Patent ID: 6754963
Filing Date: 2004-06-29
Classification: A01D,Y10T

Abstract:
A plant cutter apparatus comprising:a tubular handling rod having a first end portion and a second end portion; a drive shaft extending through the handling rod and mounted for undergoing rotation; a drive source unit mounted on the first end portion of the handling rod for rotationally driving the drive shaft; a cutter blade mounted on the second end portion of the handling rod and connected to the drive shaft for rotation therewith; and a clutch case having a first mounting portion connected to the first end portion of the handling rod, a flexible coupling portion extending from the first mounting portion toward the drive source unit, and a second mounting portion extending from the flexible coupling portion and connected to the drive source unit, the flexible coupling portion having an axial through-hole and a plurality of circumferential slits each formed in portion of a circumference of the flexible coupling portion and communicating with the axial through-hole, the circumferential slits being staggered along a longitudinal axis of the flexible coupling portion, the second mounting portion having an axial fitting hole for receiving the first end portion of the handling rod so that the first end portion of the handling rod is axially slidable therein and an abutment formed in the fitting hole for abutting engagement with an end surface of the first end portion of the handling rod, the fitting hole being tapered in a direction toward the abutment of the second mounting portion, and the first mounting portion, the flexible coupling portion and the second mounting portion extending sequentially along an axis of the drive shaft when viewed in a direction from the cutting blade toward the drive source unit.