Anchor positioning system
AssigneeFe Anchor Corporation
InventorEdmund Fitch
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An anchor and an anchor positioning system are provided in which an anchor shackle is arranged such that, in use, it is disposed within a chasing collar. The anchor shackle can be positioned in a locking position in the chasing collar in which rotational movement of the anchor shackle around its longitudinal axis is inhibited. The anchor shackle may also be positioned in an unlocked position in the chasing collar. The anchor shackle can rotate around its longitudinal axis from the unlocked position to the locking position. Accordingly, the anchor shackle assists in maintaining the anchor in a desired orientation corresponding to the locking position.
Claims20
An anchor positioning system comprising an anchor shackle, a chasing collar and an anchor body pivotally mounted to the anchor shackle, the anchor shackle having a longitudinal axis and comprising:
- a keyed portion cooperable with the chasing collar to inhibit rotational movement of the anchor shackle around the longitudinal axis when in a locking position within the chasing collar;
- and
- a surface curved around the longitudinal axis of the anchor shackle, which surface cooperates with the chasing collar to enable the anchor shackle to revolve around the longitudinal axis of the anchor shackle within the chasing collar to the locking position,
- wherein pivotal movement of the anchor body relative to the anchor shackle is limited to ensure the anchor body has a center of gravity offset from the longitudinal axis of the anchor shackle in the direction of the keyed portion.
An anchor shackle configured to be pivotally mounted to an anchor body, comprising:
- a longitudinal axis;
- a keyed portion cooperable with a chasing collar to inhibit rotational movement of the anchor shackle around the longitudinal axis when in a locking position within the chasing collar;
- and
- a surface curved around the longitudinal axis of the anchor shackle, which surface cooperates with the chasing collar to enable the anchor shackle to revolve around the longitudinal axis of the anchor shackle within the chasing collar to the locking position, where the surface curved around the longitudinal axis is at a substantially constant distance from the longitudinal axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.