NZ245356A - Flushing of milk loop line in milking machine with two aligned discharge ends: valve and air injector positioned in the milk line adjacent one discharge end - Google Patents

Description

24 5 35 6 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT. 1953 No.: 245356 Date: 3 December 1992 N.z. p--rr" ,T f"r"F!C;e •; 1 5 DEC 1993 RECEIVED COMPLETE SPECIFICATION "Improvements in or Relating to Washing of Milking Systems" We, CARTER HOLT HARVEY PLASTIC PRODUCTS GROUP LIMITED, a company duly incorporated under the laws of New Zealand of 696 Te Rapa Road, Hamilton, New Zealand hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- 24 5 3 5 6 The present invention relates to improvements in and/or relating to milking systems and particularly to apparatus, means and methods which facilitate the washing thereof.

Milking machines of a kind referred to as a loop line are known. They are a form that has a continuous line having both ends discharging into a milk receiving chamber. Generally the milk line is provided as two distinct regions, each region of which takes a bank of inlets from a plurality of milking clusters, ie. cups with inflations, claw, optionally a pulsator unit, and appropriate conduiting.

Alternative arrangements can exist whereby two distinct milk lines can be interconnected at any desired time to provide a loop line.

A difficulty with loop lines or milk lines that are interconnected has been the control of any flush washing thereof to ensure an appropriate scouring of the full loop line and it is to this that the present invention is, in part, directed.

Accordingly, the present invention relates to apparatus, means and/or methods or uses which, at least in part, provide an alternative form of flushing a milk line in a milking machine or milking system or at least provide the public with a useful choice.

In a first aspect the present invention consists in apparatus in a milking system or to form part thereof, said apparatus comprising: means defining a milk receiving chamber; means defining a milk line to receive milk from milking clusters and having two discharge ends into said milk receiving chamber, wherein said milk line entries into said milk receiving chamber are substantially aligned and wherein one of the discharge ends has a valve therewithin and an air injector means into the milk line on that side of the valve away from the milk receiving chamber, the construction and arrangement being such that (I) the valve is open during the normal milking operation of the 24 5 35 6 apparatus and milk from a plurality of milking clusters can be drawn into the milk line * * and such milk can run and/or be drawn into the receiving chamber via the appropriate discharge end of the milk line and (II) the valve is or can be closed during a cleaning operation and water drawn into the milk line via the clusters can be moved with an air injection assist using said air injection means to exit the milk line into the chamber from that entry and discharge end not having the valve therewithin to impinge, at least in part, on the closed valve within the other discharge end of the milk line.

Preferably, there is a flow division such that some only of the water directly impinges on the closed valve.

Preferably, said means defining a chamber defines a chamber of substantially circular or equivalent cross-section and the entries are substantially tangential from the top thereof.

Preferably, said receiving chamber has an elongate axis provided with a fall to a draining (preferably pumped) outlet and the entries are at the higher end with regard to the fall such'that, in use, cleaning fluid entering from the non-closed entry not only cleans the valve within the closed entry but has a scouring effect around the inner circumference/perimeter of the cleaning chamber which moves down the receiving chamber prior to exiting therefrom.

In a further aspect, the present invention consists in a method of cleaning a milking system which involves the use of apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

In one further aspect, the present invention consists in apparatus in a milking system or to form part of a milking system, said apparatus comprising: means defining a milk receiving chamber to receive milk during milking from at least one milk collection line; 24 5 3 5 6 means defining a first milk collection line to receive milk from at least one milking cluster and which has a discharge end for discharging received milk into said milk receiving chamber; and means defining a second milk collection line to receive milk from at least a plurality of milking clusters and which allows a discharge of milk into said milk receiving chamber, said second milk collection line having a closable valve at or adjacent its discharge end into said chamber, said first and second milk collection lines being either (i) a continuation one of the other eg. as in a loop line or (ii) connectable via a connection one to the other at least during a washing procedure before and/or after milking; the construction and arrangement being characterised in that said discharge ends of said first and second milk collection lines are substantially aligned to the extent necessary whereby, upon closing of said valve, water or gas pressurised water can be moved from said second milk collection line into said first milk collection line and can be discharged into and/or across said chamber to have at least part of the flow thereof reach the valve.

Preferably, washing water is taken in from the milking clusters.

Preferably, said milk receiving chamber is substantially circular in cross-section substantially in a plane in which preferably each of the discharge ends of said first and second milk lines are substantially aligned.

Preferably, said alignment of said first and second milk lines is substantially tangential.

Preferably, said second milk line includes an air injector port on that side of said valve opposite the discharge end of said second milk receiving line. 24 5 35 6 Preferably, said first and second milk collection lines are permanently • • interconnected, ie. by preferably a curve.

Preferably, said first and second milk collection lines include regions thereof which are substantially parallel over the regions to receive milk from a plurality of clusters via claw milk lines connecting thereinto, said parallel regions being supported by a bracket Preferably, said bracket is substantially as hereinafter described.

In a further aspect, the present invention consists in milking apparatus suitable for air injection assisted water flushing wherein a milk collection chamber has each end of a continuous milk receiving line discharging thereinto in an aligned or substantially aligned manner, one of the discharge ends of said milk collection line having a valve closable during such flushing to ensure an air injector assisted slug of washing fluid moves to exit via the other discharge end to be discharged into the milk receiving chamber and at least partly into that one discharge end of the milk receiving line having the "valve, the air injector inlet being on the other side of said valve.

In yet a further aspect, the present invention consists in a method of cleaning a valve in one end a milk line which has both ends thereof discharging into a milk receiving chamber, which method comprises during a washing cycle where at least one slug of water or other fluid is discharged into the chamber from the non-valved end of the milk line, with an appropriate alignment of the discharge end directing at least part of the flushing fluid against the valve after passing through at least part of the milk receiving chamber.

Preferably, at least some of the flushing fluid flow is diverted to flush the milk receiving chamber. 24 5 3 5 In still a further aspect, the invention consists in a loop line milking machine [and the method of use thereof] wherein during a washing flush with water taken in from the clusters, a slug or slugs of water can be discharged within a milk receiving chamber under the action of air injection adjacent the other discharge end of the loop line milk line while that end is closed by a valve, said water at least in part washing on discharge from the non-valved end the valve in the valved end.

Preferably, said discharge also flushes the milk receiving chamber.

In yet a further aspect, the present invention consists in a loop line milking machine wherein a milk receiving line to receive milk from a plurality of milking clusters has two substantially aligned discharge ends into a milk receiving reservoir, one of the discharge ends being closable by valving means when washing is to occur and there is provided means (eg. air injection arrangements or water injection arrangements) whereby water taken into the milk receiving line can be discharged, at least in part, from the non-valved discharge end into the other discharge end to impinge against said valve means prior to a cleaning movement in said milk receiving chamber.

Preferably, said milk receiving chamber has the discharge ends of said loop line milk line enter the same at a section that is substantially cylindrical or elliptical and such substantially aligned entries are substantially tangential and preferably at the top.

Preferably, there is provided a bracket for a loop line milk receiving line preferably substantially of a form as hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, said bracket being able to locate substantially parallel regions of the milk receiving loop line and preferably also to locate in general proximity thereof a pulsator and/or an air injection air line. 24 5 3 5 6 Preferably, said bracket is in the form of a channel when viewed in its direction « i transverse to the parallel lengths of the milk line to be supported thereby, said milk lines being attached and supported from the outside of the downwardly directed arms thereof.

Preferably, said downwardly directed arms are gusseted with respect to the top.

Preferably, upstands or the like are provided whereby other conduits can be positioned above the bracket Preferably, a facia pipe or the like is located within the bracket, all such pipes, air lines and milk lines running substantially parallel and normal to the plane in which said substantially channel configuration lies.

The invention consists in the foregoing and also envisages constructions of which the following gives examples.

Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a sectional view X-X with respect to Figure 2 of a milk receiving chamber having a loop line milk line feeding thereinto; Figure 2 is a plan view of a loop line milking system in accordance with the present invention but not showing fully the connections down to the milking clusters; Figure 3 is a side elevational view Y-Y of the apparatus of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a similar view to that of Figure 2 but showing the apparatus as it would preferably be disposed with reference to, for example, a herringbone shed, the lines designated B indicating mounting brackets for the first and second milk line regions of the preferred loop line; Figure 5 is a cross-section at a line B showing a preferred form of bracket in accordance with the present invention and how the general inverted channel shape 24 5 3 5 6 thereof can be utilised to support the various components, ie. milk lines, filtered air line, pulsator air line and facia pipe; Figure 6 is a similar diagram to that of, for example, Figure 2 but showing how the loop line would be configured in the case of a rotary milking shed; and Figure 7 is a diagram of the sanitary trap arrangement shown in the top right portion of Figure 1.

In the preferred form of the present invention, the milk line is a loop line configured substantially as shown in Figure 4 where there are preferably parallel regions thereof suitable for herringbone sheds or which can be adapted for other milking shed configurations. A circular form is shown in Figure 6 which is particularly applicable to rotary platform cowsheds.

The apparatus used in a system in accordance with the present invention is preferably of a kind that has previously been offered into the marketplace by us under the MILKRITE or WAIKATO trade marks. Such equipment includes the various milking claws of this company, the milk cups and conduits therefor, pulsator units, milk pumping systems, jetter washer systems, etc. the content of which is all hereby here incorporated by way of reference.

In the preferred form of the present invention a milk receiving chamber 1 is provided preferably in the form of a cylinder having preferably hemispherical ends.

The tank can be arranged to have a fall to facilitate drainage from the bottom thereof or can have its outlet centrally thereof as shown in Figure 3.

The outlet 2 preferably runs to a milk pumping system and from there to the collection vat that preferably is provided with some refrigeration.

Leading into the chamber 1 is the loop line milking line 3 having a valved discharge end 4 and a non-valved discharge end 5. 24 5 3 5 6 The valved discharge end 4 of the milk line 3 has a valve 6 closable for the washing/flush cycles and that valve 6 has located adjacent thereto, within the milk line 3, an air injector port 7 into which air from a filtered air line can be injected under operator control to ensure water taken into the milk line 3 via milk lines 8 from milking clusters/claws can be passed as a slug of water or in a turbulent manner through to the discharge end 5 of the milk line 3 when the valve 6 is closed.

As can be seen from Figure 1 by the arrows, the discharge end 5 during the washing cycle shown has the ability of allowing water discharging from the milk line 3 to pass tangentially or substantially tangentially into the milk receiving chamber 1 and to have at least part thereof impinge against the valve 6 (which is closed) in the other discharge end 4 of the milk line 3. Preferably, however, part only of the discharge from the end 3 goes directly to clean behind the valve 6 with the majority of the flow passing directly down in a circulating manner in the arrowed direction within the surface defining the chamber 1. The division of flow can be any that is desired since it is preferred that slugs of water be despatched so that there is an ability for the discharge end 4 to drain prior to a further slug having at least part of the water thereof impinge on the valve 6.

In the milking mode the run rate of milk in milk line 3 is more gentle and milk does not pass from end 5 in 4 and vice versa.

While in the preferred form the discharge ends are aligned substantially tangentially and at the top of the chamber other aligned forms are possible and are within the scope of the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a pulsator air line 14 and a sanitary trap/receiver vacuum arrangement 9 shown in more detail in Figure 7. This arrangement in Figure 7 has 24 5 35 6 the vacuum air line 14, a main vacuum line 10, a ball float 11 and a drain 12 (preferably a 6mm drain). The sanitary trap 9 can also be seen in Figures 2 and 3.

In the arrangement as shown in Figure 3, a pulsator air line 14 is connected to pulsator units 13 which are connected by appropriate conduits down to the milking claws/clusters preferably tidily with the milk lines 8 also shown in Figure 3.

As can be seen from the arrangement as shown in Figure 2 and as positioned in Figure 4, there are two regions of the milk line 3 that are substantially parallel. These are designated as 15 and 16 and each substantially straight region deals with a separate side of, for example, a herringbone shed and in that sense said first milk collection line previously defined (without a closable valve) is that region indicated as 16 while the second milk collection line with the closable valve at or adjacent its discharge end into the chamber is that region indicated by reference 15.

A quite distinct arrangement for a loop line milk line 3 is that depicted in Figure 6 which is appropriate for a rotary cowshed.

With the arrangement as shown in Figures 2 and 4 brackets are disclosed and, in fact, the positioning thereof is shown in the embodiment shown in Figure 2 and is shown position-wise by the lines designated B in Figure 4. A suitable such bracket is that in Figure 5 generally designated by reference 17 having a substantially inverted channel form (albeit with gussets 18) and having means to locate the milk lines 3 (15, 16), a pulsator air line 14 and a filtered air line 18, ie. that to be used to supply air on demand into the air injection port 7 adjacent valve 6. Also shown is a facia pipe 19 supported underneath the bracket The bracket preferably includes appropriate attachment members projecting from the general form that facilitates engagement of the various pipes/conduits therewith and/or the support of such brackets from any supporting structural member. 24 5 35 6 The present invention, however, still includes within its scope any modified form of plumbing including even that as disclosed in our New Zealand patent application filed simultaneously herewith.

Persons skilled in the art having regard to the description of the apparatus and the earlier statements of the invention will appreciate how a conventional or other arrangement can be provided where a loop line having a preferred fall towards the collection chamber 1 of from 1° to lVz° can, in the normal milking mode when the preferred 63 or 75mm stainless steel valve 6 is open, have milk received within the lines 3 (15 and 16) trickle into the collection chamber 1 from the appropriate discharge end 4 or 5 with provision being made for a sanitary trap, etc. in a manner as depicted in Figure 1.

The brackets shown support the structure and facilitate its erection in many conventional sheds. Obviously, while pulsator units 13 have been shown, there is nothing to prevent the provision of such pulsator units as a part of the claw itself such as, for example, with the MILKRITE CLEARFLOW CLAW of the applicant company or the CHH ISOLATOR MILKING CLAW of the applicant company. Nothing precludes the addition into the system of all of the different automatic systems including, for example, automatic teat cup removers which can be operated by air supplied in some of the pipes. The invention preferably involves the use of water supplying jetter units.

The system of the present invention, upon the completion of milking, lends itself readily to cleaning by a procedure whereby the cups can be positioned onto the four spigots or nipples of a jetter unit 24 5 3 5 6 to take water therefrom into the milk line 3 via the feeding milk lines 8 and under the action of periodic shots of air via the air injection port 7 be passed as a series of slugs out of the outlet 5 and at least in part into the discharge end 4 to clean the other side of the closed valve 6.

Preferably, the majority of the flow does not pass into the other discharge end 4 but is diverted to move around the chamber 1 as shown in Figure 1 to effect a cleaning thereof prior to being taken up and over into the sanitary trap 9 and/or be drained out of the drain 2.

It is believed that the apparatus and method of the present invention will find ready farmer acceptance as it does provide for a thorough cleaning of a milking system.

Claims (30)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 24 5 3

1. Apparatus in a milking system or for a milking system, said apparatus comprising: means defining a milk receiving chamber; means defining a milk line to receive milk from milking clusters and having two discharge ends into said milk receiving chamber, wherein said discharge ends are substantially aligned and wherein one of the discharge ends has a valve therewithin and an air injector means connected to the milk line on that side of the valve away from the milk receiving chamber, the construction and arrangement being such that (I) the valve is open during the normal milking operation of the apparatus and milk from a plurality of milking clusters can be drawn into the milk line and such milk can flow and/or be drawn into the receiving chamber via a discharge end of the milk line and (II) the valve is or can be closed during a cleaning operation and water drawn into the milk line via the clusters can be moved with an air injection assist using said air injector means to exit the milk line into the chamber from that discharge end not having the valve therewithin to impinge, at least in part, on the closed valve within the other discharge end of the milk line.

2. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein there is a flow division such that some only of the water directly impinges on the closed valve.

3. Apparatus of claim 1 or 2 wherein said means defining a receiving chamber defines a chamber of substantially circular or equivalent cross-section and the discharge ends are substantially tangential from the top thereof.

4. Apparatus of any one of the preceding claims wherein said receiving chamber has an elongate axis provided with a fall to a draining outlet and the discharge ends are at the higher end with regard to the fall such that, in use, water entering said receiving chamber from the discharge end not having the valve not only cleans the valve within the other discharge end, cleans the valve but has a scouring effect around the inner circumference/perimeter of the receiving chamber which moves down the receiving chamber prior to exiting therefrom. 2 4 5 3 5

5. Apparatus of claim 4 wherein said draining outlet is to a conduit from which ' liquid is pumped.

6. A method of cleaning a milking system as hereinbefore described which involves the operative use of apparatus as claimed in claims 1 to 5 in a manner substantially as hereinbefore described.

7. Apparatus in a milking system or for a milking system, said apparatus comprising: means defining a milk receiving chamber to receive milk during milking from at least one milk collection line; means defining a first milk collection line to receive milk from at least one milking cluster and which has a discharge end for discharging received milk into said milk receiving chamber; and means defining a second milk collection line to receive milk from at least a plurality of milking clusters and which allows a discharge of milk into said milk receiving chamber, said second milk collection line having a closable valve at or adjacent its discharge end into said chamber, said first and second milk collection lines being either (I) a continuation one of the other eg. as in a loop line or (ii) connectable via a connection one to the other at least during a washing procedure before and/or after milking; the construction and arrangement being characterised in that said discharge ends of said first and second milk collection lines are substantially aligned to the extent necessary whereby, upon closing of said valve, water or gas pressurised water can be moved from said second milk collection line into said first milk collection line and can be discharged into and/or across said chamber to have at least part of the flow thereof reach the valve.

8. Apparatus of claim 7 wherein said washing water is taken in from the milking clusters.

9. Apparatus of claim 7 or 8 wherein said milk receiving chamber is substantially circular in cross-section substantially in a plane in which preferably each of the discharge ends of said first and second milk lines are substantially aligned. 24 *» .13;

10. Apparatus of claim 9 wherein the alignment of said first and second milk lines is substantially tangential.;

11. Apparatus of any one of claims 7 to 10 wherein said second milk line includes an air injector port on that side of said valve opposite the discharge end of said second milk receiving line.;

12. Apparatus of any one of claims 7 to 11 wherein said first and second milk collection lines are permanently interconnected.;

13. Apparatus of claim 12 wherein said interconnection is by a curve in the lines.;

14. Apparatus of any one of claims 7 to 13 wherein said first and second milk collection lines include regions thereof which are substantially parallel over the regions to receive milk from a plurality of clusters via claw milk lines connecting thereinto, said parallel regions being supported by a bracket.;

15. Apparatus of claim 14 wherein said bracket is substantially as hereinbefore described.;

16. Milking apparatus suitable for air injection assisted water flushing wherein a milk collection chamber has each end of a continuous milk receiving line discharging thereinto in an aligned or substantially aligned manner, one of the discharge ends of said milk collection line having a valve closable during such flushing to ensure an air injector assisted slug of washing fluid moves to exit via the other discharge end to be discharged into the milk receiving chamber and at least partly into that one discharge end of the milk receiving line having the valve, the air injector inlet being on the other side of the valve away from the milk receiving chamber.;

17. A method of cleaning a valve in one end a milk line which has both ends thereof discharging into a milk receiving chamber, which method comprises during a washing cycle where at least one slug of water or other fluid is discharged into the chamber from the non-valved end of the milk line, having the discharge end direct at least part of the flushing fluid against the valve after passing through at least part of the milk receiving chamber.;

18. A method of claim 17 wherein at least some of the flushing fluid flow is diverted to flush the milk receiving chamber.;24 U;

19. A loop line milking machine wherein during a washing flush with water taken in from milking clusters, a slug or slugs of water can be discharged within a milk receiving chamber under the action of air injection adjacent the other discharge end of a loop line milk line while that end is closed by a valve, said water at least in part washing on discharge from the non-valved end the valve in the valved end.;

20. A machine of claim 19 wherein said discharge can also flush the milk receiving chamber.;

21. A loop line milking machine wherein a milk receiving line to receive milk from a plurality of milking clusters has two substantially aligned discharge ends into a milk receiving reservoir, one of the discharge ends being closable by valving means when washing is to occur and there is provided discharge means whereby water taken into the milk receiving line can be discharged, at least in part, from the non-valved discharge end into the other discharge end to impinge against said valve means prior to a cleaning movement in said milk receiving chamber.;

22. A machine of claim 21 wherein said discharge means is air injection or water injection means.;

23. A machine of claim 21 or 22 wherein said milk receiving reservoir has the discharge ends of said loop line milk line enter the same at a section that is substantially cylindrical or elliptical and said substantially aligned discharge ends are substantially tangential and preferably at the top of the milk receiving reservoir.;

24. A machine of any one of claims 21 to 23 wherein there is provided a bracket for a loop line milk receiving line as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings, said bracket being able to locate substantially parallel regions of the milk receiving loop line and, optionally, also to locate in general proximity thereof a pulsator and/or an air injection air line.;

25. A machine of claim 24 wherein said bracket is in the form of a channel when viewed in its direction transverse to the parallel lengths of the milk line to be supported thereby, said milk lines being attached and supported from the outside of the downwardly directed arms thereof.;245 3*6

26. A machine of claim 25 wherein said downwardly directed arms are gusseted with respect to the top.

27. A machine of claim 25 or 26 wherein upstands are provided whereby other conduits can be positioned above the bracket.

28. A machine of any one of claims 24 to 27 wherein a facia is located within the bracket, all such pipes, air lines and milk lines running substantially parallel and normal to the plane in which said substantially channel configuration lies.

29. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

30. A method when performed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings. -17- v