Rod puller

An apparatus for removing rods from wood mats, the apparatus configured to assume an open position and a closed position, the apparatus comprising:

• a generally cylindrical machine body, having a lateral side, a front end, a rear end, and a longitudinal axis between the front end and the rear end;
• an attachment at the rear end of the machine body configured to attach a hydraulic cylinder to the machine body;
• a rod that is slidably positioned within the machine body, the rod having a rod depression at a front end of the rod and connected to a rod extender at the front end of the rod;
• a spring within the machine body, the spring configured to be compressed by the rod;
• one or more levers rotatably attached to the lateral side of the machine body, each lever having a locking lever extension arranged to penetrate a hole on the lateral side of the machine body and to fit within the rod depression on the rod therethrough;
• a plurality of jaws protruding from a front end of the machine body, each jaw of the plurality of jaws having a curved shape and a pointed end, each jaw rotatably mounted to a jaw mount affixed to the rod extender and movable with respect to the axis;
• and
• a jaw ring positioned within the front end of the machine body and configured to slidably contact the jaws,
• wherein when the spring is compressed and the levers are deactivated, the apparatus assumes the closed position whereby the machine body slides with respect to the rod to compress the spring and to align the rod depression with the locking lever extensions, and retracts the plurality of jaws to slide and pivot around the jaw ring to bring the pointed ends of the jaws together radially.