Mounting structure for mounting gauge wheel assembly to implement

A row unit for an implement, comprising:

• a frame;
• a gauge wheel assembly;
• a pivot arm having a first end coupled to the gauge wheel assembly and a second end comprising a hub for pivotally mounting the pivot arm to the frame, said hub having a bore therethrough;
• a cylindrical member having an inner end and an outer end, said cylindrical member extending through the bore of said hub with the inner end of the cylindrical member adjacent to the frame and the cylindrical member being coaxial with the bore of the hub;
• an adjusting sleeve having an outer end, an inner end, an inner bore, and a threaded outer surface, said adjusting sleeve being positioned coaxial with said cylindrical member with the inner end of the adjusting sleeve adjacent to the outer end of the cylindrical member;
• a mounting bolt having a head at one end, the bolt extending through the inner bore in the adjusting sleeve with the bolt head adjacent to the outer end of the adjusting sleeve and a threaded portion of the bolt extending beyond the inner end of the adjusting sleeve for insertion into a female threaded portion of said cylindrical member or the frame, said mounting bolt being threaded into the female threaded portion and tightened to fix the cylindrical member and adjusting sleeve to the frame while allowing rotation of the hub and pivot arm about the cylindrical member;
• at least one disc spring positioned on said adjusting sleeve;
• and
• a nut threaded onto said threaded outer surface of said adjusting sleeve, said nut compressing said disc spring to restrain said hub on said cylindrical member such that compression of said disc spring creates a lateral bearing force on said hub which is transferred to said frame;
• wherein said adjusting sleeve comprises at least one keyway on its outer surface, and further comprising a tab washer positioned on said adjusting sleeve between said second adjusting washers and said at least one disc spring, said tab washer having at least one tab mated with said at least one keyway to minimize rotative motion and resulting wear between the disc spring and the tab washer.

A mounting structure for mounting a gauge wheel assembly to a frame of a row unit of an implement, the mounting structure comprising:

• a pivot arm having a first end adapted to be coupled to a gauge wheel assembly and a second end comprising a hub for pivotally mounting the pivot arm to the frame, said hub having a bore therethrough;
• a cylindrical member having an inner end and an outer end, said cylindrical member extending through the bore of said hub with the inner end of the cylindrical member adjacent to the frame and the cylindrical member being coaxial with the bore of the hub;
• an adjusting sleeve having an outer end, an inner end, an inner bore, and a threaded outer surface, said adjusting sleeve being positioned coaxial with said cylindrical member with the inner end of the adjusting sleeve adjacent to the outer end of the cylindrical member;
• a mounting bolt having a head at one end, the bolt extending through the inner bore in the adjusting sleeve with the bolt head adjacent to the outer end of the adjusting sleeve and a threaded portion of the bolt extending beyond the inner end of the cylindrical member for insertion into a female threaded portion of said cylindrical member or the frame, said mounting bolt being threaded into the female threaded portion and tightened to fix the cylindrical member and adjusting sleeve to the frame while allowing rotation of the hub and pivot arm about the cylindrical member;
• at least one disc spring positioned on said adjusting sleeve;
• and
• a nut threaded onto said threaded outer surface of said adjusting sleeve, said nut compressing said disc spring to restrain said hub on said cylindrical member such that compression of said disc spring creates a lateral bearing force on said hub which is transferred to said frame.

A mounting structure for mounting a gauge wheel assembly to a frame of a row unit of an implement, the mounting structure comprising:

• a pivot arm having a first end adapted to be coupled to a gauge wheel assembly and a second end comprising a hub for pivotally mounting the pivot arm to the frame, said hub having a bore therethrough;
• a cylindrical member having an inner end and an outer end, said cylindrical member extending through the bore of said hub with the inner end of the cylindrical member adjacent to the frame and the cylindrical member being coaxial with the bore of the hub;
• an adjusting sleeve having an outer end, an inner end, an inner bore, and a threaded outer surface, said adjusting sleeve being positioned coaxial with said cylindrical member with the inner end of the adjusting sleeve adjacent to the outer end of the cylindrical member;
• a mounting bolt having a head at one end, the bolt extending through the inner bore in the adjusting sleeve with the bolt head adjacent to the outer end of the adjusting sleeve and a threaded portion of the bolt extending beyond the inner end of the cylindrical member for insertion into a female threaded portion of said cylindrical member or the frame, said mounting bolt being threaded into the female threaded portion and tightened to fix the cylindrical member and adjusting sleeve to the frame while allowing rotation of the hub and pivot arm about the cylindrical member;
• at least one disc spring positioned on said adjusting sleeve;
• and
• a nut threaded onto said threaded outer surface of said adjusting sleeve, said nut compressing said disc spring to restrain said hub on said cylindrical member such that compression of said disc spring creates a lateral bearing force on said hub which is transferred to said frame;
• wherein said adjusting sleeve comprises at least one keyway on its outer surface, and further comprising a tab washer positioned on said adjusting sleeve between said second adjusting washers and said at least one disc spring, said tab washer having at least one tab mated with said at least one keyway to minimize rotative motion and resulting wear between the disc spring and the tab washer.