received by the International Bureau on 25 February 2014 (25.02.2014)

1. A torching rod (100) for use in exothermic operations, the rod comprising:

u plurality of cables (104) having stainless steel fibers (202) configured to bum during an exothermic operalton, wherein the plurality of cables (104) surrounds a hollow center portion within the torching rod (100);

a llowpath (106) Conned by the hollow center portion for oxygen to burn the stainless steel fibers (202); and

a sheath (102) to enclose the plurality of cables (104) and the hollow center portion.

2. The torching rod (100) of claim 1, wherein the sheath (102) includes a flexible sheath to enclose the plurality of cables ( 104).

3. The torching rod of claim 1 , wherein the sheath ( 102) includes a rigid tube to enclose the plurality of cables (104).

4. The torching rod (100) of claim I , further comprising an ignition source to ignite the oxygen within the flowpath (106).

5. The torching rod (100) of claim 4, wherein the ignition source comprises a portion (302) of steel wool.

6. The torching rod ( 100) of claim 4, wherein the ignition source includes a battery

(306).

7. The torching rod (100) of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cables (104) includes an ultraviolet stable jacketing.

8. A handle device (500) for use with a torching rod system in exothermic operations, the handle device (500) comprising:

a handle body (602) having an inlet (603) and an outlet (604);

the inlet (603) to receive a How (502) of oxygen; ihe outlet (604) to couple with a torching rod (100) to create a flowpath (106) ol^" oxygen into the torching rod ( 100);

a valve (612) to adjust the flow (502) of oxygen to the outlet (604);

u handle cover (620) adjacent to the inlet (603); and

a flashback arrestor (616) lo couple wilh the inlet (603) and integrated into the handle cover (620).

9. The handle device (500) of claim 8, further comprising a quick disconnect fitting (608) coupled to the outlet (604) and the torching rod (100),

10. The handle device (500) of claim 8, wherein the valve (612) is switchable to either side of the handle body (602).

11. The handle device (500) of claim 8, further comprising a hose barb adaptor (618) coupled to the flashback arrestor ( 1 ).

12. The handle device (500) of claim 8, wherein the handle body is conllgured to provide about u 90 degree angle between an axis uf the inlet and an axis of the outlet.

13. A torching system (700) for exothermic opemtions comprising:

a rod (100) including

a plurality of cables (104) having stainless steel fibers (202) configured lo burn during an exothermic operation, wherein the plurality of cables (104) surrounds a hollow center portion within the rod (100),

a flowpath (106) formed by the hollow center portion for oxygen to burn the stainless steel fibers (202), and

a sheath (102) to enclose the plurality of cables (104) and the hollow center portion; and

22 a handle device (500) to connect to the rod (100), the handle device (500) including a handle body (602) having an inlet (603) and an outlet (604),

the inlet (603) to receive a flow (502) of oxygen,

the outlet (604) to couple with the rod (100) to create the flowpath (1 6) of oxygen into the rod (100), and

a valve (612) to adjust the How (502) of oxygen to t e outlet (604), wherein the inlet (603) is configured at about a 90 degree angle from the rod

(100);

a plurality of bottles (706) containing oxygen to generate the flowpath (106) of oxygen to the handle device (500); and

a manifold (702) to fix the plurality of bottles (706) in place and to connect to the handle device (500).

14. The torching system (700) of claim 13, wherein the plurality of bottles (706) arc detachable from the manifold (702).

15. The torching system (700) of claim 1 , further comprising a backpack to enclose the plurality of bottles (706), the manifold (702) and the rod (100).

16. The torching system (700) of claim 1 , wherein the handle device (500) is adjacent to the inlet (603) to receive the flow of oxygen from one of the plurality of bottles (706).

17. The torching system (700) of claim 16, further comprising a flashback anestor ( 16) to couple with the inlet (603) and integrated into the handle (500),

18. The torching system (700) of claim 13, wherein the manifold (702) has a weight between 18 and 26 lbs.

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19. The torching system (700) of claim 13, wherein the sheath (102) comprises rigid material.

20. The torching system (700) of claim 13, wherein the sheath (102) comprises flexible material.

21. Λη oxygen delivery system (700) comprising:

a rod (100) including

a plurality of cables (104) having stainless steel fibers (202) configured to burn during an exothermic operation, wherein the plurality of cables (104) surrounds a hollow center portion within the rod (100),

a fiowpath (106) formed by the hollow center portion lor oxygen to burn the stainless steel fibers (202), and

a sheath (102) to enclose the plurality of cables (104) and the hollow center portion; and

a handle device (500) to connect to the rod (100), the handle device (500) including a handle body (602) having an inlet (603) and an outlet (604),

the inlet (603) to receive a flow (502) of oxygen,

the outlet (604) to couple with the rod (100) to create the flowpath (106) of oxygen into the rod (100), and

a valve (612) to adjust the flow (502) of oxygen to the outlet (604), a plurality of bottles (706) containing oxygen to generate the ⁽lowpath (106) of oxygen to the handle device (500);

a manifold (702) to fix the plurality of bottles (706) in place and to connect to the handle device (500); and

24 a mask (714) and a tube (712) to connect the mask (714) to the flowpath (106) to deliver breathable oxygen from at least one of the plurality of bottles (706).

22. The oxygen delivery system (700) of claim 21 , further comprising u quick disconnect fitting (608) to decouple the rod (100) and the \be (712).

23. A method for performing exothermic operations using the rod (100) of claim 1 , the method comprising; creating a flowpath (106) of oxygen within a rod (100), wherein the flowpath (106) is surrounded by a plurality of cables (104) having stainless sleel fibers (202);

igniting the oxygen within the flowpath (106); and

burning the stainless steel fibers (202).

24. The method of claim 23, furtlicr comprising cutting a material using the stainless steel libers (202).

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