Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The present invention relates to tree support construction
methods. In particular, it relates to a tree support-
construction method for positioning and supporting a tree to be
planted artificially in, e.g., parks, adjacent to paved areas,
at international exposition sites, and the like.
The conventional prior art method most similar to the
present invention is applicant's tree support construction method
disclosed in Japanese laid-open patent Application No. 61-195225.
Such prior method teaches first placing the rootball of a tree
into a holQ which has been preformed in the yround. Thereafter,
the trunk of the tree is encircled separately with four
supporters, each composed of a root wire disposed within a rubber
hose. Thereafter, a tension wire is connected to the root wire
portion of each supporter, and to anchors which have been
positioned in the hole. The tension wire is tightened around the
circumference of the rootball to support the tree by means of the
opposing tensions in the wires.
However, several problems are associated with the use of
such conventional method. First, each root wire is wound about
the tree trunk only once. Each root wire thus applies force to
the tree from only one direction by the tension of the tension
wire. It is therefore difficult to balance the attaching force
applied to the tree by a single root wire to maintain the tree
in an upright and supported position. Therefore, in order to
maintain the desired force balance, it is necessary to use four
separate supporters from four individual and opposing directions.
This makes the planting operation very difficult.
Further, if the supporters cover the tree roots to hold the
roots by means of applied pressure, the root wire in the
supporter will directly bite into the root. The problem caused
thereby is that the tree may be damaged and the bark may not be
permitted to be exposed to the atmosphere.
The present invention aims at solving problems mentioned
above by providing a good operation efficiency for a root wire
mounting. In order to permit an easy tree support construction,
the present invention aims to provide an easily-applied securing
pressure attaching force, prevention of dispersion of the
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pressure attaching force, prevention of careless biting of the
root wire into the tree, and the very easy tensioning and
loosening of the tension wire with one adjustment.
By one broad aspect of this invention, then, a method is
provided for positioning and supporting a tree having a tree stem
and a rootball, the method comprising the following steps:
forming a hole in a ground surface; positioning anchors within
the hole; positioning block fragments around the tree stem;
wrapping a securing member around the block fragments and around
the tree stem for securing the block fragments to the tree stem;
positioning the rootball within the hole; mounting a tension
member to the securing member and to the anchors; securing a
tightening member to the tension member for adjusting the tension
of the tension member for retaining the tree within the hole; and
burying the rootball which is positioned within the hole.
By a variant of such method, the securing member is wound
at least twice around the block fragments and the tree stem, e.g.
where the securing member is a wire.
By another variant of such method, the anchors include
resistance members for engaging the ground within the hole for
retaining the anchors within the hole.
By still another variant of this invention, the method
includes the step of positioning protective pads on the rootball
adjacent to the tension member for preventing damage to the
rootball.
By yet another variant of this invention, the tension member
is a wire.
By still another variant of this invention the tightening
member i5 a winch having a first end connected to a first end of
the tension member and a second end connected to a second end
of the tension member for adjusting the tension o~ the tension
member.
By a still further variant of this invention, the method
includes providing ring studs for mounting the tension member
relative to the securing member.
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In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tree root in a hol~
according to a prior art conventional method;
Figures 2(a~ and 2(b) illustrate steps in installing anchors
for use in carrying out the method of an aspect of this
invention;
Figure 3(a) is a perspective view of part of a tree with
guards applied for use in carrying out the method of an aspect
o~ this invention, and Figure 3(b~ is a cross-section on the line
A-A of Figure 3(a);
Figure 4 is a perspective view, similar to Figure 3(a),
with a wire also wrapped around for use in carrying out the
method of an aspect of this invention;
Figures 5(a), 5(b), and 5(c~ illustrate the attachment and
positioning of a tension wire for use in carrying out the method
of an aspect of this invention;
Figures 6(a) and 6(b) are top and side views respectively
of a winch for tightening the tension wires for use in carrying
out the method of an aspect of this invention;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a tree in the ground, in
accordance with the carrying out of the method of an aspect of
this invention; and
Figures 8(a), 8(b) and 8(c) are various views of a tree
installed according to the prior art conventional method as
illustrated in Figure l.
Before describing the method of an aspect of the present
invention, reference is now made to Figure 1 which discloses the
prior art method. As illustrated in Figure 1, the prior art
method teaches first placing the rootball 3 of a tree 1 into a
hole 2 which has been preformed in the ground. Thereaft~r, as
illustrated in Figures 8(a) and 8~b), the trunk of the tree 1 is
separately encircled with four supporters 22, each composed of
a root wire 20 disposed within a rubber hose 210 Thereafter, as
illustrated in Figure 8(c), a tension wire 24 is connected to
the root wire portion 20 of each supporter 22, and also to
anchors 23 which are positioned in the hole 2~ The tension wire
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24 is tightened around the circumference of the rootball 3 to
support the tree 1 with the opposing tensions in the wires 24.
However, several problems are associated with use of this
conventional method. First, each root wire 20 is wound about the
tree trunk only once. Thus, each root wire 20 applies force to
the tree 1 from only one direction by the tension of its tension
wire 24. It is therefore difficult to balance the attaching
force applied to the tree 1 by a single root wire 24 to maintain
the tree 1 in an upright and supported position. Therefore, in
order to maintain the desired force balance, it is necessary to
use four separate supporters 22 from four individual and opposing
directions. This makes the planting operation very difficult.
Further, if the supporters 22 cover the tree roots la to
hold the tree roots la by means of pressure, the root wire 20 in
the supporter 22 will directly bite into the root la. This
causes the problem o~ damage to the tree and the bark may not be
permitted to be exposed to the atmosphere.
As will be further described with referPnce to Figures 2(a)
7 the present invention is directed to thP placing of a root la
and rootball 3 of a tree 1 into a hole 2 which has been formed
in the ground. Block fragments 4 are circumferentially
positioned around the root la of the tree 1 by means of band 5.
A root winding band 6 is also wrapped around the fragments 4 two
or more times and is additionally tensioned by a tension wire 8
along the circumference of the rootball 3 by using a winch 12.
Striking members, namely guide pipes 17, are positioned into the
hole 2. Soil and the like is used to bury the root la and
rootball 3 in the ground. The method of aspects of the present
invention permits the support of the tree 1.
When the tension wires 8 are drawn hy means of the winch 12,
the tension wires 8 support the rootball 3. The tension forces
set up by the wires 8 function to allow the root band to be
attached by pressure against the root la of the tree 1.
As the root band 6 is wound two or more times around the
tree 1, the pressure attaching force of the root band 6 to the
root la is not dispersed. The root band 6, having balanced
pressure applied thereto, supports the root la with a pressure
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attachment. The insertion of block fragments 4 between the root
la and the root band 6 prevents direct biting of the root band
6 into the root la. Additionally, the winch 12 allows the
tensisn wires ~3 to be easily tensioned with one ad~ustment.
Initially, as illustrated in Figure 1, a root la and
rootball 3 of a tree 1 are positioned into the hole 2 which has
been formed in the ground.
Next, as illustrated in Figure 2(a), a guide pipe 17 is
mounted onto the anchor 10 having two resistor members 18 which
can be spread open~ A vertical hole 19 is formed in the bottom
surface of the hole 2 and the anchor 10 is disposed in such hole
19. Thereafter, the guide pipe 17 is struck by using a root
hammer 25 to spread the resistor members 18 apart to bite into
the soil at the bottom of the hole 19 securely to fix the anchor
10 therein. Thus, the anchor 10 is secured within the hole 2.
Next, as illustrated in Figure 3, a plurality o~ block
fragments 4 (in this embodiment, a total of lO pieces) comprising
hypo-expanded urethane containing glass fibers, are positioned
around the circumference of the root la of the tree l. A rubber
ring 5 surrounds the block fragments 4. Thereafter, as
illustrated in Figure 4, a securing member or a root wire 6 i5
wound around the block fragments 4. The wire 6 is wound two or
more times around the tree 1, i.e. by passing the second wire
winding under the first wire winding to attach the wires 6 to the
tree 1. Ends 6a and ~b of the root wires 6 are secured together
by using connectors 27. In Figure 4, ring studs 7 are mounted
onto the winding wire 6 and are spaced at four positions
approximately equally therearound.
Next, one piece of tension wire 8 is separated from the
root wire 6 and is placed through the ring studs 7 which have
been mounted on the root wire 6 arsund the circumference of
rootball 3, as illustrated in Figures 5(a) and 5(b). With an
insertion of an L-shaped synthetic resin block 9 illustrated in
Fi~ure 5lc~ betwean the wire 8 and the prescribed four positions
of the shoulder 3a of rootball 3, the wire 8 is then sequentially
entrained on rings 11 of the anchor 10. Thereafter, both ends
8a and 8b of the wire 8 are mounted on the winches 12. A
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detail~d illustration of a winch 12 is set forth in Figure 6.
One end 8a of the tension wire 8 is wound around the pin 13
mounted onto one end of the winch 12. ~nother end 8b of the
tension wire 8 is placed through a hole 15 of the windlass 14
mounted onto another end of the winch 12. Two winches 12 are
mounted on diagonal lines of the tension wire 8, as illustrated
in Figure 5(b) for balancing the tension of tension wire 8.
Under these conditions, operating handle 16 of the winch 12
rotates windlass 14 via r~tchet 26. In this way, another end 8b
of tension wire 3 placed through the hole 15 is gradually wound
around the windlass 14. This generates tension in the tension
wire 8. Such tension not only supports the rootball 3, but also
operates on the root wire 6, causing the root wire 6 to be
attached to the root la of the tree 1 by means of pressure.
Further, such tension permits the root la to be supported with
the pressure attachment of the root wire 6.
In this case, insertion of the block fragments 4 between the
root wire 6 which is wound around the circumference o~ tree 1 and
root la prevents direct biting of the root wire 6 into the tree
1 which would lead to damage to the tree l. Winding the root
wire 6 at least twice around the tree prevents pressure atta~hing
force dispersion of the root wire 6 to the tree 1. ~ensioning
of the tension wire 8 can easily be performed by using the winch
12.
Additionally, as a T-shaped projection pad 9 has been
inserted along the shoulder 3a of the rootball 3, between the
rootball 3 and tension wire 8, tensioning of the tension wire 8
provides the rootball side of the protection 9 with applied
force. Therefore, a protection pad 9 is securely inserted,
without shifting, between the rootball 3 and tension wire 8 to
prevent biting of the tension wire 8 into the rootball 3.
Thus, after supporting the root la of the tree 1, as
iilustrated in Figure 7, the support construction of the tree 1
is completed by filling up the hole 2 with soil.
As the root la of the tree 1 grows, sequentially removing
the block fragments 4 inserted between the root la and root wire
6 makes it possible to weaken the pressure attaching force of the
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root wire 6. Thus, the pressure attaching support in accordance
with the growth of the tree 1 can be accomplishedO
In the support force tests of the tree constructed as the
aforementioned, the following results were obtained.
_ ~ C~pb~ Average
Two leg guard frame
combina~ion 550 600
(well crib type)
_ _ - I 520
Cross shaped guard
frame strut 480 450
Said embodiment 1100 800950
.,
In the table above, the unit of measurement represented by
the numerals is kg. The testing method consists of pulling down
a tree, e.g., the Zelkova, or the camphor mentioned above having
a height of approximately 3 m from the ground, using a wrecker
truck. The tree is regarded as being tipped when the tree tilts
by approximately 70. Thereafter, the necessary tensile force is
measured.
The measurement results show that the support force of trees
constructsd in the embodiments mentioned above have been greatly
increased.
In the embodiment above, the root wire 6 is wound twice
around the root la of the tree 1. However, the number of
windings is not limited to twice. Three, four or more windings
are also within the ambit of this invention. In short, at least
two or more windings are required.
Additionally, the m~terial out of which the block fragments
4 inserted between the root wire 6 and the tree 1 and root la
need not be limited to hypo-expanded urethan~ containing glass
fibers according to the above embodiment. Other materials, e.g.
hypo-Pxpanded urethan , which is not only light in weight, but
also will not damage the tree 1, and having corrosion-resistance
qualities may be used. There is also no limit to the number of
block fragments 4 which may be inserted~
Additionally, in the embodiment described above, applying
materials having resistor members 18 that can be opened to anchor
10 saves labour and makes the striking operation very easy.
Thus, a ~avourable result is achieved. However, the types o~ the
anchor 10 need not be limited to this construction. The
application of strike members, e.g. piles made of wood as the
anchor, are also within the ambit o~ this invention. In short,
it is necessary to apply members which can be secured into the
ground and can be connected to the tension wire 8.
Additionally, in the embodiment described above, a T-shaped
protection pad 9 may be inserted between the shoulder of the
rootball 3 and the tension wire 8. A favourable effect is
achieved in that no shift occurrs. As the protection pad 9
comprises synthetic resin, it has an advantage of corrosion
resistance. Howevex, the shape and material quality of the
protection pad are not limited to this material and shape.
Further, the protection pad 9 itsel~ is not always necessary to
the practice of the method of aspects of the present invention.
Additionally, in the embodiment described above, before
winding a root wire 6, the tree 1 is encircled with rubber ring
5 and then the block fragments 4 are inserted between thP rubber
ring 5 and tree 1 temporarily to fix the block fragments 4. This
achieves a favourable effect wherein the root wire 6 can more
easily be wound. Direct winding of the root wire 6 around the
tree 1 and the root la via block fragments 4 is also permissible.
Therefore, it is not necessary temporarily to fix fragments 4,
using a rubber ring 5. However, it is possible temporarily to
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fix blo~k fragments 4, by using a rubber ring 5, and thereafter,
to remove the rubber ring 5 after the block fragments 4 are
temporary fixed, or the rubber ring 5 may be retained for
attachment without removal.
In the embodiment described above, block ~ragments 4 are
directly arranged around the circumference of the tree 1 and the
root la. Howev~r, a protection sheet can be inserted between the
block fragments 4 and root la. In this case, the advantage
provided is that the pressure attaching force of the block
fragments 4 to the tree 1 is reduced. Additionally, such sheets
can be applied in place of the rubber ring 5 temporarily to fix
the block fragments 4. In this case, covering block fragments
4 with a sheet makes it possible to acquire the advantage of
having a favourable appearance.
Additionally, there is no restriction as to the sequence of
striking in the anchor 10. The striking may be e~fected either
before or after a root wire 6 is wound around the tree 1 and the
root la.
Additionally, the material out of which the root wire 6 is
formed, may be, for example, metal, e.g. stainless steel or
synthetic resins, e.g. polyvinyl chloride. There is no
limitation as to the quality of the material of the tension wire
.
As the present invention has the features mentioned above,
its method makes possible these excellent advantages:
As a root band is wound at least two or more times around
the tree root, the pressure attaching force of the root band to
a tree root, generated by the tension of the tension rope, is not
dispersed. This construction is differPnt from the conventional
method and it operates to provide a good balance to the tree root
to secure the pressure attaching support.
Additionally, the provision of at least two windings of the
root band around the tree prevents dispersion of the pressure
attaching force. Thus the provision of plural (e.g. four) root
3~ bands is not required. Therefore, the operation efficiency can
be remarkably be improved compared with a conventional method.
.
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Additionally, insertion of block fragments between the root
band and tree root eliminates conventional direct biting of the
root band into the tree root. Therefore, careless damage of the
tree is prevented and oxygen absorption from the bark is not
hindered.
Additionally, as the tension rope can be placed under
tension using a winch, winch operation allows applying tension
to the rope and loosening of tension on thle rope and pressure
attaching support of the root band to a tree root to be very
easily performed with a single operation.
Adjustment of the winch tightening allows the support force
of the tension rope to a rootball and the pressure attaching
force of the root band to a tree root to be optionally adjusted
in accordance with the growth of tree root and the trunk.
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