Selectively operable line cutting device

Claim 1

A LINE-CUTTING DEVICE COMPRISING A CUTTING-HEAD HAVING AN OPEN-SIDED ANVIL-FORMING RECESS TO RECEIVE A PORTION OF A LINE TO BE CUT BY THE DEVICE, A KNIFE MOUNTED FOR GUIDED MOVEMENT THROUGH SAID RECESS TRANSVERSELY THEREOF FOR SEVERING SAID LINE, A CYLINDER, A PISTON SEPARATING THE CYLINDER INTO TWO CHAMBERS AND BEING MOVABLY MOUNTED IN SAID CYLINDER FOR DISPLACEMENT IN A LINE-CUTTING DIRECTION, SAID PISTON BEING OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID KNIFE, AND TWO SELECTIVELY OPERABLE DRIVING MEANS FOR DISPLACING THE PISTON IN THE LINE-CUTTING DIRECTION, ONE OF SAID DRIVING MEANS INCLUDING A PRESSURE FLUID INLET IN COMMUNICATION WITH ONE OF SAID CYLINDER CHAMBERS FOR ADMISSION OF PRESSURE FLUID THERETO TO MOVE SAID PISTON AND SAID KNIFE IN THE LINE-CUTTING DIRECTION, A PRESSURE FLUID OUTLET BEING LOCATED IN SAID CYLINDER LOCATED TO BE UNCOVERED BY THE PISTON DURING MOVEMENT THEREOF IN SAID LINE-CUTTING DIRECTION SO AS TO PLACE SAID OUTLET IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID INLET, AND THE OTHER DRIVING MEANS INCLUDING A DETONATABLE EXPLOSIVE CARTRIDGE MOUNTED IN A COMBUSTION CHAMBER COMMUNICATING WITH SAID ONE CYLINDER CHAMBER