Self-cocking explosively actuated cable cutter

Claim 1

An explosively actuated cable cutter for operation by a cable to be cut, comprising a frame having a rear end and provided near its front end with a recess having an entrance at one side of the frame for admitting a cable to be cut, an anvil mounted in the frame between its front end and said recess, a chisel slidably mounted in the frame behind the recess and having a front cutting end, a firing pin in the frame behind the chisel for detonating an explosive charge to drive the chisel forward in order to sever a cable against the anvil, a plunger for actuating the firing pin carried by the side of the frame opposite said recess entrance and slidable lengthwise of the frame, the plunger normally being in an uncocked position and being provided with a lateral notch adjacent the front of the recess and facing said one side of the frame, the frame having a slot therein extending forward along the plunger from the notch, a rigid trigger extending transversely of the frame near the front of said recess in a position to be moved forward by a cable entering the recess behind the trigger, one end of the trigger extending through said slot and normally projecting into said plunger notch, means pivotally connecting the opposite end of the trigger to the frame on a transverse axis, said one end of the trigger being swingable forward in said slot and the plunger being movable forward along said slot by said one end of the trigger from said uncocked position to cock the cutter, the trigger being retracted from said notch as tHe trigger is swung forward in said slot, and a spring between the frame and plunger adapted to be compressed by the forwardly moving plunger until the trigger leaves said notch and releases the plunger, whereupon the spring will drive the plunger rearwardly to actuate the firing pin.