improvements in Line Throwing Apparatus
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Apr, 1895-Accepted 8th June 1895
improvements in Line Throwing Apparatus
1, AI BFRT STROEBFIF, Clergyman, of Butler in the County of Morris and
State of New Jersey, United States of America, do hereby declue the nature of
my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement
The invention relates to life and vessel wing apparatus, and its object is to
provide a new and improved line throwing apparatus for use on marine vessels, to
establish communication with the shore, and to aid a disabled or drifting ship in
making a safe landing
The invention consists principally of an anchor adapted to be fired from a cannon
on board the vessel, and carrying a line for drawing a heavy chain or cable to the
said anchor after the latte is imbedded in the ground the said chain or cable being
adapted to be fastened in the anchor by the line, so that on winding up the chain
or cable on a windlass on board the vessel, the litter is dragged toward the anchor
and shore, o as to enable a landing to be effected
The invention also consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the
same as will be hereinafter fully described and then pointed out in the claim
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this
Specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in
all the figuics
Figure
is a perspective view of the improvement as applied
Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the anchor with the grapnel
arms closed
Figure 3 is a imilar view of the same with the ums open
Figure 4 is a transverse section of the same on the line 4-4 of Figure 2
Figure is a similar view of the same on the line 5-5 of Figure 2,
H
igure 6 is an enlarged side elevation of the cannon for shooting the anchor,
parts being in section
Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional plan view of the same with the anchor in
position in the cannon barrel
Figure 8 is an enlarged front end view of the same
Figure 9 is an enlarged transverse section of the same on the line 9-9 of
Figure 7
Figure 10 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the cable head, and
Figure 11 is an enlarged sectional side clevation of the anchor with the cable
head in place thereon
The improved apparatu comprises principally a cannon A located on board the
vessel B and adapted to fire an anchor C having grapnel irm D, so as to securely
hold the anchor C in the ground at or near the shore
The anchor C carries
Thus,
line L, which has one end fastened on the carriage of the cannon A, the other end
unwinding from a dium E' mounted on the carriage is shown in Figure 6
when the anchor is fired onto the shore, the line E is called along in such a
manner that its ends remain on board the vessel, so that one end can be connected
with the head F' of a heavy chain or cable F, which can be then drawn out by the
line and fistened in the inchor C, as indicated in Figure 11, to firmly connect
the vessel with the anchor located in the ground at or near the shore By then
winding up this chun or cable on a suitable drum or windliss on board of the
vessel B the latter can be diagged toward the shore so as to effect a safe landing

page_text: The anchor C is arranged in the shape of a projectile to fit snugly in the
barrel A' of the cannon A and in and between the breechblock A³ of the cannon
and the anchor is placed a charge G of any suitable construction and composition,
to file the said anchor out of the barrel to the shore as previously explained
In order to obtain the proper direction for the anchor C when firing the same from
the cannon I mount the bariel A' on a carnage A2 adapted to be turned and
moved into an inclined position to give an inclined duection to the cannon barrel
as the case may require
The anchor C is provided with a body (1, having a pointed end and provided
with a ba e C2 bolted or other wise fastened to the ba e or re end of the body C
The latter is provided with a bore registering with a comical bone C* in the
head, and through the e bores extends one run of the line E, the latter pissing
at the front end of the bore C³ through a small bore C to a pulley E' mounted to
rotate in suitable vielding bearings arranged in the head C¹ From this pulley
extends the other un of the line E, through registering apertures C and C7 in the
body (and base C2, so as to return to the drum E' mounted on the cun ge A³,
as previously mentioned and illustrated in Figure 6.
One end of the line is provided with a loop E³, connected with a
pring L,
fistened on a bracket L, on the carnage A2 so that a yielding connection is mide
between bracket E and the line to prevent entangling of the 1 ne at the time the
anchor C strikes and buries itself in the ground
In the bore C³ is held loosely a tube H, through which passes part of the line E
as is plainly indicated in Figure 2, which tube H is adapted to engage funnel I
held in the base C and adapted to form a guideway for the head F' of the heavy
chain or cable at the time the latter is to be connected with the anchor C¹, sce
Figure 11
I he
The front end of the tube H is provided with a cap H', on which presses a
spring coiled in the bore C³ and resting against he back end thereof the sud
spring being held in a clo ed or compies ed po ition by the cap H, which is
engaged by hooks h, pivoted at their front ends on luuls ' resting on the front of
the bore C3 and pivotally connected with a 1od extending centrally through a
bore 8
in the front end of the b dy C¹, as is pluily shown in Figure 2
extreme outer end of the 1od K21 provided with a head K³ extending bevond the
point of the body (1 so as to first strike the ground at the time the anchor is fred,
whereby the said rod K is pre sed inward to cau e the links K' to disenage the
hooks Is, so as to relea e the cap H¹ and to permit the spring to force th tube H
outward though the bore C of the base C, and to carry the funnel I along, as
shown in Figure 3 the outward movement of the tube II being limited by the
cap H¹ being seated n the inner face of the base (' The rod K is held normally
in an outermost position by a spring coiled on the rol K² and pressing on a
collar thereof, as is plainly shown in Figures 2 and 3
1
In order to enable the tube H to carry the funnel I, and to di lodge the same
from the base C, as previously explained I provide the rear end of the tube with
a shoulder H2 adapted to engage an annulai recess I', formed in the funnel I, so
that on the outward movement of the said tube, the shoulder engages the annular
recess, and consequer tly carries the funnel I along The latter is normally held in
position in the conical bore C of the base C by having its inner end slightly bent
over to form flanges 12 lightly seated on the inner face of the base C As the
funnel I is made of sheet metal the flanges 12 readily disengage from the inner face
of the base C, as the metal bends or yields inwardly by being struck with
considerable force by the tube H propelled outward by the force of the spring
I
The grapnel arms D, previously mentioned are referably three in number, as
indicated in Figure and cach is pivoted at D' on the forward end of the body C₁,
and is ad pted to fold into a lon tutinal rects formed in the body (, so i to
pre ont no projection on the sur ce ch it bly wan the an for is in nosition in
the baril À 1 ach arm D is biture ted at its pivot point 1) and rect
its outer face to receive a pivoted arm D* al o fitt ng flu h with the outer surface

page_text: of the body as seen in the drawing Each grapnel arm D is held in a closed
position by the wall of the barrel, but as soon as the anchor is fired out of the
cannon barrel, the grapnel aims swing into an open position, as shown in Figure 1,
by the action of V-shaped spines D³ pressing on the inner faces of the said arms,
as will be readily understood by reference to the drawings On the pivot end of
each arm D is formed a shoulder D³, adapted to be engaged by a pawl D₁ pivoted
in the body and pressed down by a spring D, see Figures 2 and 3 When the
arms D and Dx wing outward by the action of the sping D2 the shoulder D³
glides over the free end of the pawl Dª so that nieturn or closing movement of the
aim D prevented when a pill is exerted on the rent end of the body (1 Thus
it will be seen the projectile is provided with two sets of aims D and D* the
forward arms D* being rigid while the rear aims are elastically held open
In order to prevent the grapnel aims from closing in case they have not fully
opened and prevent them from closing by the lug D³ and piwl D4, I provide
s ring-pressed pin L for each arm, the sud pin being fitted to slide in the body C¹
and resting normally on the inner fice of the arm D, see Figure 2 Now, when
the aim D swings outward after leaving the burel A', the sud pin L is forced
outwards by its spring L', and in case the aim D ten ls to clost by the nature of
the ground in which the anchor was fiel it will strike the sud pin L which thus
prevents complete closing of the aim D, as will be understood by reference to
the dotted line position in Figure 3 The lug L2 on the said pin L picvents the
latter from returning to a closed position, the said lug testing against the outer
surface of the body C¹
The charge G previously mentioned is provided with number of heads Gr¹, G², G³,
between which the explosive material is placed and which are connected with cach
other by indestructible tubes d through which the runs of the line L pass, the
latter also passing through apertures in the sud heads G1, G2, G3, to prevent the
line from being injured at the time the change explodes, to propel the anchor D
out of the barrel A¹
The bend for the chun or cable F is provided with wings F², noimilly
folded into recess in the forw ud end of the head, the sud wings being pivotally
connected with the head it 3 is is plainly shown in Figure 10
The inci
side of the wings 12 are pressed on by the free ends of the V-haped ping F
held in the said head and the outward swingu g motion of the wings is limited by
pins held in the wings and engaging segmental slots F formed in the head
It will be seen that by this arrangement the wings alc normally in an
open or outermost position, s) as to extend, at the free ends, beyond the
surface of the head, to engage the inner face of the base of the anchor C, 15
shown in Figure 11, and as hereinafter more fully described in detail
The head F' is of a 17e coire-ponding to the smallest diameter of the
funnel I, so that when the head pa ses into the funnel the wings are closed
while pa sing through the smallest part of the funnel and they ne again expanded
by the force of the sping aftci the wings have passed the smallest diameter
of the funnel
The barel A is preferably provided with longitudinal ribs is shown in
Figures 7 8 and 9, engaged by correspondingly shaped longitudinal grooves
formed in the exterior surface of the body C', so that the anchor is properly
guided while being shot out of the barrel to its destination
The operation is as follows
When the vessel B is di abled or has passed into dangerous position near
the shore, the charge G in the cannon A is fired, to shoot the anchor C out
toward the shore, the anchor carrying the line E, so that when the anchor finally
burrows itself into the ground at or near the shore, it is held securely in place
by the grapnel arms D, and at the same time communication is established with
the vessel by the line E A chain or heavy cable is now fastened to one end
of the line E removed from the cannon bairel A' and then the other end of the
said line is pulled so that the run with the chain or cable attached moves

page_text: outward, while the other run is hauled in, it being understood that the line
readily passes over the pulley E2 contained in the body C¹ as previously explained
The head F¹ on this chain or cable F finally enters the funnel 1, and by its
expanded wings F2 moves the funnel inward to again seek the funnel in the
bore C of the base C' as is plainly illustrated in Figure 11
again close, on a further pull of the line E, the said wings then passing through
the wings F then
the mouth or narrower portion of the funnel to the inside of the enlarged front end
of the bore C³, to again swing outward or expand to abut against the inner face of
the base C² By this arrangement the head F is securely connected with the
anchor C, so tnat a very strong connection is made between the fastened anchoi
and the vessel B The chain o cable I may now be used for sending baskets
containing human beings to the shore, or the end of the cable on board of the ship
1s wound up on a drum forming part of a suitable windlass, so that the ship is aiawn
toward the anchor and consequently to the shore to effect a proper landing
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that whit I
claim is
-
1 A saving apparatus of the class described, comprising an anchor adapted to
be fired from a cannon on board a vessel, and a line carried by the said anchor and
adapted to be connected with a heavy chain or cable to araw the latter from the
vessel to the said anchor, after the latter is imbedded in the ground, substantially
as shown and described
2 A saving apparatus comprising a cannon on board of a vessel, and an anchor
having pivoted grapnel arms and adapted to he fired from the said cannon, the
said grapnel aims being in a closed position in the barrel of the cannon and adapted
to open after the ancho leaves the cannon barrel, substantially as shown and
described
3 A saving apparatus comprising a cannon on board of the ve sel, an anchor
having pivoted grapnel arms and adapted to be fired from the said cannon, a line
pa sing over pulls in the safd an hor and having its ends extending to the vessel,
and a chain oi cable connected with the said line and having a head adapted to be
drawn by the and line to engagement with the said anchor, substantially as shown
and described
4 A saving apparatus of the class described, comprising an anchor having
grapnel arm 2 line ps in over ull in the sud anchor and bk or chain
connected with one end of the said line and having a head lapted to engage the
said anchor, substantially as shown and described
"
han
anchor having
cable or
to engage the
A saving apparatus of the class described, comprising an
grapnd un lir ping over pulley in the sail anchor,
connected with one end on the and lint, and having a hol a laptel
said anchor, and a funnel for guiding the said cable head in the said anchor,
substantially as shown and described
6 A saving apparatus provided with an anchor having a head formed with a
conical bore, and a cable head having spring-pressed wings adapted to pass through
the said anchor head to the inside of the anchor the said wings opening to
abut against the inner case of the said anchor head, substantially is shown and
described
7 A saving apparatus provided with an anchor, a spring-pressed tube held in
the sud anchor, means for locking the said tube in position, and a releasing
device for the said tube, to permit the spring to propel the tube, substantially as
shown and described
8 A saving a paratus provided with an anchor, a spring-pressed tube held in
the said anchor, means for locking the said tube in position, a releasing device for
the id tube to permit the spring to propel the tube, and a funnel adapted to be
engaged by the said tube and moved out of its seat in the head of the cannon,
substantially as shown and described

page_text: arms,
9 A saving apparatus provided with an anchor having spring-pressed grapnel
and pins adapted to be released by the said arms at the time the latter swing
open, the said pins serving to prevent the arms from closing, substantially as shown
and described
10 A line throwing projectile comprising a body adapted to be discharged from
a gun, arms on said body adapted to fold flush with the surface of the same, and
means for causing said arms to project from the body when the same is discharged
from the gun, substantially as set forth
11 A line throwing projectile comprising a body adapted to be discharged from
a gun and provided with two sets of arms, one set of arms being shorter than the
other, substantially as set forth
12 A line throwing projectile having two sets of grappling arms adapted to
fold flush with the surface thereof, substantially as set forth
13 A line throwing projectile having two sets of grappling arms adapted to
fold flush with the surface thereof when the projectile is in the gun, and means for
causing said arms to unfold when the projectile is discharged from the gun,
substantially as set forth
14 A line throwing projectile having folded grappling arms adapted to be
unfolded when the projectile is discharged from the gun and provided with means
for retaining said arms in their opened position, substantially as set forth
15 A line throwing projectile having two sets of grappling arms pivotally
connected and adapted to be unfolded when the projectile is discharged from a gun,
one set of said arms being provided with means whereby the arms are held rigidly
against folding, substantially as set forth
16 A line throwing projectile having two sets of grappling arms, one set being
elastically held in an unfolded position, and the other set being rigidly held in an
unfolded position, substantially as set forth
The 20th day of A 1000
A M & WM CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents