Clamp assembly

In apparatus for processing trees including a substantially horizontal processing boom, means for depositing a cut tree on said processing boom, and delimber means engageable with said cut tree and movable along said processing boom to delimb said tree:

• a clamp assembly mounted on said processing boom in position to receive a tree deposited on said processing boom, said clamp assembly comprising a frame fixed to said boom;
• a first tree engaging surface formed on said frame at least a portion of which is disposed at an angle extending downwardly from the horizontal;
• a clamp arm pivotally mounted to said frame and having a second tree engaging surface formed thereon;
• and means for moving said clamp arm from a first position wherein said first and second tree engaging surfaces are spaced apart for deposit of a tree between them to a second position wherein said second tree engaging surface is in clamping engagement with a tree on said first tree engaging surface;
• the improvement wherein said clamp arm is located beneath said first tree engaging surface when said clamp arm is in its first position, to place said second tree engaging surface beneath said first tree engaging surface, whereby no portion of said clamp arm is in position to interfere with a tree being deposited on said processing boom.