GB2282043A

GB2282043A - Teat cup and insert

Info

Publication number: GB2282043A
Application number: GB9319984A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Geoffrey Frederick Horwell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-09-28
Filing date: 1993-09-28
Publication date: 1995-03-29
Also published as: GB9319984D0

Abstract

Suction cups 11 or 14 for use in automatic use in automatic milking machines are shown wherein the upper end of the cup 12 or 15, which are presented to the teat of a cow, comprises an upwardly presented trumpet shaped member of smoothly downwardly reducing diameter. The upper end 15 may be formed integral with the cup or as an insert 11 therefor and comprises resilient material for example natural or synthetic rubber. <IMAGE>

Description

Improved Milking Appliance This invention relates to an improved milking appliance and in particular is concerned with an improved suction cup for use in automatic milking machines for applying to the teat of the cow for extracting milk therefrom by suction wherein a pulsatiny vacuum is applied to the cup to simulate the alternating squeeze/pull motion of hand milk extraction.

In a conventional teat cup the profile of the upper part of the cup which encloses the teat is that of a bowl with the upper circular rim of the howl being of smaller diameter than that of the bowl and projecting inwardly sufficiently to grip the outer wall of the teat. The base of the bowl opens downwardly via a funnel shaped orifice to form a tubular passageway through which milk extracted from the teat passes to a storage container or reservoir.

A sleeve or casing of rigid material (preferably stainless steel) surrounds a length of the tubular passageway immediately below the bowl and has a port at the lower end through which vacuum can be applied to the tubular passageway or tube and externally thereof. The tube comprises a flexible material, preferably natural rubber. A sealing fit between the tube and the casing at each end thereof ensures that a vacuum when applied through the sleeve port is transmitted as a suction force via the flexible tube to the cows teat to the extent that the upper rim of the bowl of the cup very firmly grips a teat already fully distended with milk.

It is found that cows which have a sore teat through for example infection (mastitis)or are torn or damaged, suffer severe discomfort when connected to an automatic suction type milking machine due to the strong yripping pressure of the rim of the suction cup to the extent often that refusal to be milked occurs and consequent reduction of the milk yield as well as a general disturbance effect transmitted to the other cows in the milking bay.

According to the invention there is provided a suction cup for use in automatic milking machines wherein the upper end of the cup which in use is presented to, encircles and grips the teat of the cow comprises an upwardly presented trumpet shaped member of smoothly downwardly reducing diameter formed either as an integral part of the upper end of the cup or as a detachable insert therefor.

Where the trumpet shaped member is formed as an integral part of the upper end of the suction cup the lower reducing diameter end of the member comprises at least part of the bowl part of the suction cup and becomes also the funnel shaped orifice leading to the tubular passageway.

Where the trumpet shaped member is an insert into a conventional suction cup the lower end of the member extends as a push fit therein, into the funnel shaped orifice leading out from the base of the existing howl. It may be found desirable to reduce the diameter of the inwardly projecting upper circular rim of the bowl to permit a more comfortable fit of the insert into the bowl and in relation to the extent and nature of the encircling pressure of the insert upon the cows teat.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows an external view of a conventional suction cup for use in automatic milking machines with integral milk feed lines.

Figure 2 shows a vertical section through a conventional suction cup as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a vertical section through a conventional suction cup with a detachable trumpet shaped member insert in position within the cup.

Figure 4 shows a vertical section through a suction cup having a trumpet shaped member formed integrally with the cup.

Referring to the drawing Figures 1 and 2 show a conventional suction cup with a tubular passageway 2 extending below the cup 1 which tubular passageway 2 continues into a further tube 3 of reduced diameter. A waist portion 4 divides the tubes 3 and 4. Suction cup 1 is formed of a bowl part 5 and a neck part 6. The neck part 6 comprises the lower portion of the howl 5 which is funnel shaped and leads downwardly from the bowl into tubular passageway 2, The upper portion of bowl 5 comprises an inwardly extending cirular rim 7 having a shoulder 8 extending further inwardly but of reducing thickness.

Integral with the bowl and extending downwardly therefrom but exteriorly of the tube 2 is a tubular collar 9 defining an annular space 10 between collar 9 and tube 2. A tubular sleeve or jacket (not shown) encases the tube 2 with the upper end of the sleeve located in the annular space 10 as a push-f it therein. The lower end of the sleeve is shaped to locate securely in the waist portion 4 dividing tubes 3 and 4. The sleeve is of rigid material, is of a larger diameter than the outer diameter of tube 4 and has a port connection at its lower end to which a vacuum/suction line can be connected to enable a pulsed suction to be applied to tube 2 and thence to bowl 5.

In use the bowl part 5 of cup 1 is pushed onto a cows teat with the encircling rim 7 and shoulder 8 securely applying a ring clamp effect to the teat full of milk. Although shoulder 8 is of reducing thickness compared to rim 7 and is thus more flexible, the clamping effect of the combination of shoulder 8 and rim 7 when suction is applied is often sufficiently painful to a cow with an infected, sore or inflamed teat to cause disruption and often rejection of the appliance by the cow.

Figure 3 shows a trumpet shaped member 11 inserted detachably into a conventional suction cup 1 with the upper and 12 of the insert 11 extending above the rim 7 of the bowl and located securely within the shoulder 8 of rim 7 as is seen from the distortion of the shoulder 8. The lower part 13 of the the trumpet shaped insert 11 extends into the neck part 6 of the bowl 5 and terminates at the point where the insert 11 assumes the tubular shape of tube 2.

Figure 4 shows a suction cup 14 modified to accommodate a trumpet shaped member 15 comprising the upper part of bowl 16 and which extends downwardly through the bowl 16 in a smoothly downwardly reducing diameter fashion to form the neck part 17 of the lower end of howl 16 and terminating in the actual tubular member 18 which forms the tubular passageway exit from the bowl 16. A tubular collar 19 extends downwardly from bowl 16 exteriorly of tube 18 and forming an annular space 20 therebetween into which space 20 a tubular sleeve or jacket (not shown) is locatable in a push-fit manner to enable a pulsed suction to be applied to suction cup 14.

The diameter and therefore profile of the trumpet member 15 as shown in Figure 4 at the point where it is contiguous with the upper boundary of bowl 16 is determinable by the extent to which a ring clamp pressure is to be exerted on a teat full of milk and which is also itself swollen to some degree by the effect of infection or physical damage.

Claims

CLINE

1. A suction cup for use in automatic milking machines wherein the upper end of the cup which, in use, is presented to, encircles and grips the teat of the cow comprises an upwardly presented trumpet shaped member of smoothly downwardly reducing diameter.

2. A suction cup as claimed in claim 1 wherein the trumpet shaped member is formed as a detachable insert for said cup.

3. A suction cup as claimed in claim 1 wherein the trumpet shaped member is formed as an integral part of the upper end of said cup.

4. A suction CUp as claimed in claim 3 wherein the lower reducing diameter end of the trumpet shaped member comprises at least part of the bowl of the suction cup.

5. A suction cup as claimed in claim 4 wherein the lower reducing diameter end of the trumpet shaped member extends to form the funnel-shaped orifice leading to the tubular passageway of the suction cup.

6. A suction cup as claimed in claim 2 wherein the lower reducing diameter end of the strumpet shaped member when inserted into the suction cup extends into the funnel shaped orifice leading to the tubular passageway of the suction cup.

7. A suction cup as claimed in claims 2 and 6 wherein the diameter of the inwardly projecting upper circular rim of the bowl is reduced to facilitate insertion of the trumpet shaped member into the upper end of the suction cap.

8. A suction cup as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 7 in which the cup and insert therefor comprises a flexible material.

9. A suction cup as claimed in claim 8 in which the flexible material comprises natural or synthetic rubber or a synthetic polymeric material.

10. A suction cup as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawing.