IMPROVEMENTS IN ANCHORS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Rodger, Lieutenant in the Royal
Navy, of 9, Shawfield Street, King's Road, Chelsea, for the
Triantion of T
Sealed the 13th January 1854, and dated the 10th November 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Rodger at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 10th November 1853.
I, WILLIAM RODGER, Lieutenant in the Royal Navy, of 9, Shaw-
field Street, King's Road, Chelsea, "IMPROVEMENTS IN ANCHORS" to be.
as follows:-
My said Invention of "Improvements in Anchors" relates to thosé
parts which are usually termed the "palms" and the "stock," and the
object I have in view is to obtain a greater amount of holding power
with a given weight of iron without any diminution of strength.
In the Specification of my Patent for "Improvements in Anchors,"
dated the 18th day of May 1846, the palms shown, instead of presenting

page_text: a flat surface as theretofore at right angles to the resisting medium,
are "bevelled," and thus present two surfaces obliquely to the line of
traction with an intermediate surface (comparatively small) at right
angles thereto, by which a greater area of resistance is obtained than
with a flat palm of the same length and breadth, and moreover a
more favourable angle for entering the ground is obtained. In order
still further to increase the area of resistance with a palm of a given
length and breadth I now, instead of having the front of the palm
"bevilled," as above mentioned, cause it to be curved, and thus
present concave surfaces obliquely to the line of traction, with an
intermediate surface (comparatively small) at right angles thereto.
By this means the area of resistance of the oblique surfaces is
augmented in the ratio of the length of the arcs thus formed to that
of the chords (of the same ares) representing the "bevelled " palm
above referred to, and, moreover, a considerable portion of iron is
thus saved. And, further, the cavities between the ares and the chords
being filled with soil increases the superincumbent weight upon
the face of the palm, and this additional weight rubbing against
an enlarged surface augments the holding power of the anchor very
considerably.
With regard to the "stock," my said improvement has reference only
to the middle part of it through which the shank of the anchor passes;
the ends and the intermediate parts of my improved stock being made
as heretofore. And in order to increase the penetrating tendency of
the stock, and still further to augment its area of resistance to the
ground in front of it, I now make the front part somewhat wider than
heretofore, both vertically and laterally, and I unite the front, to the
back part by curved instead of straight lines, so that the lower side of
the stock will present to the ground a concave instead of a plain or
flat surface.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Rodger in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 8th May 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
WILLIAM RODGER, Lieutenant in the Royal Navy, of 9, Shawfield
Street, King's Road, Chelsea, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of November, in the
year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the seven-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Rodger, Her special licence
that I, the said William Rodger, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Rodger, my 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ANCHORS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Rodger, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 Rodger, 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 thereof (that is to say):
My said Invention of "Improvements in Anchors" relates to those
parts which are usually termed the "palms" and the "stock," and the
object I have in view is to obtain a greater amount of holding_power
with a given weight of iron without diminution of strength. This is
effected by an extended application of the principle on which my former
Invention of "Improvements in Anchors" was based, and for which

page_text: Letters Patent were granted to me on the Eighteenth day of May, One
thousand eight hundred and forty-six. In order to explain my present
improvement as clearly as possible I annex Drawings of the palms
and stock of my former anchor as now made under my said former
Patent.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1, is an elevation or side view of an anchor made according
to my present improvements exhibiting an end view of the stock, and
also an end view of part of the stock key and an edge view of the
shackle. Figure 2, is a plan of the same anchor together with the
stock, stock key, and key guide, and also of the shackle. Figure 3, is
a front view of the stock (detached from the anchor) with the key guide
laid across the hole in order to show that it keeps the key entirely clear
of the stock. Figure 4, is a back view of the stock, by which it will be
seen that in the middle (through which the shank of the anchor passes)
the front is made wider than the back part both vertically and laterally.
Figure 5, is a section of the middle part of the stock, by which it will
be seen that its sides a, a, a, a, (which alternately rest upon the ground
when the anchor is in use) are made concave, instead of being made
flat as heretofore, according to my former Patent, and as shewn in
Figures 24 and 25. This peculiarity of form causes the stock to sink
deeper into the ground, and consequently it leaves behind a deeper rut
for the shank of the anchor to fall into. And it is this form combined
with the increased width of the front part of the stock, both vertically
and laterally, (shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4,) which constitutes one
of the improvements of my present Invention. Figures 6, 7, and 8,
are sections of the stock taken at the parts indicated by the dotted lines,
and are of the same form as made at present under my said former
Patent. Figure 9, is a side view of the square of the anchor showing
the holes for the shackle bolt, stock key, and key guide, but without
the stock. Figure 10, is a plan of the same representing also the stock
key and key guide, by means of which the stock is firmly secured in its
proper place; for it will be observed that the key and key guide are
tapered in opposite directions so as to bind the stock against the collar

page_text: on the shank of the anchor. Figure 11, is an edge view of the stock
key resting upon the key guide, and shewing. also the preventer key
which is used as an additional security, and it may be mentioned that a
wire ring is rove through the hole in the point of the preventor key.
Figures 12 and 13, are sections of the shank taken at the dotted lines.
Figures 14 and 15, are sections of the arms taken at the dotted. lines.
By these last Figures it will be seen that the arms of my improved
anchor are forined in the same manner as those of my said former
Patent. One object of this arrangement is to avoid disturbing the
ground in front of the arms, and to augment the lateral pressure of the
ground against the sides of the arms. Figure 16, is a back view of my
improved palm and arm before it is curved or bent; Figure 17, is a
front view of the same. Figure 18, is a section of the palm taken at
the dotted line b, b, in Figure 17, by which it will be seen that the palms
of iny improved anchor present two concave surfaces obliquely to the
line of traction, with an intermediate flat surface (comparatively small)
at right angles thereto; and as the arc of a circle is longer than its
chord, the concave surfaces present a greater area of resistance than
could be obtained by a flat palm, or by a "bevelled" palm of the same
length and breadth, and, further, these concave surfaces acting obliquely
produce a more favorable angle for entering the ground. The hollow-
ing of the palms in the manner shewn by Figure 18 also saves weight
of iron. The above observations will become more clear by reference
to the following parts of the Drawing. Figure 19, is a front view of
the palm and arm of my former anchor as at present constructed before
it is curved or bent. Figure 20, is a section taken at the dotted line
c, c, in Figure 19, exhibiting the "bevelled" form of this palm in con-
trast with the double concave form shewn by Figure 18 of my present
improved palm. It should also be mentioned that both the palms
referred to are very nearly of the same breadth, but my present improved
plan (shewn in Figures 1, 2, 16, and 17) is somewhat longer than the
palms as at present made under my former Patent, and as shewn at
Figure 19. The objects of this alteration is, first, to obtain a larger
resisting surface to be dragged through the ground with a more favorable
angle for efficient resistance; and, secondly, to retain as long as possible

page_text: the rubbing action of every particle of the ground under which the palm
is dragged. And, moreover, by placing the widest part of the palm at a
greater distance from the stock it causes the anchor to sink deeper into
the ground. Figure 21, is a front view, and Figure 22, is a back view,
of the middle part of a stock as at present constructed under my former
Patent. Figure 23, is a plan of the same fitted on to the square of the
anchor, and secured in its proper place by the stock key and key guide.
Figure 24, is an end view of my former stock also fitted on to the
square of the anchor and properly secured. Figure 25, is a section
of the middle part of my former stock as is indicated by the dotted
line through Figures 21 and 22. The differences between iny present
anchor and the corresponding parts of my former one, as made under
my Patent dated Eighteenth May, One thousand eight hundred and
forty-six, will at once be ascertained on comparing Figures 17 and 18
with Figures 19 and 20 in regard to the palms, and on comparing
Figure 1 with Figure 24, Figure 2 with Figure 23, Figure 3 with
Figure 21, Figure 4 with Figure 22, and Figure 5 with Figure 25,
in regard to the stock. Figure 26, is an elevation or side view of one
of my improved kedge anchors, showing the form of the stock hole, but
without the stock, shewing, however, an edge view of the shackle.
Figure 27, is a plan of the same exhibiting the stock and shackle in
their proper places. Figures 28 and 29, are sections of the stock at
the parts indicated by the dotted lines. Figures 30 and 31, are sec-
tions of the shank; and Figures 32 and 33, are sections of the arms at
the parts indicated. Figure 34, is a back view of my improved palm
and arm before it is curved or bent. Figure 35, is a front view of the
same. Figure 36, is a section of my improved palm taken at the
dotted line d, d, in Figure 35, exhibiting the oblique concave surfaces
similar to those of the palms of my improved anchor. Figure 37, is a
front view of the palm and arm of my former kedge before it is curved
or bent. Figure 38, is a section of the palm taken at the dotted line
e, e, in Figure 37, exhibiting the "bevelled" form of this palm in con-
trast with the double concave form of my present improved palm. I
may now add that both my present improved anchors and kedges are
"shut" at the crown in the same manner as my former anchors and

page_text: kedges. The hole in the crown is intended for the buoy chain or buoy
rope.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner of performing the same, I would have it understood that what
I claim are the improvements in the form and construction of the palms
and stocks of anchors herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Rodger, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
0
Witness,
GEO. PITT,
4, Old Square.
WM RODGER. (L.s.)