# US 9,751,595 B2 · Anchor positioning system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,751,595 B2 - Document ID: US9751595B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/719,123 - Filed: 2015-05-21 - Published: 2015-11-26 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2009-04-08 - Assignees: Fe Anchor Corporation - Applicants: Fe Anchor Corporation - Inventors: Edmund Fitch - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9751595B2 ## CPC - B63B 21/50: Anchoring arrangements {or methods} for special vessels, e.g. for floating drilling platforms or dredgers - B63B 21/22: Handling or lashing of anchors - Y10T 24/45984: Cavity having specific shape - 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) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The anchor positioning system according to claim 1, wherein the anchor shackle has a length extending in a longitudinal direction along the longitudinal axis, and wherein the keyed portion extends along the length of the anchor shackle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The anchor positioning system according to claim 1, wherein the surface curved about the longitudinal axis enables the anchor shackle to revolve freely around the longitudinal axis of the anchor shackle within the chasing collar to the locking position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The anchor positioning system according to claim 1, wherein the anchor shackle has a length extending in a longitudinal direction along the longitudinal axis, and wherein the surface curved around the longitudinal axis forms a curved portion extending along the length of the anchor shackle substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The anchor positioning system according to claim 1, wherein the anchor shackle has a length extending in a longitudinal direction along the longitudinal axis, and wherein the surface curved around the longitudinal axis forms a curved portion extending along the length of the anchor shackle, where a cross-sectional profile of the anchor shackle in a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the anchor shackle comprises the keyed portion and the curved portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The anchor positioning system according to claim 5, wherein the curved portion and the keyed portion are on opposing sides of the cross-sectional profile of the anchor shackle in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the anchor shackle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The anchor positioning system according to claim 1, where the surface curved around the longitudinal axis is at a constant distance from the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The anchor positioning system according to claim 1, wherein the keyed portion comprises a protuberance. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The anchor positioning system according to claim 8, wherein the protuberance defines two faces inclined at an angle relative to each other. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The anchor positioning system according to claim 9, wherein the chasing collar is profiled to include a recess with an apex having an angle substantially equal to the angle of the protuberance such that the protuberance and the recess coincide in the locking position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The anchor positioning system according to claim 1, wherein the chasing collar includes a recess having a recess profile, and the keyed portion has a keyed profile in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the anchor shackle, where the recess profile matches the keyed profile. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The anchor positioning system according to claim 1, wherein the keyed portion comprises a protuberance, and the chasing collar is profiled to include a recess matching the protuberance, so that the protuberance and the recess coincide in the locking position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The anchor positioning system according to claim 1, wherein the chasing collar comprises: attachment means for attaching a chasing line; and a keyed portion cooperable with the anchor shackle to inhibit rotational movement of the anchor shackle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The anchor positioning system according to claim 13, wherein the attachment means and the keyed portion are diametrically opposed to each other. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The anchor positioning system according to claim 1, wherein the chasing collar is arranged to receive the anchor shackle in the locking position in which rotational movement of the anchor shackle around the longitudinal axis is inhibited, the chasing collar further being arranged to receive the anchor shackle in an unlocked position; wherein the anchor shackle can rotate around the longitudinal axis from the unlocked position to the locking position with substantially no movement relative to the chasing collar along the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 16 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. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The anchor shackle according to claim 16, where a cross-sectional profile of the anchor shackle in a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis comprises the keyed portion and a curved portion formed by the surface curved around the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The anchor shackle according to claim 17, wherein the curved portion and the keyed portion are on opposing sides of the cross-sectional profile of the anchor shackle in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the anchor shackle. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The anchor shackle according to claim 16, wherein the keyed portion comprises a protuberance that cooperates with a recess of the chasing collar such that the protuberance and the recess coincide in the locking position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The anchor shackle according to claim 19, wherein the protuberance defines two faces inclined at an angle relative to each other.