The invention relates to an anchor fluke. An anchor fluke forms that part of an anchor that has to produce the holding (counter) force necessary for the anchorage of an object. The anchor fluke is provided with means for at- tachment at the lower end of an anchor shank, which may have a rigid (plates) or flexible (cables, chains) con¬ struction and, at its upper end, is provided with means for attachment to the lower end of a penetration or anchor line, with which the anchor fluke can be drawn into the anchorage ground and be connected to the object that has to be anchored.

After having been lowered, the position taken up by the anchor fluke on the ground wil not always be optimal for penetration into the anchorage ground. This may be the result of an asymmetric landing of the anchor fluke or an asymmetrically shaped basis (irregularities) . Then, when the penetration line is hauled in, the anchor fluke will penetrate into the ground in an oblique manner, as viewed about the longitudinal axis or about an axis perpendicular to the fluke. In order to effectuate that the anchor fluke arrives back on course again and does not continue moving according to a penetration path that forms an angle with the penetration line, lateral forces on the anchor fluke will have to be generated. An oblique orientation may also be the result of areas in the anchorage ground having a different packaging density or composition. In that case, lateral forces must also be incited to restore the orien¬ tation of the anchor fluke.

During the initial penetration into the anchorage ground as well as during the further course of the penetration

into said ground, it is therefore desirable to have the disposal of means with which said lateral, correcting forces are incited. To this end, many types of anchors and anchor flukes are equipped with stabilizers that correct a rolling and/or yawing movement of the anchor fluke.

A first example hereof is the anchor shown in American patent 3,964,421 in the name of Van den Haak, wherein the substantially triangular flat fluke is provided with stabilizer plates at the rear edge at the corners, which stabilizer plates partially project sideways and of which the normal on the front planes is directed upwards to the front.

From European patent 49455 in the name of Van den Haak an anchor is known that, near the rear edge at the corners, is provided with stabilizer plates that project upwards and have front planes of which the normal is directed to the front and downwards, wherein the normals of the front planes of the stabilizer plates provided on either side are possibly facing away from one another.

From British patent 1,356,259 and European patent 0,020,152 an anchor is known, the fluke of which is a concavely bent, substantially triangular plate that, at its lateral edges, merges into concave, upwardly projec¬ ting tapering lateral plates, which form stabilizer surfa¬ ces that lie in a circular conoid converging backwards.

In WO 87/01347 a further development of the above anchor is described, in which the sides of the flat fluke are provided with lateral portions standing obliquely upright, onto which again substantially upright lateral plates are attached. Auxiliary flukes are transversely attached to • said lateral plates, either on the outside or on the inside, which auxiliary flukes may serve as stabilizers. These stabilizer plates have front planes directed obli-

quely forwards and downwards.

Finally, from American patent 4,433,635 an anchor is known, the fluke of which, at its rear end, merges into a stabilizer plate extending rearwards and sideways, which stabilizer plate inclines forwards and upwards with res¬ pect to the fluke.

All the discussed and known anchors are provided with stabilizer means or plates that may be considered to be extra parts with respect to the actual fluke or as projec¬ ting parts thereof. This will cause production costs of the anchors in question to rise. However, it is possibly more important that the protruding parts form objects that are easily damaged or may easily cause damage to other objects and have an unfavourable influence on penetration.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an anchor fluke that corrects orientation and course with the least possible additions to the actual fluke and moreover shows improved penetration performance and has increased holding force.

To this end the invention provides an anchor fluke compri- sing a hollowe plate-shaped body, with attachment means for a shank and/or anchor lines, with a longitudinal axis and a front penetration edge and a rear trailing edge, which are located at a distance from one another in the direction of the longitudinal axis, wherein the fluke has a plane of symmetry that contains the longitudinal axis and is substantially perpendicular to the plate-shaped body, wherein the hollow plate-shaped body comprises an upper surface with a surface centre of _.^ gravity an a lower surface, which surfaces are bounded by the penetration edge, the trailing edge and lateral edges, and wherein said body, at the lower side, substantially between the edges, is provided with means for counteracting a rolling

movement about the longitudinal axis during penetration of the anchor fluke in an anchorage ground and with means for counteracting a yawing movement about an axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and is located in the plane of symmetry during penetration in an anchorage ground.

In the anchor fluke according to the invention, the means for counteracting a rolling movement and a yawing movement are located on the lower side, at least substantially within the circumference of the actual fluke, while, during penetration, the ground can move freely across the upper surface of the fluke and the other penetration properties of the anchor fluke are therefore enhanced. The upper surface of the fluke is then at least almost fully available for providing holding force in cooperation with the ground.

The means for counteracting the rolling movement are preferably formed at least partially by planes of the lower surface of the fluke.

In that case the planes, viewed in longitudinal direction, preferably comprise first lateral areas of the lower surface of the fluke, which are located substantially behind the centre of gravity of the fluke, with surfaces that face downwards and forwards and possibly face one another. As a result of this arrangement, the form of the fluke is kept simple and the orientation of the fluke for penetration and during penetration is favourably influenced, since the means for counteracting the rolling and yawing movement keep the rear side of the fluke up and contribute to a foil-shape of the fluke.

The wing-shape of the fluke is further enhanced by second lateral areas at the lower surface of the fluke, located in front of the first lateral areas as seen in longitudi-

nal direction, the second lateral areas having surfaces that face rearwards and downwards.

These surfaces, too, preferably face one another.

The anchor fluke is furthermore preferably provided with substantially vertical trailing plates that are located between the first lateral areas and the trailing edge and may form an integral part of the main longitudinal gir- ders. These trailing plates form a means for counteracting a yawing movement during penetration of the fluke and diverge preferably rearwards with respect to one another. As a result, during an initial yawing displacement the correcting striking surface is enlarged and the counterac- ting striking surface is reduced.

The first lateral areas then enhance the action of the trailing plates in the correction of the yawing movement. They thus form bowl-like areas as it were, as a result of which the pressure that is exerted on the trailing plates by the ground to correct a yawing movement is increased.

According to a further development of the anchor fluke according to the invention, the lower surface of the fluke has a central area that extends upto the trailing edge, wherein said lateral planes extend at least partially until below the trailing edge of the central area. As a result a passage for soil is left clear, causing a favou¬ rable initial penetration performance to be obtained. In addition, said trailing plates may bound the earth flow canal in lateral direction. The trailing plates and said planes preferably extend in rearward direction until beyond the trailing edge of at least the central area. Owing to this, the (initial) penetration performance is further enhanced.

The invention will now be elucidated on the basis of the

exemplary embodiment depicted in the enclosed drawings.

The following is shown:

figure 1 shows an isometric view of the embodiment of the anchor fluke according to the invention; in cut-away state;

figure 2 shows a similar isometric view, in non-cut-away state, however;

figure 3 shows a top view of the anchor fluke of figures 1 and 2;

figure 4 shows a bottom view of the anchor fluke of figu¬ res 1 and 2;

figure 5 shows a rear view of the anchor fluke of figures 1 and 2;

figure 6 shows a front view of the anchor fluke of figures 1 and 2 on reference plane R; and

figure 7 shows a lateral view of the anchor fluke of figures 1 and 2.

The anchor fluke of figure 1 is a so-called hollow fluke that is bounded at the upper side and lower side by upper plate assembly 2a and lower plate assembly 2b, respective- ly. Cross girders 7 and 8 and longitudinal girders 6a and 6b and 10 are located between these two plate assemblies 2a and 2b. Here, the longitudinal girders 6a and 6b project from the lower side, but that is not absolutely necessary, and likewise, at the front side with penetration points 60a . and 60b and at the rear side by means of trailing plates 13a and 13b, which are turned at a angle, diverge with respect to one another and project

from the lower side of the fluke.

In order to provide strength at the areas of the anchor fluke 1 lying outside the longitudinal girders 6a and 6b, the cross girder 8 is prolongated in substantially trian¬ gular end cross girders 9a, 9b, which extend obliquely downwards to the side.

At its front side or penetration side, the anchor fluke 1 is bounded by a V-shaped front edge 3, which ends in points 50a, 50b, at its rear end by trailing edge 4 and on both sides by side edges 5a and 5b. The attachment means for the shank of the anchor of which the anchor fluke can be a part, are not depicted.

The upper plate assembly 2a of the anchor fluke 1 compri¬ ses a centre plate 11 and projects laterally beyond the longitudinal girders 6a and 6a with areas 16a and 16b. The areas 16a and 16b bound to second upper side planes 14a and 14b by means of a buckle-line 17a, 17b, the nor¬ mals N4 of the second upper side planes being directed forwards, sidewards and upwards. By means of a buckle-line 18a, 18b located at the girders 9a and 9b, in a plane that is perpendicular to the plane perpendicular to the plane of symmetry , the second upper side planes 14a, 14b merge in turn into first upper side planes 15a, 15b, the normals N3 of which is directed upwards, sideways and rearwards. At the rear side the central plane 11 merges into rear upper planes 12a, 12b, the normal N5 of which is directed upwards and rearwards. The directions bear reference to figure 7, among other things, wherein the reference plane R must be seen as being horizontal.

As can be seen in the top view of figure 3, the thus obtained upper surface of the anchor fluke 1 provides a large surface in projection, with which the anchor fluke is particulary suited to be included in vertical anchorage

systems as described in the previous international patent applications in the name of the applicant,

WO 93/03958 and WO 94/12386. Herein, the second upper side planes 14a, 14b enhance the rolling and yawing stability of the anchor fluke 1 during forward penetration and orient the fluke in a correct position for vertical ancho¬ ring. The first upper side planes 15a, 15b provide rolling and yawing stability when the fluke is oriented to a position for vertical anchoring. The upper plate assembly 2a, comprising areas 11, 16a, 14a, 14b, 15a, 15b, 12a, 12b, provides a large efficient surface for vertical anchoring.

The lower plate assembly 2b consists of a central plate 20 that is located between both longitudinal girders 6a and 6b. At the outer side of the longitudinal girders 6a, 6b and 13a, 13b there are, as seen in the direction from rear to front, first lower side planes 25a and 25b, the normal NI of which are each directed obliquely downwards, for- wards and inwards and which, by means of buckle-lines 28a, 28b which lie in one plane with buckle-lines 18a, 18b between said first and second upper side planes, merges into second lower side planes 24a and 24b, the normals N2 of which are each directed downwards and somewhat rear- wards and inwards. These second lower side planes 24a, 24b in turn merge into third lower side planes 23a, 23b, by way of buckle-lines 27a, 27b, the buckle-lines 23a, 23b each lying in one plane with the buckle-lines 17a, 17b between the upper plane areas 14a, 16a and 14b, 16b, which plane is perpendicular to the plane of the drawing of figure 4.

In figures 5 and 6 it can be seen that a passage is formed at the lower side of the fluke in the raised central area, which passage is laterally bounded by the longitudinal girders 6a, 6b, but, in any event, in the rear areas by the trailing plates 13a and 13b. Owing to this, the

relative influence of the areas of the lower side of the fluke located outside of the longitudinal girders 6a and 6b, is increased, but, in addition, setting up of the anchor fluke after penetration for inclusion in a vertical anchorage system is enhanced. When, after the anchor fluke has penetrated sufficiently, a force is exerted in the direction F2, the planes 12a and 12b will counteract, yet said planes are limited in size as a result of the tunnel-shape of the area therebelow. Never- theless, the planes 12a and 12b, together with the first upper side planes 15a and 15b, offer a sufficient force component in a direction parallel to F2.

As can be seen in figures 1, 6 and 7, when a pulling force Fl is exerted, ground moving (relatively) past the anchor fluke 1 will butt against the first and second lower side planes, and be able to exert a force there on the anchor fluke 1. When the anchor fluke 1 has been tilted about its longitudinal axis as a result of a rolling movement, such that the first lower side plane 25a and the second lower side plane 24a reach deeper than the lower side planes 25b, 24b, then said former lower side planes, especially 25a, will generate a greater ground force, so that a tilting, correcting moment is exerted onto the fluke. In the case of an oblique position with respect to the direc¬ tion of penetration Fl about the centre of gravity of the fluke as a result of a yawing movement S, the ground will effectively exert a correcting force onto the rear portion of the anchor fluke 1 as a result of the diverging position of the trailing edges 13a, 13b, so that the orientation is corrected again. The first lower side planes 25a, 25b participate in this, in that they are oriented to keep the ground more or less near the surface of the active trailing plate.

ES