An Improved Sea-anchor and Oil-distributor Combined, for Ships' and Boats' Use.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 4th Sept., 1890-Accepted, 11th Oct., 1890.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Sea-anchor and Oil-distributor Combined, for Ships'
and Boats' Use.
RICHARD GEORGE LACEY Mercury Villa Summerley Street Earlsfield S. W. in the
County of Surrey, Mariner do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
1
This invention consists of a floating anchor or drogue of any convenient form, to
which is attached a receptacle for oil so arranged, that on opening suitable valves
or plugs the oil leaks slowly from it; the oil is thus discharged to windward, of the
boat or vessel riding from the floating anchor and has time to act upon the waves
before reaching the boat or vessel.
The floating anchor or drogue is preferably made of canvas in the form of a square.
The upper edge is secured to a beam or bar of wood cork or other buoyant material;
the lower edge to a bar of iron or other heavy material. A bridle or rope becket
is attached to the upper bar, or upper edge of the canvas and another bridle or rope
becket is attached to the lower bar, these can be joined so as to form one bridle of
four parts, to the four corners.
The boat
may ride by two lines one attached to each bridle so that the anchor can
be slipped or tripped by slacking out one of the lines.
The upper and lower parts may be held apart by spreaders so arranged that they
may be slipped into place when the anchor is unrolled for throwing overboard, or they
may be pivoted together so that the anchor may open automatically as the lower bar
sinks of its own weight.
The oil is contained in a canvas bag formed by doubling the upper part of the
canvas square, or made independently sewn to the canvas, or it may be contained in
a cylindrical or other receptacle of wood, copper, zinc or other material attached
to the canvas by sewing (preferably enclosed between two parts of canvas or secured
to the upper bar) or a cylindrical vessel, as described, may with a cork or other
protective and buoyant covering itself form the upper bar of the anchor.
The oil receptacle I propose to be fit with one or more valves which consists of
grating or perforated plates with fine holes or meshes. The valves being covered
with moveable caps.
The upper bar of the anchor may be fitted with attachments by which it may be
suspended from the underside of one of the thwarts of the boat or other convenient
place so as to be out of the way and protected from injury.
The oil receptacle whether detached from the anchor or still attached to or enclosed
in it, may be used in the ordinary way as a wave subduer by being held or hung
over the side of the boat.
Jan 6th 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Sea-anchor and Oil-distributor Combined, for Ships'
and Boats' Use.
RICHARD GEORGE LACEY of Mercury Villa Summerley Street Earlsfield, in the
County of Surrey, Mariner 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 :-
My invention consists of a floating anchor or drogue of any convenient form to
which I attach receptacle for oil so arranged that on opening suitable plugs or
valves, the oil is allowed to discharge itself from it.

page_text: In carrying ont my invention I proceed as follows reference being made to the
accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1. shews a front view of the apparatus..
Fig. 2. shews anchor folded up & stowed away under boats thwart.
Fig. 3. end view shewing attachments to bridle for "spilling" or "tripping"
purposes.
Fig. 4. oil receptacle for fitting.in bag.
Fig.5 section of oil receptacle shewing attachment of plugs or valves.
The anchor is preferably made of canvas in the form of a square A. The upper
edge being secured to a beam or bar of wood, cork or other buoyant material. B, the
lower edge to a bar or rod of iron or other heavy material F. A bridle N is attached
to the upper corners, and another to the lower corners of the anchor, into which
thimbles L & M are spliced, so that in using the anchor, the boat rope R (Fig. 3) is
taken through the thimble L in the upper bridle and fastened to M in the lower
bridle, by attaching another small line T to the thimble L, the anchor can be "spilled
or tripped at any time, it being only necessary to haul upon the smaller line & slack
out the boat rope...
"
The upper and lower bars may be held apart by spreaders S, so arranged that they
may be slipped into place when the anchor is unrolled & before it is thrown over-
board, or they may be jointed, so that they open out automatically, as the lower bar
sinks by its own weight.
"
A pocket is formed at C, in the canvas, close under the spar, containing the oil
receptacle (Figs. 4 & 5) which is made of copper zinc, wood or other material.
G, G, are screw plugs or valves, (which are attached to the oil vessel by a small chain
fitted to the inner side of plug or valve & to the end of chain a piece of thick wire,
as shewn in Fig. 5 J) which when unscrewed allow the oil. to escape at a slow rate
into the water, as it flows out it is replaced by water which enters through similar
openings at H. I, at the end of oil vessel (Fig. 4) is for filling. The oil vessel is
secured by a lacing at D. E, E, are strong iron eyes for stretching the anchor upon
spar, & for suspending the apparatus beneath one of the boats thwarts when not
in action, (see Fig. 2). K K are toggles for gathering up the canvas portion with the
bridles etc. inside, when stowed away as shown.
the
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. A sea anchor so as to be combined with a wave smoother or oil distributor.
2. A receptacle for holding oil, fitted to or attached to above sea anchor.
3. Distribution of valves over the oil cylinder, so that the water flows in & drives
oil out of..oil receptacle.
4. The means of placing bridles on anchor so as to "trip" or "spill " same.
Dated this 4th day of Sentember 1890.
RICHARD GEORGE LACEY.