knocks the anchors about. Merely rivetting the ends
over will do, but is not so secure as screwing. The dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 4
indicate the position of the flukes when closed up; E, Fig. 1, is the hole in the
crown through which is rove the buoy rope when required; in Fig. 4 the position
of this hole would require to be slightly altered, as for instance at E. The ends C¹
of flukes C are cut off nearly square, as shown in Fig. 1, and when the flukes are
open bear against part of the crown at B¹, as shown. When both flukes are
pivotted upon the same pin, as in Fig. 4, the ends C¹ must either bear against each
other or must be slightly altered in form, as shown, so as to bear upon a
correspondingly arranged part of the crown B¹, Fig. 4.
When folded for stowing these anchors take up very little room, as is evident
from the Drawings, but at the same time are always ready for use without the well
known difficulties, delay, and annoyances incidental to "connecting" these anchors
which take to pieces for stowing.
"
دو
In actual use the advantages of my anchors are even more apparent, as it is
practically impossible for any fouling to take place, and the flukes being
independent of each other the anchors "take hold" quicker and more securely
than almost any other form. A difficulty which frequently arises in anchors of the
Trotman type is "fouling," often occasioned thus: the anchor is lowered in a calm,
and a few fathoms of chain extra are let go, as is customary. The anchor lies with
the under fluke close against the shank, consequently the upper fluke sticks up and
the loose chain coils round it, so that when the vessel "takes charge" and tightens
the chain the lower fluke leaves the shank and the upper fluke presses close
against it, locking the chain between fluke and shank, and a "foul" anchor is
occasioned.
Now, with my form of anchor with the independent flukes this difficulty
cannot occur, because when it reaches the bottom both flukes lie close to the shank,
so that no loose chain can get between either fluke and the shank, so no" fouling
takes place.
"
Having now described my Invention, and the method of performing the same,
I wish it to be understood that I do not claim the principle of having the flukes
separate from the shank, as that is not new, but that what I do claim and desire to
protect under the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The herein described construction of anchor with flukes capable of moving

page_text: independently of each other and the shank, substantially as and for the purposes set
forth and shown.
Second. The employment in an anchor of a screw thread as a fastening for the
pins or pivots for the flukes to turn upon, in place of the usual keys or other
customary fastening, substantially as set forth and shown.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Ely Norton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
Signed, sealed, & delivered by
the within named Thomas
Ely Norton, this Fifteenth
day of February 1881, before
me,
G. M. W. PESLEY, J.P.
THOMAS ELY NORTON. (L.S.)