IMPROVEMENTS IN ANCHORS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
: Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ANCHORS."-A communication
from abroad by Joseph Thomas Fewkes, of Philadelphia, Penn-
sylvania, United States of America, Machinest.
Sealed the 9th October 1874, and dated the 2nd May 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 2nd May 1874.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for " IMPROVEMENTS IN ANCHORS," a communi-
cation, to be as follows:-
The nature of my Invention consists-in the peculiar construction and
combination of parts as herein-after fully described, having reference par-
ticularly to the following points :-

page_text: Firstly. To making the angular shank of a single unyielding bar, bent
at its middle portion to form a crown and bearing for the fluke bar, its
two ends converging to the eye piece and fastened thereto.
Secondly. To the provision of studs or braces for the skeleton or open
shank of an anchor.
Thirdly. To the employment in combination with the chains by which
the shank and flukes are connected of a shackle pin of less strength
than said chains, and that will yield under extraordinary strain and
release the flukes.
Fourthly. To providing the journal of the fluke bar or shaft with a
lining or bushing of brass or other non-corrosive metal.
The shank is constructed of a single angular bar, bent to form a
crown and also to form a semicircle, which with the addition of a cap
or half box furnishes a bearing for the shaft or bar. The said bar and
flukes are.forged in one piece. Studs or braces are placed between the
upper and lower bends of the shank, one of the said studs forming a
post for the attachment of the shackle. Eyes are attached to the inner
sides of the fluke arms, and chains proceed therefrom to the shackle,
whose pin is of less strength than the said chains, so as to yield and
break under extraordinary strain, and thereby release the flukes. An
eye piece is rivetted or bolted between the ends of the shank bar. The
bearing formed by the bend of the shank bar, and the half box is lined
with brass or other metal that will not rust.
Owing to the peculiar construction of the shank, which has a greater
depth or thickness at the crown or between the points than at the eye-
piece, and the arrangement of the fluke shaft or bar with reference
thereto, said flukes will normally be always at an angle with said shanks
sufficient to effect the desired engagement for anchorage, dispensing
thereby with the employment of trippers. And as the shank is formed
with or of an open studded or braced bar, it is much lighter than a solid
shank, while it possesses all the strength necessary.
The shackle pin, though sufficiently strong to bear the strain ordinarily
imposed by holding the vessel to anchor, is made of such thickness as to
allow it to break under extraordinary strain, so as to release the flukes
and thereby save the anchor.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 31st October 1874.
.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
time
agree
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by. Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Second day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors;
give and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special
licence that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake,
with,
any
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
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," a communication to me from abroad by Joseph Thomas
Fewkes, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America,
Machinist, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Robert Lake, my 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 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.

page_text: -
eye-piece F, and the arrangement of the fluke shaft or bar with reference
thereto, namely, being journaled between said points D, D; said flukes
will normally be always at an angle with said shank sufficiently to effect
the desired engagement for anchorage, dispensing thereby with the
employment of trippers, and as the shank is formed with or of an open'
studded or braced bar, it is much lighter than a solid shank, while it
possesses all the strength necessary.
:
The shackle pin l, though sufficiently strong to bear the strain
ordinarily imposed by holding the vessel to anchor, is made of such
thickness as to allow it to break under extraordinary strain, so as to
release the flukes and thereby save the anchor.
To prevent contact with the bows or with other vessels the flukes
can be hauled perpendicularly by small tackle.
This anchor cannot be fouled by the chain, and when hanging at the
cat head will not foul the rigging or chains of other vessels, it is more
easily catted and handled than the old anchor, fishes without difficulty,
stores snugly, and having no stock is much better for "kedging” or
boat service than stocked anchors. Vessels are frequently injured in
shoal waters by anchors whose flukes project above the shanks, but with
this anchor such liability to danger is avoided.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the
same, I wish it understood that I claim,―
First. The angular shank A made of a single unyielding bar, bent at
its middle portion to form a crown and bearing for the fluke shaft or
bar, its two ends converging to the eye-piece and fastened thereto as
herein described.
Second. In combination with the angular bent shank A. the studs or
braces G, G, located between the bends A1, A2, as herein described and
for the purpose set forth.
Third. In combination with the shank A constructed as described,
and the fluke shaft or bar C, having its bearing in the crown thereof,
the chains K, K, and shackle L, the pin of the stock being of less
strength than the chains, as and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: Fourth. In combination with a shank A and journaled fluke bar C a
bearing of brass or other non-corrosive material, as and for the purposes
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of October
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.
Witness,
JAS. EDWARDS,
8, Southampton Buildings,
London.
:
W. ROBT. LAKE.. (L.S.)