Gauge arm

Abstract

A gauge arm (and concomitant method of retrofitting an existing gauge arm) comprising an arm portion, a receptacle portion for receiving two or more sealed bearings, and two or more sealed bearings inserted into the receptacle portion. The receptacle portion is smooth bore, with the sealed bearings being press fit into same. The sealed bearings can be of different dimensions, such as one being a gauge wheel and closing wheel bearing, and one a round bore grain drill bearing. The receptacle portion then comprises a stop within the bore thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gauge arm comprising:
 an arm portion;   a receptacle portion for receiving two or more sealed bearings; and   two or more sealed bearings inserted into said receptacle portion.   
     
     
         2 . The gauge arm of  claim 1  wherein said receptacle portion is smooth bore. 
     
     
         3 . The gauge arm of  claim 2  wherein said two or more sealed bearings are press fit into said receptacle portion. 
     
     
         4 . The gauge arm of  claim 1  wherein said two or more sealed bearings consists of two sealed bearings. 
     
     
         5 . The gauge arm of  claim 4  wherein said two sealed bearings are of different dimensions. 
     
     
         6 . The gauge arm of  claim 5  wherein one of said sealed bearings is a gauge wheel and closing wheel bearing. 
     
     
         7 . The gauge arm of  claim 6  wherein one of said sealed bearings is a round bore grain drill bearing. 
     
     
         8 . The gauge arm of  claim 5  wherein one of said sealed bearings is a round bore grain drill bearing. 
     
     
         9 . The gauge arm of  claim 4  wherein said receptacle portion comprises a stop within a bore of said receptacle portion. 
     
     
         10 . A gauge arm comprising:
 an arm portion; and   a receptacle portion for receiving two or more sealed bearings.   
     
     
         11 . The gauge arm of  claim 10  wherein said receptacle portion is smooth bore. 
     
     
         12 . The gauge arm of  claim 11  wherein two or more sealed bearings are press fittable into said receptacle portion. 
     
     
         13 . The gauge arm of  claim 12  wherein two sealed bearings are press fittable into said receptacle portion. 
     
     
         14 . The gauge arm of  claim 10  wherein said receptacle portion comprises a stop within a bore of said receptacle portion. 
     
     
         15 . A method of retrofitting a gauge arm with a threaded receptacle portion, the method comprising the steps of:
 milling the receptacle portion to make it smooth bore; and   inserting two or more sealed bearings into the milled receptacle portion.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the inserting step comprises press fitting. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein inserting comprises inserting two sealed bearings. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein one of the sealed bearings is a gauge wheel and closing wheel bearing. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein one of the sealed bearings is a round bore grain drill bearing. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  wherein milling comprises milling from both ends of the receptacle portion to form a stop within a bore of the receptacle portion.