Planter gauge wheel

An atmospheric pressure pneumatic tire adapted for use in a combined gauge wheel and slicing disc assembly, said tire comprising:

• a flexible radially outer tread wall presenting a tread surface,
• a pair of axially spaced flexible sidewalls having radially outer portions connected to axially opposite ends of said tread wall, one of said sidewalls presenting an axially outward extending annular part spaced a substantial distance inwardly form said tread surface, said annular part projecting axially from said one sidewall a distance less than the axial thickness of said one sidewall,
• radially inner wall means having axially opposite end portions connected to the radially inner portions of said said sidewalls, said end portions being adapted for engagement with wheel rim end flanges and being spaced radially inward of said axially outward extending annular part a substantial distance,
• an axially outward facing frusto-conical sealing surface on said axially outward extending annular part diverging ln the direction toward the other sidewall, said one sidewall having a predetermined radius of bulging caused by flexing of said tread wall during contact with the earth, the center of said radius of bulging being positioned radially from the axis of said tire a distance not less than the radius of the radially outer edge of said annular sealing surface, said axially outward extending annular part being on that radially intermediate portion of said one sidewall which shifts axially outward the most during bulging of said one sidewall.

A combined gauge wheel and slicing disc for agricultural equipment comprising:

• a wheel rim,
• a disc coaxially secured to said wheel rim for rotation therewith and having an earth penetrating portion extending radially outward of said rim, and
• a zero pressure pneumatic tire mounted on said rim including
• a flexible tread wall and
• a flexible sidewall having an axial facing annular sealing surface bonded to said disc, the radially outer edge of said sealing surface lying radially in relation to the circumference of said tread wall and said sealing surface being on the part of said sidewall which tends to bulge axially outward the greatest as said tread wall flexes during engagement with the earth during operation of said equipment, whereby said outer edge remains in sealing engagement with said disc during such operation.