TO RICHARD FRANCIS HAWKINS, of Plumstead, Kent, for an Invention of certain Improvements in the Construction of Anchors.

THESE improvements consist, first, in the construction of anchors differing in form from those in general use; and, secondly, in certain adaptations to anchors of the old construction. In Plate IV. figs. 2 and 3, are different views of an anchor upon the first plan. Fig. 4, shews one of them in the holding position. The anchor consists of a shank, a, and arms or flukes, b, b, with palms, c, and what is termed a crown-piece, d, attached to the arms or flukes; also a toggle, e, with the apparatus to fasten them together: shewn at fig. 7.

The shank is formed so as to consist of two parts towards the crown, with apertures or eyes in each, through which the arms or flukes may pass, and work freely, the crown-piece turning with the arms. "The interior of the crown-piece, or that part which is turned to the square of the shank, must be so adjusted that the crown-piece may freely revolve and pass through the throat when the toggle is not in it." The crown-piece has an aperture perforated through it, seen at d, fig. 2, into which the long thick piece of iron, e, (called the toggle,) is inserted. This toggle is fastened in its place, so as to project equally on both sides, and, by stopping against or meeting the throat of the shank, as at fig. 3, prevents the crown-piece and the arms from passing round, by which they are held at an angle of about fifty degrees from the shank.

When this anchor is let go, one of the ends of the toggle must come in contact with the ground which puts the flukes in a position to enter; and, when the strain is

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exerted upon the cable, that end of the toggle which is upwards comes in contact with the throat of the shank, and sets the anchor in the holding position, as fig. 4. The advantages of this mode of constructing anchors are that they hold by both the flukes at once, and therefore the weight of metal may be diminished, and yet an equal if not greater effect be obtained: added to which, there is more probability of this anchor holding securely into the ground than those of the ordinary construction; and there being no stock to this improved anchor, reduces the probability of fouling, which can rarely if ever happen; hence, it may be "catted, fished, and stowed, with greater facility and safety than a common anchor."

"The crown-piece should be the first part made, as, by it, the mechanic is more readily guided with respect to the distance between the eyes or loops of the shank, and the proportion of the depth of the throat. The diameter of the crown-piece may be determined by whatever is the largest size or part of the arms which is the square to fit therein: the hole must be calculated, leaving a sufficient substance at the sides of the same. The hole, at opposite angles intended for the toggle, is ascertained by the crown-piece itself, the size of which is fixed by whatever is that of the square part of the arms, deducting for substance that you may have round the hole one way, and giving it the other way the addition of about threetenths more, as that being opposed to the strain more necessarily requires it. Let there be a hole or ring in the crown end, for the better bending-to of the buoy rope."

"The arms may be next made, which may be laid up with flat bars of iron and faggotted, or otherwise form-. ing a square. One palm can be put on or formed, the other must be done after it is rove through the eyes and

crown-piece. The arms are bent to their form the last thing; in doing which care must be taken to set them to the form at first determined upon, as any alteration afterwards may endanger the parts bent."

The shank may also be made by faggotting with flat iron, so as to produce a substance sufficient for half its thickness, in which one eye or loop is to be formed. Two of these sides may then be welded together, so as to complete the shank. It is best to make the shanks in whole lengths of iron, as that will prevent the risk of fractures from the scarfing.

"The crown-piece is so called because it forms the crown of the anchor, and which may be wrought or cast. The arms and the crown-piece may be fixed in various ways; but the plan which I find to succeed best is by what I call a clip and a wedge, the hole in the crown-piece being square or squarish, and that part of the arms which is to be fastened being also squarish, with a clip on one side, and a wedge driven in on the opposite side, by which it is made perfectly tight. The toggle may be fastened in its place by various ways; but the mode I use is by the clip and wedge above stated. Its length must be such as to make it firmly bear against the throat, and it serves the purpose of a stock, which is therefore not necessary for this sort of anchors."

The improvements upon anchors constructed similar in form to those now in use will be seen at fig. 5. The arms, a, a, of the anchor are proposed to be made in one piece or length, with a sufficient substance of iron in the middle to admit of a large hole through it. The crown of the shank, b, is to be formed with a throat something similar to that above described, having eyes or loops, between which the middle part of the arms is placed, and there secured firmly to the shank by a strong

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bolt, c, passing through the loops and the arms. The object of this is to make the crown part of the anchor stronger, to avoid the risk of breaking, which exists in those anchors united by scarfs.

The stock is constructed so as to consist of two pieces of timber or iron, which, when the anchor is not in use, may fold down as d, by means of a joint on each side of the shank; and, when required for use, these pieces may be extended as e, and secured in a cap or case of iron, so as to fasten them in their intended position. Various other modes may, however, be resorted to for the purpose of fixing the stock when used, which will readily occur to practical men, according to circumstances and convenience, depending in some cases on the size of the anchor.

A bolt passing through the iron case and the stock would be sufficient for small anchors; but in large ones, where the stock is of wood, a hoop and a wedge would answer better.

The iron stock, fig. 6, possesses the same advantages as those of wood; and the ends may be enlarged by wooden blocks, so as to prevent their sticking in the ground. This accident frequently happens in ordinary anchors, and prevents them from canting, from which circumstance the anchor is often rendered ineffective.

Inrolled, March, 1822.

To JAMES FERGUSON COLE, late of Hans Place, Chelsea, but now of Park Street, Grosvenor-square, London, for an Invention of certain Improvements in Chronometers.

THE first improvement proposed under this patent consists in the application of a safety pin to a detent

with pivots; a locking plate to the balance axis; and the return or unlocking spring in a reversed position, the escapement of the chronometer being a detached one. Plate V. fig. 1, shews the detent, a light bent bar, in the middle of which is an axis or pivot, On the upper surface of this bar a small stud, b, projects, which is acted upon by an angular notch, c, cut in the edge of a circular plate, d. This plate is attached by a screw, f, to the upper surface of the flanch or main pallet, e, or fitted friction tight on the pipe or neck. The flanch, or pallet, is firmly fixed on the balance axis, at g. The circular plate, d, is termed the locking plate, the outer edges of which extend a little beyond the extreme acting part of the main pellet, e.

At h, in the detent bar, the locking pallet is fixed, which retains the escape wheel during the excursion of the balance. When this pallet is adjusted to its proper depth in the escape wheel, the position of the safety pin, b, may be determined; as its place in the detent bar must be such as to allow freedom between itself, the extreme passage of the escape-wheel teeth, and the edge of the locking plate, d, on the balance wheel.

On the under side, and near the extremity of the detent bar, a stud, k, projects, into which the return or unlocking spring, l, is fixed. The depth which the lifting pallet, i, takes on the acting end of this spring is determined by its counter-pin in its acting end at 7, which pin rests against the nose, m, of the detent bar, and is shown by dots, because the locking plate and flanch would hide it. The end of the unlocking spring is hooked, and has motion nearly in a right line between the axis of the balance and the detent, which last-mentioned, with its appendages, must be accurately poised upon its pivot.