US3760674A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Explosively actuated underwater anchor line cutter
Assignee: MSA Safety Inc
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Filing: 1971-10-28
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Granted: 1973-09-25
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Expires: 1991-10-28
Abstract
Abstract The frame of a chain cutter is mounted in a housing on a stabilizing fin. The housing and usually the fin are formed of material that will tear apart when the cutter is fired. The fin is held on a sweep line by a pair of pivoted lugs that can be released from the line by pulling back on a spring between the lugs. Attached to the front of the cutter frame is an anvil forming with the frame a chain-receiving recess that is only wide enough to receive a chain link lying broadside to the axis of a barrel in the frame. The barrel contains a piston for driving a chisel forward through the chain link in the recess. The piston is hollow and contains a cartridge holder provided with an axial passage having a breech block in its rear end. A plunger, slidably mounted in the breech block and in an opening in the frame behind it, carries a firing pin on its front end. The plunger is encircled by a collar joined to it between a pair of sealing rings. The frame has passages connecting the front and rear sides of the collar with the outside of the frame to hydraulically balance the plunger. The frame is provided with means, actuated by a mine anchor line in the chain-receiving recess, for suddenly increasing water pressure in the rear passage to drive the plunger and firing pin ahead.
Inventors
- 👤 E Temple
- 👤 J Giebel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 08:41
CPC Classifications
F; F42; F42B; F42B3/00; F42B3/006; B; B21; B21L; B21L21/00; B23; B23D; B23D15/00; B23D15/12; B23D15/14; B23D15/145; B63; B63B; B63B21/00; B63B21/56; B63B21/58; B63B21/60; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/525; Y10T83/541; Y10T83/869; Y10T83/8821; Y10T83/8858; Y10T83/8863
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
An explosively actuated underwater anchor line cutter comprising a stabilizing fin having top and bottom faces and a leading front edge, a housing formed mainly of rupturable material rigidly mounted on one of said faces and having an open front end, anchor line cutting means disposed in said housing and projecting forward therefrom and from the front edge of the fin, and means connected with the opposite face of the fin along said front edge for attaching the fin to a sweep line, said cutting means including an explosively operated member for severing an anchor line, the recoil from actuation of said member being sufficient to rupture said housing and thereby release the cutting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
An explosively actuated underwater anchor line cutter comprising a stabilizing fin having top and bottom faces and a leading front edge, a housing formed mainly of rupturable material rigidly mounted on one of said faces and having an open front end, anchor line cutting means disposed in said housing and projecting forward therefrom and from the front edge of the fin, and means connected with the opposite face of the fin along said front edge for attaching the fin to a sweep line, said cutting means including an explosively operated member for severing an anchor line, the recoil from actuation of said member being sufficient to rupture said housing and thereby release the cutting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
An underwater cutter according to claim 1, in which said rupturable material is plastic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
An underwater cutter according to claim 1, in which said fin also is formed mainly of rupturable material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
245 words
An explosively actuated underwater anchor line cutter comprising a tool frame provided with a barrel, a cartridge holder mounted in the barrel and having an axial passage therethrough for receiving an explosive cartridge, cutting means slidably mounted in the barrel in front of said holder, a breech block fitting in the rear end of said passage and having an axial opening therethrough, the frame having an opening behind the breech block opening and aligned therewith, a plunger slidably mounted in both openings, a sealing ring encircling the plunger in each of said openings, a firing pin carried by the front end of the plunger, the front portion of said frame opening being enlarged and the plunger being encircled by a collar joined thereto in the rear end of said enlargement between said sealing rings, a sealing ring encircling the collar, the frame having a passage connecting the front end of said enlarged portion of the frame opening with the outside of the frame and having another passage connecting said frame opening behind the plunger with the outside of the frame, whereby the front side of said collar and the rear end of the plunger are exposed to water pressure when the cutter is submerged, the areas of the front of the collar and the rear end of the plunger being substantially equal, and means in the frame for suddenly increasing water pressure in the last-mentioned frame passage to drive the plunger and firing pin ahead.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
245 words
An explosively actuated underwater anchor line cutter comprising a tool frame provided with a barrel, a cartridge holder mounted in the barrel and having an axial passage therethrough for receiving an explosive cartridge, cutting means slidably mounted in the barrel in front of said holder, a breech block fitting in the rear end of said passage and having an axial opening therethrough, the frame having an opening behind the breech block opening and aligned therewith, a plunger slidably mounted in both openings, a sealing ring encircling the plunger in each of said openings, a firing pin carried by the front end of the plunger, the front portion of said frame opening being enlarged and the plunger being encircled by a collar joined thereto in the rear end of said enlargement between said sealing rings, a sealing ring encircling the collar, the frame having a passage connecting the front end of said enlarged portion of the frame opening with the outside of the frame and having another passage connecting said frame opening behind the plunger with the outside of the frame, whereby the front side of said collar and the rear end of the plunger are exposed to water pressure when the cutter is submerged, the areas of the front of the collar and the rear end of the plunger being substantially equal, and means in the frame for suddenly increasing water pressure in the last-mentioned frame passage to drive the plunger and firing pin ahead.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
An underwater cutter according to claim 4, including a sealing ring around said breech block.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
An underwater cutter according to claim 4, in which said breech block includes a disc directly behind the cartridge provided with a central aperture for the firing pin, a ring behind the disc, and a diaphragm clamped between the ring and disc, the diaphragm being thin enough to be punctured when the firing pin is driven ahead.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-24 | 1977-03-26 | 1977-09-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-24 | 1981-03-26 | 1981-09-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-24 | 1985-03-26 | 1985-09-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |