Seed firming wheel for grain drills and the like

In an opener having seed trench forming means and a trailing seed firming wheel assembly disposed to extend into the trench, the improvement comprising:

• a mounting member;
• a firming wheel,
• said wheel including an outermost periphery, a central axis, an upright, fore-and-aft extending, outside surface smooth from the central axis to the outermost periphery and facing away from said member, and an opposite, upright, for-and-aft extending inside surface facing toward said member;
• and
• structure projecting outwardly from said inside surface rotatably coupling said firming wheel to the member,
• said structure including a spindle shaft fixed to said member and rotatably supporting the wheel for rotation about the axis of the shaft,
• said spindle shaft comprising part of a bearing assembly permitting rotation of the wheel relative to the member,
• said inside surface having a recess configured to receive said bearing assembly,
• said recess having a floor spaced inwardly from said outside surface of the wheel to render said outside surface smooth.

In an opener having seed trench forming means and a trailing seed firming wheel assembly disposed to extend into the trench, the improvement comprising:

• a mounting member;
• a firming wheel,
• said wheel including an outermost periphery, a central axis, an upright, fore-and-aft extending, outside surface smooth from the central axis to the outermost periphery and facing away from said member, and an opposite, upright, fore-and-aft extending inside surface facing toward said member;
• and
• structure projecting outwardly from said inside surface rotatably coupling said firming wheel to the member,
• said structure including a spindle shaft fixed to said member and rotatably supporting the wheel for rotating about the axis of the shaft,
• said spindle shaft having an anti-rotation pin projecting therefrom into retaining engagement with said member to prevent rotation of the shaft with the wheel.