Rope v chipper

[Taupotreeman]

Huck, I'm not that dumb and I don't want to make too light of the topic but it's more along the lines of if the body of the climber gives out first (broken spine, crushed ribs etc) or if the rope would snap and haul the guy out of the tree. Speaking to the bandit dealer here in NZ he seemed to think that the climber would be the weak point. You can see that an incident could play it out in different ways and I'm trying to learn about the forces and effects on a body involved in such an incident. It does however look like we won't be feeding ropes through a chipper if there's a chance of blowing bearings etc.

[Ewan Murray]

Surely it would pull the climber towards the anchor point? or am i being stupid? Especially using a hitchclimber, SJ or LJ system.

[felixthelogchopper]

Huck, I'm not that dumb and I don't want to make too light of the topic but it's more along the lines of if the body of the climber gives out first (broken spine, crushed ribs etc) or if the rope would snap and haul the guy out of the tree. Speaking to the bandit dealer here in NZ he seemed to think that the climber would be the weak point. You can see that an incident could play it out in different ways and I'm trying to learn about the forces and effects on a body involved in such an incident. It does however look like we won't be feeding ropes through a chipper if there's a chance of blowing bearings etc.

 

Who gets to clean the chipper afterwards because that is going to be honking?

[Timbermcpherson]

If its a modern drum chipper, it will suck it up faster than you can let go of it. A mate threw one into a morbark drum and he nearly joined it.

[WorcsWuss]

Surely it would pull the climber towards the anchor point? or am i being stupid? Especially using a hitchclimber, SJ or LJ system.

 

That's what I would have thought, on a Dbrt it would pull the climber up into the tree [potential crush on passing limbs?] and srt it's going to try to pull the climber down if the weak point is above [possibly very quickly if the anchor gives], or leave the climber hanging with no rope to come down on if the weak point is below & the rope snaps [but that's unlikely] ...

 

The variable is going to be how much damage it does to the chipper?

Does it shred the rope leaving a nice clean [!] end, wrap the rope into the mechanism and blow it apart or keep pulling through till it's all gone?

 

Looking at posts so far it seems that a wad of rope inside a chipper is going to be a fairly even match for the chipper!

[Currie]

Currie, was anyone attached to that at the time or was it a loose rope?

 

Yes Taupotreeman, it was I on the other end on a Dbrt. I just felt a tug on my rope, nothing too heavy, then the chipper stalled. It chewed it up pretty well, lucky it cut through, had enough rope left to get down. Whould'nt recommend it.

[Old Mill Tree Care]

Several years ago, working for my previous employer, a new groundie fed brush and rope into a 9" Bandit. The climber was in a Norway Maple, saw the event unfolding and started screaming. The rope went into the rollers and pulled so hard it looked like the top may come out the tree, with the climber.

Then the rope was snapped or cut and it was released from the chipper, drama over.

 

There was no damage at all to the chipper and virtually all the rope passed through into the truck.

However, these kind of events happen quickly but when the rope got to the fly wheel the chipper turned into a super speed winch. There is zero chance of the climber doing anything to save themself and in this case, he was very lucky the rope came out.

We couldn't determine whether the rope had snapped or been cut by a blade.

 

It's my opinion that the only thing that saved the climber was that he was about 4stone over weight and rarely climbs. Due to that, he anchored in very low where the stem was very thick.

 

The groundie was a moron in all areas and this event became the proverbial straw.....

He was asked not to return.

 

Anyway, to conclude, this can happen easily to idiots and slick professionals. The speed of the process renders everyone as mere passengers and the weakest link I'm sure will always be the climbers body (if attached to a regular sized anchor point).

 

Be aware chaps.

[Goaty]

Who gets to clean the chipper afterwards because that is going to be honking?

 

Coniferous brash should sort it. Why the goat though? N.Z has plenty of sheep or a pig. Next health and safety will be.

1. Ensure climbing operatives are secured on ropes.

2. Don't allow a chipper to operate at same time as aerial work is being done.

 

Sadly this may end up being the case because, even the groundie is so much better when he is a good one you trust. There would never be a problem hardly if they are good. However a random indifferent labourer is the real problem.

[Goaty]

Also take in to account elastic twang back at the climber maybe.

[skyhuck]

Coniferous brash should sort it. Why the goat though? N.Z has plenty of sheep or a pig. Next health and safety will be.

1. Ensure climbing operatives are secured on ropes.

2. Don't allow a chipper to operate at same time as aerial work is being done.

 

Sadly this may end up being the case because, even the groundie is so much better when he is a good one you trust. There would never be a problem hardly if they are good. However a random indifferent labourer is the real problem.

 

Or park chipper more than ropes tail length from tree.