Patent ID: 7284496

Claim:
A device for mechanically securing an anchor chain on a watercraft, comprising: (a) a frame mechanically attachable to said watercraft, (b) a pawl rotatably mounted in said frame, (c) an elastic actuator mechanically coupled to said pawl, (d) a solenoid mechanically coupled to said pawl, and (e) a primary control switch electrically coupled to said solenoid, so that (f) said anchor chain passes through said frame, (g) said pawl is capable of rotation to a locked position, thereby impeding longitudinal movement of said anchor chain in one direction, (h) said pawl is capable of rotation to an unlocked position, thereby permitting longitudinal movement of said anchor chain, (i) said elastic actuator urges said pawl toward said locked position, (j) said solenoid, when engaged, urges said pawl toward said unlocked position, and (k) said primary control switch, when closed, engages said solenoid, whereby said anchor chain is secured under control of said primary control switch, and under conditions of electrical failure, longitudinal movement of said anchor chain is impeded in one direction.