This invention relates to explosive cutting means. It is well known in the art to use explosives to cut a target, such as a metal sheet or plate. One well known method for explosive cutting is the so called

"plaster" charge method and wherein a strip of explosive material is applied directly to the target along the intended line of cut and is detonated to generate fracture forces within the target along the intended line of cut. Another well known method for explosive cutting is the so called "shaped charge" method and wherein a metal element, initially spaced from the target, is driven at high speed against the target along the intended line of cut by detonation of an explosive material. The metal element is deformed by the detonation and by passage through the air to the target and a blade-like high speed jet of metal strikes the target to cut the target.

Both the above methods of explosive cutting and their respective advantages and disadvantages are very will known' and extensively documented and no further description thereof is required herein.

- 2 -

In more recent years it has been proposed that a target be cut along an intended line by producing two shock wave fronts in the target, the two shock wave fronts first entering the surface of the target simultaneously along two zones extending parallel to the intended line of cut and spaced apart with the intended line of cut mid-way between them. The two shock wave fronts pass into the target and meet along the intended line of cut and the shock waves reflected from the undersurface of the target also coincide along the intended line of cut. It has been proposed that in such a method of cutting the shock waves first passing through the material generate compression forces along the intended line of cut whilst the reflected waves produce tension forces along the intended line of cut. In the event a target can be cut along an intended line using far less explosive material than conventional plaster charges.

For convenience the above described method of cutting by producing two spaced apart wave fronts simultaneously in the surface of the target shell be referred to as "two-wave explosive cutting" and means for producing two-wave explosive cutting shall hereinafter be referred to as "two-wave explosive cutting means".

United States Patent No. 3,07 ,^08 discloses two-wave explosive cutting means in which a layer of explosive material is arranged in contact with the surface of a target to be cut and extends across the intended line of cut. The explosive material is detonated simultaneously at points on either side of the intended line of cut to produce the two-wave explosive cutting.

United States Patent No. 3Λ35,?63 discloses two-wave explosive cutting means wherein an explosive strip is adapted to be arranged in contact with a surface of a target on either side of an intended ^' line of cut and said strip comprises means for so controlling detonation of the material that a pair of converging re-entrant detonation fronts proceed simultaneously and symmetrically inw. rds to generate a Mach . stem internally of the strip.

European Patent No. 00 15 discloses two-wave explosive cutting means wherein barrier means so affect the detonation of the explosive material that, from the point of detonation, the detonation proceeds longitudinally of the explosive material and laterally inwardly of said material.

It should be noted that in all the prior art methods and means for two-wave explosive cutting the two shock waves are produced by controlling the configuration of the deton tion fronts within the explosive material. will be appreciated that the speed at which the detonation front(s) pass through the explosive material is very high as also is the speed at which the shock wave fronts pass through the target. As the cut in the target is effected along the plane in which the two shock wave fronts meet any minute variation in the time of entry of 5 the shock waves into the target, or any difference in the "balance" of the shock wave configurations, will cause the cut to deviate from the intended line of cut.

Thus, any system which relies on detonating the explosive material at a plurality of locations must be suspect in thεt any pre- C mature or delayed firing of any one of the detonators will result in an undesired detonation configuration with deviation from the intended line of cut. Any system which relies on barriers to- periodically re¬ establish side edge detonation and wherein the detonation effectively proceeds independently along the side edges of the explosive material 5 must also be suspect. It is for this reason that prior art two-wave cutting is rarely used on long cuts, such as cuts in excess of ^■ £ metre. The object of the present invention is to provide a method and . means for two-wave explosive cutting which does not rely on controlling the configuration of the detonation front through the explosive charge. 0 According to the present invention there is provided a method for two-wave explosive cutting characterized by the steps of locating an explosive material to extend along the intended line of cut and on either side of the intended line of cut generally out of contact with the target, detonating said explosive material, and varying the

- k -

progression of the shock wave produced by said explosive material towards the target transverse to the line of cut in such manner that, in each section transverse to the line of cut, the shock wave first enters into the target at two zones, one on either side of the intended line of cut, equally spaced from the intended line of cut.

Preferably the method includes the step of supporting the explosive material on a shock wave delay element which presents a surface for contact with the target. In one embodiment in accordance with the invention the method includes the step of constructing the shock wave delay element of different shock-wave transmission materials to very the progress of the shock wave to the target.

In another emr-odiment in accordance with the invention the method includes the step of shaping the cross section of the shock wave delay element to vary the progression of the shock wave to the target.

In a preferred embodiment the method includes the step of locating a metεl element between the target and the explosive material, said metal element extending along the length of the intended cut and being spaced from the tεrget, and providing a void in the shock wave delay element between said metal insert and the target vhereupon, on detonation of the explosive material, the metεl insert is driven at high speed towards the target to indent or recess the surface of the target along the intended line of cut.

The invention also envisages a two-w _? ve explosive cutting means comprising a shock vave delay element and an explosive material.

Preferably, said shock ave delay element presents a target- engaging surface and an explosive-supporting surface or surfaces facing away from said target-engaging surface.

In one form the shock wave delay element includes areas of different shock wave transmission characteristics across the target- engaging regions in sections of said element intended to lie transverse to the intended line of cut of a target. In such form the shock wave delay element may be of rectangular cross section and the explosive

material can also be of rectangular cross section.

In another form the shock wave delay element has such a cross sectional configuration that the shock w _a ve produced by detonation of explosive material on said explosive-supporting surface or surfaces first reaches the plane of the target-eagaging surface at two zones spaced apart in the transverse direction of said shock wave delay element. V/ith such an embodiment the shock wave delay element may conveniently have a generally triangular cross section with one face of the element defining the target-engaging surface of the element and the other two major faces comprising explosive- supporting surfaces.

Preferably the cross section of the element is generally in the form of an isosceles triangle with a high base to height ratio and the base surface comprises the target-engaging surface. Preferably said shock wave delay element includes a recess, conveniently a triangular recess, in said target-engaging surface intended to straddle the intended line of cut in a target.

In one preferred embodiment the two-wave explosive cutting means include a metal insert located between the target and the explosive material and said insert is spaced from the target-engaging face of the delay element and straddles the intended line of cut whereupon, on detonation of the explosive material, the metal insert is driven at high speed against the target along the intended line of cut to indent or recess the target along the line of cut in advance of the coincide of the shock waves within the target.

The shock w _a ve delay elements preferably has a substantially uniform cross section in the length direction of the said element.

The invention will now be described further by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Fig.1 is a diagrammatic cross section through a two-wave cutting means according to the invention, Figs 1A, 1B and 1C show cross sections through the cutting means illustrεted in Fig 1, to the left of the centre line CL, diagrammatically illustrating the progression of the shock wave front.

Fig 2 is a diagrammatic cross section through a second two-wave cutting means.

Fig 3 is a view, similar to Fig 2, of a third two-wave cutting means Fig is a view, similar to Fig 2, showing a further two- wave cutting means according to the invention

Fig 5 is a view, similar to Fig 2, of a fifth embodiment of two-wave cutting means

Fig 6 is a view, similar to Fig 2,of a still further embodiment in accordance with the invention

Fig 7 is a perspective view showing one initiation means for the two-wave cutting means shown in Fig 2 and,

Figs 8 & 9 are plan views of two different embodiments of part of the initiation means shown in Fig 7

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig 1 an elongate shock- wave delay element 11, of rectangular cross section,rests on the surface 12a of a target 12 and a strip of explosive material 13 rests on the surface of element 11 remote from surface 12a_. The element 11 has the mid-plane C passing through its transverse cross section in the plane of the intended line of cut 1+, in the target so that, in its width direction, the element 11 extends equally on either side of the line of cut 1 .

The element 11 comprises, in cross section, an isosceles triangle 11a_ of a first material and two equal right-angle triangles 1 h_ 11 of a second material, the first and second materials being selected to have different shock-wave transmission characteristics with the triangle = 11a having the slowest transmission characteristics. Figs 1A, 1B and 1C show cross sections of the element 11 to the left of the mid-plane CL and it will be appreciated that the shock wave fronts described with respect to Figs 1A 1B and 1C are mirror images of the shock wave fronts as will be developed in the cross section of the element 11 to the right of the plane CL.

- 7 -

In the embodiment shown in Fig 1A, and assuming that the first and second materials are so selected that the speed at which a shock wave front travels through the first material is one half of the speed through the second material, it will be noted that at a. time "t" after detonation of the explosive material 13 _#

The shock wave front 15JL travelling wholly through the triangle 11b_ will have travelled a distance D and will be progressing parallel to the surface 11, The shock wave front travelling wholly through the triangle 11a will have travelled D = d and

2 ¹⁰ The shock wave front 15b which has passed through the plane joining triangle 11a to triangle 11b_ will have travelled part way through triangle 11b_ and part way through 11a and will therefore be inclined to the plane of surface 12^.

Fig 1B shows the position when the shock wave has travelled 15 to the lower-most point of triangle 11b and one half the height of triangle 11a at the mid-plane CL and it will be noted that the shock w ve has a releatively straight front 15.

Assuming that the target is a metal with good shock wave transmission characteristics, Fig 1C shows the position wherein the 20 shock w _a ve front 15 has passed wholly into the target 12 and the inclined part 1 £ of said front is travelling towεrds the line of cut 14.

It will be appreciated that the sections and progressions of the shock wave fronts shown in Figs 1A, 1B and 1C are mirror images 25 of the sections and progression of the shock wave fronts on the right hand side of the mid-plane CL and, when the explosive material

13 is detpnated on a straight front travelling in the length direction of element 11, shock wave fronts will first enter the surface 12a_ of target 12 from the lovest points of triangles 11b and 11c_, as 5° viewed in Fig 1, simultaneously and the inclined shock wave fronts

15£ will meet at the intended line of cut 14.

In the embodiment shown in Fig 2 a shock wave delay element

21 of elongate form, has a transverse cross-section in the form of an isosceles trian.-le with a i h bass to height ratio and the ^■ Tc surface 21a_, defined by t f bese, comprises the te pet-engε.-ing

surface of the element 21. The remaining major surfaces 21b_ and 21£ of the element 21 comprise the explosive-supporting surfaces.

The element 21 is pl ced on a target 22 with its length direction extending in the direction of the intended line of cut 23 and its target-engaging surface 21a_ in contact with the surface 22a of the target. The target-engaging surface 21a extends equally on either side of the intended line of cut 23.

V.'hen the explosive mεterial 24 on the explosive-supporting surfaces 21b_ and 21£ of the element 21 is detonated so that a detonation front travels in the length direction of the element 21, the shock wave front 25 generated by the explosive material 24 travels through the shock wave delay element 11 to the surface 22a of target 22. Entry of the shock wave 5 into the target 22 is first at zones 22b_, 2£ where the explosive material 24 is closest to the target 22 and has the minimum delay in travelling through the element 21 and, as the height of the element 21 increases towards the plane of the intended cut 23, so the shock w _a ve front 25 is delayed in its passage to the target 22 by the increasing thickness of element 21.

Thus, the shock wave front 25 first enters the target 22 at the two zones or regions 22b, 22c, which are equally spaced apart from the intended plane of cut 23, and the inclined shock wave fronts 25___ and 25b_ passing through the element 21 parallel to surfaces 21b_, 21£ respectively travel towards one another to coincide at the plane of the intended cut 23. In Fig 2 the shock wave fronts 2 are shown passing into a target 22 having substantially the same shock- ave transmission characteristics as the element 21.

Fig 3 shows a view similar to Fig 2, and using identical reference numerals for identical parts, the essential difference from Fig 2 being that the shock wave transmission speed for the element 21 is slower than for the target material whereby the εnrles of the inclined shock wave fronts 25a and 5b within the target 22 are steeper (as viewed in Fig 3) than the anple of the shock wave fronts 25a_, 25b_ within the target 22 shown in Fig 2.

The shock wave delay element 11 of Fig 1 and the shock wave delay elements 21 of Figs 2 and 3 ma be constructed from any suitable materials having the desired shock wave transmission speeds but preferably said element 11 of Fig 1 and the elements 21 of Figs 2 and 3 are constructed from rubber, synthetic rubber or plastics materials, and have sufficient flexibility to allow the respective shock wave delay elements 11 or 21 to follow non-linear contours, such as the curved surfaces of pipes and tubes.

The elements 11 and 21 may also include a soft iron core element 26 (illustrated only in Fig 2) on the rnid-plane CL and extending in the length direction of the respective delay element and which can assist in holding the shock wave element in a shape imparted to follow a non-linear contour.

The elements 11 and 21 may also include magnetized material, such as magnetized particles of barium ferrite, so that the respective element 11 or 21 can magnetically adhere to the surface of a ferrous target.

The explosive material 13 of Fig 1 and 24 of Figs 2 and 3 may be secured to its respective element 11 or 22 with an adhesive material, preferably not a water-soluble adhesive.

Fig 4 illustrate a modification which can be applied to the embodiments illustrated in Figs 2 and 3« In this modification, in which like numerals hrve been used to designate like parts, a strip of ferrous metal 27 is bonded to the base surface of the element 21 and a strip of magnetized material 28, such as a rubber or plastics material including magnetized particles, is bonded to the metal 27 so that the composite element 11 can adhere to ferrous targets with¬ out the inclusion of magnetized particles within the element 21.

Referring now to Fig it will be seen that the embodiment illustrated therein is similar to the embodiments of Fig 2 and 3» like numerals again identify like parts, with the exception that the apex of the shock wave delay element 21 is truncated and the element 21 has a central triangular cavity JC therein the apex of which is lower¬ most (as viewed in Fig 5) and coincides with the intended line of cut 23 and the base of which is covered by a plate y , e.g., of metal. The plate 3" ¹ is covered by the explosive material 24.

- 10 -

V.hen the strip of explosive material 24 is detonated the plate 3 will be driven downwardly.,and, guided by the side walls of the cavity 30, will form a high velocity metal jet directed towards the intended line of cut 23. This jet v.-ill not cut the target 22 but will indent or recess the surface of the target 22 along the intended line of cut 3 to assist fracture of the target along said intended line of cut 23.

In the embodiment shown in Fig 6, again like parts are identified by like numerals, the shock wave delay element 21 is provided with a triangular cavity 32 which extends the length thereof and which has its base astride the intended line of cut. The cavity 32 may be metal lined if desired. It has been found in practice that the cavity 32 greatly assists focusing of the shock wave.

The shock wave delay elements 21 of Figs 5 and 6 may, in like manner to the embodiments described with reference to Figs 2 and 3 be made of rubber, synthetic rubber or plastics material so as to be flexible and said elements may include magnetized particles to enable the elements 21 of Figs 5 nd 6 to adhere to ferrous targets. The plate 3 of Fig 5 m y also be magnetized to assist adhesion of the insert 23 to a ferrous target.

Fig 7 shows initiating means 35 suitable for use with the explosive cutting means of any of the embodiments illustrated in Figs 2 to 6 inclusive.

The initiating means 35 comprise a support 36 of inert material shaped to conform to the shape of the exposed main faces of the explosive material 24 and which is εdapted to be mounted thereon. The support >6 carries means 37 for supporting a detonator 38. The support 36 also carries on part of its surface remote from the explosive material 24, a layer of explosive material 39 which will be detonated when the detonator 38 is fired. The layer of explosive material 39 extends over one end of the support 36, as- shown at 4θ, so as to contact the explosive material 24 when the initiating means is properly located on the explosive cutting πeans. The layer of explosive material 39 is substantially triangular in plan view and ^nas incorporated therein barrier elements 41 which are so arranged that all paths from the detonator 38 to each point along the edge 40

are of substantially the same length to ensure that detonation of the explosive material 24 takes place substantially simultaneously at all points ^' across the width thereof.

Fig 8 illustrates an array of circular barrier elements 41, for the explosive layer 39 whilst Fig 9 illustrates an array of linear barrier elements 41, both of these arrays being such as to achieve the desired object of ensuring that all paths between the point of detonation of the layer of explosive material 39 and and the edge 40 which initiates the explosive material 24 are of substantially 0 the same length.

It will be appreciated that in all the foregoing embodiments the shock wave delay element focuses the shock wave generated by detonation of the explosive material to produce entry of the shock wave into the target first at two zones or locations equally spaced 5 on either side of the intended line of cut whereby the classic "two- wave" cutting is achieved when the shock waves progress from said two zones to coincide at the intended line of cut.

If it is desired to cut or fracture a target along two or more intended lines of cut which are parallel to one another then 0 explosive cutting means according to the present invention can be used in a side-by-side array or, alternatively, an explosive cutting means may be formed which comprises, in effect, a plurality of cutting means according to the present invention arranged side-by-side.

Thus, for example two-shock wave cutting means as shown in 5 Fig 2, 3 _ι 4, 5.or 6 could be assembled in side-by-side relationship on a common sheet to form a series of side-by-side corrugations extending across the width of a sheet, with each corrugation providing a separate two-wave explosive cutting means according to the present invention but with corrugations shering a common sheet of explosive metal.

3° The facility for providing multiple fractures or cuts is particularly useful when removing a section of lining from a bore or well, e.g., an oil well, since it enables the section of lining to be cut into sufficiently small pieces for either easy removal or for f lling with little danger of blocking of the bore or well to the bottom of the bore

3 _ _^ 5 or well.

In the embodiments illustrated in Figs 1 to 6 the elements 11, 21 have been described as elongate but it will be appreciated

- 12 -

that when said elements are flexible the two-wave cutting means can be deflected to cut a target along lines other than straight lines.

The elongate shock wave delay elements described above may be easily made by conventional extrusion processes and the explosive material 24 may also be extruded to the desired cross section. Thus, the assembly of the cpmponent parts of the shock wave cutting means is simplified.

Alternatively shock wave delay elements required for cuts which cannot be made by flexing an elongate cutting means may be moulded to follow virtually any desired cut configuration. By way of example the elements may be moulded in "closed" configuretion, such as a circular configuration to cut a disc from a target. Further, shapes for a cut can be built up using elongεte and curved delay elements to cut, for example,a rectangular hole with curved corners. In further embodiments the two-wave cutting means illustrated in Figs 1 to 6 inclusive may be of conical configuration, defining solids of revolution about the mid-plane (axis) CL, whereupon the shock waves will coincide at a core region passing through the target. The invention is further described with reference to the following examples.

EXAKFLE 1

A shock w _a ve delay element of the kind shown in Fig 2 was constructed from a composite magnetic materiel comprising 9 .5 barium ferrite in a matrix of synthetic rubber which is sold under the registered trade mark FEROBA. This element had a density of 3.6g/cc. The cross-section of the element was an isosceles triangle having a base of 30mm and an apex of 130 . The base of the element was magnetically adhered to a plate of mild steel 7«9mm thick. To the remaining two sides of the element was applied a single strip of EDX-based plastic explosive of the kind designated SX2. This strip was 32mm wide and 3mm thick. The strip of explosive material w _s s initi-ted at a point on the longitudin.1 axis thereof, t a distance of 4θram from the star ⁴ : of the intended line of cut so that the detonation front would h; ve time to develop prior to the start of the intended line of cut. The plete as divided by a continuous and very straight fracture.

- 13 -

EXAMPLE 2

A shock wave delay element of the kind used in Example 1 was magnetically adhered by its base to a mild steel plate 15«3mm thick. To the other two sides of the element was applied two strips of SX2 plastic explosive, the strips each being 32mm wide and 3πιπι thick and being applied one upon the other to give a double thickness. V'hen the explosive material was initiated in the same manner as in Example 1 the plate w _a s fractured along a continuous and very straight edged line. A thick spall as projected from the rear of the plate and this spall was itself divided neatly along the line of intended cut. A pεrticulεr feature of this Example was that the spall fragments exhibited straight and square outer edges. Normally, when a strip of explosive material is detonated in contact with a metal plate so as to cause a spεll to be projected from the opposite side thereof, the edges of the spall fragments are ragged and somewhat tapered.

EXAMPLE 5

Two strips of SX2 plastic explosive 32mm wide and 3om thick were folded along their longitudinal centre line so that the two sides extended at an angle of 120° to one another. The two strips were positioned one upon the other on a plate of mild steel 12,5mm thick with two longitudinal side edges of the inner strip resting upon the plate. The assembly was immersed in water so that the water filled cavity between the inner strip of explosive material and the plate to provide a shock wave delay element. The explosive was initiated centrally of one end thereof. The steel plate was divided by a fracture which coincided with the longitudinal axis of the strips of explosive material. A narrow spall approximately 11mm wide and 5ΠMΠ thick was detached from the surface of the steel plate opposite to which the explosive was applied. The plate was not deformed to any visible extent beyond the fracture on thεt surface to which the explosive material was applied and beyond the spell on the other side. Thus the zone of visible damage did not extend laterally beyond about mm from the centre line of the fracture. This is a much narrower damage zone than usually occurs with known fracturing or cutting charges of comparable severing power.