ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 6 -- United States Patent no. 12,379,192, issued on Aug. 5.
"Flexible metal/metal oxide and/or intermetallic reactant ribbon cutting system" was invented by Clayton A. Thompson (Fountain Valley, Calif.) and Paul D. Faucheux (Stafford, Va.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "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,...