Flexible metal/metal oxide and/or intermetallic reactant ribbon cutting system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12379192-B2
Application number	US-202418619487-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 28, 2024
Priority date	Apr 30, 2021
Publication date	Aug 5, 2025
Grant date	Aug 5, 2025

Abstract

Provided is a blast-free alternative tool for breaching operations for the intended purpose of cutting metal, including rebar, steel cables, I-beams, thin walled containers, welding doors, and the like. The apparatus includes a flexible and cuttable tube containing metal oxide/metal (thermite) mixture, capable of being formed around a target material and of NONEL ignition. The apparatus can be used to cut, weld, or ignite target material. Protective caps are included with provisions to insert shock tube or time fuse to transmit ignition to first fire mix. A fire proof or flame retardant flexible outerwrap with adhesive (such as hydrogel) or malleable retention wires covers the cutting ribbon for heat and slag retention. In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus is issued/manufactured in rolls or precut lengths.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A pyrotechnic device comprising:
a flexible and cuttable outer tube;
a first pyrotechnic composition contained within said flexible and cuttable outer tube; and
one or more end caps comprising a first fire mixture and a port plug for insertion of a shock tube or a time fuse;
wherein said shock tube or said time fuse transmits heat and shock to said first fire mixture, which in turn ignites said first pyrotechnic composition in an exothermic redox reaction.

2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a fire proof or flame retardant flexible thermal retention wrap that is wrapped around said outer tube.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein said thermal retention wrap comprises a fireproof fabric or composite structure comprising fireproof ceramics.

4. The device of claim 2 , wherein said thermal retention wrap comprises a hydrogel or phase-changing material to adhere said wrap to said target.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein said outer tube further comprises a malleable wire core that permits said outer tube to be bent and shaped to conform to a target.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein said first pyrotechnic composition comprises a metal powder and metal oxide and/or intermetallic reactant contained within said outer tube.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein said metal powder and metal oxide comprises thermite.

8. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a second pyrotechnic composition.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein said second pyrotechnic composition comprises a rapid fire core comprising a fire mixture that is ignitable via shock tube or time fuse.

10. The device of claim 8 , wherein said second pyrotechnic composition comprises an instantaneous fire core comprising a hollow core that contains an HMX explosive that is ignitable via shock tube or time fuse.

11. The device of claim 8 , wherein said second pyrotechnic composition comprises a fire nozzle core comprising a solid or hollow geometry that accelerates the burning of said first pyrotechnic composition.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein said shock tube comprises NONEL.

13. The device of claim 1 , wherein said end caps further comprise a fire mixture that is ignitable via said shock tube or said time fuse.

Assignees

• Us Navy

Inventors

• Thompson Clayton A
• Faucheux Paul D

Classifications

• F41H11/14

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• F42D3/02

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• F42B3/22

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• F42B3/087 Primary

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