Improvements in or applicable to Sea-anchors, and in Adapting the same for Distributing Oil in Rough Water.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 4th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 6th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 4th July, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or applicable to Sea-anchors, and in Adapting the
same for Distributing Oil in Rough Water.
I, FRANCIS WENTWORTH BREWSTER, of Regent Street, in the County of
London, Manufacturer of Life-saving Appliances, do hereby declare the nature of
the said invention to be as follows:-
An object of this invention is to construct an efficient and reliable sea-anchor of
a simple and inexpensive construction.
The improved sea anchor is constructed in the improved manner hereinafter
described of a conical or equivalent formation of any required length and end
dimensions, and it is adapted with means operating in the improved manner herein-
after described by which it can be mechanically distended and kept distended while
being towed and required to be used for its intended purpose, and such latter means
may be so adapted as that they may be withdrawn from operative position by the
towing aboard of the anchor so as to allow of the latter collapsing and to facilitate its
being drawn aboard.
The anchor is made of rot-proof canvas or of like material, its mouth being
provided with a roped edge around which the canvas or other material is doubled
and sewn.
Its smaller end or apex is doubled around and secured to a squared or
angularly formed frame which is formed or adapted with eyes or the like disposed
inwards of the anchor and through which cords running in the like direction can
be rove.
The canvas or other material of the anchor is strongly stitched in radial rows
forming pockets running longitudinally of the anchor, in some or all of which
pockets wooden battens of appropriate shape are inserted and secured by copper
rivets inserted through the battens and the enclosing fabric and by stitching the
open ends of the pockets around a ring of rope.
Longitudinally and centrally of the anchor there is arranged a squared or
angularly formed staff, which projects from both ends of the anchor, and is
capable of free endway movement through the aforesaid analogously formed
frame at the apex of the anchor, but prevented by the said frame from
rotating about its axis independently of such frame. On such staff there is
mounted a distending block in such a manner as that it may be caused to receive
endway movements along the staff towards or from the apex of the anchor, the
movement towards the apex being caused when the said staff is towed on and
the anchor is desired to be used for its intended purpose. This result may be
obtained by cords rove through the said eyes with which the said angular frame
at the apex of the anchor is formed or adapted, the ends of which cords are
connected to eyes or the like in or on a frame carried by the staff and by the
adjacent end of the distending block respectively, such cords running from the
said. eyes or the like on the said angular frame inwards of the anchor as afore-
said. When thus operated on, the block is mechanically caused to keep the
anchor distended, and the greater the strain on the towing rope the more positive
will be such effect. When the anchor fully distended, further endway motion
of the block is arrested by cleets, stops or projections on the staff or by the
said eye carrying frame thereon abutting against the said angular frame at the
apex of the anchor. A contrary motion may be given to the distended block
when the said staff is towed on from its end projecting from the apex of the
anchor and it is desired to pull the anchor aboard, by connecting the staff and
the said block at the ends thereof adjacent to the mouth of the anchor by cords
running through eyes or the like supported by a transverse bar or by other

page_text: means so arranged relatively to the staff as to permit of its endway movements,
and to the anchor as to permit of its opening and closing movements, such cords
running from such eyes inwards of the anchor to eyes or the like in or on a
frame carried by the adjacent ends of the staff and of the distending block
respectively; or, if found convenient, such lastly referred to eyes may be carried
by the inner sides of the battens of the anchor. The outward movement of the
block may, in like manner as aforesaid relatively to its inward movement, be
arrested where desired by its abutting against a stop on the staff. The mouth
of the anchor may be connected to the staff at a point adjacent thereto by radial
ropes if required to keep the staff and anchor relatively concentric.
The distending block is preferably made of solid wood or solid cork or of a
metal or other casing enclosing compressed "elastic-cork." As aforesaid, it
surrounds the said staff and is adapted with an angularly hollowed centre
adapted to freely slide along the same, its outer periphery is preferably formed
to the taper of the anchor when fully distended and it operates by bearing
against the inner sides of the canvas enclosed battens.
In addition to their ordinary purpose of utility I find that sea anchors can
be applied and used with special advantage cas means of distributing oil in or
on broken or rough water on the windward side of a vessel.
I, therefore, further propose to apply and use such devices to and for such
purpose, whereby I obtain the advantage of determining the outflow or distri
buting point of the oil at the position where of all others it will be of the
greatest utility for its intended purpose of stilling the water in which the vessel
floats.
In applying and using the herein before described improved sea-anchor for
such purpose, I can, as a convenient method of attaining the desired result,
construct the said distending block as an oil-container, or I can
secure to its
end adjacent to the mouth of the anchor a metallic casing acting as an oil-
container and formed with a tubular centre loosely surrounding the said staff
and adapted with a valve or outlet closing device which may be opened by
towing on the staff when using the anchor as a drag-anchor, and may be closed
by towing on the staff when drawing the anchor aboard, or such valve or outlet
closing device may be operated by independent hauling lines from the craft, or
by an electric circuit completed through wires supported by the tow rope or
otherwise connected from the craft to the oil container, or the tow rope may
be made with a tubular core or may support a pipe through which oil may be
pumped or allowed to flow from the vessel to the windward side as determined
by the position of the anchor; or the desired object may be attained by other
suitable arrangements applied to the herein before described or to other con-
structions of sea anchors.
Dated this 4th day of July 1890
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or applicable to Sea Anchors, and in Adapting the
same for Distributing Oil in Rough Water.
I, FRANCIS WENTWORTH BREWSTER, of St. Stephen's Club, Westminster,
Manufacturer of Life-saving Appliances, do hereby declare the nature of the
said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
This invention relates to certain improvements in or applicable to sea-anchors,
main objects of the invention being to construct an efficient and reliable sea-anchor
of a simple and inexpensive construction, and to render such devices applicable for
distributing oil on rough water on the windward side of a vessel,

page_text: the present improvements.
Figure, 1, represents a side elevation partly in section, of one modification
hereinafter described, showing the same in a collapsed condition.
Figure, 2, represents an end elevation of the same, looking in the direction of the
arrow a.
Figure, 3, represents a sectional elevation of the same, in a distended condition.
Figure, 4, is a transverse sectional elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the same,
on the plane c-d, looking in the direction of the arrow b.
Figure, 5, represents a partial longitudinal section, illustrating another modification
hereinafter described.
The sea-anchor is constructed, in the improved manner hereinafter described, of
a conical or analogous formation, and it is adapted with means operating in the
improved manner hereinafter described, by which it can be mechanically distended
while being towed on as a drag-anchor. It may be also adapted with means for
withdrawing the said distending means from their operative position, when being
towed on in a reverse direction, so as to allow of the anchor collapsing and offering
the least resistance to its being drawn aboard. Either of such modifications may
be utilised, or so adapted as to act as means of distributing oil on rough water on
the windward side of a vessel, as hereinafter more particularly described.
The improved anchor is constructed with a squared or other angularly formed
staff 7, which runs longitudinally and centrally thereof and projects from both ends,
vide Figures 1 & 3. The projecting ends of the staff are fitted with rings 8, or the
like, to which tow lines 9, and 10, running from the vessel, are respectively con-
nected so as to permit of the staff being towed on from the vessel from either of
its ends.
The distending and collapsing part of the anchor is made of rot-proof canvas or
the like material, 11, its mouth being provided with a roped edge 12, to which the
said canvas is sewn or otherwise suitably attached. The said canvas is also strongly
stitched in radial rows, as at 13, so as to form any required number of pockets 14,
running longitudinally of the anchor, and in some or all of which pockets wooden
battens 15, of appropriate shape (preferably tapering towards both ends) are
inserted, and secured by copper rivets 16, or other suitable means, inserted through
the battens and the enclosing fabric 11. The battens 15, project from the pockets
at the smaller end or apex of the anchor, and their projecting ends are rivetted, as
at 17, or otherwise suitably secured to clamps 18, which are hinged to the adjacent
sides of a squared or other angularly formed frame 19, ride Figures, 2, & 4 through
which the staff 7, has facility of end way movement, but is prevented from rotating
about its axis independently of such frame. The corners of the frame 19, on the
side adjacent to the apex of the anchor, are fitted or adapted with eyes, runners, or
the like 20, through which are rove cords 21, (some only of which are represented
in Figures 1, 3 & 5.) disposed inwards of the anchor, with their ends respectively
secured to eyes 22, carried by the staff, and to other eyes 23, carried by a
block 24.
The block 24, acts as a distending block and may be of a solid or hollow
formation. When of a solid formation it is preferably made of solid wood or solid
cork, or of a metal or other casing enclosing the material known as compressed
"elastic-cork." It surrounds the staff' 7, and is formed with an angularly hollowed
hub or boss adapted to slide freely along the staff towards or from the apex of the
anchor, but preventing it from rotating about its axis independently of the staff. Its
outer periphery may be made of a cylindrical formation, or it may be formed to
the taper of the anchor when fully distended.
By such means when the anchor is desired to be used as a drag-anchor, it is
caused to be mechanically distended by the block 24; upon the staff 7, being towed
on by the rope 10, the towing on which, owing to the resistance offered by the
water entering the mouth of the anchor, causes the block to be pulled inwards of
the anchor, until (when the anchor is fully distended) it is arrested by the eyes 22,

page_text: projecting from the staff, or by any other suitable stopping detail carried by the
staff; and the block, in said movement, mechanically distends the flexible anchor
by bearing against the inner sides of its battens, and the greater the strain on
the towing rope 10, the more positive will be the distending effect of the
block.
Upon towing the anchor by the rope 9. its apex is turned towards the vessel,
and the anchor can be drawn aboard with facility, the block gradually receding
until it occupies the position represented in Figure 1.
But, if required, the towing of the anchor by the rope 9. may be caused to
be operative in mechanically withdrawing the block 24, from its distending
position, in which event, the staff 7, block 24, and the battens 15, may, in like
manner as aforesaid, be fitted with eyes, at the mouth end of the block, cords
being rove through the eyes fitted to the battens, with their ends respectively
connected to the eyes fitted to the staff, and block as aforesaid; so that in such
modification when the staff is towed on by the cord 10, the block is shifted by
the cords 21, and distends the anchor as hereinbefore described, but when it is
towed on by the rope 9, the block is in like manner withdrawn from its distending
position by the cords at the mouth end of the anchor, so as to permit of the
anchor collapsing to its smallest size and so causing it to offer the least resistance
to its being drawn aboard. The outward movement of the block may, in like
manner as aforesaid relative to its inward movement, be arrested where desired,
by its abutting against any suitable stop carried by the staff.
In either of such modifications, the block 24, may be made of a hollowed forma-
tion (ride Figure 5) so as to be adapted to contain a supply of oil, or there may be
attached thereto a separate oil container, and it or such attached container may be
fitted with a plug or like means 29, capable of being partially withdrawn by a
cord 28, or other suitable means, so as to allow of the oil gradually exuding.
Or the tow rope 10, may be made, of a tubular formation, or may support a pipe
through which oil may be pumped or allowed to flow from the vessel to the wind-
ward side as determined by the position of the anchor. By utilizing sea-anchors
for such purposes, I obtain the advantage of determining the outflow or distributing
point of the oil at the position where of all others it will be of the greatest utility
for its intended purpose of stilling the water in which the vessel floats.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The hereinbefore described improvements in or applicable to sea-anchors, and
adapting the same for distributing oil in rough water.
2. The application, in combination to collapsible sea-anchors, of a staff and
movable distending block operating in connection therewith, substantially in the
manner herein before described.
3. The application and use of sea anchors as means of distributing oil in rough
water on the windward side of a vessel substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 6th day of April 1891.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.