FLAIL CHAIN LINK WITH POLYGONAL CROSS-SECTION

1 . A flail assembly for a debarking machine comprising:

(a) a flail shaft that is adapted to be rotated about a flail axis of rotation;

(b) a flail chain comprising:

(i) an attachment end that is attached to the flail shaft;

(ii) a free end;

(iii) a plurality of interconnected links, at least some of which have a polygonal cross-section, which polygonal cross-section comprises a closed plane shape having at least three linear sides, with all of such linear sides being defined by straight lines.

2 . The flail assembly of claim 1 wherein the flail chain comprises a plurality of interconnected links, all of which have a polygonal cross-section comprising a closed plane shape having at least three linear sides, with all of such linear sides being defined by straight lines.

3 . The flail assembly of claim 1 wherein the flail chain comprises a plurality of interconnected links, at least some of which have a cross-section in a polygonal shape that is selected from the group consisting of equilateral and other triangles, squares, rectangles, rhombi, regular and irregular pentagons and hexagons.

4 . The flail assembly of claim 1 wherein the flail chain comprises a plurality of interconnected links, all of which have a cross-section in a polygonal shape that is selected from the group consisting of equilateral and other triangles, squares, rectangles, rhombi, regular and irregular pentagons and hexagons.

5 . A method for removing bark from a log, said method comprising:

(a) providing a flail assembly comprising:

(i) a flail shaft that is mounted for rotation about a flail axis of rotation;

(ii) means for rotating the flail shaft about the flail axis of rotation;

(iii) a plurality of flail chains, each of which has an attachment end that is attached to the flail shaft and a free end, wherein each of said flail chains comprises a plurality of interconnected links, at least some of which have a polygonal cross-section, which polygonal cross-section comprises a closed plane shape having at least three linear sides, with all of such linear sides being defined by straight lines;

(b) moving the log in a processing direction that is generally perpendicular to the flail shaft axis so that rotation of the flail shaft will cause the flail chains to contact the log.

6 . The method of claim 5 which includes providing a flail assembly having a plurality of flail chains, each of which comprises a plurality of interconnected links, all of which have a polygonal cross-section comprising a closed plane shape having at least three linear sides, with all of such linear sides being defined by straight lines.

7 . The method of claim 5 which includes providing a flail assembly having a plurality of flail chains, each of which comprises a plurality of interconnected links, at least some of which have a cross-section in a polygonal shape that is selected from the group consisting of equilateral and other triangles, squares, rectangles, rhombi, regular and irregular pentagons and hexagons.

8 . The method of claim 5 which includes providing a flail assembly having a plurality of flail chains, each of which comprises a plurality of interconnected links, all of which have a cross-section in a polygonal shape that is selected from the group consisting of equilateral and other triangles, squares, rectangles, rhombi, regular and irregular pentagons and hexagons.

9 . The flail assembly of claim 4 wherein the flail chain comprises a plurality of interconnected links, all of which have a polygonal cross-section comprising a closed plane shape having four linear sides, with all of such linear sides being defined by straight lines.

10 . The flail assembly of claim 9 wherein all of the links of the flail chain have a rectangular cross-section.

11 . The flail assembly of claim 9 wherein all of the links of the flail chain have a square cross-section.