Improvements in and relating to Grapnels or Anchors, Specially Designed for Marine Life-saving.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 5th May, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 12th Dec., 1893-Accepted, 24th Feb.,
1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Grapnels or Anchors, Specially
Designed for Marine Life-saving.
I JAMES BLACKWOOD NOBLE, of The Crown Works, Northam, in the Town
and County of the Town of Southampton, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to grapnels or anchors.
The main object of my said invention is to provide a grapnel or anchor adapted
to be impelled, by means of a " Boxer" or other similar rocket, from a stranded
ship to the shore, or vice versa, or from the shore or a ship into the sea.
My improved apparatus is so constructed that it can be readily adjusted and
fixed upon a rocket and impelled and carried by same when fired.
In making my apparatus according to one form or modification of my invention
the body is formed of a cylindrical case or tube convenient for passing over a
rocket; to the top end of this case I connect, by means of a bolt and nut, or other
suitable attachment, a short piece of tube, of any desired form, suitable for the
purpose in view, this part of my apparatus I will hereinafter refer to as the head-
the aforesaid bolt passes lengthways of the body and head through the centre of
the adjacent closed, or partly closed, ends of same, so as to allow the two parts (the
head and body)-to rotate upon, or with the bolt.
Over the end of the head I fit a cap or sleeve which is free to be moved to a
limited extent backwards and forwards upon the head.
'
Through two sides of the head and cap I pass a spindle, the ends of same being
arranged to project beyond the sides, the spindle is free to turn in its bearings, in
the sides of the head to a limited extent, and upon each projecting end of the
spindle I mount and fix lengthways of, and, close to the sides of the body, an anchor
shaped arm,
of any desired length, and also on the outer ends of the spindle shorter
arms which may be single or double as desired, these arms stand at an angle of
from 30, to 45, degrees to the long arms, on one or both sides as the case may be,
but in line lengthways of same and therefore of the body.
I further mount and fix upon and across the aforesaid spindle at the centre of its
length a lever arranged to pivot with the spindle, the free ends of the arms of the
lever on each side of the spindle project through slots provided in the sides of the
head and cap, and any circular travel of the free ends in the slots results in turning
the spindle in its bearings, but the circular travel of the free ends of the lever in
the slots is limited by the length of the slots.
The action of the whole is as follows:-Taking it that my apparatus is fixed
upon a rocket ready for firing with a line attached to same, the arms will be close
to the sides of the body, and in a line with the longitudinal centre of same the lever
being then at right angles to the two sides of the body through which its free ends
project, and the arms and lever are temporarily held in this position, during the
flight of the apparatus by means of a suitable spring fitted upon the inside of cap
for the purpose.
Upon firing the rocket from a suitable stand which I provide, the apparatus is
impelled in the desired direction and alighting upon its cap end, the latter forced
down upon the head by reason of the force of impact, carrying with it one free end
of the lever thereby causing the spindle to turn in its bearings and thus forcing out
the arms-attached to the spindle at an angle to the upper side of the body but
parallel, or approximately so, with the sides upon which they are hung. The

page_text: apparatus with its parts so disposed is eminently adapted for all purposes as a
grapnel, or anchor.
I may provide suitable devices for preventing the cap slipping back upon the
head.
It is however obvious that when the arms are once opened out at an angle to the
sides of the body that upon pulling upon the line attached to the rocket, and thus
to the apparatus, the result will be to cause the arms to become embedded in the
soil, and thus keep them in an open position, but the extent to which they will open
out is regulated as before stated by the length of the slots in the sides of the head
and cap in which the free ends of the lever work.
The object in arranging for a swivel connection of the head and body is, that the
latter shall adjust itself to the head when the line attached to the rocket or body is
in tension, otherwise the apparatus might be turned over on one of the sides on
which the arms are hung and then obviously the arms on one side only will be
gripping.
According to another form or modification of my invention, instead of passing my
apparatus over a rocket in manner as hereinbefore described, I may sometimes
arrange for the explosive charge necessary for impelling my apparatus to be
contained in the aforesaid body. In this arrangement the parts of my apparatus
and the required attachments and connections for same, would to suit the circum-
stances be somewhat similarly disposed in manner as hereinbefore described, but it
is obvious the ends of the body would then require to be entirely closed so as to
form a case to contain the explosive charge. My apparatus would then be complete
and self contained ready for immediate use at any time without having to pass it
over a rocket.
Dated this 4th day of May 1893.
HERBERT P. BLAKE, M.I.N.A.,
70, High Street, Southampton, Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in and relating to Grapnels or Anchors, Specially
Designed for Marine Life-saving.
I, JAMES BLACKWOOD NOBLE, of The Crown Works, Northam, in the Town
and County of the Town of Southampton, Engineer, 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 relates to grapnels or anchors. The main object of my said
invention is to provide a grapnel or anchor adapted to be impelled by means of a
"Boxer or other similar rocket from a stranded ship to the shore or vice versa or
from the shore or a ship into the sea.
"
My improved apparatus is so constructed that it can be readily adjusted and,
fixed upon a rocket and impelled and carried by same when fired.
In making my apparatus according to one form or modification of my invention
the body is formed of a cylindrical case or tube convenient for passing over a
rocket; to the top end of this case I connect by means of a bolt and nut or other
suitable attachment, a short piece of tube, of any desired form suitable for the
purpose in view; this part of my apparatus I will hereinafter refer to as the head,
the aforesaid bolt passes lengthways of the body and head through the centre of
the adjacent closed or partly closed ends of same, so as to allow the two parts (the
head and body) to rotate upon, or with the bolt.
Over the end of the head fit a cap or sleeve which is free to be moved to a
limited extent backwards and forwards upon the head. Through two sides of the
head and cap I pass a spindle, the ends of same being arranged to project beyond

page_text: the sides; the spindle is free to turn in its bearings, in the sides of the head, to a
limited extent, and upon each projecting end of the spindle I mount and fix length-
ways of, and close to the sides of the body an anchor shaped arm, of any desired
length, and also on the outer ends of the spindle shorter arms which may be single
or double as desired; these arms stand at an angle of from 30 to 45 degrees to the
long arms, on one or both sides as the case may be, but in line lengthways of same
and therefore of the body.
I further mount and fix upon and across the aforesaid spindle at the centre of
its length a lever arranged to pivot with the spindle; the free ends of the arms of
the lever on each side of the spindle project through slots provided in the sides
of the head and cap and any circular travel of the free ends in the slots results in
turning the spindle in its bearings, but the circular travel of the free ends of the
lever in the slots is limited by the length of the latter.
Such an arrangement of apparatus according to my invention is illustrated on
Sheet 1 of the accompanying drawings, where
Fig. 1 shows an elevation of the apparatus ;
Fig. 2 shows a similar elevation of the reverse side of the apparatus to that
shewn in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal central section; and
Figs. 4 and 5 show cross sections, taken. respectively on the line A A and on the
line B B (Fig. 1).
1 is the body of the apparatus; it is formed of a cylindrical case or tube of a
convenient size for passing over a rocket and provided at its fore end with a fixed
cross bar 1 having a hole through the centre thereof; 2 is the head; it is a short
tube with a fixed cross bar 2 having a hole through the centre of it and is
connected to the fore end of the body 1 by means of a bolt 3 passing through the
holes in bars 1 and 2 and secured by a nut 4.
The connection described forms a swivel joint that allows relative rotation of
the head and body.
2° 2° are openings made in the body 2 for the purpose of reducing the weight of
the grapnel.
5,5 are holes through opposite sides of the head. 6 is a spindle that passes
through these holes in which it is free to turn to a limited extent, its free ends
which are squared, project beyond the sides of the head; the spindle, in the
example illustrated, is of rectangular cross section (slightly rounded at the angles).
The projecting end portions of the spindle are of smaller cross sectional area
than the intermediate portion. 7, 7 are the anchor-shaped or main arms one fixed
on each end portion of the spindle so as to normally extend in the direction of the
body and lie close to the sides thereof. 8, 8 are shorter or supplementary arms
fixed on the outer ends of the spindle.
9 is a lever fixed upon the spindle 6 at the centre of its length so as to turn with
it; the free ends of the lever project through slots 10 formed through opposite
sides of the head; the ends of these slots limit the extent of movement in a
circular path of the free ends of lever 9 about the axis of spindle 6. 11, 11 is a
cap that fits over and is free to be moved to a limited extent lengthwise upon the
head. 11° 11° are slots at opposite sides of the cap to allow of its being passed
over the spindle 6. 12 and 12 are two other oppositely arranged slots in the cap
slot, 12 being shorter than slot 12.
The apparatus having been placed upon a rocket is fixed by a screw passed
through the hole 1* in the body and into the rocket shell or case and a line is
attached to the eye 1', the long or main arms 7 lying close to the sides of the body
and practically parallel with the longitudinal axis thereof (see Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive)
and the lever 9 being at right angles to the said axis with its free ends projecting
through the slots 10 in the body and the slots 12 and 12 in the cap. The apparatus
is then ready to be impelled through the air.
The rocket is fired from a suitable stand so that the apparatus may be impelled
in the desired direction and with the side shewn in Fig. 2 uppermost, the lever 9

page_text: and the main arms 7 being held (as represented in Fig. 3) during the flight of the
apparatus by means of a suitable spring 13 fitted upon the inside of the head,
which engages with a projection 14 upon the lever 9. When the apparatus alights
upon its cap, the latter is forced along the head by reason of the force of impact,
and carries with it one free end of the lever, viz., the end (for the time being
uppermost) which projects through the short slot 12, thereby causing the spindle 6
to turn in its bearings, and with it the main and supplementary arms 7 and 8, the
former being thus forced out at an angle to the plane containing the longitudinal
axes of the body 1 and of the spindle 6. The apparatus with its parts so disposed
is ready to act as a grapnel or anchor for life saving purposes. Suitable devices
for preventing the cap slipping back upon the head may be provided but it is
obvious that when the arms are once opened out at an angle, upon pulling the line
attached to the apparatus the main arms 7 will be caused to become embedded in
the soil and thus to keep them in the open position. The extent to which the main
arms 7 will open out is limited by the length of the slots 10 in the sides of the
head in which the free ends of the lever work.
The swivel connection between the head and the body allows the latter to adjust
itself to the head when the line attached to the rocket or body is in tension, other-
wise the apparatus might be turned over (by the pull of the line on the body) onto
one of the sides from which the spindle, on which the main arms 7 are hung,
projects and then obviously the arms on one side only could be gripping.
Instead of making the cap movable as above described I consider it advantageous
to employ the modification illustrated in Figs. 6 & 7 which shew respectively a side
elevation and a longitudinal section. In this arrangement the part 11 of the cap
is dispensed with and the part 11 is fixed into the tubular head 2; the construction.
in other respects remaining the same as in the preceding arrangement. As will be
readily understood upon the rope attached to this apparatus being pulled after the
apparatus has been impelled the supplementary arms 8 on that side which is for
the time being lowermost will be caused to catch in the ground and to trip the
main arms 7 and cause them to bite.
According to another form or modification of my invention, instead of passing
my apparatus over a rocket in manner as hereinbefore described I may sometimes
arrange for the explosive charge necessary for impelling my apparatus to be
contained in the aforesaid body. In this arrangement the parts of my apparatus
and the required attachments and connections for same, would to suit the
circumstances be somewhat similarly disposed in manner as herein before described,
but it is obvious the end of the body would then require to be entirely closed so as
to form a case to contain the explosive charge. My apparatus would then be
complete and self contained ready for immediate use at any time without having to
pass it over a rocket. Such an arrangement is illustrated in partial longitudinal
section by Fig. 8.
15 is the charge, which is compressed within the body 1, the lower end of which
is screw-threaded and is closed by means of a correspondingly screw-threaded
plug 16; through the plug is a passage adapted to receive a fuse 18 for igniting.
the charge. This form of apparatus is complete, self-contained, and ready for
-immediate use at any time without having to be passed over a rocket, the body 1
with its charge forming practically a rocket which is attached to a pole in the
ordinary manner.
Since the date of my application for Letters Patent having discovered that
spindles with levers and main and supplementary arms arranged substantially as
hereinabove described can be advantageously used in the construction of ships
anchors I have made application for Letters Patent No. 9678 of the year 1893,
and I do not claim as forming any part of my present invention the construction
of ships anchors as described and claimed in the Complete Specification of my,
above mentioned application for Patent No. 9678 of 1893, my present invention
being restricted to- grapnels or anchors adapted as herein described to be impelled
by means of rockets.

page_text: 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. In a grapnel or anchor the combination of a body adapted to fit over a rocket
(or to contain an explosive charge) a head with a cross spindle capable of partial
rotation, a lever, main and supplementary arms fixed upon said spindle, means for
holding the main arms as set forth during flight and a swivel joint connecting the
head to the body.
2. The construction and arrangement of parts constituting my improved grapnel
or anchor adapted to be impelled by a rocket as described with reference to and
illustrated on Sheet 1 of the drawings.
3. The construction and arrangement of parts constituting the modification of
grapnel or anchor adapted to be impelled by a rocket as described with reference
to and illustrated on Sheet 3 of the drawings.
J. B. NUBLE.
W. Lloyd Wise,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.