Wire stabilization and cutting system

Description (excerpt)

Pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 1.78(a)(4), this application claims the benefit of and priority to prior filed co-pending Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/745,071, filed Jan. 14, 2025, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. RIGHTS OF THE GOVERNMENT The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States for all governmental purposes without the payment of any royalty. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to electromechanical systems and, more particularly, to electromechanical systems for remotely stabilizing and cutting a wire. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) can cause serious harm and even death or disfunction for personnel and equipment. IEDs tend to proliferate and cause the most damage in austere environments where resources mountable and solutions possible against their use may be scarce. Once identified, IEDs must be quickly and surely neutralized and dismantled. One option for neutralizing IEDs is simply triggering and exploding them in a controlled atmosphere. However, this option may also extinguish any opportunity for evidence and intelligence gathering, which can be useful to prevent future instances of IED utilization. A more beneficial alternative to detonation is defusing and disassembly of the device, which can render valuable information about the device (and hence potentially other similar instances) and its creator. Hence, new systems and methods for rendering IEDs safe may be desired. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes the foregoing problems and other shortcomings, drawbacks, and challenges of safely and efficiently cutting wires, especially wires in improvised explosive devices. While the invention will be described in connection with certain embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to these embodiments. To the contrary, this invention includes all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention. According to one embodiment of the present invention a system for stabilizing and cutting a wire includes: a base portion, a stabilizing portion comprising a first linear actuator, a linear rail and carriage, and a proximal stabilizer and a distal stabilizer forming a wire gap between the proximal stabilizer and the distal stabilizer; and a cutting portion comprising a second linear actuator and a blade. The first linear actuator is operable to move the distal stabilizer proximally and distally with respect to the base portion to stabilize the wire within the wire gap, the second linear actuator is operable to move the blade proximally and distally with respect to the base portion such that an operable edge of the blade contacts and severs the wire stabilized within the wire gap. According to another embodiment of the invention, a system for stabilizing and cutting a wire includes: a base portion, a stabilizing portion comprising a first linear actuator, a linear rail and carriage, and a proximal stabilizer and a distal stabilizer forming a wire gap between the proximal stabilizer and the distal stabilizer; and a cutting portion comprising a second linear actuator and a blade. The first linear actuator is operable to move one or more of the proximal stabilizer and the distal stabilizer proximally and distally with respect to the base portion to stabilize the wire within the wire gap, the second linear actuator is operable to move the blade proximally and distally with respect to the base portion such that an operable edge of the blade contacts and severs the wire stabilized within the wire gap. According to yet another embodiment of the invention, a method for stabilizing and cutting a wire includes positioning a base portion relative to a wire to be cut; stabilizing the wire within a wire gap by moving one or more of a proximal stabilizer and a distal stabilizer, which are part of a stabilizing portion, proximally and/or distally with respect to the base portion using a first linear actuator, such that the wire is held within the wire gap; and cutting the wire by moving a blade of a cutting portion proximally and/or distally with respect to the base portion using a second linear actuator, such that an operable edge of the blade contacts and severs the wire held within the wire gap. Additional objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appe