GB2073655A - A device for driving holes in wood and its use in the inoculation of trees and wooden structures - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for driving a hole in a tree or wooden structure, e.g. a utility pole, comprises an elongate spike having a head 1 adapted to facilitate axial rotation of the spike, a tip, an unthreaded tapered shank 3 adjacent to the tip 2, and an externally threaded shank 4 between the unthreaded shank and the head. The device is especially of use in the inoculation of trees and wooden structures.

Description

SPECIFICATION A device for driving holes in wood and its use in the inoculation of trees and wooden structures British Patent No. 1274291 and British Patent Application No. 37967/77 describe mycofungicidal products containing microbial commensals for preventative and curative treatment of wooden structures, such as utility poles, and trees. The products are generally in the form of powders, granules or pellets.

The treatment of trees and wooden structures with the above-mentioned products may be effected by drilling regularly-spaced holes, e.g. in the circumference of a tree or wooden pole, and implanting the mycofungicidal products, conveniently in the form of pellets, into the holes.

It will be appreciated that in large scale inoculation of trees in this manner, the drilling of the holes can be a lengthy procedure.

There is thus a need for a simple and quick method of driving holes in trees and wooden structures when inoculating them.

The invention thus provides a device for driving a hole in a tree or wooden structure, e.g. a utility pole, which comprises an elongate spike having a head, a tip, an unthreaded tapered shank adjacent to said tip, and an externally threaded shank between the unthreaded shank and the head, said head being provided with means to facilitate axial rotation of the spike.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method of inoculating a tree or wooden structure which comprises driving at least one hole in the tree or wooden structure and implanting a mycofungicidal product in said hole, wherein the hole is driven with a device according to the invention.

The invention-will be hereinafter described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which the Figure shows a device according to the'invention.

The device shown in the Figure comprises an elongate spike having a head 1 and a tip 2. The tip 2 is at the end of an unthreaded tapered shank 3, and between the unthreaded shank 3 and the head 1 there is an externally threaded shank 4 which is generally untapered. In the device shown in the Figure, the head 1 is provided with a hole 5 into which a bar or rod may be inserted to facilitate axial rotation of the device. It will be appreciated that the head 1 could alternatively be provided with a e.g. screw slot or socket, or be in the form of a bolt head, in order to facilitate axial rotation of the device.

The device according to the invention is generally dimensioned to be capable of driving a hole in a tree or wooden structure which is 10 to 20 cm, e.g. 15 cm, deep, and 10 to 20 mm, e.g.

1 5 mm, diameter; although it will of course be appreciated that the desired size of the hole will depend on the size of the tree or wooden structure which is two be treated in any given instance.

In order to inoculate trees or wooden structures, e.g. utility poles, using the device shown in the Figure, the tip 2 of the device is placed in contact with the surface of the tree or wooden structure and the device is driven directly into the body of the tree or wooden structure, generally by hitting the head 1 of the device with a hammer. The device is either driven directly into the tree or wooden structure up to the head whereupon it can be readily removed from the tree by axial rotation to unscrew the threaded shank; or driven directly into the tree or wooden structure up to the start of the threaded shank, whereupon the device is axially rotated to screw it in further and thereafter removed by unscrewing it. The hole thus produced in the tree is then at least partially filled with mycofungicidal product.

When treating trees or utility poles a series of spaced holes is generally made about the circumference of the tree or pole, either in a ring or in a helical pattern, and the desired amount of mycofungicidal product is then placed in the holes.

The device and method of the invention can be used for treating trees or wooden structures with the mycofungicidal products described in British Patent Specificaticn No. 1 274291 and British Patent Application No. 37967/77.

1. A device for driving a hol-e in a tree or wooden structure which comprises an elongate spike having a head, a tip, an unthreaded tapered shank adjacent to said tip, and an externally threaded shank between the unthreaded shank and the head, said head being provided with means to facilitate axial rotation of the spike.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the means to facilitate axial rotation of the spike comprises a hole in the head into which a rod or bar may be inserted.

3. A device according to either of claims 1 and 2 which is dimensioned to be capable of forming a hole in a tree or wooden structure which is 10 to 20 cm deep and 10 to 20 mm diameter.

4. A device for driving a hole in a tree or wooden structure substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

5. A method of inoculating a tree or wooden structure which comprises driving at least one hole in the tree or wooden structure and implanting a mycofungicidal product in said hole, wherein the hole is driven with a device according to any one of the preceding claims.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A device for driving holes in wood and its use in the inoculation of trees and wooden structures British Patent No. 1274291 and British Patent Application No. 37967/77 describe mycofungicidal products containing microbial commensals for preventative and curative treatment of wooden structures, such as utility poles, and trees. The products are generally in the form of powders, granules or pellets. The treatment of trees and wooden structures with the above-mentioned products may be effected by drilling regularly-spaced holes, e.g. in the circumference of a tree or wooden pole, and implanting the mycofungicidal products, conveniently in the form of pellets, into the holes. It will be appreciated that in large scale inoculation of trees in this manner, the drilling of the holes can be a lengthy procedure. There is thus a need for a simple and quick method of driving holes in trees and wooden structures when inoculating them. The invention thus provides a device for driving a hole in a tree or wooden structure, e.g. a utility pole, which comprises an elongate spike having a head, a tip, an unthreaded tapered shank adjacent to said tip, and an externally threaded shank between the unthreaded shank and the head, said head being provided with means to facilitate axial rotation of the spike. In another aspect, the invention provides a method of inoculating a tree or wooden structure which comprises driving at least one hole in the tree or wooden structure and implanting a mycofungicidal product in said hole, wherein the hole is driven with a device according to the invention. The invention-will be hereinafter described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which the Figure shows a device according to the'invention. The device shown in the Figure comprises an elongate spike having a head 1 and a tip 2. The tip 2 is at the end of an unthreaded tapered shank 3, and between the unthreaded shank 3 and the head 1 there is an externally threaded shank 4 which is generally untapered. In the device shown in the Figure, the head 1 is provided with a hole 5 into which a bar or rod may be inserted to facilitate axial rotation of the device. It will be appreciated that the head 1 could alternatively be provided with a e.g. screw slot or socket, or be in the form of a bolt head, in order to facilitate axial rotation of the device. The device according to the invention is generally dimensioned to be capable of driving a hole in a tree or wooden structure which is 10 to 20 cm, e.g. 15 cm, deep, and 10 to 20 mm, e.g. 1 5 mm, diameter; although it will of course be appreciated that the desired size of the hole will depend on the size of the tree or wooden structure which is two be treated in any given instance. In order to inoculate trees or wooden structures, e.g. utility poles, using the device shown in the Figure, the tip 2 of the device is placed in contact with the surface of the tree or wooden structure and the device is driven directly into the body of the tree or wooden structure, generally by hitting the head 1 of the device with a hammer. The device is either driven directly into the tree or wooden structure up to the head whereupon it can be readily removed from the tree by axial rotation to unscrew the threaded shank; or driven directly into the tree or wooden structure up to the start of the threaded shank, whereupon the device is axially rotated to screw it in further and thereafter removed by unscrewing it. The hole thus produced in the tree is then at least partially filled with mycofungicidal product. When treating trees or utility poles a series of spaced holes is generally made about the circumference of the tree or pole, either in a ring or in a helical pattern, and the desired amount of mycofungicidal product is then placed in the holes. The device and method of the invention can be used for treating trees or wooden structures with the mycofungicidal products described in British Patent Specificaticn No. 1 274291 and British Patent Application No. 37967/77. CLAIMS

1. A device for driving a hol-e in a tree or wooden structure which comprises an elongate spike having a head, a tip, an unthreaded tapered shank adjacent to said tip, and an externally threaded shank between the unthreaded shank and the head, said head being provided with means to facilitate axial rotation of the spike.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the means to facilitate axial rotation of the spike comprises a hole in the head into which a rod or bar may be inserted.

3. A device according to either of claims 1 and 2 which is dimensioned to be capable of forming a hole in a tree or wooden structure which is 10 to 20 cm deep and 10 to 20 mm diameter.

4. A device for driving a hole in a tree or wooden structure substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

5. A method of inoculating a tree or wooden structure which comprises driving at least one hole in the tree or wooden structure and implanting a mycofungicidal product in said hole, wherein the hole is driven with a device according to any one of the preceding claims.