The present invention refers to an anchor retrieval device .

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A common problem in vessels of small and medium size is that, upon weighing the anchored anchor, sometimes it remains stranded or trapped by some underwater body or relief. In these cases, the arm or the palm of the anchor is frequently retained by some rope or chain or by some rock or irregularity present on the underwater bottom.

The chain joining the anchor to the vessel is attached to the anchor by the free end of the shank. In this way, if the anchor is trapped and it is not possible to free it by pulling the chain, a known and efficient solution consists of arranging an additional element, allowing the anchor to be pulled by applying force at a different point, preferably near the throat of the anchor, at the opposite end.

The best known and widely used solution consists of a device called a buoy rope. The buoy rope is a rope attached by its lower end to the throat of the anchor. If the anchor is stranded and it is not possible to recover it by pulling the chain, the buoy rope is pulled by applying the force on the throat of the anchor and thus releasing it .

The drawback of this type of device is that it is difficult to use because it is necessary to arrange the buoy rope at the same time as the anchor is lowered, trying that the chain and the buoy rope do not get tangled with one another. The manoeuvre of weighing the anchor is further complicated by the circumstance of having to simultaneously recover the buoy rope. With the aim of avoiding that the buoy rope and the chain get tangled up, it is possible to use a buoy that is attached to the top end of the buoy rope, thus maintaining said buoy rope separated from the chain and allowing its retrieval when setting sail. Nevertheless, it is also complicated to use because it is necessary to arrange and to pick up the buoy rope independently from the chain. Furthermore, in the case that other vessels are present near the anchoring zone, the risk exists that the buoy rope wraps itself round a propeller or that another similar problem arises.

Another known device, for example, the one described in the patent U.S. number 6.009.826, comprises a chain that is directly attached to the throat of the anchor and that extends along the shank of the anchor. The chain is also attached to the free end of the shank by means of a releasable engaging element that releases the chain when a force of specific traction is applied thereto. In this manner, when the chain is pulled in the direction of the shank, the engaging element keeps the chain attached to the anchor by the free end of the shank. On the other hand, if the anchor is snagged and immobilized and the chain is pulled in another direction, the engaging element releases the chain, thus permitting to pull the anchor from the throat, and changing the point of application of the force and releasing the anchor.

This device has the drawback of not being very reliable and can turn out to be dangerous. If the anchor does not keep aligned with the chain, which is probable if the direction of the wind changes from the moment in which the vessel anchored and, therefore, the vessel swings, it is possible that the engaging element accidentally releases the chain. This will cause the anchor remain attached to the chain only at its throat and without offering any resistance to the dragging, so the vessel would no longer be anchored and would come adrift.

Another type of known device, described, for example, in the patents U.S. numbers 4.836.126 and 5.207.775, consists of the provision of a secondary rope that is attached to the zone of the throat of the anchor at one of its ends and associated to a mechanism at its other end. The mechanism is arranged between the chain and the free end of the shank of the anchor and it is activated using a releasing element. The releasing element descends along the chain until it is coupled to said mechanism. When the releasing element couples to the mechanism, it activates said mechanism. Upon being activated, the mechanism releases the chain from the free end of the shank of the anchor, so that it is possible to apply the force of traction from the vessel by means of the secondary rope, directly on the throat of the anchor.

This type of devices has the drawback that the mechanism is large and quite complex, further complicating the passage of the chain through the pulley of the vessel. Likewise, on many occasions it is not possible to provide a revolving mechanism between the anchor and the chain allowing the free rotation of the anchor with respect to the chain. On the other hand, in the devices completely releasing the chain from the free end of the shank, the anchor remains suspended only by its throat, complicating its retrieval and placement in the corresponding location in the vessel, especially if the weight of the anchor is considerable . DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the devices known in the art, providing a vessel's anchor retrieval device comprising a rope, which is associated at a first end to a first point of the anchor and is releasably associated at a second end to a chain that is attached to a second point of the anchor, characterized in that it comprises rope flotation means under the water.

Thanks to these characteristics, the rope remains arranged under the water in a different orientation to that of the chain, so that it is possible to have access thereto in a simple way, avoiding the utilization of complex mechanisms.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the flotation means comprises at least one buoy attached to the rope between its two ends.

Preferably, the anchor retrieval device of the present invention comprises releasable attaching means of the second end of the chain rope.

Advantageously, the releasable attaching means comprise a first element that is connected to the second end of the rope and is releasably attached to the chain, a second element moveable along the chain, and coupling means that are arranged between the first and the second elements .

Also advantageously, the first element comprises a cable that is attached to the rope at one end and is releasably attached to the chain at its other end, and the second element comprises a tubular device that surrounds the chain and that moves along said chain, said tubular device being moved downwards by means of its own weight and being moved upwards by means of an auxiliary rope connected to said tubular device and operated from the vessel.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the coupling means between the first and the second element comprise a cable stop and a housing for the tubular device in which the cable is introduced and in which said cable stop is retained. Preferably, the housing comprises a recess in a wall of the tubular device with a lower opening through which the cable enters.

Advantageously, the housing comprises a space and locking means permitting the entrance of the cable in said space and avoiding the exit of said cable from said space .

Also advantageously, when the cable is retained in the housing of the tubular device, the tubular device can be moved upwards, pulling on said tubular device with the cable until said cable is separated from the chain.

Preferably, the tubular device comprises releasing means with respect to the chain, said tubular device being able to be separated from the chain when the tubular device pulls on the cable.

Also preferably, the chain releasing means comprise a longitudinal groove in one of the walls of the tubular device.

Advantageously, the tubular device comprises a cylinder with its two ends slanted.

Also advantageously, the tubular device comprises a lead weight at its lower part.

Thanks to these characteristics, the device of the present invention permits to change the point of application of the extraction force on the anchor by means of a simple mechanism which is easy to use.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first point of the anchor is the zone of the throat of the anchor and the second point of the anchor is the zone of the free end of the shank of the anchor .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS In order to facilitate the description of all the above previously exposed, some drawings are included m which, schematically and only by way of non restrictive example, a practical case of embodiment of the device according to the invention is represented, wherein:

figure 1 is a view of an anchor snagged in a rock on the bottom of the sea and of part of the anchor retrieval device according to the present invention;

figures 2 to 4 are side, front and rear views, respectively, of the tubular device of the anchor retrieval device according to the present invention;

figures 5 to 12 show the operation of the anchor retrieval device according to the present invention, at different steps.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In figure 1, an anchor 1 that is snagged in a relief of the bottom of the sea, can be appreciated. The anchor 1 is connected at the free end 2 of its shank to a chain 3 that is connected by its top end to a vessel (not shown) . In the situation described, the anchor 1 cannot be weighed by pulling the chain 3 upwards, since the arm or the palm of the anchor 1 is located under a projection on the bottom of the sea and it is not possible to move the anchor 1 so that its arm can exit from the space situated under said projection.

The device of the present invention comprises a rope 4 connected at one of its ends to the zone of the throat 5 of the anchor and connected at its other end to the chain 3, by means of a cable 6. Preferably, the connection point between the cable 6 and the chain 3 will be situated at least at 20 cm from the free end 2 of the shank of the anchor 1.

In the present embodiment, the anchor retrieval device includes a buoy 7 arranged between the two ends of said rope 4, that comprises a central orifice through which the said rope 4 passes. The buoy 7 floats in the water and pulls the rope 4 upwards, by keeping it in suspension.

The cable 6 is releasably attached to the chain 3, so that it can be separated from the same when desired. The anchor retrieval device further comprises a tubular device 8 that permits to carry out the separation of the cable 6 from the chain 3.

As can be observed in figures 2 to 4, the tubular device 8 comprises a cylindrical body 9, with its top and lower ends cut according to respective oblique plans with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder 9 and parallel to one another. The cylindrical body 9 further comprises a recess 10 in its front wall, which is longitudinal with a lower opening 10a.

The tubular device 8 also comprises a piece 11 attached to the frontal part of the cylindrical body 9, overlapping the recess 10. The piece 11 includes a hook defining an interior space 12 and an elastically diverted catch 13 that permits said interior space 12 to be closed. The interior space 12 is situated in correspondence with part of the recess 10.

As can be observed in figure 4, the cylindrical body 9 includes in its rear wall a longitudinal V-shaped groove 15, that is widened in its top and forms a separation line in its bottom. In resting state, the two sides of the groove 15 are kept joined at their lower part, being able to be separated by means of the application of a cross force to said groove 15.

The tubular device 8 further comprises a lead weight 14 attached to the rear lower part of the cylindrical body 9, that permits the tubular device 8 to always remain in vertical position upon being introduced in the water.

The cylindrical body 9 will be preferably made in a sliding, sufficiently resistant and elastic material, such as PVC.

As can be seen in figures 5 and 6, the tubular device 8 is designed to be arranged around the chain 3, so that it can be moved along the same. The tubular device 8 is attached at its top end to an auxiliary rope 16 that permits to pull the same from the vessel. In this manner, the tubular device 8 will move downwards thanks to its weight and will be able to be moved upwards by pulling the auxiliary rope 16.

As can be seen in figure 6, the cable 6 is connected to the chain 3 by means of a ring 17, which is attached without possibility of longitudinal movement along said chain 3, but with capacity of turn with respect thereto. A sleeve 18 is attached to the ring 17 and is connected to a stop 19 at the end of the cable 6. The sleeve 18 and the stop 19 of the cable 6 are connected the one to the other so that, upon exercising a force of specific traction on the cable 6, the connection gives way and the sleeve 18 and the stop 19 of the cable 6 are separated. This connection can be of any known type, for example, a pressure coupling or a breakable element.

The operation of the anchor retrieval device according to the present invention is explained in detail below.

When the anchor 1 is stranded and it is not possible to recover it by pulling the chain 3, as has been previously explained referring to the situation shown in figure 1, the user that is in the vessel will place the tubular device 8 around the chain 3, by passing the chain 3 through the groove 15. The tubular device 8 begins to descend along the chain 3 by means of its own weight, oriented substantially parallel to said chain 3, thanks to the lead weight 14. As has been previously described, the tubular device 8 is attached at its top end to an auxiliary rope 16 that permits to move said tubular device 8 upwards when pulling the same from the vessel.

Therefore, the tubular device 8 descends guided by the chain 3 until it approaches the position of the cable 6 (figures 5 and 6) . As can be observed, thanks to the buoy 7, the cable 6 and the rope 4 are arranged in a substantially cross direction with respect to the chain 3. In this manner, when the tubular device 8 descends, the cable 6 is guided between the edges of the slanted lower end of the cylindrical body 9, toward the opening 10a of the recess 10. Thanks to the lead weight 14, that is situated in the wall opposed to the recess 10, and thanks to the edges of the inclined lower end of the cylindrical body 9, it is possible to ensure that the tubular device 8 is suitable oriented to facilitate the entrance of the cable 6 in the opening 10a.

When the cable 6 enters the recess 10 through the opening 10a, the tubular device 8 continues descending until said cable 6 arrives at the top end of said recess 10 (figures 7 and 8) . At this time, the user will perceive that the tubular device 8 stops descending, and will pull the auxiliary rope 16 upwards, so that the tubular device 8 will move upwards.

By moving the tubular device 8 upwards, the cable 6 passes to the interior of the space 12 of the piece 11, passing through the safety catch 13. The safety catch 13 is a device of the known type, which elastically diverts, and that permits the cable 6 passing through it toward the interior of the space 12 but does not permit that said cable 6 can leave the same.

The user continues pulling the auxiliary rope 16 upwards, until the cable 6 arrives at the lower end of the space 12 of the piece 11, (figures 9 and 10) .

The movement of the tubular device 8 upwards causes the cable 6, which is retained in the interior of the space 12 thanks to the stop 19, to become submitted to an ascending traction force. The ring 17 is attached to the chain 3 without possibility of longitudinal movement with respect to said chain 3, so that the traction force on the cable 6 causes the separation of the sleeve 18 and the stop 19 of the cable 6. When the sleeve 18 and the stop 19 of the cable 6 are separated, the cable 6 and the rope 4 separate from the chain 3, so that, by pulling the auxiliary rope 16, the force of traction applies directly on the rope 4, that at the same time transmits said traction force to the zone of the throat 5 of the anchor 1 to which it is connected. In that moment, the tubular device 8 also separates from the chain 3, through the groove 15, so that the auxiliary rope 16 and the rope 4 are dissociated from said chain 3 (figures 11 and 12) .

In this manner, it is possible to pull the anchor 1 by applying the traction force directly on the throat 5 of the anchor 1, thus permitting it to be released from the projection on the bottom of the sea.

After releasing the anchor 1, the user can pull the chain 3, carrying out the picking up and disposition of the anchor 1 in its location in the vessel in a conventional way, since only the ring 17 and the sleeve 18, which have a very reduced size and constitute no obstacle for the picking up operation of said chain 3, are attached to the chain 3.

Preferably, the releasable connection between the cable 6 and the chain 3 will be configured so that the separation of said elements can be carried out only by pulling the cable 6 through the auxiliary rope 16, as has been described previously. This permits to avoid the involuntary separation of the cable 6 or the rope 4 from the chain 3 when the rope 4 is submitted to an unexpected traction force. For example, if the anchor 1 is buried in the sand and is moved while is buried, the rope 4 would be able to remain submitted to a traction force caused by the sand that surrounds it that, if it has the sufficient intensity, would be able to separate the cable 6 and the rope 4 from the chain 3.

As it has been appreciated, the fact of providing the rope 4 with flotation means in the water, that in the embodiment shown consist of a buoy 7, permits that the rope 4 is situated in every moment in a cross orientation with respect to the chain 3. This arrangement of the rope 4 with respect to the chain 3 permits to have access to the same in a much more efficient and an easy way that if the rope 4 were aligned or arranged substantially parallel to said chain 3. In this way, it is possible to use a very simple mechanism to change the point of application of the force of extraction on the anchor 1.

The simplicity of the anchor retrieval device of the present invention facilitates the utilization and the storage of the same, thanks to its reduced complexity and to its small size.

Likewise, the rope 4 and the buoy 7 (or any other suitable flotation element) are arranged under the water and they take very little space, so that its utilization does not involve any inconvenience for the sailing of other vessels.

Furthermore, as opposed to the similar devices in the art, the anchor retrieval device of the present invention would permit to arrange a revolving element between the chain 3 and the anchor 1 (not shown) so that the anchor 1 freely rotates with respect to the chain 3, since the rope 4 can rotate jointly with the anchor 1 thanks to the revolving ring 17.

On the other hand, although in the present memory the terms 'chain' or 'rope' are utilized, said terms will not be interpreted in a restrictive way, being possible to utilize different elements with equivalent functionality. For example, the chain 3 connecting the anchor 1 to the vessel could consist of a rope or a cord. In the same way, the ropes 4 and 16 also could consist of other similar elements. For example, the rope 4 could consist of a sufficiently flexible cable attached to the ring 17 in the same way that the cable 6.