Anchor monitoring system
US5932815A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 19, 1997 |
| Grant date | Aug 3, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 19, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB63B2021/009
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A monitoring system measures the tensile load on a ship's rode (the cable, chain or rope connecting the ship to its anchor) and also measures the velocity and direction of the wind and the velocity of the current that produce the rode load. From those measured values, the system calculates wind and current resistance factors enabling it to model rode load as a function of wind and current velocity. When the behavior of the monitored rode load departs from the behavior predicted by the model in a manner that is symptomatic of a catastrophic or dragging anchor system failure, the anchor monitoring system signals an alarm. An alarm is also produced if the rode load approaches the tensile strength of the rode. The system also tests the anchor holding strength of the sea bed and provides anchor load information helpful to a skipper when motoring into the wind. The monitoring system senses rode load by using a load cell to laterally deflect the rode. The load cell includes a strain gauge generating an output signal that may be processed to determine the rode's, or any other lining like mooring lines, running rigging, etc., tensile load.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.