IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ANCHORS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Caleb Bloomer, of Kensington, in the County of Middlesex,
Iron Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF ANCHORS."
Sealed the 29th January 1878, and dated the 2nd August 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Caleb Bloomer at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd August 1877.
CALEB BLOOMER, of Kensington, in the County of Middlesex, Iron Merchant.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ANCHORS."
The manufacture of anchors in the ordinary way of wrought iron is a slow and
laborious operation, requiring much skill, and is consequently very expensive in
proportion to the intrinsic value of the metal employed.
The object of the present Invention is to manufacture anchors with greater
facility and at much less cost than heretofore. To this end I make the anchors of
cast steel instead of wrought iron manipulated under the hammer, as heretofore.
The most approved constructions of anchors are usually made in pieces consisting
mainly of the shank, the arms, and the stock, which can therefore be cast separately
and then put together in the usual manner. These parts are generally made of bar
iron, piled, heated, and welded together by means of a steam hammer.
In carrying out my Invention I make these parts separately of molten steel cast
iu suitable moulds; and in order to ensure good solid castings, free from air holes or
honeycomb work, I cast the shank in a vertical position with a heavy head of molten
metal, so that all the air bubbles will be forced out. The arms or flukes are also
cast with a heavy head of metal for the same purpose, so that those parts of the
anchor which will be subjected to the greatest strain will be the strongest. I do not,
however, confine myself to this mode of expelling the air or gases, which would
form holes in the metal, and therefore produce unsound castings, as any mode which
would ensure a solid and perfect casting may be employed.

page_text: The several parts of the anchor having thus been carefully cast (in the proper
form) of molten cast steel, are then subjected to a hammering operation while in
the red-hot state, or they may be annealed; or, if desired, they may be both
hammered and annealed to increase their toughness and strength.
By these means I am enabled to produce large and heavy anchors with great
facility, with a greatly reduced expenditure of labour, and at much less cost than
anchors made in the ordinary way, although the steel employed is (weight for
weight) more costly than the wrought-iron bars usually employed in constructing
anchors in the ordinary manner.
I would here remark that although I have described my Invention as adapted for
the manufacture of what are known as "patent anchors," which are usually
composed of two or more parts jointed together, yet my Invention may also be
employed for making common anchors in which the arms or flukes are welded
rigidly to the shank, so that the anchor proper consists of only one piece.
In manufacturing common anchors I cast the shank and the arms and palms in
one piece, the mould to form the shank being arranged in a vertical position, so that
there may be a heavy head of metal above the top of the shank. Provision must
also be made for the escape of air from those parts of the mould which form the
arms and palms, so that these parts may be free from air holes, and perfectly solid
and strong.
When the anchor has been cast it may (while in a red-hot state) be subjected to
hammering, as in the other instance, or it may be annealed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Caleb Bloomer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd February
1878.
CALEB BLOOMER, of Kensington, in the County of Middlesex, Iron Merchant.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ANCHORS."
The manufacture of anchors in the ordinary way from wrought iron is au
operation requiring the employment, at every stage, of skilled labour. The cost
therefore of labour is very great as compared with the intrinsic value of the metal
used.
Now the object of the present Invention is to facilitate the manufacture of
anchors, and greatly to reduce their cost without impairing their efficiency. To
this end I make the anchors of cast steel in the manner to be presently explained
instead of employing wrought iron and bringing the same to shape under the
hammer, as heretofore.
tr
The most approved constructions of anchors are those made in detached pieces
and known as patent anchors." These pieces consist mainly of the shank, the
arms, and the stock. They are severally made from piled bar iron, which, when
heated, is welded and brought to shape under forge hammers.
In carrying out my Invention I make the shank, arms, and stocks separately of
molten steel cast in suitable metal or other moulds, the counterpart of the several
parts required to be produced; and in order to ensure good solid castings free from
air holes or honeycomb work, I adopt any of the well-known or approved modes
available for ridding the molten metal of air and gases contained therein. A plan,
which I have found to give good results, is to cast the shank of the anchor in a
vertical position with a heavy head of molten metal, as the air bubbles are thereby
forced out of the metal. The arms or flukes I also cast with a heavy head of metal
for the same purpose, and thus the strength of those parts of the anchor which will
be subjected to the greatest strain will be ensured.
The several parts of the anchor having been thus produced in cast steel, I subject
them to the operation of annealing in any well-known or approved manner to
remove all tendency to brittleness, and to increase the toughness and strength of
the metal.
In some cases I may, in addition to annealing, submit the parts to hammering in
order to impart fibre to the metal; the parts thus formed are put together in the
ordinary manner.
By the means above described I am enabled to produce large and heavy anchors
with great facility and at much less cost than anchors made in the ordinary way,
although the steel employed is (weight for weight) more costly than the wrought-
iron bars used in constructing anchors in the ordinary manner.
I would here remark that although I have described my Invention as adapted for
the manufacture of "patent anchors," the parts composing which are jointed
together, yet my Invention may also be employed for making common anchors, the
arms or flukes of which are in one piece with the shank.
In manufacturing this class of anchor I cast the shank and the arms and palms
in one piece, the mould to form the same being arranged in a vertical position, so
that there may be a heavy head of metal above the top of the shank. I also
provide for the escape of air from those parts of the mould which form the arms
and palms, so that these parts may be cast solid and free from air holes.
The casting thus produced is to be submitted to the process of annealing in order
to impart toughness and strength to the metal. The annealing I propose to effect
in an ordinary annealing oven, but I do not, as already stated, limit myself to the
use of any special means for carrying out this operation.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "Improvements in the
Manufacture of Anchors," and explained the manner of carrying the same into

page_text: effect, I wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent
I claim the manufacture of anchors from cast steel in the manner and for the
purpose above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Caleb Bloomer, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, the Second day of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
CALEB BLOOMER. (L.S.)