Patent ID: 8256120

Claim:
A vegetation trimmer comprising: a motor housing; a motor located in the motor housing and having a motor output shaft; a cutting head for cutting vegetation presented thereto; a gear mechanism for transmitting power from said motor output shaft to said cutting head, the gear mechanism having a step-down gear ratio for reducing the rate of rotation of said cutting head relative to the rate of rotation of said motor, said gear mechanism comprising a pinion wheel mounted on the motor output shaft and an internal gear wheel engaging the pinion wheel and connected to the cutting head; a fan enclosed in a spiral volute and directly mounted on the motor output shaft, whereby the cutting head rotates in the same direction as the fan during operation of the motor; a guard attached to the motor housing; and the spiral volute having an exit mouth located above the guard, and a duct connected to the exit mouth and mounted on a top surface of the guard so as to carry air to an air outlet located on an outer radial edge of said guard that is substantially parallel to an outer perimeter of a swatch cut by said cutting head.