Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation

William C Gabriel

Robin Wingate-Hill

Ian J MacArthur

When conventional mechanical equipment for removing branches or limbs from a tree trunk is used, stumps of the branches removed remain on the tree trunk. The present invention avoids the creation of such stumps when a trunk (or a length of a trunk) is being transported through a mill or compression debarking equipment and is simultaneously rotated. The invention uses an elongate helical milling head, mounted at the end of a support arm and rotated by a motor to remove the branches. The milling head axis is positioned parallel to the axis of the trunk with the cutting surface of the milling head close to the bark of the trunk. Normally a brace member is included to stiffen the mounting of the milling head. Preferably the milling head is formed as a plurality of short milling heads mounted colinearly and with their helical cutters aligned.

Growing community of inventors

Curtin, Australia

William C Gabriel