Self-resetting automatic cable cutter

1. A self-resetting automatic cable cutter, comprising:

an elongate body;

an elongate cable slot extending along a length of the body and having an opening bounded by beveled surfaces configured to receive a cable therein such that the cable is able to slide along the cable slot;

first and second cutting assemblies disposed on opposing sides of the cable slot; and

a coupler disposed across the cable slot, wherein the coupler mechanically connects to the first and second cutting assemblies and is configured to slide away from the opening in response to force applied by the cable,

wherein sliding of the coupler away from the opening causes the first and second cutting assemblies to close together to cut the cable positioned in the cable slot.

2. The self-resetting automatic cable cutter of claim 1 , further comprising:

first and second cam slots disposed in the body; and

first and second longitudinal slots disposed in the body;

wherein the first cutting assembly is configured to slide along the first cam slot and the first longitudinal slot, and wherein the second cutting assembly is configured to slide along the second cam slot and the second longitudinal slot.

3. The self-resetting automatic cable cutter of claim 2 , wherein the first and second cam slots have reciprocal curved shapes such that the first and second cam slots have first ends positioned adjacent to outer walls of the body and second ends positioned adjacent to the center of the body.

4. The self-resetting automatic cable cutter of claim 2 , wherein the first cutting assembly includes a pin slideably disposed in the first cam slot and the a pin slideable disposed in the first longitudinal slot, and wherein the second cutting assembly includes a pin slideably disposed in the second cam slot and the a pin slideable disposed in the second longitudinal slot.

5. The self-resetting automatic cable cutter of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first reset spring connected to the first cutting assembly; and

a second reset spring connected to the second cutting assembly,

wherein after the cable is cut the first and second reset springs are configured to cause movement of the coupler in the direction of the opening so as to open the first and second cutting assemblies.

6. The self-resetting automatic cable cutter of claim 1 , wherein the first and second cutting assemblies each comprise:

a cutting bar that includes a replaceable hardened insert.

7. A system, comprising:

a sweep line configured to engage a mooring cable; and

a self-resetting automatic cable cutter disposed on the sweep line so as to move relative to the mooring cable and comprising:

an elongate body,

first and second cutting bars disposed within the elongate body,

an elongate cable slot extending along a length of the body between the first and second cutting bars and having an opening configured to receive the mooring cable therein such that the mooring cable is able to slide along the cable slot; and

a coupler disposed across the cable slot, wherein the coupler mechanically connects to the first and second cutting bars,

wherein the self-resetting automatic cable cutter is configured to receive the mooring cable therein and to use the movement relative to mooring cable to slide the coupler away from the opening to provide mechanical leverage that closes the first and second cutting bars together so as to cut the mooring cable.

8. The system of claim 7 , further comprising:

first and second cam slots disposed in the body; and

first and second longitudinal slots disposed in the body;

wherein the first cutting bar is part of a first cutting assembly that is configured to slide along the first cam slot and the first longitudinal slot, and wherein the second cutting bar is part of a second cutting assembly that is configured to slide along the second cam slot and the second longitudinal slot.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first and second cam slots have reciprocal curved shapes such that the first and second cam slots have first ends positioned adjacent to outer walls of the body and second ends positioned adjacent to the center of the body.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first cutting assembly includes a pin slideably disposed in the first cam slot and the a pin slideable disposed in the first longitudinal slot, and wherein the second cutting assembly includes a pin slideably disposed in the second cam slot and the a pin slideable disposed in the second longitudinal slot.

11. The system of claim 7 , further comprising:

first and second reset springs connected to the first and second cutting assemblies, respectively, configured to cause movement of the coupler in the direction of the opening after the mooring cable is cut so as to open the first and second cutting assemblies.

12. The system of claim 7 , further comprising:

an adjuster disposed on the sweep line and configured to control an orientation of the sweep line.

13. A self-resetting automatic cable cutter, comprising:

a body having first and second cam slots and first and second longitudinal slots;

an elongate cable slot disposed in the body and including an opening configured to enable the cable to slide through a portion of the body;

first and second slideable cutting assemblies disposed around the elongate cable slot and having first and second ends, the first cutting assembly being configured to slide along the first cam slot and the first longitudinal slot, and the second cutting assembly being configured to slide along the second cam slot and the second longitudinal slot; and

a coupler attached to the second ends of the first and second cutting assemblies;

wherein the coupler is configured receive a force from a cable disposed in the cable slot that causes sliding movement of the first and second cutting assemblies such that the first ends of the cutting assemblies follow a curved path resulting in closure of the first and second cutting assemblies that sever the cable sliding along the cable slot.

14. The self-resetting automatic cable cutter of claim 13 , wherein the coupler is configured to slide away from the opening in response to force applied by the cable and wherein the sliding of the coupler away from the opening causes the sliding movement of first and second cutting assemblies to close together to cut the cable positioned in the cable slot.

15. The self-resetting automatic cable cutter of claim 14 , further comprising:

a first reset spring connected to the first cutting assembly; and

a second reset spring connected to the second cutting assembly,

wherein after the cable is cut the first and second reset springs are configured to cause movement of the coupler in the direction of the opening so as to open the first and second cutting assemblies.

16. The self-resetting automatic cable cutter of claim 13 , wherein the first and second cam slots have reciprocal curved shapes such that the first and second cam slots have first ends positioned adjacent to outer walls of the body and second ends positioned adjacent to the center of the body.

17. A self-resetting automatic cable cutter, comprising:

an elongate body;

an elongate cable slot extending along a length of the body and having an opening configured to receive a cable therein such that the cable is able to slide along the cable slot;

first and second cutting assemblies disposed on opposing sides of the cable slot, the first and second cutting assemblies including a cutting bar that contains a replaceable hardened insert; and

a coupler disposed across the cable slot, wherein the coupler mechanically connects to the first and second cutting assemblies and is configured to slide away from the opening in response to force applied by the cable,

wherein sliding of the coupler away from the opening causes the first and second cutting assemblies to close together to cut the cable positioned in the cable slot.