IMPROVEMENTS IN « " BOW STOPPERS FOR ANCHOR CABLES
Year: 1885

page_text: We, GEORGE ADAMSON, of 4 Tynevale Terrace, Gateshead, in the County of
Durham, Manager of Engineering Works, and JOSEPH THOMAS FENWICK, of
68 West Street, Gateshead, in the County of Durham, Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN «
"
BOW STOPPERS FOR ANCHOR
CABLES" to be as follows:-
According to our invention we use any of the ordinary well known constructions
of bow stoppers but instead of fixing the stopper rigidly to the ship we fit it into
a bedplate which is fixed by bolts or otherwise to the ship. In this bedplate the
stopper, working in suitable guides, is free to slide to a limited extent controlled
by the resistance of strong metallic or other springs or by some elastic substance
such as India-rubber interposed between the stopper and the fixed bedplate the
object being to relieve the strain on the cable when riding at anchor by the
elasticity of said springs or elastic substance.
We are aware that many expedients have been suggested and some practically
applied with the same object which we have in view but have failed for the
reason that the elastic action has been applied either on the windlass or capstan or
at some point the elasticity of which was neutralised by the rigid fitting of the
bow-stopper which was a fixture to the ship. It will be seen that by giving
sliding movement to the stopper, controlled by springs or by some elastic substance,
the cable must be relieved of dangerous strains when ship is riding, because the
stopper is the last point of attachment between the anchor and ship and its elastic
fitting enables it to give to the strain on cable without any special fitting of springs
or other appliances at the windlass or capstan or intermediate point.
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
Applicants' Agent.

page_text: Improvements in "Bow Stoppers" for Anchor Cables.
We GEORGE ADAMSON, of 4 Tynevale Terrace, Gateshead, in the County of
Durham, Manager of Engineering Works, and JOSEPH THOMAS FENWICK of
68 West Street, Gateshead in the County of Durham Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of said invention to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:--
According to our invention we use any of the ordinary well known constructions
of bow stoppers but instead of fixing the stopper rigidly to the ship we fit it into
a bedplate which is fixed by bolts or otherwise to the ship. In this bedplate the
stopper, working in suitable guides, is free to slide to a limited extent controlled by
the resistance of strong metallic or other springs or by some elastic substance such
as India rubber interposed between the stopper and the fixed bedplate the object
being to relieve the strain on the chain cable when riding at anchor by the
elasticity of said springs or elastic substance.
We are aware that many expedients have been suggested and some practically
applied with the same object which we have in view but have failed for the reason
that the elastic action has been applied either on the windlass or capstan or at
some point the elasticity of which was neutralised by the rigid fitting of the bow
stopper which was a fixture to the ship. It will be seen that by giving sliding
movement to the stopper, controlled by springs or by some elastic substance, the
chain cable must be relieved of dangerous strains when ship is riding, because the
stopper is the last point of attachment between the anchor and ship and its elastic
fitting enables it to give to the strain on cable without any special fitting of
springs or other appliances at the windlass or capstan or intermediate point.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
On the accompanying sheet of drawings Figure 1 shews a side elevation partially
in section of a "bow stopper" fitted according to our invention. Figure 2 a plan
of same and Figure 3 an end view in section through line X-X Figure 1.
A is the bow stopper with chain cable held by one of its links in the shoulder of
cleft C the cam being lowered the arrow indicating the lead of cable over ships
bow to the anchor, the other end leading slack to windlass or capstan. B is the
bedplate secured to deck of ship by bolts and having grooved sides in which the
flanges of stopper slide as guides. These grooves are shewn as cast with bedplate
but the upper portions of them may in some cases be bars bolted to main part in
the manner of motion bars of engines.
.
In a cavity in the stopper is placed a spring S (one only in this instance) of
spiral form, but volute or other forms may be used. This spring is confined at one
end by the fulcrum F cast on bedplate and at the other end by the stopper itself
and may be guided on a central spindle if required. The effect of the tension on
chain cable of the ship when suddenly brought up by or when riding at anchor is
to close the coils of the spring which by its elasticity relieves any sudden strain

page_text: upon the cable and gradually brings the ship up and this elastic relieving action of
the spring continues to act while she is riding when required by undue strain of
heavy seas.
When the anchor is to be got up the slack chain cable is taken up tight by the
windlass and the cam being raised by the handle and fixed by key K being taken
ont of bow and inserted in slot L the links pass freely over the stopper to the
windlass.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of said invention
we declare that what we claim is :-
First. Placing a chain cable "bow stopper" of any of the ordinary forms, or of
any improved form, in a fixed bedplate in which it may move in guides to an
extent controlled by strong springs or by the elastic resistance of India rubber or
similar material substantially as described and shewn.
Second. The construction and use of "bow stoppers" for chain cables consisting
of a stopper A sliding in guides in a fixed bedplate B to an extent controlled by
the spring S the whole constructed and operating in the manner and with the
objects as described and illustrated.