Tree harvesting apparatus with impact hammer

Abstract

An apparatus for severing a standing tree at a trunk portion thereof includes a housing constructed and arranged to be movable to a tree harvesting location. Holding structure is constructed and arranged with respect to the housing to hold a portion of the stem of the tree while the trunk portion thereof is severed. A cutting blade mounted so as to be movable between retracted and extended position with respect to the tree. Impact hammer structure is operatively coupled to the cutting blade such that successive impacts generated by the impact hammer structure on the cutting blade move the cutting blade progressively through the trunk portion of the tree. Actuating structure is operatively associated with the cutting blade and constructed and arranged to move the cutting blade between its retracted and extended positions such that when the cutting blade is in an extended position and in engagement with the trunk portion while the holding structure holds the stem of the tree, the successive impacts move the cutting blade to sever the standing tree.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.