US3605673A - Explosively operated cable cutter - Google Patents

Explosively operated cable cutter Download PDF

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Publication number
US3605673A
US3605673A US763790A US3605673DA US3605673A US 3605673 A US3605673 A US 3605673A US 763790 A US763790 A US 763790A US 3605673D A US3605673D A US 3605673DA US 3605673 A US3605673 A US 3605673A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
cutter
fin
cable
frame
firing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US763790A
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English (en)
Inventor
Robert Temple
Ernest E Temple
Joseph L Giebel
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
MSA Safety Inc
Original Assignee
Mine Safety Appliances Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Mine Safety Appliances Co filed Critical Mine Safety Appliances Co
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3605673A publication Critical patent/US3605673A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63G—OFFENSIVE OR DEFENSIVE ARRANGEMENTS ON VESSELS; MINE-LAYING; MINE-SWEEPING; SUBMARINES; AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
    • B63G7/00—Mine-sweeping; Vessels characterised thereby
    • B63G7/02—Mine-sweeping means, Means for destroying mines
    • B63G7/04—Mine-sweeping means, Means for destroying mines by means of cables

Definitions

  • a trigger mechanism is actuated by the cable and comprises a key-hole slot for retaining and releasing a hydraulic firing mechanism to propel the chisel to sever the cable.
  • the cutter is mounted on a stabilizing fin by a releasable connection which releases the cutter from the fin in response to the recoil of the cutter frame when the cutter is fired.
  • the fin comprises a hinged or sliding clamping device for receiving the sweep line and clamping the fin to the line.
  • This invention relates to explosively operated cable cutters, and more particularly to an expendable underwater cable cutter which is mounted on a stabilizing fin that is pulled through the water on a sweep line towed by mine sweeping vessels or aircraft.
  • Cable cutting devices are well known and normally include various types of firing mechanisms which are responsive to the cable being severed.
  • firing mechanisms for example, include trip pins which are manipulated by the cable as it is received in a cutting recess to fire the cutter.
  • trip pins While used for many cutting operations, are of such construction as to often times produce a misfire.
  • cables have severed the pins without triggering the firing mechanism to fire the cutter.
  • These mechanisms also, include hydraulically operated firing pins.
  • misfires have occurred due to weak hydraulic operating pressures and hydraulic blockage.
  • firing pins could be prematurely operated when the cutter was accidently bumped.
  • Prior art cutters are conventionally connected to a stabilizing fin attached to a sweep line towed by vessels operating to sweep an area free of mines. It is the normal practice to reuse the cutter many times and to connect it to the :fin in a rigid manner so that all loading and arming of the cutter with explosives takes place on the surface at the operational site. These cutters require loading by trained personnel working in safe and roomy surroundings because these operations are inherently dangerous. It is unknown to provide an expendable cutter which is released from the fin when the cable is severed, so that safely replaceable, lightweight cutters an be used.
  • a cable cutter comprising a frame and anvil, forming a cable receiving recess therebetween, is provided with a slidable trigger actuated by the cable to be severed when received in the recess.
  • the trigger actuates the hydraulically operated firing mechanism to propel the chisel through the cable.
  • the trigger includes a key-hole slot, the smaller opening of the slot restraining a rod of the firing mechanism in the cocked position until the cable moves the trigger to the position where the larger opening of the slot will release the rod and actuate the firing mechanism, which includes a piston hydraulically operating a water-tight firing pin and a safety disc.
  • the cutter is mounted upon its stabilizing fin by releasable connecting means which is responsive to the recoil of the frame when the cutter is fired for releasing the frame from the fin.
  • the stabilizing fin is constructed with hinged parts forming a sweep line clamping device.
  • the cutter frame overlies the two parts to lock the clamping device closed around the sweep line.
  • a slidable clamping device is provided to clamp the sweep line to the fin.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a cable cutter trigger mechanism which is positive in its operation when actuated by a cable. Another object is to provide a safe and powerful firing mechanism.
  • Another object is to provide a releasable connecting means for attaching a cutter to its stabilizing fin for releasing the cutter in response to the recoil of the cutter when fired.
  • a further object is to provide a simple and positive connecting means for easil'y attaching the fin to the sweep line.
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the cable cutter attached to the stabilizing fin, taken on line 1-1 of FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 2 is a view of the cutter and fin taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1, with parts broken away and the rod removed;
  • FIG. 3 is a view of the fin, taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1, with a fragmentary portion of the cutter in cross section;
  • FIG. 4 is a partial view of the fin in FIG. 3, showing the opened hinged clamping device
  • FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the trigger and rod
  • FIG. 6 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the fin.
  • FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the fin shown in FIG. 6;
  • FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 7, with the clamp shown drawn open in solid lines and closed in phantom lines; an added fragmentary portion of the cutter is shown in phantom lines; and
  • FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of the fin taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 7.
  • Cutter 2 comprises a frame 6 containing in its barrel a slidable chisel 8 attached to the frame by a shear pin '10. Chisel 8 is propelled by a firing mechanism which includes cartridge 12 sealed in the chisel by disc 13, firing pin 14, rod 16 and trigger 18. O-rings 3- and 5 seal cartridge 12, disc 13 and [firing pin 14 from the water.
  • the thin cap of disc 13 provides a safety shield should the cutter be accidently bumped. Also, since the cap can be punctured only upon considerable pressure from firing pin 14, a fast or snap action occurs to drive the firing pin into cartridge 12 when the puncture is made. Plug 7 positions the firing pin against the cap of the disc.
  • the trigger 18 comprises a body 30 and guide flanges 31, 31.
  • Body 30 comprises a V-shaped groove 32 and is provided with key hole slot 33 having a smaller opening 34 and a larger opening 35.
  • the trigger is slidably disposed by its flanges 31, 31 within a trigger recess 19 formed by the U-shaped portion 24 between end 22 of anvil 20 and the main body of the frame.
  • Recess I9 is disposed laterally of recess 26.
  • Rod '16 is provided with an annular groove 17 rearwardly of end 28.
  • Groove 17 is of a slightly smaller diameter than opening 34 and end 28 is slightly less in diameter than opening 35 but substantially larger than the diameter of opening 34. After end 28 is passed through opening 35, groove 17 is permitted to seat within opening 34 with the rear end of end 28 pressing against body 30 when spring 36 is compressed.
  • the firing mechanism is cocked for firing when trigger 18 and rod are positioned as shown in FIG. 1.
  • the trigger will slide laterally away from recess 26 and present opening 35 to end 28 for passing therein by expansion of spring 36 against rod 16. Also, this movement of the trigger with its groove 32 will fully expose the barrel of chisel 8.
  • a stepped diameter piston 38 is formed on the other end of rod 16 for movement in a passage 39 of the frame. Passage 39 extends to the firing pin 14 and is open to the atmosphere at the smaller diameter of piston 38 so as to be filled with water. Stem or closure 9 on piston 38 seats in and closes vent or bleed passage 11 after the piston builds up an initial hydraulic head in passage 3-9 upon initial movement into passage 39. During this movement, firing pin 14 is restrained against the cap of disc 13 until passage 11 is closed and the ultimate hydraulic head is reached to snap the firing pin forwardly against cartridge 12. The firing of the cartridge propels chisel 8 forwardly to cut cable 27 against anvil 20.
  • Fin 4 is constructed of flat sheet metal and comprises a top side or face 40, bottom side or face 42, a front end portion 44, a rear end portion 46. Portions 44 and 46 are hinged together by hinge 48 which permits pivoting a portion 44 upwardly upon opening of the hinge (see FIG. 4).
  • Aligned U-shaped metal brackets 50 and 52 confonm closely to the shape of frame 6 and are constructed to slidably carry the frame on side of the fin. The rearward end of frame 6 abuts a shear pin 54 carried across bracket 52.
  • a keeper comprises a substantially flat rectangular spring clip 56 curved at its forward end to fOl'IIl' a hook portion (as best seen in FIG.
  • the flat portion of the clip is rigidly connected to the bottom side 42 of the fin and the hook portion extends through opening 59 in the fin which exposes groove 58.
  • Portion 44 is formed along its entire front end with a U-shaped channel 60 opening rearwardly for receiving a sweep line 62 towed by a vessel, or the like.
  • a closure 64 of sheet metal is rigidly attached to bottom side 4'2 of portion 40. Closure 64 is of the same length as channel 60 and is positioned adjacent the opening of the channel to closeit when hinge 4 8 is closed. Thus, a hinged clamping device is provided to clamp the fin to the sweep line.
  • FIG. 4 shows the hinge 48 opened, and the clamp prepared to receive a sweep line when the frame is not mounted.
  • hinge 48 is locked closed.
  • Clamp 66 is of the conventional type for preventing the fin from sliding on the sweep line when towed.
  • a flat rectangular bar 68 is connected to one side 4 of bracket 50 and the outermost leading edge of fin 4 to provide a smooth surface to prevent cable 27 from fouling on the end of the fin.
  • the cable cutter 2 is completely factory assembled and loaded with trigger 18 in the cocked position as best shown in FIG. 1.
  • Safety pin 70 locks the trigger in the armed position for storage and transport.
  • fin 4 prepared with shear pin 54- connected to bracket 52, is clamped to sweep line 62 by opening hinge 48 and placing the sweep line within channel 60.
  • the hinged clamp is closed, as best seen in FIG. 3, and then, cutter 2 is inserted into brackets 50 and 52 against shear pin 54. As the cutter engages shear pin 54, clip 56 will be received by groove 58 of frame 6 for locking the frame within the brackets.
  • the frame also, locks the hinged clamp around the sweep line.
  • Clamp 66 is attached to the sweep line.
  • safety pin 7 0 is removed from frame 6.
  • the entire assembly is now operational to cut cable when received in recess 26.
  • trigger 18 will be moved to align opening 35 with end 28 and permit end 28 of rod 16 to pass into the opening by expansion of spring 36.
  • piston 38 Upon movement of the rod 16, piston 38 will act upon the water within passage 39 to snap firing pin 14 through disc 13 to fire cartridge 12 and propel chisel 8 to cut cable 27 against anvil 20.
  • shear pin 25 will be sheared to permit anvil 20 to fall away from frame 6.
  • the frame will recoil due to the explosive forces to break shear pin 54 and permit frame 6 to slide rearwardly through and away from brackets 50 and 52.
  • frame 6 will overcome the bias of spring clip 56 within groove 58.
  • fin 4 is surfaced and is reused with another cutter 2.
  • the unique trigger of this invention provides a more positive firing device, not having the inherently flimsy design disadvantage of prior art trip pins.
  • the sturdiness of the present trigger prevents misfires because a cable cannot accidently manipulate it in manner to avoid firing the cutter.
  • the key-hole slot and guide flange configuration permit quick and smooth triggering, but resist premature actuation by underwater debris.
  • the firing mechanism is designed to provide powerful hydraulic forces to fire the cartridge, and the firing pin is positive in action while protected from premature activity.
  • Stabilizing fin is made from a one-piece flat sheet metal and is formed along the entire front end with a U-shaped channel 82 opening rearwardly for receiving a sweep line 62.
  • Brackets 86 and 88, shear pin 90, and spring clip 92 are all identical to the first described embodiment.
  • a plastic insert or liner 94 conforming to the inner shape of channel 82, is provided within the channel.
  • Clamp 96 comprises a flat plate 98 having a trapezoidal shaped clamping bar 99 formed of sheet metal rigidly attached to its bottom face at the forward end.
  • Connector rod 100 is attached at one end to the rearward portion of bar 99, and at its other end, to the end of fin 80, as best seen in FIGS. 7 and 8.
  • Spring 101 as normally extended, encircles rod 100 to resiliently hold clamp 96 in its normal clamping position.
  • bar 99 is released against the line to lock it to the fin as seen by the phantom lines in FIG. 8.
  • Opening 102 is provided through plate 98 to accommodate movement of plate 98 with respect to the projection of clip 92 when frame 6 is locked into place on the fin.
  • frame 6 is inserted within brackets 86 and 88 against shear pin 90 and locked in place by clip 92 mating with groove 58.
  • This embodiment provides another simplified way of clamping the fin to a sweep line. Otherwise, the operation of the entire assembly is identical to the first described embodiment.
  • a cable cutter comprising a frame, an anvil having a trailing end attached to the forward end of said frame and having a leading end spaced from the forward end of said frame to form a cable receiving recess, a chisel slidably mounted in the frame and adapted to move across the recess to cut cable against the anvil, explosive means for moving the chisel, firing means in the frame for firing said explosive means and including a rod slidably mounted on the frame, spring means for moving the rod to the firing position, a trigger extending into said recess and adapted to be actuated by a cable when received in the recess, said trigger having a key-hole slot, the smaller opening of said slot receiving said rod for retention by the trigger against the compression of the spring in the absence of a cable within the recess, and the larger opening of the slot permitting release of the rod upon actuation of said trigger by the cable.
  • a cable cutter as set forth in claim 1 shear means attaching said trailing end to said forward end of said frame, a stabilizing fin adapted to be connected to a sweep line, and releasable connecting means for connecting said frame to said fin and responsive to the recoil of the when the cutter is fired for releasing the frame from the fin.
  • a cable cutter comprising a frame, an anvil attached to said frame, a cable receiving recess formed by said frame and anvil, a chisel slidably mounted in the frame and adapted to move across the recess to cut cable against the anvil, explosive means for moving the chisel, firing means in the frame for firing said explosive means, a stabilizing fin adapted to be connected to a sweep line, and releasable connecting means for connecting said frame to said fin and responsive to the recoil of the frame when the cutter is fired for releasing the frame from the fin.
  • a cable cutter as set forth in claim 4, wherein said releasable connecting means comprises shear means which is sheared by recoil of said frame.
  • a cable cutter as set forth in claim 4, wherein said releasable connecting means comprises bracket means, keeper means and shear means; said keeper means releasably locking said frame to said bracket means and unlocking said frame by recoil of the frame, and said shear means being sheared by recoil of the frame.
  • said releasable connecting means comprises bracket means attached to said fin, and said frame is slidably mounted within said bracket means.
  • a cable cutter stabilizing fin comprising fiat top and bottom faces, sweep line means adapted for connection to a sweep line, releasable connecting means attached to said fin, said releasable connecting means being adapted to releasably connect an explosively fired cable cutter frame to said fin, and said connecting means being responsive to the recoil of the frame when fired for the releasing of the frame from the fin.
  • a cable cutter stabilizing fin comprising flat top and bottom faces, a U-shaped sweep line receiving channel along one end of said fin and opening toward the opposite end of the fin, clamping means connected to one of said faces between said channel and said opposite end, and said means being movable toward and away from said channel to open and close the channel for attaching and releasing the fin from a sweep line.
  • a cable cutter comprising a frame, an anvil attached to said frame, a cable receiving recess formed by said frame and anvil, a chisel slidably mounted in the frame and adapted to move across the recess to cut cable against the anvil, explosive means for moving the chisel, firing means in the frame for firing said explosive means,
  • a passage communicating at one end with the firing means and open at the other end, normally retracted actuating means adjacent the open end of said passage, a vent communicating with said passage, closure means attached to said actuating means for closing said vent after initial movement of said actuating means, and means for releasing said actuating means to force Water in said passage against said firing means.
  • a cable cutter as set forth in claim 16 puncturable means disposed between said firing means and said explosive means.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • Emergency Lowering Means (AREA)
  • Perforating, Stamping-Out Or Severing By Means Other Than Cutting (AREA)
  • Portable Nailing Machines And Staplers (AREA)
  • Knives (AREA)
  • Laying Of Electric Cables Or Lines Outside (AREA)
  • Processing Of Stones Or Stones Resemblance Materials (AREA)
US763790A 1968-09-30 1968-09-30 Explosively operated cable cutter Expired - Lifetime US3605673A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US76379068A 1968-09-30 1968-09-30

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US3605673A true US3605673A (en) 1971-09-20

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US763790A Expired - Lifetime US3605673A (en) 1968-09-30 1968-09-30 Explosively operated cable cutter

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US (1) US3605673A (enExample)
DE (2) DE1966741A1 (enExample)
GB (3) GB1289845A (enExample)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4040376A (en) * 1976-07-06 1977-08-09 Mine Safety Appliances Company Completely expendable mine anchor line cutting tool
CN108994559A (zh) * 2018-08-24 2018-12-14 中核核电运行管理有限公司 钴同位素中心杆水下切割法

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4040376A (en) * 1976-07-06 1977-08-09 Mine Safety Appliances Company Completely expendable mine anchor line cutting tool
CN108994559A (zh) * 2018-08-24 2018-12-14 中核核电运行管理有限公司 钴同位素中心杆水下切割法
CN108994559B (zh) * 2018-08-24 2020-08-21 中核核电运行管理有限公司 钴同位素中心杆水下切割法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1289846A (enExample) 1972-09-20
DE1949389C3 (de) 1974-11-21
DE1966741A1 (de) 1974-01-10
DE1949389A1 (de) 1970-04-23
GB1289844A (enExample) 1972-09-20
GB1289845A (enExample) 1972-09-20
DE1949389B2 (de) 1974-04-18

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