A plunger assembly for mounting adjacent to a vertical opening of a debarking chain flail apparatus. The plunger assembly comprises first and second opposed mounting members which are securable to an undersurface thereof, and each one of mounting members defines a generally C-shaped recess. First and second plunger rails are interconnected via a plunger body, and the plunger body comprising opposed left side and right side plunging side surfaces. The first plunger rail is captively received within and guided by the first mounting frame while the second plunger rail is captively received within and guided by the second mounting frame. A first hydraulic cylinder interconnects the first mounting frame with the first plunger rail while a second hydraulic cylinder interconnects the second mounting frame with the second plunger rail to facilitate plunging in two opposed directions. The mounting frame may be mounted to the apparatus by a pair of plunger cradle and associated cradle hydraulic cylinders.

A plunger assembly for mounting adjacent to a vertical opening of a debarking chain flail apparatus. The plunger assembly comprises first and second opposed mounting members which are securable to an undersurface thereof, and each one of mounting members defines a generally C-shaped recess. First and second plunger rails are interconnected via a plunger body, and the plunger body comprising opposed left side and right side plunging side surfaces. The first plunger rail is captively received within and guided by the first mounting frame while the second plunger rail is captively received within and guided by the second mounting frame. A first hydraulic cylinder interconnects the first mounting frame with the first plunger rail while a second hydraulic cylinder interconnects the second mounting frame with the second plunger rail to facilitate plunging in two opposed directions. The mounting frame may be mounted to the apparatus by a pair of plunger cradle and associated cradle hydraulic cylinders.

A flail assembly for use in debarking logs moving in a processing direction includes a debarking assembly having a shaft that is mounted for rotation above the logs moving in the processing direction. A flail having a fixed end is attached to the shaft. The flail has a length that defines an arc of rotation of the free end of the flail as the shaft is rotated. A housing is positioned adjacent the flail. The housing has a center line that is generally aligned with the processing direction, and a deflector vane which extends inwardly towards the arc of rotation of the free end of the flail. The deflector vane serves to direct bark chips that are cast upwardly by the flail away from the center line of the housing.

A flail assembly for use in debarking logs moving in a processing direction includes a debarking assembly having a shaft that is mounted for rotation above the logs moving in the processing direction. A flail having a fixed end is attached to the shaft. The flail has a length that defines an arc of rotation of the free end of the flail as the shaft is rotated. A housing is positioned adjacent the flail. The housing has a center line that is generally aligned with the processing direction, and a deflector vane which extends inwardly towards the arc of rotation of the free end of the flail. The deflector vane serves to direct bark chips that are cast upwardly by the flail away from the center line of the housing.

A chain flail debarking apparatus including a flail chamber accommodating at least first and second rotatable flail shafts being supported on a movable flail assembly framework, and both of the first and second rotatable flail shafts having a plurality of chains, a disc chipper for receiving the debarked logs and trees from the flail chamber and generating wood chips having a desired shape and size, and a single drive for driving both the disc chipper and at least the first and second rotatable flail shafts in the flail chamber. A pivotable feed roller is located adjacent an inlet to the flail chamber for sensing a diameter of the logs and trees to be debarked and moving the movable flail assembly framework, relative to the base frame, so as to maintain the logs and trees being debarked in the flail chamber, substantially centered with respect to both the first and second rotatable flail shafts so that both upwardly and downwardly facing surfaces of the logs and trees being debarked are substantially equally treated.

A flail chain link comprises a plurality of adjacent link sections including a pair of oppositely disposed end link sections. Each end link section has an internal surface, and a first axis passes through the center point of the link and the center of each end link section. A second axis, which is not coincident with the first axis, passes through the center point and the center of at least two link sections. The first axis and the second axis together define a central plane through the center of each link section. An orthogonal plane passing through each of the end link sections is perpendicular to the central plane. A radius of the internal surface of each end link section that is measured in the central plane is equal to a radius of the internal surface of such end link section that is measured in the orthogonal plane.

A sawmill for tree logs includes a rocking carriage to pick up fresh logs and feed them into the path of a saw blade, as well further provisions relating to improvements to infeed systems for the fresh logs, as well as to, outflow systems for transfer of sawn-off product to a production line conveyor or the like for further processing to downline processes after the first saw cuts on the fresh logs.

A sawmill for tree logs includes a rocking carriage to pick up fresh logs and feed them into the path of a saw blade, as well further provisions relating to improvements to infeed systems for the fresh logs, as well as to, outflow systems for transfer of sawn-off product to a production line conveyor or the like for further processing to downline processes after the first saw cuts on the fresh logs.

A chain flail debarking apparatus including a flail chamber accommodating at least first and second rotatable flail shafts being supported on a movable flail assembly framework, and both of the first and second rotatable flail shafts having a plurality of chains, a disc chipper for receiving the debarked logs and trees from the flail chamber and generating wood chips having a desired shape and size, and a single drive for driving both the disc chipper and at least the first and second rotatable flail shafts in the flail chamber. A pivotable feed roller is located adjacent an inlet to the flail chamber for sensing a diameter of the logs and trees to be debarked and moving the movable flail assembly framework, relative to the base frame, so as to maintain the logs and trees being debarked in the flail chamber, substantially centered with respect to both the first and second rotatable flail shafts so that both upwardly and downwardly facing surfaces of the logs and trees being debarked are substantially equally treated.

A debarking chain having bent links; the bent links being bent either right or left, from end to end at a bend angle of from about 5 to about 90 degrees to provide a flail type debarking chain having protruding edges or corners that increase the efficiency in which bark is removed from logs during debarking operations. Bent link chains include right bent links that are bent to the right proximate the middle of the link, where the weld is preferably located, when the link is viewed from the side with the weld on the far side and left bent links that are bent to the left proximate the middle of the link, where the weld is preferably located, when the link is viewed from the side with the weld on the far side. Disclosed inventions also include a debarking drum having a plurality of debarking chains having at least two bent links, as well as debarking devices having such a debarking drum and methods of making and using the same. The debarking device preferably includes a chipping device and methods of using the same in conjunction with using such bent link debarking chain.