Abstract: An anchor comprises a base member with a pair of side members swingably connected to its adjacent opposite ends. The ends of the side members remote from the mountings are designed to be coupled and connected to a flexible anchor connection. Bottom engaging means project from the anchor in its triangular arrangement. The anchor is designed when the side members are uncoupled so that the side members may be swung into a position where they are side by side with each other and with the base member.

Abstract: An anchor is stowed entirely within a recess in the bottom of a vessel, by means of a fairlead within the recess comprising a sheave supported in a bracket pivotable about a vertical axis in the center of the recess, along which axis the pull of the anchor winch occurs; the bracket has a hollow space for receiving the shank of the anchor, and a spring-based roller holds the anchor line against the sheave. The lower part of the bracket has guide edges extending completely around the pivot axis except for a side portion corresponding to the width of the sheave for automatically guiding the anchor line onto the sheave.

Abstract: The anchoring system comprises a combination of two types of anchors. One anchor comprises an anchoring element of the plough type and a shank. The plough has the shape of a dihedral having lateral edges contained in a common plane perpendicular to the bisecting plane of the dihedral. The corner edge of the dihedral is inclined toward the common plane from one end of the corner edge in the vicinity of which end the shank is fixed to the plough. The other anchor comprises an anchoring element of the "sheet" type and a coupling device for coupling the element to pulling apparatus. The element has a part-cylindrical surface whose concavity faces the coupling device and is curved in the direction of the span of the surface so that any tangent to the part-cylindrical surface in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the part-cylindrical surface is orthogonal to the direction of the pull exerted on the anchor in service.

Abstract: A high lateral load capacity, free-fall, deadweight anchor comprising a f plate having a lip attached to its periphery to eliminate skating during free-fall; a wire mesh screen attached to the lip to control vortex shedding such that the flat plate maintains an upright posture during free-fall; and a plurality of shear keys attached to the underside of the plate which imparts a high lateral load capability to the anchor.

Abstract: A navigational buoy is provided having a buoy and an inflatable anchor. The buoy and anchor are connected by a hollow stem that is itself flexible or is rigid and is connected to the anchor by a flexible elastomeric bearing. The stem is adapted to provide fluid communication with the anchor so that the anchor can be inflated after being positioned below the sea bottom. The flexibility of the stem is regulated by the materials used to form the stem, solid or liquid fillers in the stem and pneumatic pressure in the stem.

Abstract: A boat anchoring means includes, beside the conventional anchor, a number of sinker bodies attached to the hawser rope, adjacent to the anchor. In order that these sinkers shall not cause damage to the hull or equipment, and provide a good grip during hauling-in, each sinker is formed as a symmetrical body of rotation, is covered by a soft shell, and is maintained at the rope by a tubular wedge member adapted to be driven into a tapering, axial passage through the sinker.

Abstract: A coupling is established between a buoyant body and a submerged anchor, by drawing down an internal bush until it is aligned between the lower ends of a pair of holes through upstanding parallel cheeks secured to the anchor. The holes have larger lower ends than upper ends. A pin is then inserted through the bush; and when the buoyant body is released, its buoyancy draws the coupling up until the pin lodges in the upper ends of the holes through the cheeks attached to the anchor.

Abstract: A stowable agitation trenching apparatus for use on a vessel such as a dredge or barge includes an adjustable, vertically extendable and retractable elongate leg slidably disposed within a mounting bracket pivotally secured to the vessel for selectively disposing a distal end of the leg at a plurality of positions underneath the vessel. An agitation producing propeller is disposed adjacent to the distal end and is movable therewith for producing an eroding current of water against the bottom surface of a body of water to be trenched or dug. The vertically extendable and retractable elongate leg is arranged to be raised and pivoted in the mounting for substantially horizontal stowage on the vessel.

Abstract: A mooring anchor made up of a solid, heavy, cylindrical body from which extend rigid upper and lower cross arms that have flukes at the outer ends. The cross arms are spaced at ninety degree intervals around the circumference of the body. The upper cross arm is located appreciably higher on the body than is the lower cross arm. An eye affords a convenient means of attaching a chain or cable. This anchor is intended to provide a good means of anchoring buoys to bottoms that are either of sand or mud. It has no moving parts.

Abstract: An anchor arm for anchoring a floating body, e.g. a semi-submersible platform, to a fixed anchor point pivotable about a vertical axis, comprises upper and lower articulated arms articulated to the floating body and anchor point respectively and a device for regulating forces transmitted to the arm comprising an articulated coupling connected across the articulation of the arm parts which is acted on by a float.

Abstract: Method and apparatus which provides a retrievable anchor for a floating vessel. The apparatus includes a ballast chain secured to a winch located on the vessel. The chain is lowered into a submergible anchor shell which together with the chain forms the anchor. A conduit can be provided for conveying to the shell a fluid for preventing corrosion and marine life growth on the chain.The method includes connecting a ballast chain to an anchor shell and lowering it to the water bottom using the chain as a supporting link between the floating vessel and the shell. Once the shell is on the bottom, more ballast chain is placed into it so that the chain and the shell provide the necessary fixity for mooring the vessel. Subsequently, the upper end of the chain is connected to a pendant (a suspended rope secured to a locking means on the vessel) which may be used to lower the remaining portion of the chain.

Abstract: An anchor frozen into an ice sheet is used primarily for propelling arctic vehicles by providing a stationary structure toward which the vehicle can be winched. The anchor includes a band of high tensile strength material formed in a closed, curved configuration for freezing into an ice sheet and attaching the vehicles thereto.

Abstract: An offshore drilling structure of the semi-submersible type wherein holes connect a recessed area in the bottom of the floatable hull with the top of the hull, and reversibly acting thrusters are mounted within the holes.

Abstract: A chain link, which is asymmetric about its longitudinal axis, one longitudinal side of the link being convex, the other being concave, or a plurality of such links alternating with common type links, is used for twisting the chain into predetermined synchronization with the pockets and teeth (whelps) of a chain sheave (cable lifter, wildcat), particularly as applied to a chain and a rope interconnected by a coupling link larger than a common link.

Abstract: A bag-like container of flexible material such as canvas for stowing an anchor and a length of line. The container has a hollow body closed at one end and open at the other and a plurality of pockets are spaced along and around the inner surface of the container body. The pockets are open adjacent the open end of the container body, and the aggregate size of the pockets is sufficient to contain the line. The anchor is stowed in the hollow container body, the line is cumulatively stowed in the pockets, and a closure flap is fastened over the open container end and pockets all in a manner preventing fouling of the anchor and line. When the anchor is removed from the container for use, the lie can be payed out sequentially in a manner avoiding tangling.

Abstract: A combined mooring and transfer system for oil and other liquid to a ship from an off-shore installation which rests on the sea bed and extends above sea level, comprising a floating transfer hose from the part above sea level and a mooring hawser from the sea bed part of the installation, the free ends of both being connected to a floating buoy to be picked up by an approaching ship.