WO1995021522A1

WO1995021522A1 - Method and apparatus in forest thinning

Info

Publication number: WO1995021522A1
Application number: PCT/FI1994/000056
Authority: WO
Inventors: Matti HYVÖSAHO
Original assignee: Hyvoesaho Matti
Priority date: 1992-08-28
Filing date: 1994-02-14
Publication date: 1995-08-17
Also published as: AU6002294A; FI91704C; FI923856A0; FI91704B; FI923856A

Abstract

The invention relates to a method in thinning. The frame (1) of the working machine applying the method is equipped with a chipping device (10), a storage (5) for the chips, and means (11) for transferring the wood material chipped by the chipping device to the storage (5), as well as means (8, 9) for transferring the chipped wood material away from the storage. The front part of the apparatus applying the method is provided with the chipping device (10), a cabin (13) and a boom assembly (14) and a device (16) for transferring the felled trunk as well as a felling and cutting head (15). In connection with felling by the felling and cutting head, a clamping device (52) in the carriage (51) of the transfer device (16) grabs the felled trunk and brings it from the felling head in a substantially horizontal position either to the chipping device (10) for chipping or to means (17) for handling the felled trunk, for the purpose of laying off the trunk at least partly.

Description

Method and apparatus in forest thinning

The invention relates to a method in thinning more closely defined in the preamble of claim 1, using a boom assembly fixed to the working machine preferably equipped with wheels or the like, the free end of the boom assembly being provided with a felling and cutting head.

The method according to the invention is intended for application in connection with forest thinning and chipping of wood removed in thinning. In several countries having industrially applicable forest resources, there is an increasing need for forest thinning, whereby for purposes of forest amelioration, part of the growing stock is removed particularly for securing the maximum yield of the most valuable saw- timber material. Thus in connection with thinning a forest, such wood material is removed that is only applicable either as chips or as stacked wood which is usually suitable for pulpwood or in some cases also as sawtimber. After normal felling and cutting, collecting the wood suitable for chips has not been found profitable. This is because firstly the costs during the limbering, transport and separate chipping of such stemwood and secondly the costs required by the transport of the chips amount to be too high. Also, the investment costs on working machines used for conventional methods and equipped with a felling and cutting head are so high that it is not economically profitable to use them on present capacity in connec¬ tion with forest thinning when at least a major part of the thinning material is only good for chipping.

On the grounds presented above, it is obvious that there are several disadvantages in the field of forest thinning and chipping of the thinning material when carrying out these operations, which are important for forest amelioration as well as for economic power consumption, in a profitable way. It is thus the purpose of this invention to eliminate substantially the problems presented above and simultaneously to present a method which, firstly, makes the operation of the felling and cutting head in the boom assembly of the moving working machine more effective so that the felling and cutting operation is continuous or almost continuous. Secondly, by applying the method of the invention, the wood material suitable for chipping only can be chipped in an economically profitable way. The method of the invention relates thus to a total system applicable for felling a tree with a small diameter, simultaneously making possible the collection of the chips. For securing the versa¬ tility of the method and wide range of embodiments, it is naturally sensible to construct the whole apparatus so that it is also suitable for felling sawtimber and manufacturing different qualities of timber.

For achieving the advantages and purposes presented above, the method of the invention is primarily characterized in that - a transfer device is provided between the working machine and the felling and cutting head for transferring the tree felled and cut by the felling and cutting head to the working machine to be fed into the chipping device, and - the trunk felled by the felling and cutting head is, between carrying out the steps A and B, trans¬ ferred by the transfer device in connection with the chipping device.

Thus by applying the total method presented above, the trunk felled by the felling and cutting head can be moved by the transfer device directly to the feeding means of the chipping device. Thus upon the release of the felling and cutting head immediately after the felling from the trunk which is brought to be supported by the transfer device, the felling and cutting head can be used effectively in starting a new felling operation. Consequently upon applying the method of the invention, chipping is carried out immediately after felling the trunk and the chips are transferred directly from the chipping device into the storage for transportation upon filling-up of the storage to a lo- cation of collecting chips, possibly for transportation further for later use. The method thus makes the felling and cutting operation as well as the chipping and collecting operation more effective, providing the prerequisite for economically profitable thinning.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the inven¬ tion, the frame of the working machine is provided with means for handling the felled trunk so that said means are arranged to be movable in relation to the frame of the working machine, particularly for the purpose of guiding the felled trunk which will be at least not entirely chipped, by using said means to the side of the working machine in the optional posi¬ tion of the means where it is separate from the feed- in position of the chipping device. In this manner, the operator of the working machine can direct e.g. part of the trunk, which e.g. due to the size will have other uses, to the side of the working machine, e.g. to be delimbered, suitably cut and piled at the side of the track. After this stage, that part of the trunk, particularly the crown, which is only suitable for chipping, can be guided to the chipping device by moving the means for handling the felled trunk to the feed-in position of the chipping device.

Some advantageous embodiments of the method will be presented in the appended dependent claims on the method. The invention relates also to an apparatus in thinning. The apparatus of the invention, comprising a boom assembly fixed to the working machine preferably equipped with wheels or the like, the free end of the boom assembly being provided with a felling and cutting head, is primarily characterized in that between the working machine and the felling and cutting head, a transfer device is provided for transferring the tree felled and cut by the felling and cutting head to the working machine to be fed into the chipping device.

By the construction presented above, an apparatus can be achieved for applying the method in an advantageous way.

The other characteristic features of the invention are presented in the appended dependent claims.

In the following, the invention will be described with reference to the appended drawings, in which

Figs. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of the apparatus for applying the method of the invention as seen from the side, Fig. 3 shows the apparatus of Figs, l and 2 as seen from above, Fig. 4 shows a cross-section along the line IV—IV in Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 shows the apparatus of Fig. 1 as seen from behind, Fig. 6 shows an embodiment of the transfer device in connection with the boom assembly as seen from the side, and

Fig. 7 shows the embodiment of Fig. 6 as seen from above. With particular reference to Figs. 1—3, the apparatus for applying the method comprises a bogie underframe with frame steering functioning as a frame 1. In two frame parts la, lb on bot sides of the frame steer¬ ing 2, two pairs of wheels 3 are provided in each, coupled to a common bogie and each having an actuator, such as a hydraulic motor (not shown) . In the rear part of the apparatus, a motor and hydraulic system 4 is provided on the frame 1.

In front of the motor and hydraulic system 4, there is a storage 5 for chips in the frame 1. The storage 1 tapers towards the bottom part when seen in a cross- section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the frame 1 and comprises in the bottom a screw 6 or a corresponding transfer device which extends in the longitudinal direction of the frame 1 and, placed on the bottom of tήe storage 5, during discharging the storage 5 moves chips to a screw 7 or a corresponding transfer device extending diagonally upwards and lifting the chip material to a centrifugal conveyor device, such as a conveyor blower, shown by the reference numer,"l 8 in Fig. 1. The conveyor device transfers e.g. by blowing the chips through an outlet pipe 9 or the like to the desired location during discharging of the storage 5. The casing of the conveyor device is fixed to the storage 5 so that it can be rotated by an actuator connected therewith around the horizontal axis, whereby the height of discharging and the direction of blowing the chips when discharging to the side can be adjusted to a sufficient degree. The blowing direction can be adjusted both to the right and to the left when discharging behind the working machine. Further, the outlet pipe 9 can be rotated by its power unit to a suitable angle, e.g. 320°, whereby the possibilities for discharging are substantially increased. For the time of transport and work operations, the outlet pipe 9 is turned e.g. above the storage 5. The upper cover of the storage 5 has two parts and hinges so that the cover parts tend to open by pressure in case pressure rises in the storage 5 either upon filling of the storage or blockage of the air exhaust holes. It is thus advantageous to provide them with a detector which turns on a signal light of said occurrence in the cabin of the working machine. It is obvious that both the storage 5 and the chipping device 10 are equipped with a suitable air exhaust system, whereby the air coming with it can exit e.g. between the storage and the edges of its covers. The air exhaust holes must naturally be formed so that e.g. rain water or moisture cannot penetrate the storage.

In the upper part of the storage 5, a connecting duct 12a is placed for the transfer pipe 11 of chips coming from the chipping device 10. The transfer pipe 11 is arranged to be a suitably flexible struc- ture e.g. with a telescopic form to enable movements between the parts la, lb of the frame 1 so that the transfer of chips is continuous. The storage 5 on one hand and the chipping device 10 on the other hand are placed in different parts of the frame. The transfer pipe 11 is, e.g. by suitable flange joints, provided with bearings to the storage on one hand and to the chipping device on the other hand at the point of the connecting ducts 12a, 12b.

Particularly the foremost frame part la of the frame 1 is provided with said chipping device 10, cabin 13 and boom assembly 14, with the felling and cutting head 15 at the free end thereof, the transfer device 16 for transferring the felled trunk to the working machine, means 17 for handling the felled trunk and for transferring part of the trunk, particularly the crown, to connection with the chipping device 10. Above the foremost frame part la, there is a mounting support 18 or the like which, in turn, is provided with a fixing frame plate 19 or the like, mounted on bearings to pivot around the vertical axis above the mounting support 18. Stationary units fixed on the fixing frame plate are the cabin 13, the boom assem¬ bly 14, the chipping device 10 as well as a conveyor needed in front of the chipping device, whereby optimal visual communication is provided from the cabin to the felling and cutting head as well as to the boom as- sembly. The turning angle of the fixing frame plate 19 is 180°.

In the present embodiment, the boom assembly 14 is supported via a joint 21 either by one (Figs. 1—5) or two (Figs. 6 and 7) vertical columns or corresponding vertical supports 20 fixed on the fixing frame plate 19. The boom assembly 14 can comprise two or more booms 14a, 14b. The booms 14a, 14b are articulated by a horizontal joint 22 to be pivotable in relation to each other substantially in the vertical plane. The second boom 14b can have the structure and operating principle of a telescopic boom. One applicable boom assembly type is the commercially available boom assembly marketed under the product name RKP54-94, with a maximum extension of 9.4 m. At the free end of the second boom 14b of the boom assembly ^".4, i.e. the end opposite to the joint 22, there is the felling and cutting head 15, substantially rotatable in the ver¬ tical plane, articulated by a horizontal joint 23. Both the chipping device 10 and the cabin 13 as well as the support frame 55 of a drum arrangement 50 (to be ex¬ plained below) are also fixed to rotate along with the fixing frame plate 19. The fixing frame plate 19 can rotate preferably a total angle of at least 180° in relation to the frame 1 of the working machine, particularly the foremost part la of the same, ir¬ respective of the position of said first part la. Further, the foremost frame part la is provided with means for handling the felled tree. Said means 17 com¬ prise a delimbering blade 24, draw-in rollers 25, a cutting device 26, and a measuring device 27 for measuring preferably the length and possibly also the thickness of the trunk, as well as rotating and transfer devices 29, 30, 31, 32, all arranged to be supported by a horizontally rotatable arm 28 or the like. Thus the devices 24—27 constitute the head for handling the trunk. The cutting device 26 cuts the trunk, delimbered according to the desired laying-off manner. The handling head 24—27 is pivotable 360° around the vertical axis by means of a rotator or a corresponding rotating device 29 placed underneath the arm 28 that rotates 180° in the horizontal plane. The actual handling head is placed above a first support plate 30 or the like in connection with the rotator or corresponding device 29. The arm 28 can be preferably adjustable in length in a telescopic manner (not shown) and/or movable in the longitudinal direc¬ tion in a guiding groove 31a in a second support plate 31 intended for its rotation, whereby it can be placed at a suitable distance from the feed opening 33 or the chipping device 10 according to the work situation for feeding the crown into the chipping device 10. The arm 28 is supported against the second support plate 31 which, in turn, is mounted on the upper surface of the foremost frame part la. The arm 28 is pivotable around the vertical axis for rotating the arm 28 optionally e.g. to the position shown in

Fig. 3, in which the arm extends about 60° left from the center line of the foremost frame part la of the frame 1 of the working machine, as seen from above. It is obvious that the arm 28 can be transferred to either side by using e.g. a rotator or corresponding device (not shown) placed inside a frame plate 32 e.g. between the parts 31 and 32. The means 17 thus receive the trunk coming from the felling and cutting head 15 and supported by the transfer device 17 and guide it according to the choice of the operator either to the chipping device 10, whereby the means 17 are in the first i.e. feeding position of the chipping device and at a suitable distance from the feed opening 33 of the chipping device (Fig. 4) (a less common choice in practice) , or optionally to either side of the frame of the working machine, the arm 28 being turned e.g. to the position shown in Fig. 3. Thus the devices 24—27 forming the handling head are turned by the rotator 29 or a corresponding device in a direction where the trunk to be delimbered and cut can be placed longitudinally in a position required by the terrain conditions and/ or the subse- quent collecting operation, suitably as a pile at the side of the track either across the track or along the track or in a direction between the above-mentioned directions. This choice can always be made in an optimal way by the longitudinal adjustment of the arm 28 presented above as well as by adjustment of the operational direction of the devices 24—27 of the handling head. Particularly upon delimbering and cutting to the side of the working machine, the crown left between the draw-in rollers 25 after said opera- tions can be transferred by the means 17 to the feeding point of the chipping device. For this purpose, the height of the means 17 and the feed opening 33 of the chipping device 10 and the feeding means of the same, particularly the height of the draw-in rollers 34, is arranged to be compatible, essentially the same vertical height. Usually upon chipping only, the means 17 are turned off the conveyor line of the transfer device 16, the felled trunk being guided directly between the draw-in rollers 34.

With particular reference to Figs. 6 and 7 showing an embodiment of the felling and cutting head 15 and the transfer device 16 in more detail, the frame 35 of the felling and cutting head 15 is articulated by a joint 23 at the end of the boom assembly 14. The frame comprises a vertical beam 36, a horizontal beam 37 being arranged in the upper part of the same and being equipped with a grabbing device 38, and a L-formed felling frame 39 placed in the lower part, whereby the vertical beam 36 and the felling frame 39 are articulated by a horizontal joint 40 to be pivotable in the vertical plane by an actuator, such as a hydraulic cylinder 41, arranged between said parts. Thus the felling frame 39 can be rotated in relation to the vertical beam 36 of the felling and cutting head 15 to the first position, where the first fork 39a of the L form is aligned with the vertical beam 36, the second fork 39b of the L form being horizontal. Thus the cutting apparatus 42, installed to operate in the second fork of the L form by suitable actuators, operates in the horizontal plane. Correspondingly, as shown by broken lines in Fig. 6, the actuator, such as hydraulic cylinder 41, can be used to rotate the L form in the vertical plane around the horizontal joint 40 so that the cutting apparatus 42, such as a saw, operates substantially in the vertical plane. As shown particularly in Fig. 7, the operational point TK of the felling and cutting head 15 is placed at the side of the beam assembly 14, whereby the transfer device 16 can be placed directly on the extension of the operational point so that it can move the felled trunk directly towards the working machine.

The felling and cutting head 15 can be rotated in relation to the beam assembly 14 around the joint 23 by an actuator 43 placed between a joint 44 in connec¬ tion with the vertical beam and a rocking support 45 of the transfer device 16. The rocking support 45 of the transfer device 16 is mounted on bearings on the same axis with the felling and cutting head 15 and the joint 23 of the beam assembly 14 to enable rotation in the vertical plane, as shown particularly in Fig. 7. The rocking support 45 of the transfer device 16 has an L form when seen from above, whereby the support point of the wire arrangement of the transfer de- vice 16, particularly idler wheels whose construction will be described further below, is placed substantial¬ ly at the operational point of the felling and cutting head. In other words, by using the L-formed rocking support 45, the fixing point of the wire arrangement of the transfer device 16 can pass the horizontal beam 37 of the grabbing device in the longitudinal direction of the working machine and further, in the direction perpendicular to the working machine, to make up an extension of the operational point of the felling and cutting head in the longitudinal direction of the beam assembly 14. As shown particularly in Fig. 7, the grabbing device 38 is articulated by a joint 46 to the horizontal beam 37 to rotate by means of an actuator, such as a hydraulic cylinder 47, placed between the horizontal beam 37 and the grabbing device 38 in the longitudinal direction of the horizon¬ tal beam 37, in a substantially horizontal plane. The felling device 42 can be commercially available, produced with a saw chain flange and a power unit (not shown) .

The transfer device 16 comprises as main elements a rocking support 45, a wire arrangement 49, a clamping drum assembly 50 for the wire arrangement, a car- riage 51, as well as a clamping device 52 in connection with the carriage 51. The purpose of the wire arrange¬ ment 49 is to enable movements of the carriage 51 be¬ tween the felling and cutting head and the working machine so that the wire arrangement, while maintain- ing its tension and enabling movements of the car¬ riage 51, allows movements of the boom assembly 14 and the felling and cutting head 15 in relation to each other. The wire arrangement 49 comprises in the present embodiment three wires, the first 49a of which being fixed to that end of the carriage 51 which is directed away from the working machine. The first wire 49a is led via two idler wheels 53a, 53b of the rocking sup¬ port 45 through the lower part of the carriage 51 horizontally to a wire drum 54 mounted on bearings to rotate around a horizontal axis in the support frame 55 of the drum arrangement 50 which is preferably fixed in connection with support columns 20 and comprises a vertical plate arranged in the longitudinal direction of the working machine and provided with wire drums of the drum arrangement 50. The wire drum 54 is equipped with an actuator 48. The purpose of the first wire arrangement 49a is to draw the carriage towards the felling and cutting head 15. Similarly, the second wire arrangement 49b is fixed at that end of the carriage 51 which is faced towards the working machine. In a way similar to the first wire 49a, the second wire 49b is fixed to the wire drum 57 with a corresponding actuator. The purpose of the second wire 49b is to draw the carriage 51 towards the working machine. A third wire 49c operates as the support wire for the carriage 51, the tension and length being adjusted by the wire drum 58 by means of an actuator 48, such as a hydraulic motor, in connection with the wire drum 58. In the present embodiment, the carriage 51 comprises three running wheels 59 above the third wire 49 and two support wheels 60 under the third wire 49c. The third wire 49c is fixed to the shoulder of the rocking support 45 by a joint at point 61 (Fig. 7) .

In the lower part of the carriage 51, between vertical longitudinal side plates of the wire arrangement 16 forming the side walls of the carriage 51, a clamping device 52 is articulated in addition to the running and support wheels 59, 60 by a horizontal joint 62. Between the side surfaces 51a, 51b of the carriage, also a lug 63 is arranged to protrude from the upper parts of the same, the first wire 49a being fixed to it. Further in connection with the carriage 51, also between the side plates 51a, 51b, at least one, preferably two guide rolls 64a, 64b or the like are arranged to guide the first wire 49a through the lower part of the carriage 51 to/from the idler wheel 53b. In general, the wheel arrangement 59, 60, 64a, 64b can be preferably a grooved wheel arrangement whereby the grooves on the outer shell of the grooved wheels, particularly the wheels 59, 60, overlap in the vertical direction to prevent disengagement of the wires 49a, 49b from the wheels both vertically and sideways.

With particular reference to the structure of the clamping device 52, there is a rotator 65 or a corres- ponding actuator under the joint 62, whereby the section under the rotator 65 of the clamping device 52 can be rotated around a substantially vertical axis. Further, under the rotator 65 in the clamping de¬ vice 52, the frame 67 of a grapple device 66 is fixed, the grapple device 66 being articulated to the lower part of the frame 67 by a horizontal joint 68. The grapple device can be rotated by an actuator 69 preferably 120° or another suitable angle around the horizontal joint 68 in the vertical direction from the horizontal plane, as shown by continuous lines downwards around the joint 68 in Fig. 6. As shown in Fig. 7, the grapple device 66 comprises two grap¬ ples 66a, 66b which are rotatable towards each other and arranged to grab the trunk. Between the grap- pies 66a, 66b of the grapple c? ice, an actuator is arranged to move the grapples in relation to each other around a joint 70 therebetween. The method is applied as follows: The working machine is driven along the track and the boom assembly 14 is moved to place the felling and cutting head 15 in connection with the tree to be felled, whereby the third wire 49c is reeled off from or up to the wire drum 58, whereby particularly the actuator 43 is used for adjusting the vertical column 36 of the felling and cutting head 15 to be substantially aligned with the trunk. Thus the grabbing device 38 in the upper part of the felling and cutting head is rotated in the hori¬ zontal direction, clamping the tree to be felled against the stop face 71 of the horizontal beam 37. The felling frame 39 is placed at the side of the trunk to allow operation of the felling device 42 in the horizontal direction. The grapple device 66 is placed by means of the first wire 49a of the transfer device 16 around the tree to be felled, and the grap¬ ples 66a, 66b grab the trunk below the gripping device and at the side of the vertical beam of the felling and cutting head. The cutting device 42 cuts the trunk at the base and the grabbing device 38 is disen¬ gaged from the trunk, whereby the carriage 51 is sim¬ ultaneously moved towards the working machine, the trunk falling away from the working machine substan- tially in the vertical plane in the longitudinal di¬ rection of the beam assembly 14. The grapple device 66 is placed particularly in a vertical position shown in Fig. 6, the trunk being substantially horizontal. This is carried out by gravitation in a flexible way, whereby the actuator 69 is primarily used for maintain¬ ing the grapple device 66 in a horizontal position. The second wire 49b draws the carriage 51 towards the work¬ ing machine by means of the actuator 55. Thus the base of the trunk, before the grapple device 66 in the di- rection of movement of the trunk, meets either the draw-in rollers 34 or corresponding means of the chipping device or means 17 placed underneath the transfer device 16 to the way of travel of the trunk. The trunk, possibly delimbered, is moved via the means 17 to the chipping device and from there further as chips to the storage 5 (a less common case) . Alternatively, after disengagement of the grapple device 66 from the trunk, the means 17 can be moved as described above so that at least part of the trunk is delimbered and cut to the side of the track.

It should be noted that particularly the felling frame 39 of the felling and cutting head 15 together with the grapple device 66 allows also other opera¬ tions, particularly the handling of sawtimber, whereby after felling and cutting, the felling frame 39 is placed so that the cutting device 42 operates in a substantially vertical plane, as shown by broken lines in Fig. 6.

The structure of the chipping device 10 is not de¬ scribed in more detail in this context, because the actual construction of the chipping device is obvious for a man skilled in the art. It should be noted, how¬ ever, that the feed opening 33 and the feed rollers 34 must be placed in the construction so that they can receive wood material fed substantially in the horizon- tal direction, i.e. the means 33 and 34 are most usually to be placed in a vertical position.

Claims

Claims :

1. Method in thinning, using a boom assembly (14) fixed to the working machine preferably equipped with wheels or the like, the free end of the boom assem¬ bly (14) being provided with a felling and cutting head (15) , wherein a chipping device (10) , a chip storage (5) and means (12) for transferring the wood material chipped by the chipping device into the storage are provided in connection with the frame of the working machine for applying the method, whereby upon continuous application of the method

A the tree is felled by the felling and cutting head (15) ,

B the felled tree is fed into the chipping de¬ vice (10) , and C the wood material chipped by the chipping de¬ vice (10) is transferred to the storage (5) , characterized in that a transfer device (16) is provided between the working machine and the felling and cutting head (15) for transferring the tree felled and cut by the felling and cutting head (15) to the working machine to be fed into the chipping device (10) , and the trunk felled by the felling and cutting head (15) is, between carrying out the steps A and B, transferred by the transfer device (16) in connection with the chipping device (10) .

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that means (17) for handling the felled trunk are placed in connection with the frame (1) of the working machine so that said means (17) are arranged to be movable in relation to the frame of the working machine particularly for the purpose of guiding the felled tree, taken from the support of the transfer de- vice (16) and to be at least not entirely chipped, by using said means to the side of the working machine in the optional position of the means where it is separate from the feed-in position of the chipping device (10) .

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the trunk is felled substantially in a vertical plane in the longitudinal direction of the beam aεsem- bly (14) and that the trunk is transferred to the chip¬ ping device (10) or to means (17) for handling the trunk in a substantially horizontal position in the vertical plane in the longitudinal direction of the beam assembly (14) .

4. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that at least part of the trunks handled by means (17) for handling the felled trunk are placed aside the track of the working machine, whereby after said step preferably the crown of the trunk is transferred by the means (17) to be chipped by the chipping device (10) .

5. Apparatus for applying the method according to claims 1—4, wherein the apparatus comprises a boom assembly (14) fixed to the working machine preferably equipped with wheels or the like, the free end of the boom assembly being provided with a felling and cutting head (15) , wherein a chipping device (10) , a chip storage (5) and means (11) for transferring the wood material chipped by the chipping device into the storage are provided in connection with the frame (1) of the working machine, characterized in that - between the working machine and the felling and cutting head (15) , a transfer device (16) is pro¬ vided for transferring the tree felled and cut by the felling and cutting head to the working machine to be fed into the chipping device (10) .

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the means (17) for handling the felled tree are placed optionally to the way of travel of the transfer device (16) with the purpose of receiving the felled trunk to be supported by the means (17) for handling the felled tree and of transferring at least part of the trunk, delimbered and cut, to the side of the working machine, wherein preferably by using said means (17) for handling the felled tree, the crown of the tree is arranged to be transferred to be chipped by the chipping device (10) .

7. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the transfer device (16) comprises a wire arrangement (49) which is supported at a first support point by the end of the boom assembly (14) , preferably at the joint of the felling and cutting head (15) of the boom assembly (14) and on the other hand to the part (20) , such as the vertical support beam of the boom assembly (14) , connected to the frame (1) , to be effective between the felling and cutting head (15) and the chipping device (10) , that the wire arrange¬ ment (49) is provided with a carriage (51) or the like, moved by said wire arrangement (49) and equipped with a clamping device (52) , for the particular purpose of moving the felled trunk, after felling by the felling and cutting head, by said clamping device (52) in horizontal position to the chipping device (10) or to means (17) for handling the felled trunk.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the transfer device (16) comprises a first wire (49a) coupled to move the carriage (51) or the like towards the felling and cutting head (15) , a second wire (49b) arranged to move the carriage (51) or the like towards the working machine, and a third wire (49c) intended for acting as a support wire for the carriage (51) or the like, all wires (49a—c) being connected each to a wire drum (54, 57, 58), each wire drum being provided with an actuator (48) for rotating the respective wire drum for releasing the wire or winding the wire to said wire drum (54, 57, 58) .

9. Apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the transfer apparatus (16) is fixed by a rocking arm (45) to the end of the boom assembly (14) so that the clamping device (52) is arranged to be placed by a grabbing device (38) in connection with the felling and cutting head (15) directly to the trunk fixed at the felling and cutting head (15) .

10. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the means (17) for handling the felled trunk comprise a handling head (24—27) supported by an arm (28) or the like rotable on bearings in the frame (1) substantially in the horizontal plane, the handling head having means for drawing the felled end through the handling head, means for delimbering and cutting the felled trunk as well as preferably a measuring device for measuring the dimensions of the trunk as well as means (29, 30) for rotating the handling head (24—27) as one unit in relation to the arm (28) around a substantially vertical axis, and that the arm (28) is arranged to be adjustable and/or movable by means (31, 31a) so that the distance of the handling head (24—27) from the frame (1) and particularly from the feed opening (33) of the chipping device (10) can be adjusted.

11. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the chipping device (10) , support device (20) of the boom assembly (14) and cabin (13) are arranged in the frame (1) to be rotatable preferably as one unit around a substantially vertical axis by support means (18, 19).