Method of harvesting timber trees in a jungle and a machine for performing said method

Abstract

A method of harvesting standing trees in a jungle comprising bringing a crawler crane, preferably a hydraulic crawler crane, with a boom ( ) to a block of jungle, securing the tree to be harvested to a sling in the boom, cutting the base of the tree, removing the cut tree using the boom, laying the cut tree on the ground, and cutting the crown of the cut tree. In another aspect the crown of the tree is cut first and removed by means of a sling on the boom of the crane. The crane is used to remove the crownless tree, or the crownless tree is cut at the base and allowed to fall. Main roads, spur roads, and snig tracks are constructed in the logging area. Alternatively, another method of harvesting cut trees in a jungle includes bringing a crawler ( ) with a boom structure ( ) to a block ( ) of jungle, securing the harvested timber ( ) to a winching cable ( ) on the boom structure ( ), stabilizing the crawler ( ), and snigging the harvested timber ( ) toward the crawler so that the harvested timber is at an inclined angle with respect to the ground. A forest harvesting machine comprising a crawler ( ) with a boom structure ( ), a winch, and a foldable arm structure ( ) is also disclosed, having grasping claws ( ) pivotally mounted along the boom structure ( ), wherein during the snigging of harvested timber ( ), the foldable arm structure ( ) is used to stabilize the crawler ( ).