Underwater cutting tool
OwnerLars A. Molinderinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An underwater cutting tool for steel, concrete, or the like, comprising a tubular oxygen lance (10) adapted to be connected to an oxygen source (24, 25) and having a pistol grip-like handle (16). Prior to its first use the lance is sealed so as to be ignited safely under water. This seal (12) is adapted to be blasted off or fused by means of an igniter unit (14) which is operable under water, at the same time, firing the oxygen flowing out of the lance (10). The seal (12) preferably is formed by a plug of a material which is easily inflammable or contains such material and hermetically seals the free end of the lance (10).
Claims9
An underwater cutting tool comprising in combination
- (a) a hand-held base portion flexibly connected to an oxygen source;
- (b) a thermal lance attached to said hand-held base portion at one end and having a watertight seal at the opposite cutting end;
- (c) said watertight seal formed of an inflammable material;
- (d) an igniter unit to ignite and blast off said watertight seal at said cutting end;
- (e) said thermal lance sealed at the end opposite the cutting end;
- (f) said hand-held base portion having means to pierce the thermal lance at the end opposite the cutting end to allow oxygen to flow into the thermal lance at a pressure greater than the surrounding water pressure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.