CA2110507A1 - Milking machine clawpiece - Google Patents
Milking machine clawpieceInfo
- Publication number
- CA2110507A1 CA2110507A1 CA002110507A CA2110507A CA2110507A1 CA 2110507 A1 CA2110507 A1 CA 2110507A1 CA 002110507 A CA002110507 A CA 002110507A CA 2110507 A CA2110507 A CA 2110507A CA 2110507 A1 CA2110507 A1 CA 2110507A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- clawpiece
- valves
- milk
- valve assembly
- milking
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01J—MANUFACTURE OF DAIRY PRODUCTS
- A01J5/00—Milking machines or devices
- A01J5/04—Milking machines or devices with pneumatic manipulation of teats
- A01J5/041—Milk claw
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Animal Husbandry (AREA)
- Environmental Sciences (AREA)
- External Artificial Organs (AREA)
Abstract
A milking clawpiece (12) in which the pulsation distribution chamber (40) is evacuated and the liner opens so that milk flows as far as the (closed) clawpiece valves (52), whereas when the pulsation chamber is at atmospheric pressure, the liner closes and the clawpiece valve opens to allow the short milk tubes to discharge their contents via the clawpiece cavity (42) into the long milk tube.
Description
w o 93/01709 2 i 1 a , 3 7 PCT/C sg2/01311 MILKING MACHINE CLA~PIECE
The present invention relates to a milking machine clawpiece for use in automatic milking apparatus.
The basic components of a milking installation, at least as far as the present invention is concerned, are (1) a cluster of four teat cups including (2) a clawpiece, (3~ a suction pump and (4) a pulsator. Each teat ~up contains an annular pulsation chamber defined between a rigid outer casing of the cup and a flexible inner l~ner which fits over one of the cow's teats.
In use, a steady pressure of approximately 50 kPa below atmosphere is continuously applied to the "core~ space enclosed by the liner. Apart from encouraging a flow of milk into the core space, this negative pressure is also effective to clamp the teat liner on to the teat - this being referred to as "adhesion".
The pressure applied by the pulsator to the annular pulsation chamber, however, alternates between a first pulsation value of 50 kPa below atmospheric pressure and a second pulsation value of atmospheric pressure.
At the first pulsation value, there is zero differential across the liner, and milk is sucked from the teat into the core space. From the core space the m71k ~s drawn down a flexible "short milk" tube into one of the four tubular inlet "nipples"
projecting upwardly from the interior volume of a special junction called a "cla~piece". From the clawpiece the milk is ; drawn through an outlet nipple and v~a a "long milk" tube to an appropriate receptacle or pipeline. The other three nipples of the clawpiece are connected to similar teat cups and thence to Ithe other teats of the cow's udder.
At the second pulsation alue, the liner collapses on the teat and the pressure applied by it to the teat causes cessation of milk flow and provides a necessary massage of the teat.
During normil operation. the pulsation pressure switches from one value to the other, with a cycle frequency which is typically once every second, giving rise to a correspondingly intermittent flow of milk.
WO 93/01709 PCI`/GB92/01311 2 ~ 1 D .-. a 7 According to a first aspect of the present invention, a milking machine clawpiece comprises a pulsation distribution chamber which is isolated from the milk-carrying cavity of the clawpiece by the diaphragm or like-operating device of a valve assembly for the clawpiece inlet nipples whereby, in operation, when the pulsation d~stribution chamber is evacuated to open the liners and allow milk to flow from the teats into the short milk tubes, the pressure difference across the diaphragm or like-operating dev~ce holds the valve assembly in a first pos~t~on to close the clawp~ece valves when the pressure in the cla~piece cav~ty exceeds that ~n the associated inlet ntpples and milk from the teats flows only as far as the closed clawpiece valves, whereas when the pulsation distribution chamber is at atmospheric pressure to close the liners and prevent milk flow from th~ teats, the pressure difference across the diaphragm or like-operat1ng dev ke holds the valve assembly in a second posiff on to open the clawpiece valves and allow milk previously collected in ~the short milk tubes upstream of the closed cla~piece valves to discharge into the clawpiece cavity for removal v~a the clawpiece outlet nipple into the long milk tube.
The term like-operating device~ is to be ~nterpreted as including any mean~ (other than a diaphragm) wh~ch is responsive -~to a pressure differential between the clawpiece puTsation distri~but~on chamber and cavity, to move the valve assembly ~between first and -second valve operating positions as above ~ .describéd. One~s~uch~means would comprise a piston, for example.
- Conven~ently, the valve assembly is vertically displaceable between an uppér ft~rst position aod a lower second pos~tion.
, i Convenie,ntly, the valve assembly includes an external part by means of which the~valve assembly can ~be moved to close the clawpi~e~ce valves irrespective of the operating conditions within -the c~awpiece. Such movement might be effected manually, for example,~ or by a conventional automatic closter removal attathment.
, w O 93/01709 ~ 3 7 P ~ /GB92/01311 Alternatively (or additionally), the clawpiece includes an external part which can be moved to shut off the normal supply route of pulsating vacuum supply to the pulsation distribution chamber and control means are provided to control an alternative supply route for the pulsating vacuum supply so as to isolate the pulsation distribution chamber from the atmospheric pressure component of this supply. As before, the required movement of the external part may be effected manually, for example. or by a conventional automatic cluster removal attachment.
Conveniently, the clawpiece valves have at least a degree of independence from one another so that, when the valve assembly is in the first posi ff on, one or more of the valves can open in response to an appropriate pressure differential across the valve or valves while the remaining valves or valve remain closed.
lS Thus in one such case, the valve assembly is made of rubber or other resilient material and comprises an upper diaphragm portion which is linked by a stem to a depending skirt portion div~ded into four separate flap sections serving as the individual clawpiece valves.
According to a second aspect, the invention comprises a valve ~; ~ assembly as described in the preceding paragraph.
- Qccording to a third ~aspect, the invention comprises a milking installation includ~ng one or more clawpieces according to the first aspect of the invention.
In conventional milking machines, as used for the last sixty ~ years or so, ~ small a~r bleed ~s provided in the clawp1ece or in -~ ~ -the short milk tubes to assist the transport of milk from the milking cluster to the receptacle or pipeline. This first method of milking is referred to as conventional milking.
~, i !
More recently, it has been proposed to control udder disease by using one-w~y valves within the liner, within the short milk tubes. or within the clawpiece to prevent flow back of milk towards the teat. When operated without airbleeds, the teat liners in such cases are -substantially sealed, during milking, from any supply of air to the milk-carrying core regions of the WO 93/01709 PCr/GB92/01311 ) 11 0 ` D 7 teat liners. Teat liners sealed in this way are referred to as pneumatically-isolated teat liners and the new second method of mi lking produced, which has certain performance advantages over conventional milking, is referred to as hydraulic milking.
S UKPA Publication No. 2244417 A (National Research Development Corporation) proposes a method of automatic milking in which, during the main milking period. the teat liners are substantially sealed from any supply of air to the milk-carrying core regions of the teat liners whereas during the closing stages of milklng, air is automatically admitted to said regions to provide conventional milking. This third method of milking is referred to as dual regime milking.
The clawpiece of the present invention has application in a11 three methods of milking outlined above but it is possibly at its most advantageous when used in a dual regime system.
An embodiment o~ the invenff on will now be descr1bed, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows a simplified and somewhat diagrammat k view of part of a typical milking installation utilis~ng clawpieces according to the present invenff on;
~ Figure 2 shows a somewhat diagra _ at k vert k al sect~on of a clawpiece for use in the installation of Figure l;
Figure 3 shows the same clawpiece as Figure 2 at a different stage of its operation;
Figures 4a and 4b (collectively referred as Figure 4) respectively show a cross-section and perspective view of a valve assembly~for use in the clawpiece of Figures 2 and 3; and , Figure $ shows a modification of the clawpiece of Figures 2 and 3.
-~ The same reference numerals have been used for the same or - functionally s~imilar items in the different Figures.
Thus referring first to Figure 1, this Figure shows, by way of illustration, only two milking units 8 although in practice there wilt typ~cally be ten or so such units in an average-sized milking installation.
w o 93/01709 2 1 1 ~ ~ ~ 7 PCT/CB92/01311 Each unit 8 consists basically of four teat cups 10, a clawpiece 12, four short milk tubes 14 connecting the teat cups to the clawpiece, and a long milk tube 16 taking the milk from the clawpiece to a recorder jar 18 (or other milk measuring device).
Milk flow away from the teats, but not in the reverse direction, ~s allowed by one-way milk flow va)ves ~not shown).
In hydraul k and dual ~reg~me milking systems, the convent~onal a~r-bleeds upstream of these one-way milk flow valves are om~tted so that during normal operation, the installation w~ll prov~de hydraul1c milking. For further details of spec~f1c examples of these valves. and of hydraul k and dual regime m~lking ~n general, reference should' be made to British Patent No. 21S9685 B (National Research Development Corporation) and UKPA Publ1caff on No. 2244417 A (National Research Development Corporaff on).
Return~ng no~ to F~gure 1, it will be seen that the bottoms of the recorder ~ars 18'are connected to a common m~lk conveyance pipeline 20 although in an alternative embodiment (not shown), the ~ars 18 (or equ~valent) are omitted and the lohg milk tubes 16 lead d~rectly to~tbe co D n milk conveyance pipeline 20.
Refer~nce numeral 22 indicates the milking vacuum pipeline while reference numeral 24 ind~cates the air line for the ~: :
~-~ - pulsator 26.
As shown, the comm~n milk conveyance pipeline 20 leads to a . receiver~v~essel 28~and in operat~on of the installation. a m~lk pump- 30 -operates to ~discharge milk from the vessel 28, via ~'~ 'p'ipeline 32, to a bulk~tank (not shown).
, ~ The installation further includes the usual sanitary trap 34, vacuum regulator 35.~i~nterceptor 36 and vacuum pump 37.
- Turning now to Figure 2. this shows one of the clawpieces 12 ; 'for~use in~ the milking installation of Figure l~
The c!awpiece comprises a pulsation distribution chamber 40 which is isolated from the mi~lk-carryi~ng cavity 42 of the -' 35 clawpiece by the dtaphragm portion 44 of. a vertically .
WO 93/01709 ` PCI'/GB92/013t 1 ~llO'j~7 displaceable valve assembly 46 for the four clawpiece inlet nipples 48. Reference numeral 49 indicates the usual pulsating vacuum supply inlet to chamber 40.
The assembly 46 (see also Figure 4) is made of rubber, or other resilient material, and comprises a depending skirt portion joined to the diaphragm portion by a stem 50. The skirt portion is d~v~ded into four separate flap sections 52 serv~ng as the ind~vidual clawp~ece valves, each of wh~ch is able to remain closed ~ndependently of the others in the event that a continuous vacuum ~s present ~n the associated 1nlet n~pple 48 e.g. due to the cessat~on of milk flow from the relevant teat.
As shown 1n F~gure 2. the upward travel of the d~aphragm portion 44 is limited by downwardly projectlng stop portions 54 wh k h surround an externally projecff ng pull 56. An upward movement of the pull w~ll ra~se the assembly 46 to close the valves, whatever the opera ff onal condltions, within the cla~piece. Pull S6 may be dtsplaced manually or by a convent1Onal automatic cluster removal attachment at the end of m~lktng.
F~gure ~ sho~s an alternaff ve arrangement in which the pull (58) operate; instead to shut off the normal pulsating vacuum supply route to the chamber 40 whtch is thereafter isolated from the atmospher~c pressure component of th~s supply by a one-way valve 59.
In another alternative arrangement ~not shown), the shut-off ~ arrangements of figures 2 and 5 are comblned so that lifting the ;~ pull both closes the clawp~ece valves 52 and shuts off the normal vacuum supply route to~chamber 40 wh1ch continues to be evacuated ,via the one-way valve S9.
Inst~ead. or (in the case of the two alternative arran~ements descr~bed ?bove> additionally, the vacuum~supply to the milking units .8 can be shut off at the end of milking by any convenient means e.g. a conventional shut off valve located in the long milk tube to the un~t or between the vacuum supply tube 22 and the associated recorder jar 18 for the unit.
WO 93/01709 2 ~ 1 0 ~ 0 7 PCl`/GB92/01311 Figure 2 illustrates the valve assembly 46 as it will appear when chamber 40 is evacuated and the valves 52 close to prevent the flow o~ milk from the short milk tubes ~via nipples 48) into the cavity 42 whenever the pressure in the clawpiece cavity S exceeds that in the associated inlet nipples. Figure 3, on the other hand, illustrates the situation where the pulsation distribution chamber is at atmospheric pressure and the assembly 46 has been displaced downwardly to open the valves 52 and allow milk to flow lnto cavity 42 for passage, via outlet nipple 60, into the long milk tube.
Pulsating the liner on the teat provides necessary massage to encourage blood circulation in the teat and avoid damage to the teat tissue. Pulsation also provides relief for the musculative tissue surrounding the teat orifice necessary to maintain the integrity of the streak canal and its function of preventing invasion by pathoqenic organisms. Malfunction of pulsat1On to the teat is known to cause teat end damage and increased pathogenic penetrat~on into the udder.
Nevertheless. in conventional milking clusters. pulsation also disturbs the flow of milk from the teat cups and can cause impacts on the teat end wh kh aid penetration of pathogen through the streak canal and into the udder.
Pathogenic invasion through the streak canal of the teat invariably results in disease (commonly called mastitis).
In a fourth aspect. the present invention relates to a method of milking which combines the use of valves which control milk flow in the clawpiece of the milking machine cluster and air flow into the mouthpiete of the teat cup liner, and themselves are controlled by the pu1sation system of the milking cluster.
Pulsation controlled air flow valves for the mouthpiece are the subject of a previous patent application Publication No.
According to this fourth aspect, the present invention is a milking method which uses this type of air flow valve in combination with a new mechanism controlled by pulsation and 2l ~ 0~a7 organises the direction of milk flow from the teat cups into the clawpiece chamber.
Typically, when used in conjunction with the systems of UKPA
Publication No. 2244471 A, the new method of milking functions as S now described. When vacuum is applied to the outside of the liner, it also closes the air valve at the mouthpiece of the liner and the valves between the teat cup and the clawpiece.
When the milking cluster is first applied, teat barrel adhesion is established and then the air valve only serves to maintain the mouthp~ece pressure at atmosphere each ff me atmosphere is applied to the pulsation chamber. It continues this function until the late stages of milking when teat barrel fr ktion is lost with the liner. and air drives out the milk in the teat cup each time the liner is collapsed and the pulsation chamber is at atmosphere.
lS During the whole of milking, however. the milk valves are opening and closing (in sympathy with pulsation pressure~, being closed wh~lst the l~ner is opening and be~ng open when the liner is in the closed position. M~lk only flows past them if the clawpiece pressure is lower than that in the teat cup. When the pulsation pressure changes to atmosphere, the milk valves open while the liner collapses and expels the milk collected du.ing the liner open phase (vacuum phase). By these means milk is encouraged to flow only in one direction away from the teat thus avolding the problems caused by multi~ directional milk flow in the conventional milk~ng machines. Machine induced i-nfection is tontrolled and the milk receives less damage during transport (less l~polysis) in the machine.
Hydraulic milking methods function in the following manner and have several disadvantages. Basically the hydraulic milking method used only milk flow valves with no air admission. In - hydraulic milking the gravity-closed valves operate independently of -pulsation and respond only to the changes of pressure of the - teat cup in relation to pressure in the clawpiece. At the end o~
¦ milking a special arrangement is made to introduce air into each mouthpSece simultaneously to unclamp the teats from the liner.
, w O 93/01709 2 1 i 0 à ~ 7 PCT/GB92/01311 The main physical disadvantages of hydraulic milking are 1) mouthpiece vacuum can be uncomfortably high and 2) the independent valves can, especially in low or air flow periods of milking, collapse the liner tightly on the teat end without relief.
The present invention according to said fourth aspect as above discussed, ls deslgned to overcome these particular disadvantages so that the beneficial aspects of controlled flow can be achleved without detr~ment.
The present invention relates to a milking machine clawpiece for use in automatic milking apparatus.
The basic components of a milking installation, at least as far as the present invention is concerned, are (1) a cluster of four teat cups including (2) a clawpiece, (3~ a suction pump and (4) a pulsator. Each teat ~up contains an annular pulsation chamber defined between a rigid outer casing of the cup and a flexible inner l~ner which fits over one of the cow's teats.
In use, a steady pressure of approximately 50 kPa below atmosphere is continuously applied to the "core~ space enclosed by the liner. Apart from encouraging a flow of milk into the core space, this negative pressure is also effective to clamp the teat liner on to the teat - this being referred to as "adhesion".
The pressure applied by the pulsator to the annular pulsation chamber, however, alternates between a first pulsation value of 50 kPa below atmospheric pressure and a second pulsation value of atmospheric pressure.
At the first pulsation value, there is zero differential across the liner, and milk is sucked from the teat into the core space. From the core space the m71k ~s drawn down a flexible "short milk" tube into one of the four tubular inlet "nipples"
projecting upwardly from the interior volume of a special junction called a "cla~piece". From the clawpiece the milk is ; drawn through an outlet nipple and v~a a "long milk" tube to an appropriate receptacle or pipeline. The other three nipples of the clawpiece are connected to similar teat cups and thence to Ithe other teats of the cow's udder.
At the second pulsation alue, the liner collapses on the teat and the pressure applied by it to the teat causes cessation of milk flow and provides a necessary massage of the teat.
During normil operation. the pulsation pressure switches from one value to the other, with a cycle frequency which is typically once every second, giving rise to a correspondingly intermittent flow of milk.
WO 93/01709 PCI`/GB92/01311 2 ~ 1 D .-. a 7 According to a first aspect of the present invention, a milking machine clawpiece comprises a pulsation distribution chamber which is isolated from the milk-carrying cavity of the clawpiece by the diaphragm or like-operating device of a valve assembly for the clawpiece inlet nipples whereby, in operation, when the pulsation d~stribution chamber is evacuated to open the liners and allow milk to flow from the teats into the short milk tubes, the pressure difference across the diaphragm or like-operating dev~ce holds the valve assembly in a first pos~t~on to close the clawp~ece valves when the pressure in the cla~piece cav~ty exceeds that ~n the associated inlet ntpples and milk from the teats flows only as far as the closed clawpiece valves, whereas when the pulsation distribution chamber is at atmospheric pressure to close the liners and prevent milk flow from th~ teats, the pressure difference across the diaphragm or like-operat1ng dev ke holds the valve assembly in a second posiff on to open the clawpiece valves and allow milk previously collected in ~the short milk tubes upstream of the closed cla~piece valves to discharge into the clawpiece cavity for removal v~a the clawpiece outlet nipple into the long milk tube.
The term like-operating device~ is to be ~nterpreted as including any mean~ (other than a diaphragm) wh~ch is responsive -~to a pressure differential between the clawpiece puTsation distri~but~on chamber and cavity, to move the valve assembly ~between first and -second valve operating positions as above ~ .describéd. One~s~uch~means would comprise a piston, for example.
- Conven~ently, the valve assembly is vertically displaceable between an uppér ft~rst position aod a lower second pos~tion.
, i Convenie,ntly, the valve assembly includes an external part by means of which the~valve assembly can ~be moved to close the clawpi~e~ce valves irrespective of the operating conditions within -the c~awpiece. Such movement might be effected manually, for example,~ or by a conventional automatic closter removal attathment.
, w O 93/01709 ~ 3 7 P ~ /GB92/01311 Alternatively (or additionally), the clawpiece includes an external part which can be moved to shut off the normal supply route of pulsating vacuum supply to the pulsation distribution chamber and control means are provided to control an alternative supply route for the pulsating vacuum supply so as to isolate the pulsation distribution chamber from the atmospheric pressure component of this supply. As before, the required movement of the external part may be effected manually, for example. or by a conventional automatic cluster removal attachment.
Conveniently, the clawpiece valves have at least a degree of independence from one another so that, when the valve assembly is in the first posi ff on, one or more of the valves can open in response to an appropriate pressure differential across the valve or valves while the remaining valves or valve remain closed.
lS Thus in one such case, the valve assembly is made of rubber or other resilient material and comprises an upper diaphragm portion which is linked by a stem to a depending skirt portion div~ded into four separate flap sections serving as the individual clawpiece valves.
According to a second aspect, the invention comprises a valve ~; ~ assembly as described in the preceding paragraph.
- Qccording to a third ~aspect, the invention comprises a milking installation includ~ng one or more clawpieces according to the first aspect of the invention.
In conventional milking machines, as used for the last sixty ~ years or so, ~ small a~r bleed ~s provided in the clawp1ece or in -~ ~ -the short milk tubes to assist the transport of milk from the milking cluster to the receptacle or pipeline. This first method of milking is referred to as conventional milking.
~, i !
More recently, it has been proposed to control udder disease by using one-w~y valves within the liner, within the short milk tubes. or within the clawpiece to prevent flow back of milk towards the teat. When operated without airbleeds, the teat liners in such cases are -substantially sealed, during milking, from any supply of air to the milk-carrying core regions of the WO 93/01709 PCr/GB92/01311 ) 11 0 ` D 7 teat liners. Teat liners sealed in this way are referred to as pneumatically-isolated teat liners and the new second method of mi lking produced, which has certain performance advantages over conventional milking, is referred to as hydraulic milking.
S UKPA Publication No. 2244417 A (National Research Development Corporation) proposes a method of automatic milking in which, during the main milking period. the teat liners are substantially sealed from any supply of air to the milk-carrying core regions of the teat liners whereas during the closing stages of milklng, air is automatically admitted to said regions to provide conventional milking. This third method of milking is referred to as dual regime milking.
The clawpiece of the present invention has application in a11 three methods of milking outlined above but it is possibly at its most advantageous when used in a dual regime system.
An embodiment o~ the invenff on will now be descr1bed, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows a simplified and somewhat diagrammat k view of part of a typical milking installation utilis~ng clawpieces according to the present invenff on;
~ Figure 2 shows a somewhat diagra _ at k vert k al sect~on of a clawpiece for use in the installation of Figure l;
Figure 3 shows the same clawpiece as Figure 2 at a different stage of its operation;
Figures 4a and 4b (collectively referred as Figure 4) respectively show a cross-section and perspective view of a valve assembly~for use in the clawpiece of Figures 2 and 3; and , Figure $ shows a modification of the clawpiece of Figures 2 and 3.
-~ The same reference numerals have been used for the same or - functionally s~imilar items in the different Figures.
Thus referring first to Figure 1, this Figure shows, by way of illustration, only two milking units 8 although in practice there wilt typ~cally be ten or so such units in an average-sized milking installation.
w o 93/01709 2 1 1 ~ ~ ~ 7 PCT/CB92/01311 Each unit 8 consists basically of four teat cups 10, a clawpiece 12, four short milk tubes 14 connecting the teat cups to the clawpiece, and a long milk tube 16 taking the milk from the clawpiece to a recorder jar 18 (or other milk measuring device).
Milk flow away from the teats, but not in the reverse direction, ~s allowed by one-way milk flow va)ves ~not shown).
In hydraul k and dual ~reg~me milking systems, the convent~onal a~r-bleeds upstream of these one-way milk flow valves are om~tted so that during normal operation, the installation w~ll prov~de hydraul1c milking. For further details of spec~f1c examples of these valves. and of hydraul k and dual regime m~lking ~n general, reference should' be made to British Patent No. 21S9685 B (National Research Development Corporation) and UKPA Publ1caff on No. 2244417 A (National Research Development Corporaff on).
Return~ng no~ to F~gure 1, it will be seen that the bottoms of the recorder ~ars 18'are connected to a common m~lk conveyance pipeline 20 although in an alternative embodiment (not shown), the ~ars 18 (or equ~valent) are omitted and the lohg milk tubes 16 lead d~rectly to~tbe co D n milk conveyance pipeline 20.
Refer~nce numeral 22 indicates the milking vacuum pipeline while reference numeral 24 ind~cates the air line for the ~: :
~-~ - pulsator 26.
As shown, the comm~n milk conveyance pipeline 20 leads to a . receiver~v~essel 28~and in operat~on of the installation. a m~lk pump- 30 -operates to ~discharge milk from the vessel 28, via ~'~ 'p'ipeline 32, to a bulk~tank (not shown).
, ~ The installation further includes the usual sanitary trap 34, vacuum regulator 35.~i~nterceptor 36 and vacuum pump 37.
- Turning now to Figure 2. this shows one of the clawpieces 12 ; 'for~use in~ the milking installation of Figure l~
The c!awpiece comprises a pulsation distribution chamber 40 which is isolated from the mi~lk-carryi~ng cavity 42 of the -' 35 clawpiece by the dtaphragm portion 44 of. a vertically .
WO 93/01709 ` PCI'/GB92/013t 1 ~llO'j~7 displaceable valve assembly 46 for the four clawpiece inlet nipples 48. Reference numeral 49 indicates the usual pulsating vacuum supply inlet to chamber 40.
The assembly 46 (see also Figure 4) is made of rubber, or other resilient material, and comprises a depending skirt portion joined to the diaphragm portion by a stem 50. The skirt portion is d~v~ded into four separate flap sections 52 serv~ng as the ind~vidual clawp~ece valves, each of wh~ch is able to remain closed ~ndependently of the others in the event that a continuous vacuum ~s present ~n the associated 1nlet n~pple 48 e.g. due to the cessat~on of milk flow from the relevant teat.
As shown 1n F~gure 2. the upward travel of the d~aphragm portion 44 is limited by downwardly projectlng stop portions 54 wh k h surround an externally projecff ng pull 56. An upward movement of the pull w~ll ra~se the assembly 46 to close the valves, whatever the opera ff onal condltions, within the cla~piece. Pull S6 may be dtsplaced manually or by a convent1Onal automatic cluster removal attachment at the end of m~lktng.
F~gure ~ sho~s an alternaff ve arrangement in which the pull (58) operate; instead to shut off the normal pulsating vacuum supply route to the chamber 40 whtch is thereafter isolated from the atmospher~c pressure component of th~s supply by a one-way valve 59.
In another alternative arrangement ~not shown), the shut-off ~ arrangements of figures 2 and 5 are comblned so that lifting the ;~ pull both closes the clawp~ece valves 52 and shuts off the normal vacuum supply route to~chamber 40 wh1ch continues to be evacuated ,via the one-way valve S9.
Inst~ead. or (in the case of the two alternative arran~ements descr~bed ?bove> additionally, the vacuum~supply to the milking units .8 can be shut off at the end of milking by any convenient means e.g. a conventional shut off valve located in the long milk tube to the un~t or between the vacuum supply tube 22 and the associated recorder jar 18 for the unit.
WO 93/01709 2 ~ 1 0 ~ 0 7 PCl`/GB92/01311 Figure 2 illustrates the valve assembly 46 as it will appear when chamber 40 is evacuated and the valves 52 close to prevent the flow o~ milk from the short milk tubes ~via nipples 48) into the cavity 42 whenever the pressure in the clawpiece cavity S exceeds that in the associated inlet nipples. Figure 3, on the other hand, illustrates the situation where the pulsation distribution chamber is at atmospheric pressure and the assembly 46 has been displaced downwardly to open the valves 52 and allow milk to flow lnto cavity 42 for passage, via outlet nipple 60, into the long milk tube.
Pulsating the liner on the teat provides necessary massage to encourage blood circulation in the teat and avoid damage to the teat tissue. Pulsation also provides relief for the musculative tissue surrounding the teat orifice necessary to maintain the integrity of the streak canal and its function of preventing invasion by pathoqenic organisms. Malfunction of pulsat1On to the teat is known to cause teat end damage and increased pathogenic penetrat~on into the udder.
Nevertheless. in conventional milking clusters. pulsation also disturbs the flow of milk from the teat cups and can cause impacts on the teat end wh kh aid penetration of pathogen through the streak canal and into the udder.
Pathogenic invasion through the streak canal of the teat invariably results in disease (commonly called mastitis).
In a fourth aspect. the present invention relates to a method of milking which combines the use of valves which control milk flow in the clawpiece of the milking machine cluster and air flow into the mouthpiete of the teat cup liner, and themselves are controlled by the pu1sation system of the milking cluster.
Pulsation controlled air flow valves for the mouthpiece are the subject of a previous patent application Publication No.
According to this fourth aspect, the present invention is a milking method which uses this type of air flow valve in combination with a new mechanism controlled by pulsation and 2l ~ 0~a7 organises the direction of milk flow from the teat cups into the clawpiece chamber.
Typically, when used in conjunction with the systems of UKPA
Publication No. 2244471 A, the new method of milking functions as S now described. When vacuum is applied to the outside of the liner, it also closes the air valve at the mouthpiece of the liner and the valves between the teat cup and the clawpiece.
When the milking cluster is first applied, teat barrel adhesion is established and then the air valve only serves to maintain the mouthp~ece pressure at atmosphere each ff me atmosphere is applied to the pulsation chamber. It continues this function until the late stages of milking when teat barrel fr ktion is lost with the liner. and air drives out the milk in the teat cup each time the liner is collapsed and the pulsation chamber is at atmosphere.
lS During the whole of milking, however. the milk valves are opening and closing (in sympathy with pulsation pressure~, being closed wh~lst the l~ner is opening and be~ng open when the liner is in the closed position. M~lk only flows past them if the clawpiece pressure is lower than that in the teat cup. When the pulsation pressure changes to atmosphere, the milk valves open while the liner collapses and expels the milk collected du.ing the liner open phase (vacuum phase). By these means milk is encouraged to flow only in one direction away from the teat thus avolding the problems caused by multi~ directional milk flow in the conventional milk~ng machines. Machine induced i-nfection is tontrolled and the milk receives less damage during transport (less l~polysis) in the machine.
Hydraulic milking methods function in the following manner and have several disadvantages. Basically the hydraulic milking method used only milk flow valves with no air admission. In - hydraulic milking the gravity-closed valves operate independently of -pulsation and respond only to the changes of pressure of the - teat cup in relation to pressure in the clawpiece. At the end o~
¦ milking a special arrangement is made to introduce air into each mouthpSece simultaneously to unclamp the teats from the liner.
, w O 93/01709 2 1 i 0 à ~ 7 PCT/GB92/01311 The main physical disadvantages of hydraulic milking are 1) mouthpiece vacuum can be uncomfortably high and 2) the independent valves can, especially in low or air flow periods of milking, collapse the liner tightly on the teat end without relief.
The present invention according to said fourth aspect as above discussed, ls deslgned to overcome these particular disadvantages so that the beneficial aspects of controlled flow can be achleved without detr~ment.
Claims (9)
1. A milking machine clawpiece comprising a pulsation distribution chamber which is isolated from the milk-carrying cavity of the clawpiece by the diaphragm or like-operating device of a valve assembly for the clawpiece inlet nipples. whereby, in operation, when the pulsation distribution chamber is evacuated to open the liners and allow milk to flow from the teats into the short milk tubes, the pressure difference across the diaphragm or like-operating device holds the valve assembly in a first position to close the clawpiece valves when the pressure in the clawpiece cavity exceeds that in the associated inlet nipples and milk from the teats flows only as far as the closed clawpiece valves, whereas when the pulsation distribution chamber is at atmospheric pressure to close the liners and prevent milk flow from the teats, the pressure difference across the diaphragm or like-operating device holds the valve assembly in a second position to open the clawpiece valves and allow milk previously collected in the short milk tubes upstream of the closed clawpiece valves to discharge into the clawpiece cavity for removal via the clawpiece outlet nipple into the long milk tube.
2. A milking machine clawpiece as claimed in Claim 1 in which the valve assembly is vertically displaceable between an upper first position and a lower second position.
3. A milking machine clawpiece as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the valve assembly includes an external part by means of which the valve assembly can be moved to close the clawpiece valves irrespective of the operating conditions within the clawpiece.
4. A milking machine clawpiece as claimed in any preceding claim including an external part which can be moved to shut off the normal supply route of pulsating vacuum supply to the pulsation distribution chamber, and control means adapted to control an alternative supply route for the pulsating vacuum supply so as to isolate the pulsation distribution chamber from the atmospheric pressure component of this supply.
5. A milking machine clawpiece as claimed in Claim 4 in which the clawpiece valves have at least a degree of independence from one another so that, when the valve assembly is in its first position, one or more of the valves can open in response to an appropriate pressure differential across the valve or valves, while the remaining valves or valve remain closed.
6. A milking machine clawpiece as claimed in Claim 5 in which the valve assembly is made of rubber or other resilient material and comprising an upper diaphragm portion which is linked by a stem to a depending skirt portion divided into four separate flap sections serving as the individual clawpiece valves.
7. A valve assembly made of rubber or other resilient material and comprising an upper diaphragm portion. which is linked by a stem to a depending skirt portion divided into four separate flap sections serving as the individual clawpiece valves.
8. A milking installation including one or more clawpieces according to Claims 1 to 7.
9. A milking machine clawpiece, valve assembly or milking installation substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and/or as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9115610.9 | 1991-07-19 | ||
| GB9115610A GB2257612A (en) | 1991-07-19 | 1991-07-19 | Milking machine clawpiece |
| PCT/GB1992/001311 WO1993001709A1 (en) | 1991-07-19 | 1992-07-17 | Milking machine clawpiece |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2110507A1 true CA2110507A1 (en) | 1993-02-04 |
Family
ID=10698624
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002110507A Abandoned CA2110507A1 (en) | 1991-07-19 | 1992-07-17 | Milking machine clawpiece |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0597901A1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2110507A1 (en) |
| GB (2) | GB2257612A (en) |
| NZ (1) | NZ243529A (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1993001709A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NZ242686A (en) * | 1992-05-11 | 1994-12-22 | Carter Holt Harvey Plastic Pro | Milking claw divided into four chambers to reduce likelihood of cross contamination of animal's quarters |
| US6479683B1 (en) | 2001-03-06 | 2002-11-12 | Ag Processing Inc | Process for conjugating fatty acid esters |
| RU2493696C1 (en) * | 2012-06-25 | 2013-09-27 | Федеральное государственное бюджетное образовательное учреждение высшего профессионального образования "Рязанский государственный агротехнологический университет имени П.А. Костычева" | Milking machine |
| RU2524542C1 (en) * | 2013-02-21 | 2014-07-27 | Федеральное государственное бюджетное образовательное учреждение высшего профессионального образования "Рязанский государственный агротехнологический университет имени П.А. Костычева" | Milking machine |
Family Cites Families (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NL79130C (en) * | ||||
| US3150637A (en) * | 1963-01-29 | 1964-09-29 | Kenneth E Fosnes | Milking machine milker |
| EP0006024B1 (en) * | 1978-06-02 | 1982-05-05 | Ahi Operations Limited | Methods of and apparatus for milking animals |
| NZ204807A (en) * | 1983-07-04 | 1988-01-08 | Nortrac Engineering Ltd | Teat cup claw: valve in each inlet prevents inrush of air when teat cup falls from animal |
| DE3429428A1 (en) * | 1984-05-09 | 1985-11-14 | Miele & Cie GmbH & Co, 4830 Gütersloh | MILKING DEVICE WITH A COLLECTING PIECE |
| DE3587079T2 (en) * | 1984-05-31 | 1993-08-05 | Nat Res Dev | AUTOMATIC MILKING SYSTEM. |
| EP0459817B1 (en) * | 1990-06-01 | 1994-06-22 | Btg International Limited | Automatic milking apparatus |
-
1991
- 1991-07-19 GB GB9115610A patent/GB2257612A/en not_active Withdrawn
-
1992
- 1992-07-10 EP EP92915858A patent/EP0597901A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1992-07-13 NZ NZ24352992A patent/NZ243529A/en unknown
- 1992-07-17 CA CA002110507A patent/CA2110507A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1992-07-17 WO PCT/GB1992/001311 patent/WO1993001709A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
-
1993
- 1993-11-23 GB GB9324109A patent/GB2273640B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| NZ243529A (en) | 1994-12-22 |
| WO1993001709A1 (en) | 1993-02-04 |
| GB2273640A (en) | 1994-06-29 |
| GB9115610D0 (en) | 1991-09-04 |
| GB2273640B (en) | 1995-04-26 |
| EP0597901A1 (en) | 1994-05-25 |
| GB2257612A (en) | 1993-01-20 |
| GB9324109D0 (en) | 1994-03-09 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued |