APPLICATIONS OF A LINEAR SHAPED CHARGE ELECTRO-EXPLOSIVE (LSCe) DEVICE

A cable cutting tool, comprising:

• a linear shaped charge electro-explosive (LSCe) device including a housing oriented along an axis, a main charge formed in the housing and compressed to form a V- shaped channel whose apex lies along the axis having a depth X and a V-shaped metal liner in direct contact with the surface of the main charge, an opening in the housing that exposes a portion of the main charge below the apex of the V-shaped channel, and an initiator in direct and intimate contact with the exposed portion of the main charge through the opening,
• a fixture for receiving a cable and positioning the LSCe device at stand-off distance of at least X from and across the cable, and
• a safety device configured upon satisfaction of one or more conditions to apply an electric stimulus to the initiator to detonate the main charge to form a detonation wave that collapses the V-shaped metal liner and projects forward a linear shaped charge jet to cut the cable.

A linear shaped charge system, comprising

• a linear shaped charge electro-explosive (LSCe) device including a housing oriented along an axis, a main charge formed in the housing and compressed to form a V- shaped channel whose apex lies along the axis having a depth X and a V-shaped metal liner in direct contact with the surface of the main charge, an opening in the housing that exposes a portion of the main charge below the apex of the V-shaped channel, and an initiator in direct and intimate contact with the exposed portion of the main charge through the opening,
• a linear shaped charge (LSC) including a V-shaped primary charge in a metal jacket positioned in the V-shaped channel opposite the V- shaped metal liner, and
• a safety device configured upon satisfaction of one or more conditions to apply an electric stimulus to the initiator to detonate the main charge to form a detonation wave that collapses the V-shaped metal liner and projects forward a linear shaped charge jet through the metal jacket to initiate the V-shaped primary charge to form a linear cutting jet.