Anchor rescue system

Abstract

An anchor rescue system includes an improved slider assembly 200 and retriever assembly 300 allowing for secure attachment as the retriever assembly is lowered upon an anchor line to attach to the slider assembly. Once attached, the retriever assembly pulls upon the slider assembly with the slider assembly attached to a tether chain 210 with the tether chain attached to a lower portion of the anchor, such as crown, causing the anchor to move upwardly in a relative horizontal position. The system frees trapped anchors without need for floatation devices.

Claims

1. An anchor rescue system (100) comprising: a) a tether (210) comprising a first end attached to bottom portion of an anchor, the tether having a second end attached to an outer side of a slider (220); b) the slider comprising a superior beveled edge (222) and a plurality of set screws (240) and the slider defining a center void, with the center void containing a sleeve insert (260) the sleeve insert defining a plurality of set screw divots (270), the sleeve insert retained within the slider by frictional attachment of the set screws upon the set screw divots, the slider further defining a circular retention void (227); c) a retriever assembly (300) comprising a plurality of floating retriever shackles (325) contained within the circular retention void of the slider; the floating retriever shackles pivotally attached within voids defined by a retriever (315); the retriever further comprising two ring brackets (320) with each ring bracket attached to a rope ring (322) with each rope ring attached to a slider retention tab (327); the retriever further including a retriever gate (345).

2. The system of claim 1 further including frictional restraint between the slider retention tabs and the superior beveled edge of the slider.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a bridle line (310) with a first end attached to one of the rope rings and a second end attached to an opposite rope ring.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the first end of the tether is attached to a crown eye void (425), the crown eye void defined within a crown end (440) of an anchor shank.

5. The system of claim 1 further including a plurality of Velcro ties (215) used to attach the tether to an anchor shank (410) of the anchor.

6. The system of claim 1 with anchor line disposed through an axial void of the slider sleeve.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 depicts a fouled anchor

(2) FIG. 2 depicts a retriever assembly being lowered down an anchor chain

(3) FIG. 3 depicts a retriever assembly engaged with a slider assembly

(4) FIG. 4 depicts tension starting to be applied to a tether chain attached to the crown end of an anchor

(5) FIG. 5 depicts direct tension applied to crown end of an anchor

(6) FIG. 6 depicts an anchor being freed by being raised at the crown end

(7) FIG. 7 depicts an anchor being raised back to the ship

(8) FIG. 8 depicts components of a disclosed embodiment

(9) FIG. 9 depicts components of a disclosed retriever assembly

(10) FIG. 10 depicts components of a disclosed slider assembly

(11) FIG. 11 depicts components of a disclosed slider assembly

(12) FIG. 12 depicts top view of a retriever

(13) FIG. 13 depicts a perspective view of a retriever

(14) FIG. 14 depicts a side view of a retriever

(15) FIG. 15 depicts a side view of a gate

(16) FIG. 16 depicts a perspective view of a gate

(17) FIG. 17 depicts a slider assembly retained by a retriever assembly

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS

(18) 100 overall system

(19) 110 system container or marketing box

(20) 200 slider assembly

(21) 210 tether chain

(22) 215 Velcro tie

(23) 220 slider

(24) 222 superior beveled edge of slider 220

(25) 227 retention void defined within the slider 220

(26) 230 welded link

(27) 240 set screws

(28) 260 sleeve insert

(29) 270 set screw divots

(30) 300 retriever assembly

(31) 310 bridle line of retriever assembly

(32) 315 retriever

(33) 320 ring bracket

(34) 322 rope ring

(35) 327 slider retention tab

(36) 325 retriever shackles or floating retriever shackles

(37) 345 retriever gate

(38) 347 void defined within retriever gate, sometimes used to mount a camera

(39) 355 shoulder bolts

(40) 365 gate lock tab

(41) 400 anchor

(42) 405 anchor chain or anchor rode

(43) 410 anchor shank

(44) 415 leading edge of anchor shank

(45) 418 shank eye void, defined within the anchor shank

(46) 425 crown eye void defined within anchor shank

(47) 440 crown end of anchor shank

(48) 500 object fouling or retaining anchor

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(49) The following detailed description is directed to certain specific embodiments of the invention. However, the invention can be embodied in a multitude of different ways as defined and covered by the claims and their equivalents. In this description, reference is made to the drawings wherein like parts are designated with like numerals throughout.

(50) Unless otherwise noted in this specification or in the claims, all of the terms used in the specification and the claims will have the meanings normally ascribed to these terms by workers in the art.

(51) Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in a sense of “including, but not limited to.” Words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number, respectively. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below,” and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application.

(52) The above detailed description of embodiments of the invention is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed above. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. For example, while steps are presented in a given order, alternative embodiments may perform routines having steps in a different order. The teachings of the invention provided herein can be applied to other systems, not only the systems described herein. The various embodiments described herein can be combined to provide further embodiments. These and other changes can be made to the invention in light of the detailed description.

(53) Any and all the above references and U.S. patents and applications are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions and concepts of the various patents and applications described above to provide yet further embodiments of the invention.

(54) FIG. 1 depicts an anchor 400 fouled or otherwise constrained by debris 500 such as an old chain. A slider assembly 200 is attached at the leading edge 418 of the anchor. The slider assembly may also be attached to a tether 210 or tether chain with the far end of the tether attached to a bottom portion of the anchor, such as the crown end 440 of the anchor shank 410. The far end of the tether may be secured though a crown eye void 425, the crown eye void defined within the anchor shank.

(55) FIG. 2 depicts a downward decent of a retriever assembly 300.

(56) FIG. 3 depicts a retriever assembly engaged with or otherwise attached to a slider assembly 200.

(57) FIG. 4 depicts the retriever assembly lifting the slider assembly, causing tension in the tether chain 210.

(58) FIG. 5 depicts vertical or direct tension upon the tether chain 210 causing the crown end 440 of the anchor to move upwardly, freeing the anchor of the debris. The fouling debris is a old chain.

(59) FIG. 6 depicts the anchor being lifted by the crown end by direct tension of the tether line. Note that the angle of the fluke and anchor shank may just be slightly above a horizontal position so as to not further entangle the anchor upon lifting via the tether.

(60) FIG. 7 depicts the further movement of the anchor back to the ship.

(61) FIG. 8 depicts a slider assembly 200, marketing box 110, retriever assembly 300 as well as a plurality of Velcro ties or zip ties sometimes used to secure the tether to the anchor before use of a disclosed embodiment.

(62) FIG. 9 depicts components of the retriever assembly 300.

(63) FIG. 10 depicts components of the slider assembly 200.

(64) FIG. 11 depicts components of the slider assembly 200.

(65) FIG. 12 depicts a top view of a retriever 315.

(66) FIG. 13 depicts a perspective view of a retriever 315.

(67) FIG. 14 depicts a side view of a retriever 315 having two ring brackets 320, with each ring bracket supporting a rope ring 322 with each rope ring attached to a slider retention tab 327.

(68) FIG. 15 depicts a retriever gate 345 or thumbnail gate from a side view.

(69) FIG. 16 is a perspective view a retriever gate 345.

(70) FIG. 17 depicts a slider retention tab 327 in contact with a superior beveled edge 222 of a slider. The contact and retention properties of the two retention tabs 327 upon the superior beveled edge 222 of a slider are significant. The configuration, sometimes taken in conjunction with the floating shackles, provides a one way movement of the retriever assembly downwardly upon the slider assembly. The complementary angles of the retention tabs 327 and beveled edge allow for the retriever to move downwardly only and upon the subsequent lifting of the retriever by use of the two bridle lines, the retention tabs 327 and floating retriever shackles 325 trap, retain or otherwise secure the slider, causing tension upon the tether as the retriever pulls upwardly upon the slider.

(71) Upon decent of the retriever around and upon the slider, the floating shackles stay in a downward position. But, upon the hoisting of the slider, the floating shackles 325 retain the slider by frictional attachment or insertion into a circular retention void 227 defined within the slider.

(72) The sleeve insert 260 that my define an axial void may be inserted though an axial void defined by the slider. The use of an sleeve within the slider overcomes shortfalls in the prior art by allowing for sliders of different sizes to be used. Also the sleeve insert provides an extra barrier or level of protection from the anchor line or rode line that may be disposed within the axial void of the slider. Thus, the anchor line or rode line may be disposed within the axial void of the sleeve with the sleeved attached within the axial void of the slider. Thus friction or debris from the anchor line will be less likely to damage the slider.

(73) The floating shackles and retention tabs of the retriever taken in conjunction with the circular retention void and superior beveled edge of the slider overcome the shortfalls in the prior art, including versions that use spring pins in the retriever that insert into the slider. The known prior art fails to come close to the efficacy of the disclosed embodiments.