Anchor

Abstract

An improved anchor comprising a longitudinal shank assembly, a fluke assembly mounted on an axle that is perpendicularly disposed with respect to the shank assembly and a release mechanism that allows, when tripped, the fluke assembly to rotate freely to form an angle of 180 degrees with respect to the shank assembly. The release mechanism is designed so that tripping occurs when the angle of the chain or cable is above a desired critical angle.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In an anchor of the type having a shank assembly comprising a pair of parallel longitudinal support bars spaced apart from each other, an axle perpendicular to said shank assembly and mounted on one end thereof, said axle having a U-shaped built-in protrusion in the middle and a plurality of flukes rigidly secured to said axle on opposite sides of said shank assembly, the improvement comprising: (a) a chain lever pivotally mounted on the other end of said shank assembly, between said support bars, and having one end connected to the anchor line,   (b) a longitudinal bar member pivotally mounted on said axle on one end, positioned between said support bars, and provided with a pair of stoppers which contact said protrusion when said bar member is pivotally rotated, and   (c) a plurality of tripping palms rigidly mounted to said axle; and   (d) tripping means pivotally connected to the other end of said chain lever and positioned in cooperative support for said longitudinal bar member when the angle of said chain lever with respect to the shank assembly is below a tripping angle.   
     
     
       2. The improved anchor set forth in claim 1 wherein said longitudinal support bars are flat and provided with longitudinal slots and said tripping means comprises a tripping lever having a sliding bar on one end and said sliding bar protrudes through said slots and being kept in place with headed terminations on each side of said sliding bar. 
     
     
       3. In an anchor of the type having a shank assembly comprising a pair of parallel longitudinal support bars spaced apart from each other, an axle perpendicular to said shank assembly and mounted on one end thereof, said axle having a U-shaped built-in protrusion in the middle and a plurality of flukes rigidly secured to said axle on opposite sides of said shank assembly, the improvement comprising: (a) a chain lever pivotally mounted on the other end of said shank assembly between said support bars, and having one end connected to the anchor line,   (b) a longitudinal bar member pivotally mounted on said axle on one end, positioned between said support bars, and provided with a pair of stoppers which contact said protrusion when said bar member is pivotally rotated, and   (c) a plurality of tripping palms hingedly mounted to said axle; and   (d) tripping means pivotally connected to the other end of said chain lever and positioned in cooperative support for said longitudinal bar member when the angle of said chain lever with respect to the shank assembly is below a tripping angle. .Iadd. 4. An anchor for a water vessel comprising:   an elongated rigid shank assembly;   a chain lever pivotally coupled intermediate its length to said shank assembly near one end of the latter, said chain lever on one side of its pivotal coupling to the shank assembly having means for attaching it to an anchor cable extending to the vessel, said chain lever having an end on the opposite side of said pivotal coupling;   a fluke assembly pivoted to said shank assembly near the opposite end of the latter from the chain lever;   a longitudinal bar member pivoted to said shank assembly near said opposite end of the latter and extending along said shank assembly and having a free end for overlying engagement with said end of the chain lever;   and means providing a lost-motion coupling between said bar member and said fluke assembly for moving said bar member into overlying engagement with said end of the chain lever in response to pivotal movement of said fluke assembly into engagement with the bottom of the body of water where the vessel is located;   said chain lever, when pulled by the anchor cable to increase its angle to the shank assembly, moving its end out from beneath the free end of said bar member and permitting the latter to drop and through said lost-motion coupling enable said fluke assembly to pivot in the same direction as said bar member for releasing itself from the bottom. .Iaddend..Iadd. 5. An anchor according to claim 4 wherein:   said lost-motion coupling between said bar member and said fluke assembly is near said opposite end of the shank assembly. .Iaddend..Iadd. 6. An anchor according to claim 5, wherein:   said shank assembly comprises a pair of spaced parallel elongated support bars;   said fluke assembly comprises first and second flukes located on opposite sides of said bars of the shank assembly, and an axle attached to said flukes and rotatably mounted in said shank assembly;   and said longitudinal bar member passes between said support bars of said shank assembly and is pivotally mounted on said axle. .Iaddend..Iadd. 7. An anchor according to claim 6 wherein:   said flukes are substantially flat;   and said fluke assembly also comprises a respective pair of tripping palms for each fluke rigidly connected to said axle and extending on the opposite side of the axle from the respective fluke in a direction longitudinally of the shank assembly, with the tripping palms of each pair extending on opposite sides of the plane of the respective fluke. .Iaddend..Iadd. 8. An anchor according to claim 7 wherein:   said fluke assembly and said longitudinal bar member are each free to rotate through substantially 360 degrees around the axis of said axle when said free end of said bar member is disengaged from said end of the chain lever. .Iaddend..Iadd. 9. An anchor according to claim 4 wherein:   said fluke assembly and said longitudinal bar member are each free to pivot through substantially 360 degrees on said shank assembly when said free end of said bar member is disengaged from said end of the chain lever. .Iaddend.