[Fig. 12.] shows the form of the anchor. The shank is seen upright, with one of the flukes projecting in its front; the horizontal iron stock is at bottom; and the oblique braces are bolted to both shank and stock. The ends of the stock, from the shoulder, are formed dove-tailed, and oval in the vertical direction, and are protruded through apertures in the braces, also oval, but in the horizontal direction, and counter sunk. When the ends of the stock have been thus introduced through the holes, the braces are securely bolted to the shank; the ends of the stock are then spread, by hammering into the counter-sunk holes of the braces, and by that means they are made firm.
An anchor of this description is considered by the patentee to possess considerable advantage, particularly in point of stability, over the ordinary construction of anchors, and is economical, inasmuch as a less weight of metal will give, upon this plan, an equal degree of strength.
An ingenious form of anchor was made the subject of a patent, by Lieutenant Rodgers, of the Royal Navy, in 1828, and was afterwards modified by him in a second patent, obtained in August, 1829. The whole of the parts of the anchor are to be bound together by means of iron bands or hoops, in place of bolts or pins.
[Fig. 13.] is a side view of a complete anchor, formed upon his last improved construction, and [fig. 14.], a plan of the same; [fig. 15.], an end view of the crown and flukes, or arms; [fig. 16.] represents the two principal iron plates, a, a, of which the shank is constructed, but so as to form parts of the stump arms to which the flukes are to be connected.
The crown piece is to be welded to the stump piece, c c, [fig. 16.], as well as to the end l of the centre piece h h, and the scarfs m m are to be cut to receive the arms or flukes. Previously, however, to uniting the arms or flukes with the stump arms, the crown and throat of the anchor are to be strengthened, by the application of the crown slabs n n, [fig. 16.], which are to be welded upon each side of the crown, overlapping the end of the pillar h, and the throat or knees of the stump arms and the crown piece. The stump arms are then to be strengthened in a similar manner, by the thin flat pieces p p, which are to be welded upon each side. The palms are united to the flukes in the usual way, and the flukes are also united to the stump arms by means of the long scarfs m m. When the shank of the anchor has been thus formed, and united with the flukes, the anchor smith’s work may be said to be complete.
Another of the improvements in the construction of anchors, claimed under this patent, consists in a new method of affixing the stock upon the shank of the anchor, which is effected in the following manner: in [fig. 14.] the stock is shown affixed to the anchor; in [fig. 17.] it is shown detached. It may be made either of one or two pieces of timber, as may be found most convenient. It is, however, to be observed that the stock is to be completed before fitting on to the shank. After the stock is shaped, a hole is to be made through the middle of it, to fit that part of the shank to which it is to be affixed. Two stock plates are then to be let in, one on each side of the stock, and made fast by counter sunk nails and straps, or hoops; other straps or hoops of iron are also to be placed round the stock, as usual.