US2716813A - Explosively actuated cutting tool - Google Patents

Description

P 6, 1955 L. E. SMYRES 2,716,813

EXPLOSIVELY ACTUATED CUTTING TOOL Filed Aug. 25, 1955 IN VEN TOR.

ATTD R N EYE United States Patent 2,716,813 EXPLOSIVELY ACTUATED CUTTING TOOL Lynn E. Smyres, Midland, Mich. Application August 25, 1953, Serial No. 376,310 2 Claims. (Cl. 30-241) This invention relates to a cutting tool, and more particularly to a tool for use in cutting electrical conductors or wires.

The object of the invention is to provide a tool which will enable the user to safely and easily cut wires or conductors.

Another object of the invention is to provide a percussion hot line cutter which will make an instantaneous cut in the wire so that wires can be cut more safely and wherein line construction and maintenance can be accomplished cheaper and more easily.

A further object of the invention is to provide a percussion hot line cutter which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cutter of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view the housing.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the blade and plunger.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 77 of Figure 2.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a housing or barrel which may be made of any suitable material, and formed integral with an end of the housing 10 or secured thereto is a collar 11. A handle 12 of wood or other suitable non-conducting material is arranged in threaded engagement with the collar 11. The present invention is adapted to be used for severing or cutting a wire such as a hot line 14 (broken lines Figure 1).

Positioned in the housing 10 is a pin or bolt 15, and rotatably mounted on the pin 15 is a cylinder 16. The cylinder 16 is provided with a plurality of spaced chambers17, and a cartridge 18 is adapted to be inserted in each of the chambers 17. A bore 19 is arranged in the housing 10, and a plunger 20 is reciprocably arranged in the bore 19. Formed integral with the plunger 20 or secured thereto is a blade 21, and the blade 21 is provided with a cutting edge 22, Figures 2 and 6.

The tool of the present invention further includes a jaw 23 which is provided with a channel 24 for receiving the cutting edge 22 of the blade 21 when the blade is in its extended position. The jaw 23 is detachably connected to the housing 10 by means of securing elements such as screws or bolts 26 which extend through a portion of the jaw 23 and through a finger that extends from an end of the housing 10.

taken through The outer periphery of the rotatable cylinder 16 is provided with a plurality of notches or recesses 27. The housing 10 is provided with a cut-out 28 intermediate its ends and the cutout 28 permits access to be made to the cylinder 16 whereby the cartridges 18 can be replaced in the chambers 17 as desired. A spring member 29 has one end connected to the outside of the housing 10 by a suitable pin or screw 30, and the other end of the spring member 29 is adapted to engage one of the recesses 27. Formed in the housing 10 is a first passageway 31which leads from the bore 19, and the passageway 31 communicates with a passageway or conduit 33. A plug 32 closes the outer ends of these passageways and the purpose of these passageways is to convey some of the discharging gases from the cartridges 18 so that these discharging gases will pass from the bore 19 to the recesses 27 to rotate the cylinder 16. Thus, after a cartridge 18 has been fired, the cylinder 16 will be rotated so that the next cartridge is in position below the plunger 20.

For firing the cartridges 18 a firing pin 34 is provided, Figure 2. Secured to the lower end of the firing pin 34 is an enlarged rod 35 which is adapted to abut a shoulder 36 in the housing 10 to limit movement of the firing pin. The member 35 is formed integral with or secured to a transverse rod 37 that projects through an opening 38 in a link 39. The link 39 is arranged outside of the housing 10 and a handle member 40 is connected to the link 39. The handle member 40 extends through a guide ring 41 which projects from the handle 12, and the handle member 40 is also made of a non-conducting material such as wood. A lug 42 is arranged on the free end of the handle member 40 for facilitating the manual actuation thereof. A coil spring 43 is positioned in the housing 10, and the coil spring 43 serves to urge the pin 34 into engagement with a cartridge 18. Thus, in use the handle member 40 is moved away from the housing 10 to thereby compress the spring 43 and when manual pressure on the handle member 40 is released, the spring 43 will drive the firing pin 34 forwardly to cause its pointed end to strike the cartridge 18 and fire the cartridge. Then, as the cartridge is fired the plunger 20 will be moved forwardly in the bore 19 to thereby cause the cutting edge 22 of the blade 21 to cooperate with the jaw 23 and thereby sever the hot wire or line 14. The finger 37 extends through an elongated opening 44 in the housing 10, and communicating with the opening 44 is a recess 45. The recess 45 provides a safety since the handle member 40 can be shifted so that the member 37 seats in the recess 45 whereby accidental firing of the cartridges 18 will be prevented. Then, when the cartridges are to be fired it is only necessary to shift the member 37 from the position shown in Figure 7 to the left so that it is in the opening 44 whereby normal firing of the cartridges can be accomplished. A space 46 is provided between the jaw 23 and the adjacent portion of the housing 10 whereby the wire 14 to be severed can be moved into a position to be cut by the blade 21.

From the foregoing it is apparent that a tool has been provided which is especially suitable for use in cutting hot wires such as the wire 14. In use the cylinder 16 may be filled with the cartridges 18 through the cut-out 28. Then, the tool can be moved so that the wire 14 is received between the jaw 23 and the blade 21 as shown in Figure 1. Then it is only necessary to grip the lug 42 and move the handle member 40 away from the housing 10 and then when pressure on the handle member 40 is released the spring 43 will cause the firing pin 34 to strike the cartridge 18 and fire the cartridge. As the cartridge is fired the gases issuing therefrom will cause the plunger 20 to move in the bore 19 whereby the cutting edge 22 of the blade 21 will cooperate with the channel 24 to sever the hot line 14. Some of the gases from the cartridges will pass through the passageways 31 and 33 to strike the recesses 27 as shown in Figure 5 whereby the cylinder 16 will be rotated so that the next cartridge is in position to be fired.

With the present invention energized electrical lines can be readily cut and the tool operates on the principle of the guillotine but, is powder actuated by blank cartridges 18. The tool can be used for cutting wires of different sizes and the powder load can be varied according to the cut to be made. The handles are non-conductive and the cutter is placed over the wire 14 to be cut. The percussion from the blank cartridge 18 will push the blade 21 against the wire 14 to make the necessary cut. The spring brake 29 will stop the cylinder 16 by tension on one of the gas pockets or recesses 27 so that the cylinder will be in the right position for the next cartridge.

When a company uses the tool of the present invention, the company will be saved money by restoration of services as soon as possible. The tool will make an instantaneous cut to thereby reduce the chance of an are or flash when the line is cut under load which is sometimes necessary and also the tool protects the eyes. The tool offers a big safety factor of much less movement on the part of the operator when working in congested areas and the single unit of the tool eliminates the double handle now used on the majority of conventional cutters which are lever or ratchet operated. This makes for easier operation and reduces storage space for the tool on the truck. Since line construction and maintenance is very strenuous work and the better the tool functions the less the lineman tires, the lineman will be able to keep more mentally alert while engaged in this hazardous profession with the present tool.

I claim:

1. A percussion hot line cutter comprising a housing, a handle made of non-conducting material connected to an end of said housing, a jaw connected to said housing, a plunger reciprocably arranged in said housing, a blade connected to said plunger and mounted for movement towards and away from said jaw, a pin mounted in said housing, a cylinder rotatably mounted on said pin and provided with a plurality of chambers therein for holding cartridges, there being a cut-out in said housing for the projection therethrough of a portion of said cylinder, said cylinder being provided with a plurality of recesses in its outer periphery, a spring member having one end secured to said housing and engaging said recesses, an L-shaped firing pin reciprocably mounted in said housing, a handle member for moving said firing pin away from the cartridges, a coil spring for urging said firing pin into engagement with the cartridges, said housing having passageways therein whereby a portion of the gas from the cartridge is directed onto the recesses in said cylinder to rotate the cylinder as the cartridges are fired.

2. A percussion hot line cutter comprising a housing, a handle connected to an end of said housing, a jaw connected to said housing, a plunger reciprocably arranged in said housing, a blade connected to said plunger and mounted for movement towards and away from said jaw, a pin mounted in said housing, a cylinder rotatably T mounted on said pin and provided with a plurality of chambers therein for holding cartridges, there being a cut-out in said housing for the projection therethrough of a portion of said cylinder, said cylinder being provided with a plurality of recesses, a spring member having one end secured to said housing and engaging said recesses, a firing pin reciprocably mounted in said housing, a handle member for moving said firing pin away from the cartridges, resilient means for urging said firing pin into engagement with the cartridges, said housing having passageways therein whereby a portion of the gas from the cartridge is directed onto the recesses in said cylinder to rotate the cylinder as the cartridges are fired.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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