AN IMPROVED ANCHOR
Year: 1860

page_text: Sealed the 2nd April 1861, and dated the 9th October 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Danby at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 9th
October 1860.
I, FRANCIS DANBY, of Exmouth, in the County of Devon, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED ANCHOR," to be
as follows:-
The shank of my improved anchor, is divided into two arms, these are con-
nected together and form a circular crown or support for the shank, furnished
with an eye to receive the ring for the cable. Below the crown the arms open
out in the form of a "lyre" and terminate with holes to receive a bolt which
carries the fluke or holding blade. The said fluke consists of a strong broad
blade tapering down thin towards the edge which first enters the ground, but
it is provided with a massive base which acts as a counterpoise, and over-
balances the fluke on the bolt passing through it, and connecting it with the said
shank, so that as the anchor is lowered from the vessel the fluke maintains a
vertical position between the shank arms. The base of the said fluke is fluted
to prevent the anchor slipping on the ground and to cause the fluke to turn.

page_text: over on its pivot or bolt at once (as the base touches the ground) and assume
the position necessary to enable it to enter and hold therein, which it does by
resting on the arms of the shank against shoulders provided on the base.
My improved anchor has great hold by means of its broad fluke upon the
ground in which it becomes secured; it is economical in construction, will 5
occupy but little space on the deck of a vessel, and presents no projecting arms
to render it awkward to get on board.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by James Francis Danby, of Kentish Town, in the County of
Middlesex (Executor of the said Francis Danby, who departed this life on
the 10th day of February 1861), in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 8th April 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
FRANCIS DANBY, of Kentish Town, in the County of Middlesex, Executor of
Francis Danby, late of Exmouth, in the County of Devon, who departed this
life on the 10th day of February 1861, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of October in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto him, the
said Francis Danby, Her special licence that he, the said Francis Danby, his
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as he, the said Francis
Danby, his executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time 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 "AN IMPROVED ANCHOR,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that he, the said Francis Danby, his
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under his, 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 James Francis Danby, as such executor
as aforesaid, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what

page_text: manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings, and to the figures and letters marked thereon (that is
to say) :-
According to the said Invention the shank of the anchor is divided and forms
two arms, these are connected together at their apex and form a circular crown
which is furnished with a shackle to receive the cable. Below the crown the
said arms open out somewhat in form of a "lyre," and their ends are furnished
with holes to receive the bolt which carries the fluke or holding blade. The
said fluke consists of a strong broad blade, tapering down thin towards the end
which first enters the ground, its other end terminates in a massive base, passing
through which is a bolt for connecting it with the said shank arms between
which it is freely suspended. The base of the said fluke being heavier than
its holding portion causes the same to be suspended in a vertical position as
the anchor descends from the ship, and on the fluke's base touching the ground
the said fluke is caused to turn over on its bolt or pivot, and at once assumes the
position necessary to enable it to enter and hold in the ground, which it does
by resting on the said shank arms against shoulders provided on the base of
the fluke.
Anchors constructed upon the principle above described will possess by
means of their broad flukes great holding power, and will occupy but little
space on the deck of a vessel.
In order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I will now
proceed to describe the same in connection with the Sheet of Drawings here-
unto annexed, in which the same letters of reference indicate corresponding
parts on different Figures.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a front view of an anchor constructed according to the said
Invention, and Figure 2 is a side view of the same.
Letter (a) is the fluke or holding blade; (6) are two arms forming a shank;
(c) is the crown; (d) is the shackle for the cable; (e) is the bolt on which the
fluke is suspended; and (f) are the shoulders on the fluke's base.
Figure 3 is a front view, and Figure 4 a side view of an anchor constructed
upon the principle before described, but somewhat modified as regards the
configuration of the fluke and shank arms.
Letter (g) is the fluke; (h) are the shank arms; (j) is the shackle for the
cable; (k) is the bolt for the fluke; and (1) are the shoulders.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said

page_text: Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect,
I would observe in conclusion that I do not confine myself to the precise
details or arrangements which; I have had occasion to describe or refer to, as
variations may be made therefrom without deviating from the main features of
the said Invention, but what I consider to be novel, and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to the said Francis Danby, his executors,
administrators, and assigns; by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is the use of anchors constructed, as herein-before described and shown
in the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Francis Danby, as such Executor
as aforesaid, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of
April, in the year of our: Lord One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-one.
Witness,..
: W. H. BOWERS,
71; Fleet St., London.
JAMES F. DANBY. (L.S.)