IMPROVEMENTS IN ANCHORS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to François Martin, of Acton, in the County of Middle-
sex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ANCHORS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said François Martin at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with bis Petition, on the 6th
May 1864.
I, FRANÇOIS MARTIN, of Acton, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby.
declare the nature of my said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ANCHORS," to
be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of
anchors, whereby greater facility is afforded in their manufacture, and whereby
greater holding power and ease of working is obtained than by anchors as
heretofore constructed. I propose to form the shank in two longitudinal
sections or halves, and to secure the same together by means of screw bolts i
by this means I am enabled to construct the shank with more facility and less
expense, and to connect the palms or flukes with the shank in a more ready
manner than if such shank were made solid or in one piece in the first instance,
since the flukes may receive the sections of the shank on each side or end
thereof, and the shank may then be bolted together. This method also
permits of greater facility and scope for the arrangement of the bearings in
which the fluke moves and is held in the shank. I also form the crown. piece
or web portion of the anchor with its palms in two sections, and bolt them

page_text: together in like manner. The bearing edges of the crown piece take place at
just half of its length from its centre point, that is to say, instead of the palm
of the crown resting on the shank, the interior curve of the crown piece rests
on the shank between the two cheeks at distances from the central line limited
by angles of forty-one degrees thereto, and half or midway between the points"
of the palms of the crown and the central line thereof; thus the palms do not
come in contact with the shank, and the leverage is diminished fifty per cent.
I dispense with the barbs of the flukes, and substitute an inner hook, whereby
I obtain a very easy fishing of the anchor. I form the pointed end of each
fluke by preference bayonet shaped, that is to say, instead of the angles or
faces of the fluke being flat they are to be scolloped or slightly bollowed,
whereby a greater facility of penetration and holding is afforded than by the
flat surfaces hitherto adopted. I propose also to apply the before-mentioned
description of anchor in a duplicate form, so as to construct a double or
backed anchor, the head or cheeks of one being extended so as to form a
forked joint, with two holes for the insertion of the pin in order to be attached
by a universal jointed link or shackle to the ring end of the shank of the
other. In this case I form the flukes of the first anchor of a less width and
length than those of the rear anchor, in order that in case of dragging, the
flukes of the rear anchor shall take a different holding ground from that
Joosened by the action of the first or foremost anchor. It will thus be evident
that a vessel will only be able to drag the anchor a very short distance, and
the flukes of the first anchor will be held down in the ground by the strain of
the rear anchor, thereby increasing its holding power, and preventing it from
being torn upwards from its bearings. The link for the attachment of the
buoy rope must be dispensed with in regard to the fore or backed anchor, in
order to allow of the play of the palmed crown on the cheeks. The inner
hook on the flukes may be made of a length such that the flukes would not:
be able to pass through the cheeks of the shaft if the hooks were fixtures.
To accomplish this I cut slots or recesses on the internal surfaces of the flukes
and set the hooks. therein on hinges or pins, so that they may shut or close
into the recesses when required, but fall by their own weight outwards against
their fulera or bearing edges on the flukes, so as to present an extended hook
for the more easy fishing of the anchor. I continue the flat or cutting edges
of the flukes higher up towards their union with the' shank, say, to a distance
equal to about 45 degrees along their quadrant or curved arms; by such
extensions of the flattened part or cutting and resisting surfaces, I cause the
arms to effect in unison with the flukes a greater holding power. I proposé
to construct the steadying bar in two parts or sections of angle iron rivetted

page_text: together. A space is cut out of the middle of the horizontal plates of the
angle iron, and a corresponding aperture is cut in the front or vertical plates
for the adjustment of the bar against a shoulder formed on the shank. The
angle irons may be straight, curved, or set at obtuse angles to the shank, and
their increased bearing surfaces produced by the widths of the angle irons,
will enable the steadying arm so constructed to offer a very great resistance to
the dragging of the flukes, especially in soft sandy bottoms. By these improve-
ments the anchor is constructed with greater facility and less expense, and is
increased in strength, 1st, on the crown piece by diminishing the leverage
fifty per cent on its internal curve or bearing surface; 2nd, on the shank by
having the resistance of the crown piece resting on diagonal shoulders in the
centre between the two cheeks instead of at right angles across the shank;
3rd, the facility for weighing is increased by a greater leverage of the shank
on the inner curve of the crown piece; 4th, the holding power of the anchor
is increased by the improved construction of the steadying bar and flattening
of the arms.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said François Martin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th
November 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, FRANCOIS
MARTIN, of Acton, in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand. eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto I,
the said Francois Martin, Her special licence that I, the said Francois
Martin, executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Francois Martin, 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 Francois Martin,
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, 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 per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal: Patent Office within

page_text: angles or faces of the fluke being flat they are to be scolloped or slightly hol-
lowed, whereby greater facility of penetration and holding is afforded than by
the flat surfaces hitherto adopted. I propose also to apply the above-mentioned
description of anchor in a duplicate form so as to construct a double or backed
anchor as shewn at Figure 8. The head or cheeks A of one of the anchors
shewn in Figure 8 are extended so as to form a forked joint with two holes for
the insertion of the pin d, in order to attach it by a universal joint, link, or
shackle e to the ring end e¹ of the shank of the other .anchor A*. In this
case I form the flukes of the first anchor A of a less width and length than
those of the rear anchor A* in order that in case of dragging, the flukes of the
rear anchor A shall take a different holding ground from that loosened by
the action of the first or foremost anchor A. It will thus be evident that a
vessel will only be able to drag the anchor a short distance, and the flukes of
the first anchor A will be held down in the ground by the strain of the rear
anchor A, thereby increasing its holding power, and preventing it from being
torn upwards from its bearings. The link f, shewn to the anchor A*, for the
attachment of the buoy rope must be dispensed with in regard to the fore or
backed anchor A in order to allow of the play of the palmed crown piece c in
the cheeks of the head of the shank A. The inner hook on the flukes may
be made of a length such that the flukes would not be able to pass through
the cheeks of the shaft if the hooks were a fixture; to accomplish this I cut
slots or recesses on the internal surfaces of the flukes, and set the hooks there-
in on hinges or pins so that they may shut or close into the recesses when
required, but fold by their own weight outwards against their fulcra or bearing
edges on the flukes, so as to present an extended hook for the more easy fishing
of the anchor. I continue the flat or cutting edges of the flukes higher up
towards their union with the shank, say, to a distance equal to about 45 degrees
along their quadrant or curved arms by such extensions of the flattened part
or resisting surfaces. I cause the arms in unison with the flukes to effect a
greater holding power. I propose to construct the steadying bar D shewn by
Figures 10, in two parts or sections d, d', of angle iron rivetted together as
shewn, a space d* is cut out of the middle of the horizontal plates d, d¹, of
the angle iron, and a corresponding aperture is cut in the front or vertical
plates d² for the adjustment of the bar against a shoulder formed on the shank
A of the anchor. The angle irons may be straight, curved, or set at obtuse
angles to the shank, and their increased bearing surfaces produced by the widths
of the angle irons will enable the steadying arm so constructed to offer a
very great resistance to the dragging of the flukes especially in soft sandy
bottoms.

page_text: Having thus described the nature of my improvements in anchors, I would
have it understood that I do not confine myself to the exact details herein
described so long as the particular features of my improvements be retained,
and I would remark, that by means of the improvements previously described
the anchor is constructed with greater facility and less expense, besides being
increased in strength.
First, by diminishing the leverage 50 per cent. on the internal curve or
bearing surface of the crown piece.
Second, by having the resistance of the crown piece resting on diagonal
shoulders on the shank in the centre between the two cheeks instead of at
right angles across the shank.
Third, the facility for weighing is increased by a greater leverage of the
shank on the inner curve of the crown piece.
Fourth, the holding power of the anchor is increased by the improved con-
struction of the steadying bar and flattening of the arms.
Fifth, by placing the hook on the flukes in the position herein shewn and
described the anchor is easily fished.
In witness whereof, I, the said François Martin, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
FYOIS MARTIN. (L.S.)