Patent ID: 8333056

Claim:
A cutterhead for cutting aquatic vegetation, the cutterhead comprising: a cutterhead shroud; a drum rotatably mounted within said shroud, said drum having a surface extending in a longitudinal direction; a first set of stationary teeth secured to said shroud, each of said teeth extending from said shroud toward said drum, each of said teeth having a cutting side and a trailing side opposite its cutting side; and a flight of vanes secured to said drum in a helical array, each of said vanes having a cutting end and a trailing end, said vanes being grouped in adjacent pairs defining an opening therebetween for accepting a respective one of said first set of stationary teeth during rotation of the drum, each pair comprising: a first vane having a cutting end positioned to be longitudinally separated from the cutting side of a respective tooth by a narrow gap during rotation of the drum; and a second vane having a trailing end positioned to be longitudinally separated from the trailing side of the respective tooth by a similar gap; the trailing end of said second vane extending approximately 0 inches above the surface of the drum.