Hands free wood splitter

A method for hands-free splitting of a log segment comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a moveable arm having a first end pivotally mounted on a mobile vehicle and a distal end extending from the mobile vehicle to carry a wood splitting assembly remotely of the mobile vehicle;
• b. securing said wood splitting assembly to the distal end of the moveable arm, said wood splitting assembly including a source of rotational power located at the distal end of the moveable arm to rotate an auger rotatably received within a housing, said housing having at least two rigid guide members affixed to said housing to enter a split developed in a log segment by said auger such that portions of a partially split log segment are precluded from collapsing against said auger in said split, said mobile vehicle having an operator position to support a human operator thereon, said mobile vehicle providing a control element located at said operator position and remote from said auger to enable the human operator to control movement of the moveable arm and rotation of said auger;
• and
• c. operating said control element from the operator position on the mobile vehicle for:
• i. manipulating said moveable arm of the mobile vehicle to position said auger proximate to the log segment,
• ii. engaging said auger with the log segment,
• iii. rotating said auger,
• iv. generating a split in the log segment,
• v. advancing at least two rigid guide members into said split to retain and divert the log segment from collapsing against said auger, and
• vi. advancing said auger into said split to separate the log segment into multiple pieces.

A hands-free wood splitting assembly comprising:

• a multidirectional mobile vehicle having an operator position to support a human operator thereon;
• an arm having a first end pivotally mounted on said mobile vehicle and a distal end extending from the mobile vehicle, said distal end of said arm being remote from said operator position, said arm being moveable relative to the mobile vehicle;
• an auger;
• a housing operatively connected to the distal end of the arm to rotatably receive the auger;
• a source of rotational power located at said distal end of the arm to rotate said auger;
• a control element located at said operator position and remote from said auger to enable the human operator to control movement of the arm and rotation of the auger to engage the auger with said log segment to split the log segment and/or to pick-up and relocate the log segment;
• at least two rigid guide members affixed to said housing to enter a split developed in said log segment by said auger such that portions of a partially split log segment are precluded from collapsing against said auger in said split;
• and
• a first restrictor secured to said mount and projecting therefrom substantially parallel to said auger shaft, said first restrictor comprising a rigid rod having a first end thereon affixed to said frame and a distal end extending past said auger to prevent said auger from engaging the ground, said distal end of said first restrictor including a lateral extension to prevent rotation of said log segment when said auger is engaged with said log segment.