IMPROVE- MENTS IN ANCHORS
Year: 1857

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Samuel Haycraft at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 16th January
1857.
I, SAMUEL HAYCRAFT, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Com-
mission Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN ANCHORS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists, firstly, in making the flukes of anchors convex. I
make the front face of the fluke project in a direction from the top to the
bottom, either in the form of a segment of a circle or by dividing the length
into two or more equal or unequal parts, either part from the point receding
more and more towards the back of the arms, or by any such means, causing
a fulness in the contour of the fluke. The fluke is made tolerably flat crosswise
on the face.
My Invention consists, secondly, in the construction of the cutter arms of
anchors. I make the arms much broader and thinner than usual, the front
being brought to a thin or sharp edge, and the back made strong. I also
attach a cutter in front of the arms of anchors at present in use. In auchors
with one arm, for mooring purposes, I cut short the arm at the back above'
the fluke, and bring the said arm forward in order that the anchor may sweep
well. This arrangement has a tendency to keep the stock in a horizontal
position.
My Invention consists, thirdly, of an improved method of attaching shackles.
I make the pin hole of the shackle sufficiently large to admit the stock to

page_text: pass through it to its centre and there to be secured in the usual way by a
cotter. By this arrangement the stock lies nearer to the ground, and there is
less tendency in the stock to be lifted up. In anchors having only one arm I
place the shackle pin above the centre line of the shank.
My Invention. consists, fourthly, of improved joint arms of anchors. I
make the joint pin pass through the shank and arms at the crown in the usual
way, in conjunction with another some distance from the former and nearer
the fore part of the anchor. The hole through the arms for this pin to pass
through a slot hole, thus allowing some action at the point; or two projections
may be used to clip the shank, at the same time allowing some action at the
joint sufficient to permit each fluke to collapse about one-fourth part nearer to
the centre of the shank. The same object may be effected by other equivalent
method. By this construction the anchor will cant. Supplementary flukes
are not required, and the proper point of the anchor is certain to enter the
ground without dragging.
My Invention consists, fifthly, of improvements in central stock anchors.
The improvements in the fluke arms and shackle, before described, are designed
with a view to keep the shackle end from rising; but in this anchor the stock
is placed in the most advantageous part of the anchor both for keeping the
arms vertical and insuring the canting of the anchor on its point even in deep
water. I prefer the centre of the sweep for the centre of the stock, but if
placed one-fourth of the radius of the sweep in advance, the usual length of
stock will cant the anchor. If placed in the centre a shorter stock will suffice,
and if placed between the points of the flukes a stock of the same length as,
the span of the flukes will be sufficient. I fix the stock of an anchor nearer
to the centre of the outside sweep of the arms than has hitherto been
produced.
My Invention consists, lastly, in the construction of four-armed anchors. I
apply the fluke and arms described to the said four-armed anchors; I also
make the flukes on the face plain, of a triangular or nearly triangular form,
one point forming the upper part, and one side the lower part of the fluke,
thus presenting the points to the ground. Making two opposite flukes in four-
armed anchors so as not to enter the ground, is comprised under the fifth head
of my Invention.