Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Aug., 1887
Complete Left, 8th May, 1888
Complete Accepted, 8th June, 1888
I, JOSEPH WATERS, of 3, Humber Road, Westcombe Park, Blackheath, in the
County of Kent, Captain in the Merchant Service, do bereby declare the nature of this
invention to be follows:
as
1
This invention relates to apparatus, commonly known as a floating anchor, to which
a vessel may ride in the open ocean or in seas of such depth that the ship's ground-
anchors and cables are useless.
A floating or water-borne anchor constructed according to my improved method
consists of two main parts attached together and of such area that when submerged at
a moderate depth below the surface and presented at right angles to the direction of
the pull of the cable connecting the anchor with the vessel, the resistance to the motion
of the former through the water is sufficient to counteract to a great extent the pull of
the cable, the anchor and consequently the vessel being thus maintained almost
stationary. By dividing the resisting surface into two parts, placing one part in front
of the other and connecting the two together, the apparatus as a whole and particu-
larly the front or leading surface is steadied in the water and maintained fairly at
right angles to the direction of the strain of the cable. When the resisting surface is
not subdivided and arranged in the manner above described, there is a tendency for
the apparatus to sway and by moving edgewise through the water to largely diminish
the resistance which would otherwise be presented to its motion in a horizontal
direction.
A floating anchor constructed according to my improved method may be designed
in various ways of which the following will serve as an example. Of the two parts
into which the resisting surface is divided, the front or leading portion is formed with
two spars crossed, their extremities being connected by metallic rods or wire cable and
the whole covered with canvas, which latter may be laced at its edges to the rods.
From each corner of the figure so formed, that is to say, from each extremity of the
cross-spars, as also from their point of intersection, a line is led to the main cable, the
Instead of two spars,
strain whereof is thus evenly distributed over the whole area.
three or more may be employed. When three are used, a hexagonal instead of a

page_text: square or rectangular figure results; the superficial area of the canvas relatively to
the length of its laced edge being increased. For the after or trailing section of the
resisting surface, I prefer to employ a circular frame, which may be formed of stiff
metallic rod and to which a shallow pocket of canvas or similar material is laced or
otherwise secured. The frame is connected at four, six or other number of points to
the extremities of the cross-spars appertaining to the other member of the apparatus.
When the apparatus is in operation, the resistance offered by the trailing member
thereof to motion through the water in a horizontal direction contributes to the total
resisting power of the entire apparatus, and at the same time serves to steady the
leading member and to maintain the surface of the latter at right angles to the direction
of the strain exerted by the ship's cable.
For increasing the holding power of the apparatus, the resisting surface may be
enlarged by augmenting the number of canvas covered frames. For example, two
members constructed as hereinbefore described with reference to the leading member
may be employed in conjunction with one trailing member; the three parts being
placed in line one behind the other, and all being tied or connected together as
previously mentioned.
For use with large vessels or where a further increase of holding power is requisite,
I sometimes employ two sets of apparatus of the kind hereinbefore described and
attach same to the opposite extremities of a cross beam; the ship's cable being
connected by means of a span with the two ends of the beam.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Floating Anchors.
I, JOSEPH WATERS, of 3, Humber Road, Westcombe Park, Blackheath, in the
County of Kent, Captain in the Merchant Service, 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:-—
This invention relates to apparatus which although submerged beneath the
surface of the water when in use is in the nature of a floating anchor, to which a
vessel may ride in the open ocean or in seas of such depth that the ship's ground-
anchors and cables are useless.
A floating or water-borne anchor constructed according to this invention is
represented in perspective in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings; Figure 2
being a plan of two such anchors combined, and Figures to 6 views of details
hereinafter explained. My improved anchor consists of two main parts attached
together and of such area that when submerged at a moderate depth below the
surface and presented at right angles to the direction of the pull of the cable
connecting the anchor with the vessel, the resistance to the motion of the apparatus
through the water is sufficient to counteract, to a great extent, the pull of the cable;
the anchor and consequently the vessel being thus maintained almost stationary. By
dividing the resisting surface into two parts, placing one part in front of the other
and connecting the two together, the apparatus as a whole, and particularly the front
or leading surface, is steadied in the water and maintained fairly at right angles to
the direction of the strain of the cable. When the resisting surface is not sub-
divided and arranged in the manner above described, there is a tendency for the
apparatus to sway, and, by moving edgewise through the water, to largely diminish
the resistance which would otherwise be presented to its motion in a horizontal
direction.
A floating anchor constructed according to my improved method may be designed
in various ways, that illustrated in Figure 1 representing the form I prefer. Of
the two parts a and b into which the resisting surface is divided, the front or
leading portion a is formed with two spars a¹ a³, crossed as shown in the face view
Figure 3; the extremities of the spars being connnected by metallic rods or wire
cable c.
The framing so formed is covered with canvas; the latter being preferably
laced or otherwise attached at its edges, to the rods or cable. From each corner of
the framing, that is to say, from each extremity of the cross-spars, as also from the
point of their intersection, a line d is led to an eye d¹ to which the main cable is
connected, the strain of the cable being thus evenly distributed over the whole surface
of the structure a. Instead of two spars, three or more may be employed. When
three are used, as in Figure 4, a hexagonal, instead of a square or rectangular,
figure results; the superficial area of the canvas or other covering material relatively
to the length of its laced edge being, under such circumstances, increased. For

page_text: the after or trailing section of the resisting surface, I employ a circular frame b¹,
which may consist of a stout- wooden hoop or may be formed of stiff metallic rod
and to which a pocket or bag of canvas or similar material is laced or otherwise
attached. The frame 6' is connected by means of guys e at four six or other number
of points to the extremities of the cross-spars appertaining to the other or leading
member of the apparatus. In the present illustration, the canvas pocket 6 is
shackled directly to the guys e, the same shackles embracing and securing in position
the hoop which serves to keep the canvas pocket distended. The frame b¹ may be
jointed, as indicated at 63 in Figure 5, in order to facilitate stowage. It may also
be formed with eyes 6' for the reception and maintenance of the guys equidistant
from one another. In Figure 6 is shown a rectangular frame & fastened at its
corners by means of bolts and capable of being readily taken apart for the purpose of
stowage.
When the complete apparatus is in operation, the resistance offered by the trailing
member thereof to motion through the water in a horizontal direction contributes
to the total resisting power of the entire apparatus, and at the same time serves to
steady the leading member and to maintain the surface of the latter at right angles to
the direction of the strain exerted by the ship's cable.
For increasing the holding power of the apparatus, the resisting surface may be
enlarged by augmenting the number of canvas-covered frames. For example, two
members constructed as herein before described with reference to the leading member
may be employed in conjunction with one trailing member;
the three parts
being placed in line, one behind the other, and connected together as previously.
described.
For use with large vessels or where a further increase of holding power is requisite,
I sometimes employ a floating anchor such as illustrated in Figure 2, in which two
sets of apparatus of the kind herein before described are attached to the extremities of
a cross-beam f; the ship's cable being connected by means of a span f¹ with the two
ends of the beam.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim
:-
1. The improved floating or water-borne anchor constructed and operating sub-
stantially as herein described.
2. A floating or water-borne anchor in which the resisting surface is disposed in
two or more parts placed one in front of the other, the leading part being
approximately flat, and the trailing part bag-shaped, the latter serving to steady
and maintain the former at right angles to the direction of motion through the
- water.
L
41
A-1 1000