# US 11,999,452 B2 · Anchor monitor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,999,452 B2 - Document ID: US11999452B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/610,337 - Filed: 2020-05-12 - Published: 2022-08-04 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2019-05-20 - Assignees: Koto Holdings Limited - Applicants: Koto Holdings Limited - Inventors: Mark Tolley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11999452B2 ## CPC - B63B 79/10: using sensors, e.g. pressure sensors, strain gauges or accelerometers - G08B 21/02: Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons - B63B 21/00: Tying-up; Shifting, towing, or pushing equipment; Anchoring ({of buoys B63B22/04;} dynamic anchoring B63H25/00 {; equipment for shipping on coasts, in harbours or on other fixed marine structures, e.g. for landing purposes, E02B}) - G01C 9/02: Details - G01P 15/18: in two or more dimensions - G08B 23/00: Alarms responsive to unspecified undesired or abnormal conditions - H04B 13/02: Transmission systems in which the medium consists of the earth or a large mass of water thereon, e.g. earth telegraphy - B63B 2021/003: {Mooring or anchoring equipment, not otherwise provided for} - B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06) - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S) - G01P: MEASURING LINEAR OR ANGULAR SPEED, ACCELERATION, DECELERATION, OR SHOCK; INDICATING PRESENCE, ABSENCE, OR DIRECTION, OF MOVEMENT (measuring or recording blood flow A61B5/02, A61B8/06; monitoring speed or deceleration of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L3/00; vehicle lighting systems adapted to indicate speed B60Q1/54; determining position or course in navigation, measuring ground distance in geodesy or surveying G01C; combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement G01C23/00; measuring velocity of sound G01H; measuring velocity of light G01J7/00; measuring direction or velocity of solid objects by reception or emission of radiowaves or other waves and based on propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effect, propagation time, direction of propagation, G01S; measuring speed of nuclear radiation G01T; measuring acceleration of gravity G01V; {measuring or recording the speed of trains B61L23/00; speed indicators incorporated in motor vehicles B60K35/00; measuring frequency or phase G01R; traffic control G08G}) - H04B: TRANSMISSION ## Abstract A device (6) for monitoring an anchor (4) for a water vessel is disclosed. The device comprises an accelerometer (32) for measuring acceleration of the device to yield acceleration data, means (38) for processing the acceleration data to yield roll angle data, means (34) for processing the acceleration data to yield velocity data, and means (52, 54) for transmitting the roll angle data and the velocity data from the device to a receiver unit (13) for use with the water vessel. This may allow the setting of the anchor and its reliability to be monitored in an efficient and cost-effective way. A corresponding receiver unit is also disclosed, along with techniques for transmitting the data through a rode. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device arranged to monitor an anchor for anchoring a water vessel, the device comprising: an accelerometer arranged to measure acceleration of the device to yield acceleration data; a processor arranged to: process the acceleration data to yield roll angle data, the roll angle data indicating a roll angle of the anchor; and process the acceleration data to yield velocity data; and a transmitter arranged to transmit the roll angle data and the velocity data from the device to a receiver unit for use with the water vessel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1, wherein the accelerometer is a 3-axis accelerometer arranged to produce acceleration data with three orthogonal components. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A device according to claim 2, wherein the velocity data is obtained by integrating a component of the acceleration data with respect to time. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) A device according to claim 2, further comprising a memory which stores a gravity vector, wherein the roll angle data is produced by comparing two components of the acceleration data with the gravity vector. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is arranged to process the acceleration data to yield pitch angle data, the pitch angle data indicating a pitch angle of the device, and the transmitter is arranged to transmit the pitch angle data from the device to the receiver unit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is arranged to average at least one of the roll angle data, the velocity data, or pitch angle data with respect to time to yield average values, and the device further comprises a memory arranged to store the average values of the at least one of the roll angle data, the velocity data, or the pitch angle data. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A device according to claim 6, wherein the processor is arranged to package the average values of the at least one of the roll angle data, the velocity data, or the pitch angle data into a data set, and the transmitter is arranged to transmit the data set from the device to the receiver unit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A device according to claim 7, wherein the data set includes an identification of the anchor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter is arranged to vary time intervals at which data are transmitted from the device in dependence on at least one of the velocity data or pitch angle data. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter is an acoustic transmitter arranged to transmit an acoustic signal through a rode or through water. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1, wherein the device is a connecting link for connecting the anchor to a rode. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A device according to claim 11, wherein the connecting link is connected to the anchor by means of a joint which constrains rotation of the connecting link relative to the anchor in at least one plane. ### Claim 13 A receiver unit adapted for use with a water vessel connected to an anchor, the receiver unit comprising: a receiver arranged to receive anchor roll angle data indicating a roll angle of the anchor and anchor velocity data indicating a velocity of the anchor from an underwater device; and a processor arranged to determine whether the anchor has set based on the anchor velocity data and the anchor roll angle data. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A receiver unit according to claim 13, wherein the processor is further arranged to determine whether an anchor setting has failed based on the anchor velocity data and the anchor roll angle data, the receiver unit further comprising an alarm signal generator arranged to generate an alarm signal if it is determined that the anchor setting has failed. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A receiver unit according to claim 13, further comprising a transmitter arranged to send at least one of an alarm signal, the anchor velocity data, the anchor roll angle data, or link pitch angle data to an external portable device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) A receiver unit according to claim 13, wherein the receiver unit is arranged to provide an indication of potential anchor movement based on link pitch angle data. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) A receiver unit according to claim 13, wherein the receiver is arranged to receive an acoustic signal transmitted through a rode between the anchor and the water vessel. ### Claim 18 A method of monitoring an anchor for anchoring a water vessel, the method comprising: measuring acceleration of a device attached to the anchor to yield acceleration data; processing the acceleration data to yield anchor roll angle data, the anchor roll angle data indicating a roll angle of the anchor; processing the acceleration data to yield anchor velocity data; transmitting the anchor roll angle data and the anchor velocity data from the device to a receiver unit for use with the water vessel; and determining whether the anchor has set based on the anchor velocity data and the anchor roll angle data. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A method according to claim 18, wherein the transmitting step comprises transmitting an acoustic signal through a rode between the anchor and the water vessel. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) A method according to claim 18, further comprising determining whether an anchor setting has failed based on the anchor velocity data and the anchor roll angle data and generating an alarm signal if it is determined that the anchor setting has failed.