The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 30, 1997
Filed:
Apr. 25, 1996
David A Coggan, Arlington, TX (US);
Loral Vought Systems Corporation, Grand Prairie, TX (US);
Abstract
A band cutter transversely cuts a band having a longitudinal axis and major and minor transverse dimensions perpendicular to the band's longitudinal axis, the major dimension of the band being greater than the minor dimension of the band. The band cutter has a housing having a barrel chamber and a support channel formed therein, the barrel chamber and the support channel having longitudinal axes which are generally parallel and coaxial to each other. A band slot, extending through the housing and transversely intersecting the support channel, is adapted to receive the band and prevent significant lateral and rotational movement of the band during cutting. A blade is positioned within the support channel and is sized to move along the support channel. Upon initiation of a pyrotechnic charge positioned at one end of the barrel chamber, the blade impacts a minor transverse dimension edge and cuts across the major transverse dimension of the band, thereby severing the band, while the support channel laterally supports the blade. A method is also disclosed for cutting the band. A blade is transversely positioned with respect to a portion of the band and the thus positioned blade is moved toward the band so that the blade impacts a minor transverse dimension side of the band and cuts across the major transverse dimension of the band thereby severing the band. Significant lateral and rotational movement of the band is prevented during cutting, and the blade is laterally supported during cutting.