Patent ID: 7219546

Claim:
An assembly for use in a gauge comprising: a gauge head ( 22 ), said head portion having a top end and a bottom end; a support arm ( 26 ) extending from said bottom end of said gauge head ( 22 ); a shaft head ( 52 ) defining a first receptacle ( 58 ) for a drive shaft ( 50 ), said first receptacle having a predetermined length, said first receptacle shaped such that said drive shaft ( 50 ) can be inserted in only one or two orientations and will not rotate within the first receptacle ( 58 ); a pinion gear ( 61 ) having a second receptacle ( 62 ) for said drive shaft ( 50 ), said second receptacle ( 62 ) being shaped such that said drive shaft ( 50 ) can be inserted in only one or two orientations, and will not rotate within said second receptacle ( 62 ); said drive shaft ( 50 ) having first and second ends and said first and second ends being inserted to said first and second receptacles ( 58 , 62 ); and a gear housing ( 28 ) positioned at the lower end of said support arm ( 26 ) to receive said pinion gear ( 61 ), said gear housing ( 28 ) defining an upper longitudinal passageway ( 74 ) and a lower longitudinal passageway ( 76 ) provided along a longitudinal axis ( 70 ) and a gear opening ( 78 ) disposed therebetween, the upper longitudinal passageway ( 74 ) being dimensioned such that the pinion gear ( 61 ) can pass longitudinally therethrough to the gear opening ( 78 ).