Hydraulic log splitting attachment for a tractor

Claim 1

In a hydraulic log splitting attachment for a tractor equipped with a drawbar and a hydraulic pressure system comprising an elongated channel frame including spaced apart oppositely disposed generally V-shaped plates providing an elongated opening therebetween to accommodate said plates, embrace and retain a log to be split thereon and therebetween, butt plate means having generally V-shaped side edge cutouts interfitting said plates and slidably arranged thereon, hydraulic cylinder means on said frame with the piston thereof swivably connectable to said butt plate means, said frame having end plates on opposing ends, one end plate being pivotally connectable to said drawbar, and said cylinder being connectable to said pressure system, a cutting and splitting wedge plate means including a base portion slidably adjustable on said channel frame and spaced from said butt plate means, said wedge plate having a cutting plate upstanding from and extending at right angles relative to said base portion, said cutting plate being flat and flared outwardly at its rearward portion and having a sharpened cutting edge forwardly thereof, and said base portion projecting rearwardly of said wedge and formed with generally V-shaped base channel members interfitting said channel frame plates and slidably adjusting said wedge thereon, control valve means on said channel frame connectable to said pressure system whereby when a log is positioned between said V-shaped plates said wedge and butt plate means, and said cylinder actuated to force said butt plate means against one end of the log the other end thereof is pushed against said wedge to effect splitting thereof.