IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ANCHORS
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Ray Hodgson, of Sunderland, Carver and
Gilder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
ANCHORS."
Sealed the 20th March 1855, and dated the 12th January 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Ray Hodgson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
12th January 1855.
I, JOSEPH RAY HODGSON, of Sunderland, Carver and Gilder, do hereby
declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
ANCHORS" to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of a peculiar construction and combination of parts
of an anchor. For this purpose, the arms and flukes consist, by preference, of
one forged mass, and in place of having a shank made part of or solid with
the armis, there is formed on either side a groove to receive the end of a plate,
and there is also formed a projection where the shank ordinarily comes, which,
by means of a pin or key, admits of the end of a chain being fixed thereto, and
yet allows the same readily to be detached therefrom when it is desired to stow
away the anchor, so that it may occupy the smallest space. The shank consists
of two plates, the section of which may be varied; it is,.however, preferred to
have them convex outside, and flat or plain on the inner surfaces. One end

page_text: of each of these plates is placed in the groove formed on either side of the
arms to receive it, and the plates are retained in their places by a pin passed
through them and through the crown of the anchor. Through the other end
of these plates the stock is passed, and is fixed or keyed securely thereto; hence
the parts can readily be separated when not required for use. The stock also
passes through the last link of the internal chain, before mentioned, and such
link has fixed thereto a shackle, to which the cable is attached when the parts
of the anchor are put together for use.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Ray Hodgson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 9th July 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
RAY HODGSON, of Sunderland, Carver and Gilder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Joseph Ray Hodgson, Her special licence that I, the said Joseph
Ray Hodgson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Joseph Ray Hodgson, my 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 THE CONSTRUCTION OF ANCHORS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Joseph Ray Hodgson, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, 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..
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joseph Ray Hodgson, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following.
statement thereof (that is to say):―

page_text: This Invention consists of a peculiar construction and combination of parts
of an anchor. For this purpose, the arms and flukes consist, by preference, of
one forged mass, and in place of having a shank made part of or solid with
the arms, there is formed on either side a groove to receive the end of a
plate, and there is also formed a projection where the shank ordinarily comes,
which, by means of a pin or key, admits of the end of a chain being fixed
thereto, and yet allows the same readily to be detached therefrom when it is
desired to stow away the anchor, so that it may occupy the smallest space.
The shank consists of two plates, the section of which may be varied. It is,
however, preferred to have them convex outside and flat or plain on the inner
surfaces. One end of each of these plates is placed in the groove formed on
either side of the arms to receive it, and the plates are retained in their places
by a pin passed through them and through the crown of the anchor. Through
the other end of these plates the stock is passed, and is fixed or keyed securely
thereto; hence the parts can readily be separated when not required for use.
The stock also passes through the last link of the internal chain, before men-
tioned, and such link has fixed thereto a shackle, to which the cable is attached
when the parts of the anchor are put together for use.
thus stated the nature of my said Invention I will proceed to
This Invention consists of a peculiar construction and combination of parts
of an anchor. For this purpose, the arms and flukes consist, by preference, of
one forged mass, and in place of having a shank made part of or solid with
the arms, there is formed on either side a groove to receive the end of a
plate, and there is also formed a projection where the shank ordinarily comes,
which, by means of a pin or key, admits of the end of a chain being fixed
thereto, and yet allows the same readily to be detached therefrom when it is
desired to stow away the anchor, so that it may occupy the smallest space.
The shank consists of two plates, the section of which may be varied. It is,
however, preferred to have them convex outside and flat or plain on the inner
surfaces. One end of each of these plates is placed in the groove formed on
either side of the arms to receive it, and the plates are retained in their places
by a pin passed through them and through the crown of the anchor. Through
the other end of these plates the stock is passed, and is fixed or keyed securely
thereto; hence the parts can readily be separated when not required for use.
The stock also passes through the last link of the internal chain, before men-
tioned, and such link has fixed thereto a shackle, to which the cable is attached
when the parts of the anchor are put together for use.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention will proceed to
describe the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 shows an anchor constructed according to my Invention; Figure 2
shows the anchor with some of the parts removed.. a, a, are the arms and
flukes, which parts are preferred to be forged in one piece, together with the
central part b, to which the side plates c, c, are keyed or fixed, and there is
formed on either side a recess 61, 6, to receive the ends of the plates c, which
constitute the shank of the anchor; d, the stock, which passes through and is
to be properly keyed to the shank c of the anchor; e is a chain, which at one
end is attached by a key f to the central projecting part 6 of the crown. The
other end of this chain has a large link, through which the stock passes, and
to which the shackle g is fixed. The chain cable by which a ship rides is to
be attached to the shackle g, and the strain is received by the chain e; hence
a ship at anchor will, in fact, be in a position of being connected by a chain
cable direct to the arms or flukes, and not, as heretofore, to the end of the
shank. By this combination of parts, not only is great facility of stowing away
in a small compass offered, but great strength with comparative lightness is
obtained.

page_text: Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself
to the details of construction and form, so long as the peculiar character of my
Invention -be retained; but what I claim is, the combination of-parts-of an
anchor, herein described...
In witness whereof, I; the "said Joseph Ray Hodgson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand.eight hundred and fifty-five.
Witness,
J. G. WILSON,
of Sunderland."
JOSEPH RAY HODGSON. (L.S.)
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