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:
Oct. 06, 1998
Filed:
May. 01, 1996
Brendan M Welch, Farmington, CT (US);
Daniel A Toro, Waterbury, CT (US);
The Ensign-Bickford Company, Simsbury, CT (US);
Abstract
A device (10) for explosively cutting a pipe (40) having an inner circumference has a carrier member (12) having a circumference. A support structure, such as a spring steel band (20), is releasably carried on the carrier member (12) in a retracted configuration by an explosive bolt (24) and is biased towards an extended configuration. The retracted configuration facilitates insertion of the device into the pipe (40). A linear charge of explosive material, e.g., shock wave refractive tape (26), is secured to the support structure. When the bolt (24) is fired, the spring band (20) is released from the carrier member (12) and moves to the extended configuration in which the linear charge engages the interior of the pipe (40) to facilitate cutting the pipe. Initiation manifolds (42) mounted on the support structure receive an initiation signal and detonate the linear charge at both sides thereof. In an alternative embodiment, the device (10) carries a plurality of segments of linear explosive charges (126) in a staggered arrangement about the device. Pneumatic cylinders (125) may be used to move the charges (126) from their retracted configurations to the extended configurations.