NZ756664B2 - Anti-twist liner and shell for a dairy animal teat cup assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

milker unit teat cup assembly for dairy animals having a shell and liner combination that resists twisting by the liner barrel relative to the shell using a recess in the liner that is engaged by a key in the shell.

Description

Attorney Docket No.: 10004.771 ANTI-TWIST LINER AND SHELL FOR A DAIRY ANIMAL TEAT CUP ASSEMBLY FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to milker units for milking dairy animals, and more particularly to a milker unit shell and liner combination that resists twisting of the liner relative to the shell.

Milker units for milking dairy animals include a shell and liner in a teat cup assembly that attaches to a dairy animal teat. The liner fits inside the shell and a vacuum chamber is defined between the shell and the liner. A pulsating vacuum is applied to the vacuum chamber to move the liner in and out of compression (massaging) contact with a dairy animal teat that is in the liner.

The pulsating vacuum in the pulsation chamber is opposed by a constant vacuum inside of the liner. The pulsating vacuum is applied through a pulsation connection in the side of the shell and the constant vacuum is applied through a milk hose connected to the liner. The milk hose vacuum also draws milk from the liner into a short milk tube, milking claw, and collection bowl, through a long milk tube, and into a milk collection system.

The shell and liner are fitted together in a coaxial relationship and a mouthpiece of the liner fits over the top of the shell so that the mouthpiece, and not the shell, contacts the animal. The mouthpiece provides a vacuum seal against the teat and udder of the animal being milked. The liner also includes a barrel joined to the mouthpiece and into which the animal’s teat extends during milking. The teat is massaged by the liner barrel by the pulsating vacuum. Various barrel designs have been developed to improve cow comfort and milking efficiency.

A lower end of the liner barrel extends out of a hole in the lower end of the shell. The liner barrel typically includes a locking ring that is pulled through the shell hole during assembly, so that the locking ring is outside of the shell when the liner is installed.

Attorney Docket No.: 10004.771 The liner is adequately secured in the shell because the upper mouthpiece of the liner is engaged with an upper end of the shell, and the locking ring of the liner is engaged with a lower end of the shell. In a typical shell and liner assembly, the liner will even be somewhat tensioned in an axial direction because of the opposing engagements at the top and bottom of the shell.

Extending downstream from the liner is a short milk tube that can be joined to or formed with the liner. For a variety of reasons, the short milk tube can be twisted and that twisting can cause the liner barrel to twist as well. The twisting of the short milk tube can be intentional to close the vacuum line when a dairy operator decides to leave a teat cup assembly off a dairy animal because there is no teat or the teat is injured or otherwise too unhealthy to be milked. Other forces can twist the short milk tube, so it is not uncommon for liner barrel to be twisted as well. When the liner barrel twists, it is possible that the seal with the dairy animal can fail or it can otherwise inhibit efficient milking and milking operations.

Previous liners have been designed that include ribs or flanges that are fitted into slots during insertion of the liner into the shell. Some of these designs are used to control collapse of the liner barrel into a predetermined shape, but they can also help prevent twisting. Typically, these designs are relatively expensive to manufacture and time-consuming to install. Since liners are replaced periodically, the added cost for such designs is cumulative and relatively expensive.

Thus, there is needed a relatively inexpensive shell and liner assembly that reduces twisting of the liner inside the shell while maintaining good sealing contact with the animal being milked and efficiency of the milking process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To provide a cost-effective anti-twist teat cup assembly, there is provided in accordance with the present invention a teat cup assembly comprising and liner having: a mouthpiece defining Attorney Docket No.: 10004.771 a teat opening; an unengaged liner barrel portion joined to the mouthpiece, and defining a bore and a longitudinal axis aligned with the teat opening, and the unengaged liner barrel is free of any shell engaging alignment recesses; a lower locking ring joined to a lower portion of the liner and extending radially outwardly from the lower portion of the liner; and the lower portion of the liner defines an annular recess and a first pair of spaced apart and inverted U-shaped shell-engaging alignment recesses spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and disposed to receive a first pair of spaced apart mating shell keys disposed to enter the first pair of inverted U-shaped shell-engaging recesses only in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and thereby inhibit twisting of the unengaged liner barrel portion relative to a teat cup by preventing rotational movement of the first pair of spaced apart and inverted U-shaped shell-engaging alignment recesses relative to the first pair of spaced apart mating shell keys, and a second pair of spaced apart and inverted U-shaped shell-engaging alignment recesses disposed on an opposite side of the lower portion of the liner from the first pair of spaced apart and inverted U-shaped shell engaging alignment recesses, and spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and disposed to receive a second pair of spaced apart mating shell keys disposed to enter the second pair of inverted U-shaped shell-engaging recesses only in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and thereby inhibit twisting of the unengaged liner barrel portion relative to the teat cup by preventing rotational movement of the second pair of spaced apart and inverted U-shaped shell-engaging alignment recesses relative to the second pair of spaced apart mating shell keys.

The teat cup assembly also comprises a shell into which the liner is disposed. The shell and the liner are fitted together in a coaxial relationship with the liner inside the shell to define a vacuum chamber between a side of the shell and the barrel of the liner. The shell defines a lower Attorney Docket No.: 10004.771 opening with an inward annular edge in a lower end of the shell, the inward annular edge disposed in the annular recess in the shell liner, and the shell includes the first and second pairs of mating shell keys disposed in the first and second pairs of inverted U-shaped shell-engaging alignment recesses only in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, to thereby inhibit twisting of the unengaged liner barrel portion relative to the shell and to prevent rotational movement of the first and second pair of inverted U-shaped shell-engaging alignment recesses relative to the first and second pair of spaced apart mating shell keys. The first and second pairs of mating shell keys extend radially inwardly from the side of the shell and axially from the lower end of the shell.

The first pair of spaced apart and inverted U-shaped alignment recesses and the second pair of spaced apart and inverted U-shaped alignment recesses open radially outwardly and in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. The first pair of spaced apart and inverted U-shaped alignment recesses opens to the annular recess, and the second pair of spaced apart and inverted U-shaped alignment recesses opens into the annular recess. The first pair of spaced apart and inverted U-shaped alignment recesses opens radially outwardly and into the annular recess and the second pair of spaced apart and inverted U-shaped alignment recesses opens radially outwardly and into the annular recess.

The shell liner can include a short milk tube joined to the lower portion of the liner and define a milk bore substantially aligned with the barrel bore. The short milk tube can also define an air vent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a teat cup assembly in accordance with the present invention; Attorney Docket No.: 10004.771 Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a teat cup assembly shell liner in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a teat cup assembly shell in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the shell taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detailed side view of the liner of Fig. 2 and illustrating a pair of alignment recesses in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the liner taken along line 6-6 in Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the teat cup assembly taken along line 7-7 is Fig. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the following detailed description of the drawings the same reference numeral will be used to identify the same or similar elements in each of the figures. Depicted in Fig. 1 is a cross- sectional view of a teat cup assembly 16, in accordance with the present invention, including a shell 18 and a shell liner 22. The shell liner 22 includes a mouthpiece 24 defining a teat opening 26, a barrel 28 joined to the mouthpiece 24 and extending downwardly as depicted, an upper locking ring 30, and a lower locking ring 32 spaced apart from the upper locking ring to define a shell-engaging annular recess 36. The upper locking ring 30 defines a number of alignment recesses 40.

The liner 22 can also include an integral short milk tube 41 joined to the barrel 28 and having a teat claw connecting end 43. The short milk tube 41 is an optional extension of the liner 22, and in other embodiments, the short milk tube 41 can be a separate item that connects to a lower end of the liner 22.

Attorney Docket No.: 10004.771 As illustrated in Figs. 1, 3, and 4 the shell 18 includes an upper end 44, an upper opening 46, a lower end defining a lower opening 50 with an inwardly directed annular edge 51, and keys 52 that are provided in a number, size, and arrangement to mate with the alignment recesses 40.

The shell 18 also includes a pulsation connector 55.

As depicted in Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 6, the liner 22 mouthpiece 24 can be of a type and shape described and depicted in U.S. Patent 8,113,145, which is incorporated herein by reference, but other mouthpiece shapes and sizes can be used with the present invention. As depicted in Figs. 1 and 2, the mouthpiece 24 generally includes and upper surface 54 that interfaces with a teat and udder of a dairy animal to form a comfortable seal that minimizes loss of vacuum from the inside of the liner through the teat opening 26. The mouthpiece 24 further includes a downwardly extending skirt 56 that extends downward and is spaced apart from the barrel 28 so that an upper end of the shell (described below) can fit between the barrel 28 and the mouthpiece skirt 56, when assembled. The mouthpiece skirt 56 can include an alignment mark 58 to aid in assembly.

The barrel 28 defines a longitudinal axis 62 (Figs. 1, 6, and 7) and the barrel 28, itself, can have any desired cross-sectional shape including, round, oval, triangular, square, and the shape illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 5, for example. Typically, barrel 28 shape is selected to optimize animal comfort and milking efficiency. The barrel 28 illustrated herein has walls 57 and corners 59 (see Fig. 6, for example) that can be of uniform thickness or have varied thicknesses to control collapse of the barrel wall during pulsation and milking or for simplifying manufacturing. Any desired barrel cross-sectional shape can be used with the present invention.

The upper locking ring 30 (sometimes referred to as a “hackle” in the dairy industry) is part of the barrel 28, and is preferably used in the present invention together with the lower locking ring 32 to define the annular recess 36. The liner 22 is joined to the shell lower opening 50 at the Attorney Docket No.: 10004.771 inwardly directed annular edge 51 using the annular recess 36. (See Figs. 1 and 7.) This arrangement provides a secure connection between the liner 22 and shell 18, and due to friction, inhibits some level of twisting of the barrel 28 and the liner 22 relative to the shell 18. Nonetheless, twisting can still occur, so the barrel 28, and particularly the upper locking ring 30 of the liner 22, preferably defines two pairs of alignment recesses 40 to be engaged by the mating keys 52, in the shell 18. Although it is preferred to include the upper locking ring 30, it is not necessary, and the alignment recesses 40 can be formed in any part of the barrel 28, but preferably in the lower end of the barrel 28.

In the illustrated embodiment of Fig. 5, for example, the alignment recesses 40 are formed integrally or are cut or otherwise formed in the upper locking ring 30. As best seen in Fig. 5, the upper locking ring 30 defines the alignment recesses 40 as a generally inverted U-shape with rounded shoulders 60 to enable a smoother assembly of the shell keys 52 into the alignment recesses 40. Also, for forming efficiency and to provide access for the keys 52 to enter the alignment recesses 40, it is preferred that the alignment recesses 40 open to the annular recess 36, as illustrated. To prevent twisting of the liner 22 relative to the shell 18, the alignment recess 40 should be radially spaced apart from a longitudinal axis of the barrel 28.

The drawings illustrate the alignment recesses 40 in two pairs with one pair on a diametrically opposed side from the other. Although the illustrated arrangement is preferred, other arrangements of alignment recesses 40 are possible. For example, a single alignment recess 40 can be used on an asymmetrical arrangement, particularly if a particular orientation of the liner 22 relative to the shell 18 is desired.

Attorney Docket No.: 10004.771 Similarly, the shell keys 52 can be provided to match the number of alignment recesses 40, or relatively fewer keys 52 can be provided. For example, two alignment recesses 40 and one key 52 can be used to make it easier to assemble the liner 22 into the shell 18.

The lower locking ring 32 preferably includes a rounded surface 63 against which the inwardly directed annular edge 51 of the lower end of the shell 18 will slide when the liner 22 is being installed in the shell 18. Once the liner 22 is installed, the inwardly directed annular edge 51 is releasably engaged with the liner’s annular recess 36. Also, once the liner 22 is installed, it is preferably tensioned somewhat along the longitudinal axis 62, due to the relative size of the shell 18 and the liner 22. This is sometimes referred to as “pretensioning” and it improves liner performance.

The short milk tube 41 can define an alignment feature 66 raised above, which is seen as a vertical embossment on the short milk tube 41 in Fig. 2. An air vent 68 can also be provided and its location relative to other milker unit components can be controlled using the present invention, if desired.

Preferably, the liner is made of silicone, but any other suitable liner material can be used.

The foregoing detailed description of the drawings is provided for a better understanding of the present invention. Nothing therein is intended to unduly limit the scope of the following claims and no unnecessary limitations should be read into the following claims.

Attorney Docket No.: 10004.771

Claims (6)

1. A teat cup assembly comprising: a liner comprising: a mouthpiece defining a teat opening; and an unengaged liner barrel portion joined to the mouthpiece, and defining a bore and a longitudinal axis aligned with the teat opening, and the unengaged liner barrel portion is free of any shell-engaging alignment recesses; a lower locking ring joined to a lower portion of the liner and extending radially outwardly from the lower portion of the liner; and the lower portion of the liner defines an annular recess and a first pair of spaced apart and inverted U-shaped shell-engaging alignment recesses spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and disposed to receive a first pair of spaced apart mating shell keys disposed to enter the first pair of inverted U-shaped shell- engaging recesses only in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and thereby inhibit twisting of the unengaged liner barrel portion relative to a teat cup by preventing rotational movement of the first pair of spaced apart and inverted U-shaped shell-engaging alignment recesses relative to the first pair of spaced apart mating shell keys, and a second pair of spaced apart and inverted U-shaped shell-engaging alignment recesses disposed on an opposite side of the lower portion of the liner from the first pair of spaced apart and inverted U-shaped shell engaging alignment recesses, and spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and disposed to receive a second pair of spaced apart mating shell keys disposed to enter the second pair of inverted U-shaped shell-engaging recesses only in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and thereby inhibit twisting of the unengaged liner barrel portion relative to the teat cup by preventing rotational movement of the second pair of spaced apart and inverted U-shaped shell-engaging alignment recesses relative to the second pair of spaced apart mating shell keys; and a shell into which the liner is disposed, wherein the shell and the liner are fitted together in a coaxial relationship with the liner inside the shell to define a vacuum chamber between a side of the shell and the barrel of the liner; and Attorney Docket No.: 10004.771 the shell defines a lower opening with an inward annular edge in a lower end of the shell, the inward annular edge disposed in the annular recess in the shell liner, and the shell includes the first and second pairs of mating shell keys disposed in the first and second pairs of inverted U- shaped shell-engaging alignment recesses only in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, to thereby inhibit twisting of the unengaged liner barrel portion relative to the shell and to prevent rotational movement of the first and second pair of inverted U-shaped shell- engaging alignment recesses relative to the first and second pair of spaced apart mating shell keys, the first and second pairs of mating shell keys extend radially inwardly from the side of the shell and axially from the lower end of the shell.

2. The teat cup assembly shell liner of claim 1, wherein the first pair of spaced apart and inverted U-shaped alignment recesses and the second pair of spaced apart and inverted U-shaped alignment recesses open radially outwardly and in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis.

3. The teat cup assembly shell liner of claim 1, wherein the first pair of spaced apart and inverted U-shaped alignment recesses opens to the annular recess, and the second pair of spaced apart and inverted U-shaped alignment recesses opens into the annular recess.

4. The teat cup assembly shell liner of claim 1, wherein the first pair of spaced apart and inverted U-shaped alignment recesses opens radially outwardly and into the annular recess, and the second pair of spaced apart and inverted U-shaped alignment recesses opens radially outwardly and into the annular recess.

5. The teat cup assembly shell liner of claim 1, and further comprising: a short milk tube joined to the lower portion of the liner and defining a milk bore substantially aligned with the barrel bore.

6. The teat cup assembly shell liner of claim 1, and further comprising: a short milk tube joined to the lower portion of the liner and defining a milk bore substantially aligned with the barrel bore, and defining a vent.