The invention relates to a welded stockless anchor such as is used in a variety of sizes for boats and ships. Welded stockless anchors are for instance known in different embodiments under the trade name POOL. POOL is a registered mark of Ship's Equipment Centre Groningen B.V. which is used for the purpose of trading anchors with specific properties. The mark as such is widely known among interested parties.

Prior art welded stockless anchors, such as in NL6809481, comprise a housing with a base and a stop plate extending obliquely from at least an end thereof, a shank which is bearing-mounted at one end to the housing and which comprises on its opposite end fastening means for an anchor line or chain, and on either side of the housing a fluke which comprises an insertion end on its end remote from the base.

GB1020454 shows a prior art welded stockless anchor of the above type, further comprising a crown plate situated on the lower end of each fluke on either side of the housing, the crown plates being two separate, mutually obtuse plates each extending in a plane perpendicular to the flukes.

When the anchor is raised and not in use it lies with the stop plate against the shell of the ship. The anchor line or chain is herein pulled taut so that the shank is fixed in an anchor hawse hole or the insertion ends of the fluke are pulled tight in a receiving space for the anchor arranged for this purpose on the ship.

For anchoring purposes the anchor is payed out such that it comes to rest on the bottom and is dragged over the bottom until the insertion ends protrude into the bottom and the anchor finds a hold.

In known anchors of the present type the anchor must sometimes be dragged a considerable distance along the bottom before the insertion ends find sufficient grip to allow the flukes to dig in.

The invention therefore has for its object to improve an anchor of the present type such that this drawback is obviated.

This object is achieved in an anchor according to claim 1. This ensures that when the anchor lies flat on the bottom at least one of the insertion ends makes contact with the bottom. The insertion end will hereby quickly dig into the bottom and the anchor will get a hold almost immediately.

It makes no difference with which side the anchor comes to lie on the bottom.

The angle of the flukes relative to the shank is bounded in that the shank lies in the end position against the stop plate. The angle at which the fluke digs into the bottom can hereby be optimized.

A further favourable development is characterized by the measure of claim 2. The stop plate can hereby absorb great forces from the shank without damage or wear occurring. This has a favourable effect on the lifespan of the anchor according to the invention.

A further improvement in the distribution of forces during the transmission of forces from the shank to the housing is achieved in advantageous manner with the measure according to claim 3.

According to the invention the insertion ends of the flukes grip readily into the bottom and the anchor thus digs in quickly, while at the same time the angle at which the fluke penetrates the bottom is bounded in reliable manner for a long lifespan. The anchor according to the invention can be embodied in suitable manner as a type wherein the centre of gravity of the housing with the parts fixedly connected thereto, such as the flukes, lies between the bearing-mounting of the shank on the housing and the base. Although the rotation point thus lies relatively further forward when the anchor is dragged along the bottom, a good operation of the anchor is nevertheless achieved, while the advantage is realized that the anchor can always be raised in the correct position against the ship's side.

In known welded stockless anchors the flukes are placed against the side plates of the housing and connected fixedly to the housing by means of welded connections. During transmission of forces from the flukes to the housing there occur in a number of such anchors local stresses which are higher than the yield stress, whereby the anchor can be damaged. With the measure according to the invention an improvement in the distribution of force is achieved in favourable manner, wherein local stresses above the yield point of the material are avoided.

A further improvement in the distribution of forces during transmission of forces from the flukes to the housing is achieved in favourable manner with the measures according to claims 5 and 6.

The invention will be further elucidated in the following description with reference to the accompanying figures.

Figure 1

is a perspective view of an anchor according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2

is a side view of the anchor of figure 1 while it is lying on the bottom of a body of water.

Figure 3

is a longitudinal section of the anchor of figure 1 wherein the flukes are dug in and the anchor is on the point of being raised.

Figure 4a

is a perspective view of an anchor according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4b

is a perspective view with exploded parts of the anchor of figure 4a.

The anchor 1 shown in figure 1 has a housing 2 with a base 3 which is situated on the underside in the shown standing position. Extending obliquely upward from base 3 are two stop plates 4 with which the anchor can lie against the shell of the ship when the anchor is raised.

In this exemplary embodiment the two stop plates are connected on either side to side plates 11 on which a shank 5 of anchor 1 is bearing-mounted.

Shank 5 can pivot relative to the housing between the one end position shown in figure 1 and another opposite end position.

On either side of housing 2 a fluke 7 is arranged, in particular by welding. Situated on the lower end of each fluke is a crown plate 8 which contributes toward tilting of the anchor when it is dragged along the bottom and which also prevents the anchor digging too deeply into the bottom.

On the opposite end each fluke has an insertion end 10 which, as figure 2 shows clearly, is intended to grip into the bottom and thus ensure the desired hold.

When the anchor is lowered, it will come to lie on the bottom in the manner shown in figure 2. As figure 2 shows clearly, the angle between stop plate 4 and base 3 in the exemplary embodiment of the anchor according to the invention shown here is smaller than the angle which a connecting line, shown here as a bottom 12, between insertion end 10 and an end of stop plate 4 connected to the base, makes with the base 3. The stop plate 4 itself hereby remains clear of the bottom 12 and insertion end 10 comes to rest on the bottom. It can be readily appreciated that, when anchor 1 is dragged along the bottom 12 by a pulling force exerted by the anchor line or chain on joining link 6 on the free end of shank 5, insertion end 10 penetrates rapidly into the bottom 12 and anchor 1 therefore immediately gets a hold. The stop plate does not impede penetration of flukes 7 into the bottom 12.

As the section of figure 3 shows, shank 5 is provided, at the end with which it is mounted in housing 2 by means of bearing 9, with inclining stop surfaces 15 which, in the final position of shank 5 relative to housing 2 shown in figure 3, lie in turns against the inner side of stop plate 4.

In the exemplary embodiment drawn here the shank and the stop plates are dimensioned such that, while one of the stop plates of 15 is in contact with the inner surface of stop plate 4, here the lower stop plate 4, the side of shank 5 is also in contact at 16 with the upper edge of the opposite stop plate 4. A good distribution and transmission to stop plates 4 of the forces exerted on shank 5 via the joining link is hereby achieved. This is particularly important when the anchor is being pulled out as shown in figure 3, certainly when the bottom is a hard one. The force exerted by the end of shank 5 on stop plates 4 can be very great, but in the embodiment of the invention shown here the forces on the construction remained limited such that no deformation can occur.

Figures 4a and 4b show the anchor according to the invention with measures for an improved transmission of forces between fluke 7 and side plate 11. Side plate 11 is formed from two side plate parts 11a and 11b. Both side plate parts 11a and 11b are designed such that both parts together form a side plate 11 which has two recesses 17a and 17b. In the assembled state 18 the protruding portions 19a and 19b of fluke 7 protrude into recesses 17a and 17b of side plate 11.

Figures 4a and 4b also show that upper edge 20 of fluke 7 is coupled to side plate 11 by means of coupling plate 21.

It is noted that the anchor according to the invention can be embodied in many different ways. The stop plates, which are arranged in the drawing between the side plates, can for instance also be arranged on the sides. The side plate which in figure 4b is formed from two parts can further be formed integrally. The anchor according to the invention can also be embodied in many different dimensions. The anchor according to the invention can be applied in suitable manner both for small pleasure craft and for large commercial vessels.