Gauge wheel apparatus

• US 7,584,706 B1
• Filed: 08/27/2007
• Issued: 09/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mudsmith, LLC
• Original Assignee: Duane A. Smith
• Inventors: Smith, Duane A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad; Christopher J.
• Application Number:
  US11/895,676
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 301/35.51, 301/35.1, 301/11.3, 301/35.621, 301/64.307, 301/95.11, 172 76- 79, 111157-169, 111190-196, 111/52, 111/62, 111134-137
• US Class Current: 111/137
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 35/28 Rotating tools; Mounting rotating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/06 Machines for making or covering drills or furrows for sowing or planting
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/068 Furrow packing devices, e.g. press wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/203 comprising depth regulation means

Abstract

A gauge wheel assembly for a farming implement is disclosed which comprises a hub portion positioned substantially centrally with respect to the assembly, a rim portion forming a circumference of the assembly and forming a circumferential ground contacting surface; and an intermediate portion positioned between and connecting the hub portion and the rim portion. The intermediate portion comprises a hub side section positioned about the hub portion, a rim side section positioned inwardly of the rim portion, and a plurality of spoke sections extending from the hub side section to the rim side section and connecting the hub side section to the rim side section. The rim side section encircling the plurality of spoke sections. The hub side section of the intermediate portion defines an aperture with the hub portion being positioned in the hub side section. The intermediate portion is separable from the rim portion and the hub portion.

Claims

1. A gauge wheel assembly for a farming implement to set a depth of penetration of a tool into a ground surface, the gauge wheel assembly comprising:

a hub portion positioned substantially centrally with respect to the gauge wheel assembly about an axis of rotation for the gauge wheel assembly,

a rim portion forming a circumference of the gauge wheel assembly and forming a circumferential ground contacting surface;

an intermediate portion positioned between the hub portion and the rim portion and connecting the rim portion to the hub portion, the intermediate portion comprising;

a hub side section positioned about the hub portion;

a rim side section positioned inwardly of the rim portion; and

a plurality of spoke sections extending from the hub side section to the rim side section and connecting the hub side section to the rim side section, the rim side section encircling the plurality of spoke sections;

wherein the hub side section of the intermediate portion defines an aperture, the hub portion being positioned in the aperture of the hub side section; and

wherein the intermediate portion is separable from the rim portion and the intermediate portion is separable from the hub portion;

wherein the circumferential ground contacting surface extends along an entirety of an outermost circumference of the rim portion such that the ground contacting surface contacts the ground surface;

wherein the ground contacting surface has a uniform width along the entirety of the circumference of the rim portion.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the hub side section, the plurality of spoke sections, and the rim side section of the intermediate portion are formed of a single piece of material.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the ground contacting surface at the outermost circumference is circular in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the wheel assembly.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the ground contacting surface has a convex arcuate profile shape in a plane in which the axis of rotation of the wheel assembly lies.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the rim portion has a first side edge and a second side edge, the first side edge and the second side edge being positioned at opposite sides of the rim portion, the first side edge being substantially continuous and substantially circular and the second side edge being substantially continuous and substantially circular.

6. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of fasteners for fastening the intermediate portion to the hub portion and the rim portion to the intermediate portion.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the rim portion has a substantially continuous circular circumferential surface extending along the circumference of the gauge wheel assembly.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the hub side section, the plurality of spoke sections, and the rim side section of the intermediate portion are formed of a single piece of material;

wherein the ground contacting surface at the outermost circumference is circular in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the wheel assembly;

wherein the ground contacting surface has a convex arcuate profile shape in a plane in which the axis of rotation of the wheel assembly lies;

wherein the rim portion has a first side edge and a second side edge, the first side edge and the second side edge being positioned at opposite sides of the rim portion, the first side edge being substantially continuous and substantially circular and the second side edge being substantially continuous and substantially circular;

wherein the rim portion has a substantially continuous circumferential surface extending along the circumference of the gauge wheel assembly; and

a plurality of fasteners for fastening the intermediate portion to the hub portion and the rim portion to the intermediate portion.

9. A gauge wheel system for a farming implement, comprising:

a frame;

a disc mounted on the frame to create a furrow in a ground surface, the disc having a substantially circular side surface;

a gauge wheel assembly mounted on the frame in a position laterally adjacent to the side surface of the disc and effective to set a depth of penetration of the disc in the ground surface, the gauge wheel assembly comprising;

a hub portion positioned substantially centrally with respect to the gauge wheel assembly,

a rim portion forming a circumference of the gauge wheel assembly and forming a circumferential ground contacting surface;

an intermediate portion positioned between the hub portion and the rim portion and connecting the rim portion to the hub portion, the intermediate portion comprising;

a hub side section positioned about the hub portion;

a rim side section positioned inwardly of the rim portion; and

a plurality of spoke sections extending from the hub side section to the rim side section and connecting the hub side section to the rim side section, the rim side section encircling the plurality of spoke sections;

wherein the hub side section of the intermediate portion defines an aperture, the hub portion being positioned in the aperture of the hub side section; and

wherein the plurality of spoke sections of the intermediate portion define a plurality of openings through the intermediate portion such that soil accumulating on the side surface of the disc is able to pass through the openings of the intermediate portion;

wherein the circumferential ground contacting surface extends along an entirety of an outermost circumference of the rim portion such that the ground contacting surface contacts the ground surface;

wherein the ground contacting surface has a uniform width along the entirety of the circumference of the rim portion.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the hub side section, the plurality of spoke sections, and the rim side section of the intermediate portion are formed of a single piece of material.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the ground contacting surface at the outermost circumference is circular in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the wheel assembly.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the ground contacting surface has a convex arcuate profile shape in a plane in which the axis of rotation of the wheel assembly lies.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the rim portion has a first side edge and a second side edge, the first side edge and the second side edge being positioned at opposite sides of the rim portion, the first side edge being substantially continuous and substantially circular and the second side edge being substantially continuous and substantially circular.

14. The system of claim 9 further comprising a plurality of fasteners for fastening the intermediate portion to the hub portion and the rim portion to the intermediate portion.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein the rim portion has a substantially continuous circular circumferential surface extending along the circumference of the gauge wheel system.

16. The system of claim 9 wherein the hub side section, the plurality of spoke sections, and the rim side section of the intermediate portion are formed of a single piece of material;

wherein the ground contacting surface at the outermost circumference is circular in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the wheel assembly;

wherein the ground contacting surface has a convex arcuate profile shape in a plane in which the axis of rotation of the wheel assembly lies;

wherein the rim portion has a first side edge and a second side edge, the first side edge and the second side edge being positioned at opposite sides of the rim portion, the first side edge being substantially continuous and substantially circular and the second side edge being substantially continuous and substantially circular;

wherein the rim portion has a substantially continuous circumferential surface extending along the circumference of the gauge wheel system;

a plurality of fasteners for fastening the intermediate portion to the hub portion and the rim portion to the intermediate portion; and

wherein the gauge wheel assembly includes mounting structure mounting the hub portion of the gauge wheel assembly to the frame, the mounting structure being adjustable to adjust a vertical position of the hub portion with respect to the disc to control a depth of penetration of the disc into the ground surface.

17. The system of claim 9 wherein the gauge wheel assembly includes mounting structure mounting the hub portion of the gauge wheel assembly to the frame, the mounting structure being adjustable to adjust a vertical position of the hub portion with respect to the disc to control a depth of penetration of the disc into the ground surface.

18. A gauge wheel system for a farming implement, comprising:

a frame;

a disc mounted on the frame, the disc having a surface on a side of the disc;

a gauge wheel assembly mounted on the frame and positioned adjacent to the disc and being mounted so as to be effective to set a depth of penetration of the disc in the ground surface, the gauge wheel assembly comprising;

a hub portion positioned substantially centrally with respect to the gauge wheel assembly,

a rim portion forming a circumference of the gauge wheel assembly and forming a circumferential ground contacting surface;

an intermediate portion positioned between the hub portion and the rim portion and connecting the rim portion to the hub portion, the intermediate portion comprising;

a hub side section positioned about the hub portion;

a rim side section positioned inwardly of the rim portion; and

a plurality of spoke sections extending from the hub side section to the rim side section and connecting the hub side section to the rim side section, the rim side section encircling the plurality of spoke sections; and

wherein the hub side section of the intermediate portion defines an aperture, the hub portion being positioned in the aperture of the hub side section;

wherein a portion of rim portion of the gauge wheel assembly contacts a portion of the surface of the disc to scrape soil from the side surface of the disk; and

wherein the plurality of spoke sections of the intermediate portion define a plurality of openings through the intermediate portion of the gauge wheel assembly such that soil accumulating on the side surface of the disc is able to pass through the openings of the intermediate portion.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the ground contacting surface at the outermost circumference is circular in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the wheel assembly;

and

wherein the ground contacting surface has a convex arcuate profile shape in a plane in which the axis of rotation of the wheel assembly lies.