IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ANCHORS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Frederick Druce, of Victoria Street, in the
City of Westminster, Esquire, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF ANCHORS."
Sealed the 9th December 1864, and dated the 4th August 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Frederick Druce
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th August 1864.
I, GEORGE FREDERICK DRUCE, of Victoria Street, in the City of West-
minster, Esquire, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ANCHORS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in anchors, whereby great
strength is combined with simplicity of construction. Instead of attaching
the arms or flukes in a rigid manner to the shank, or passing them through
an aperture in the same, a hollow is formed in the top of the shank for the
reception of the arms or flukes, which are held therein by an iron cap, such
cap being placed over the top of the shank, and being so shaped as to
embrace that part of the arms or flukes which is placed in the before-men-.
tioned hollow, as well as the upper end of the shank. On the exterior of the
upper part of the shank are formed lugs, which take into corresponding
recesses in the sides of the cap; the latter being still further secured to the shank
by a ring or collar, which is placed on the shank previously to the connection,
of the arms or flukes therewith. When the arms or flukes have been placed

page_text: in the before-mentioned hollow and connected with the shank by means of
the
cap, the ring or collar is driven upwards over the lower portion of the latter,
the end of which is bevelled for that purpose, a pin or bolt being finally
passed through the sides of the cap and the shank below, or through the ring
or collar, thus completing the connection between the arms or flukes and the
shank. As it is desirable that the arms or flukes should be free to move
within certain limits in the socket so formed by the junction of the shank and
the cap as before mentioned, a projection is placed upon the central portion of
the arms or flukes, a corresponding recess or groove being formed in the
hollow at the top of the shank; or instead thereof a recess or groove may
be made in the upper portion of the cap, in which a corresponding on
the central portion of the arms or flukes may work; or both these arrange-
ments may be combined; or if preferred the positions of the projections and
recesses or grooves may be reversed, the former being placed on the shank or
in the interior of the cap, and the latter in the central portion of the arms or
flukes. By means of the arrangements above described the removal or
replacement of the arms or flukes can be readily effected, .
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Frederick Druce in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 4th February 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
FREDERICK DRUCE, of Victoria Street, in the City of Westminster, Esquire,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said George Frederick Druce, Her special licence that I, the said George
Frederick Druce, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said George Frederick Druce, 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 George Frederick Druce, my executors or adminis

page_text: trators, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Frederick Druce, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed;
and to the figures and letters marked thereon; that is to say:
My said Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of
that class of anchors in which both flukes take the ground. In this descrip.
tion of anchor it is desirable that the arms or flukes shall be capable of
partially revolving upon the shank, so that they may assume the proper angle
thereto for entering the ground, and may also admit of being placed parallel
to the shank for facility of stowage. Instead of passing the arms or flukes
through an aperture in the shauk, a hollow is formed in the top of the shank
for the reception of the arms or flukes, the centre part of which is placed
therein and held in position by an iron cap, which is placed over the top of
the shank, and so shaped as to embrace that part of the arms or flukes which
rests in the before-mentioned hollow, as well as the upper end of the shank.
Various modes of securing the cap to the shank may be used, one of such
methods being as follows:-On the exterior of the upper part of the shank
are formed lugs which take into corresponding recesses in the sides of the
cap, the latter being still further secured to the shank by a ring or collar,
which is placed on the shank previously to the connection of the arms or
flukes therewith. When the arms or flukes have been placed in the before-
mentioned hollow and connected with the shank by means of the cap, the
ring or collar is driven upwards over the lower portion of the latter, which
is levelled for that purpose, a pin or bolt being finally passed through the
sides of the cap and the shank below, or through the ring or collar, thus
completing the connection between the arms or flukes and the shank. The
before-mentioned ring may, however, be altogether dispensed with, and the
cap connected with the shank only by a bolt or pin.
In order that the arms or flukes shall be free to move within certain
limits in the socket so formed by the junction of the shank and the cap as
before mentioned, various arrangements may be adopted, such arrangements
being, however, only modifications of the same principle, the chief object to
be attained being to allow the arms to move freely, and to take the required

page_text: angle without any undue strain upon the cap or upon the pin or bolt, or other
contrivance by which the same is held on to the shank.
In one of these modifications a projection is placed upon the central portion
of the arms or flukes, a corresponding recess or groove being formed in the
hollow at the top of the shank; or, instead thereof, a recess or groove may be
made in the upper portion of the cap, in which a corresponding projection on
the central portion of the arms or flukes may work; or both these arrange-
ments may be combined; or, if preferred, the positions of the projections and
recesses or grooves may be reversed, the former being placed on the shank
or in the interior of the cap, and the latter in the central portion of the arms
or flukes.
The nature of my said Invention will, however, be more clearly under-
stood by reference to the accompanying Drawings, which represent the
arrangements I prefer.
pro-
Sheet 1. represents one mode of constructing an anchor with my improved
method of attaching the flukes to the shank. Figure 1 is a front view of the
anchor with the shank detached, shewing the hollow formed in the top of the
latter with the shoulders, which act as palls to the flukes, and also the
jections at the upper and lower parts of the central portion of the arms;
Figure 2 is the cap; Figure 3 is a front view of the anchor with the shank
attached; Figure 4 is the anchor with the arms or flukes at the angle they
take when in the ground, and Figure 5 is the same shewn in section. In
this mode of construction the flukes are palled both at the upper and lower
parts of the central portion thereof; and it will be observed that the greater
the pressure upon the flukes when in position, the stronger will be the reten-
tion of the cap in its place, there being no strain upon the bolt by which the
cap is connected with the shank.
In Sheet II. another modification of my said Invention is represented, the
upper part of the central portion of the arms being alone provided with a pro-
jection, which is constructed of such width as to pall upon the angular sides
of the shank, thus imparting immense strength and holding power. Figure 1.
is a front view of the anchor with the arms or flukes attached; Figure 2 is a
side view of the same; Figure 3 is a side view of the shank, shewing the
hollow in the top thereof, and the angular sides before mentioned. Figure 4
shews the arms or flukes with the projection on the central portion thereof;
Figure 5 is the cap with the bolt by which it is secured to the shank, and
Figure 6 is a front view of the same.
r
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said.
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would

page_text: observe, in conclusion, that what I consider novel and original, and therefore
claim as constituting my said Invention is, the mechanism for connecting the
arms or flukes of anchors to the shanks thereof, herein-before substantially
set forth and described, or any mere modifications thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Frederick Druce, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
E. P. H. VAUGHAN,
54, Chancery Lane,
Agent for the Patentee.
GEO. F. DRUCE. (L.S.)