Vegetation cutting apparatus

In combination:

• a cutting head having an operating axis and at least one cutting element for severing vegetation,
• the cutting head comprising a housing and a spool joined with the housing on which the at least one cutting element is located,
• the spool movable axially and angularly with respect to at least a part of the housing,
• the spool configured to be driven around the operating axis to cause the at least one cutting element to move in a cutting path and thereby sever vegetation in the cutting path of the driven at least one cutting element,
• the cutting head configured to be coupled to a rotary drive and as an incident of the rotary drive being operated with the cutting head coupled to the rotary drive, the spool is caused to be driven around the operating axis as an incident of which the at least one cutting element moves in the cutting path;
• and
• a coupling system comprising a core and a first adaptor assembly,
• the core and first adaptor assembly releasably joinable to each other and the spool,
• the core configured so that when joined to the spool, the core keys directly to the spool so that the spool and core move together around the operating axis,
• the first adaptor assembly extending from the core and defining a driven component to engage a driving component on the rotary drive to thereby couple the cutting head to the rotary drive,
• wherein a part of the core that engages the spool to cause the core to be keyed directly to the spool is made from metal,
• wherein the first adaptor assembly comprises first and second components, the first component releasably connected to the core and the second component releasably connected to the first component and defining the driven component,
• wherein the core and the first component are made from metal,
• wherein the core has a perimeter surface and a plurality of flat surface portions on the perimeter surface and the spool has flat surface portions that each facially confronts one of the flat surface portions on the perimeter surface,
• whereby the confronting flat surface portions on the perimeter surface and spool cooperatively key the core to the spool.

In combination:

• a cutting head having an operating axis and at least one cutting element for severing vegetation,
• the cutting head comprising a housing and a spool joined with the housing on which the at least one cutting element is located,
• the spool movable axially and angularly with respect to at least a part of the housing,
• the spool configured to be driven around the operating axis to cause the at least one cutting element to move in a cutting path and thereby sever vegetation in the cutting path of the driven at least one cutting element,
• the cutting head configured to be coupled to a rotary drive and as an incident of the rotary drive being operated with the cutting head coupled to the rotary drive, the spool is caused to be driven around the operating axis as an incident of which the at least one cutting element moves in the cutting path;
• and
• a coupling system comprising a core and a first adaptor assembly,
• the core and first adaptor assembly releasably joinable to each other and the spool,
• the core configured so that when joined to the spool, the core keys directly to the spool so that the spool and core move together around the operating axis,
• the first adaptor assembly extending from the core and defining a driven component to engage a driving component on the rotary drive to thereby couple the cutting head to the rotary drive,
• wherein a part of the core that engages the spool to cause the core to be keyed directly to the spool is made from metal,
• wherein the first adaptor assembly comprises first and second components, the first component releasably connected to the core and the second component releasably connected to the first component and defining the driven component,
• wherein the core and the first component are made from metal,
• wherein the spool has an elongate bar and the core has facing surfaces between which at least a part of the elongate bar resides, the elongate bar and facing surfaces cooperating to key the core to the spool, wherein the elongate bar has axially spaced top and bottom surfaces,
• wherein the core has radially spaced and axially facing surfaces that are substantially flush with the bottom surface on the elongate bar.

In combination:

• a cutting head having an operating axis and at least one cutting element for severing vegetation,
• the cutting head comprising a housing and a spool joined with the housing on which the at least one cutting element is located,
• the spool movable axially and angularly with respect to at least a part of the housing,
• the spool configured to be driven around the operating axis to cause the at least one cutting element to move in a cutting path and thereby sever vegetation in the cutting path of the driven at least one cutting element,
• the cutting head configured to be coupled to a rotary drive and as an incident of the rotary drive being operated with the cutting head coupled to the rotary drive, the spool is caused to be driven around the operating axis as an incident of which the at least one cutting element moves in the cutting path;
• and
• a coupling system comprising a core and a first adaptor assembly,
• the core and first adaptor assembly releasably joinable to each other and the spool,
• the core configured so that when joined to the spool, the core keys directly to the spool so that the spool and core move together around the operating axis,
• the first adaptor assembly extending from the core and defining a driven component to engage a driving component on the rotary drive to thereby couple the cutting head to the rotary drive,
• wherein a part of the core that engages the spool to cause the core to be keyed directly to the spool is made from metal,
• wherein the spool has an elongate bar and the core has facing surfaces between which at least a part of the elongate bar resides, the elongate bar and facing surfaces cooperating to key the core to the spool,
• wherein the elongate bar has axially spaced top and bottom surfaces,
• wherein the spool has axially oppositely facing top and bottom surfaces and an opening with a volume into which the core can be directed,
• wherein the core, first adaptor assembly, and elongate bar together substantially fill the opening volume at least from the top surface of the spool to the bottom surface of the elongate bar.

In combination:

• a cutting head having an operating axis and at least one cutting element for severing vegetation,
• the cutting head comprising a housing and a spool joined with the housing on which the at least one cutting element is located,
• the spool movable axially and angularly with respect to at least a part of the housing,
• the spool configured to be driven around the operating axis to cause the at least one cutting element to move in a cutting path and thereby sever vegetation in the cutting path of the driven at least one cutting element,
• the cutting head configured to be coupled to a rotary drive and as an incident of the rotary drive being operated with the cutting head coupled to the rotary drive, the spool is caused to be driven around the operating axis as an incident of which the at least one cutting element moves in the cutting path;
• and
• a coupling system comprising a core and a first adaptor assembly,
• the core and first adaptor assembly releasably joinable to each other and the spool,
• the core configured so that when joined to the spool, the core keys directly to the spool so that the spool and core move together around the operating axis,
• the first adaptor assembly extending from the core and defining a driven component to engage a driving component on the rotary drive to thereby couple the cutting head to the rotary drive,
• wherein a part of the core that engages the spool to cause the core to be keyed directly to the spool is made from metal,
• wherein the spool has an elongate bar and the core has facing flat surfaces between which at least a part of the elongate bar resides.

In combination:

• a cutting head having an operating axis and at least one cutting element for severing vegetation,
• the cutting head comprising a housing and a spool joined with the housing on which the at least one cutting element is located,
• the spool movable axially and angularly with respect to at least a part of the housing,
• the spool configured to be driven around the operating axis to cause the at least one cutting element to move in a cutting path and thereby sever vegetation in the cutting path of the driven at least one cutting element,
• the cutting head configured to be coupled to a rotary drive and as an incident of the rotary drive being operated with the cutting head coupled to the rotary drive, the spool is caused to be driven around the operating axis as an incident of which the at least one cutting element moves in the cutting path;
• and
• a coupling system comprising a core and a first adaptor assembly,
• the core and first adaptor assembly releasably joinable to each other and the spool,
• the core configured so that when joined to the spool, the core keys directly to the spool so that the spool and core move together around the operating axis,
• the first adaptor assembly extending from the core and defining a driven component to engage a driving component on the rotary drive to thereby couple the cutting head to the rotary drive,
• wherein with the core joined to the spool, a perimeter surface on the core is keyed to the spool to prevent relative turning of the core and spool around the operating axis.