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US 9,435,170 B2Granted
High energy severing tool with pressure balanced explosives
OwnerWilliam T. Bell, James G. Rairighinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A high energy pipe severing tool is arranged to align a plurality of pressure balanced explosive pellets along a unitizing central tube that is selectively separable from a tubular external housing. The explosive pellets are loaded serially in a column and in full view along the entire column as a final charging task. Detonation boosters are pre-positioned and connected to detonation cord for simultaneous detonation at opposite ends of the explosive column. Devoid of high explosive pellets during transport, the assembly may be transported with all boosters and detonation cord connected.
Claims30
An apparatus for severing a length of pipe comprising:
- a tubular housing having an internal bore and a plurality of bi-directional boosters;
- one or more vents in said tubular housing to substantially equalize fluid pressure within said internal bore with fluid pressure outside of said tubular housing;
- a first detonation cord having a first length between a first bi-directional booster and a second bi-directional booster of said plurality of bi-directional boosters;
- a second detonation cord having a first length between a third bi-directional booster and a fourth bidirectional booster of said plurality of bi-directional boosters;
- a main load explosive material in said tubular housing located between said second bi-directional booster and said fourth bi-directional booster of said plurality of bi-directional boosters;
- a fluid impermeable material mixed with said main load explosive material;
- and
- an initiating booster explosive for simultaneously initiating said first bi-directional booster and said third bi-directional booster of said plurality of-bidirectional boosters.
5 more elements
A method of severing a pipe comprising the steps of:
- enclosing opposite ends of a tubular housing;
- venting said tubular housing to substantially equalize fluid pressure within said tubular housing to fluid pressure outside of said tubular housing;
- placing a first bi-directional booster, a second bi-directional booster, a third bi-directional booster, and a fourth bi-directional booster within said tubular housing;
- connecting a first detonation cord with a first length between said first bi-directional booster and said second bi-directional booster;
- connecting a second detonation cord with a first length between said third bi-directional booster and said fourth bi-directional booster;
- combining a main load explosive material and a fluid impermeable material into a mixture;
- loading said mixture into said tubular housing between said second bi-directional booster and said fourth bi-directional boosters;
- positioning said tubular housing and said mixture in a pipe;
- and
- simultaneously initiating ignition of said second bi-directional booster and said fourth bi-directional booster.
7 more elements
An apparatus for severing a length of pipe comprising:
- a tubular housing having an internal bore and at least one vent, wherein said at least one vent equalizes fluid pressure within said internal bore with fluid pressure outside of said tubular housing;
- a first end cap on a first distal end of said tubular housing to close a first distal end of said internal bore, and a second end cap on a second distal end of said tubular housing to close a second distal end of said internal bore;
- a timing spool located within said tubular housing;
- a loading tube within said tubular housing connecting said first end cap and said second end cap through said timing spool, wherein said loading tube comprises a central bore therethrough;
- an initiating explosive booster located within said first end cap;
- a first bi-directional booster located within said central bore proximate to said first end cap;
- a second bi-directional booster located within said central bore proximate to said second end cap;
- a third bi-directional booster located within said internal bore and proximate to said timing spool;
- a first detonation cord having a first length between said first bi-directional booster and said second bi-directional booster;
- a second detonation cord having a first length between said third bi-directional booster and said initiating explosive booster;
- and
- a main load explosive material in said tubular housing located between said second end cap and said third bi-directional booster.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.