초록 ▼

A spool feed mechanism for a non-metallic, line grass trimmer wherein the free end of the cutting line is spun at high speed for cutting vegetation, includes a spool of cutting line mounted for rotation about the central axis thereof. The spool has first and second ratchet wheels located at respecti

A spool feed mechanism for a non-metallic, line grass trimmer wherein the free end of the cutting line is spun at high speed for cutting vegetation, includes a spool of cutting line mounted for rotation about the central axis thereof. The spool has first and second ratchet wheels located at respective ends. Each ratchet wheel includes a set of ratchet teeth, one set of which is angularly displaced with respect to the other. A U-shaped, resilient member having first and second pawls provided on the legs thereof is mounted adjacent the spool with the pawls positioned for alternate engagement and disengagement of the respective ratchet wheels. A manually operated trigger assembly coupled to the member moves the latter from a normal position to disengage the first pawl and ratchet wheel and to engage the second pawl and ratchet wheel, whereby the spool is permitted to rotate incrementally to feed a predetermined length of cutting line. Movement of the member back to the normal position feeds out a second predetermined length of line. A force applied at the center of the resilient member disengages both pawls and respective ratchet wheels to permit free rotation of the spool to load a fresh spool of cutting line.

대표청구항 ▼

In apparatus for cutting vegetation with the free end of a flexible, non-metallic line played out from a spool, including a rotatably driven cutting head for spinning the free end of the line, a spool feed mechanism mounted on said apparatus for incrementally feeding a predetermined length of line f

In apparatus for cutting vegetation with the free end of a flexible, non-metallic line played out from a spool, including a rotatably driven cutting head for spinning the free end of the line, a spool feed mechanism mounted on said apparatus for incrementally feeding a predetermined length of line from said spool, said mechanism including in combination; a spool about which said flexible cutting line is wound, said spool being mounted for rotation about the central axis thereof at a position remote from said rotatably driven cutting head and including first and second ends with first and second spool indexing means, respectively, actuating means including first and second engagement means positioned for cooperative engagement with said first and second spool indexing means, respectively, one of said spool and actuating means being mounted for movement relative to the other for alternate engagement of said first spool indexing means and said first engagement means and said second spool indexing means and said second engagement means, respectively, one of said first and second engagement means and said first and second indexing means being displaced with respect to the other of said first and second engagement means and the other of said first and second indexing means, respectively, to provide successive incremental rotation of said spool in response to the alternate engagement of said corresponding engagement means and indexing means whereby successive predetermined lengths of cutting line are fed from said spool, and means for biasing one of said spool and actuating means to a first position whereby said first engagement means and first indexing means are normally engaged.