Dispensing – Processes of dispensing
Patent
1994-12-19
1997-05-27
Huson, Gregory L.
Dispensing
Processes of dispensing
222 55, 222 40, B67B 700
Patent
active
056324111
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a meter and a method for measuring the quantity by weight of a flowing liquid, and in particular, for measuring the quantity by weight of a liquid flowing through a pipeline.
In many instances it is desirable to measure a quantity of liquid flowing through a pipeline. For example, it is desirable to measure the quantity of milk flowing through a milk pipeline between a cluster of milking teats and a milk holding vacuum jar so that a farmer can monitor the milk output of each cow. In intensive milk production farms, it is essential for a farmer to know the milk output of each animal. Meters for measuring the quantity of milk and other liquids flowing in a pipeline are known. Typically, such meters measure the volume of liquid flowing in the pipeline. A typical type of such meter is an impeller type meter which comprises an impeller disposed in the liquid flow which is rotatable by the flowing liquid. The number of rotations of the impeller are counted for determining the quantity of the liquid flowing through the pipeline. Such impeller type meters are reasonably accurate for determining the quantity of liquid flow in cases where the liquid is of uniform density throughout and does not tend to froth or foam. However, such meters are unsuitable for measuring the quantity of milk flowing in a pipeline. Milk flowing through a pipeline between the cluster of milking teats and the vacuum holding jar contains a considerable amount of entrained air, and furthermore, the quantity of entrained air is not uniform. Additionally, the density of milk varies considerably during a milking cycle of a cow. Initially, at the beginning of a milking cycle, the milk tends to comprise a relatively high proportion of water, while towards the end of the milking cycle the milk tends to have a considerably higher proportion of fat. Furthermore, there is a considerable tendency for the milk to froth and foam, which further leads to inaccuracies in measuring the quantity of milk flowing in the pipeline. Accordingly, such impeller type meters are unsuitable for measuring the quantity of milk milked from a cow. An alternative construction of meter comprises a container of known volume which is placed in the path of the flowing milk. On the milk reaching a predetermined level in the container, the milk is discharged from the container which is again filled. However, because of the quantity of entrained air, froth, foaming of the milk and to a lesser extent the variation in density of the milk, such meters likewise are inaccurate and unreliable.
British Patent Specification No. 2,113,856A discloses a meter for measuring quantity of milk flowing in a pipeline by weight. In this meter, milk is delivered into a compensating vessel and in turn into a weighing container. The weight of the milk in the container is determined during a period while milk is accumulating in the container. The container is then emptied at a rate much greater than the maximum supply rate of milk into the weighing container so that the level of milk in the weighing container falls. The cycle repeats. Series of weight values each representing one accumulation period are fed to a computer which interpolates values for the intervening emptying periods. This meter, while it does determine the quantity of milk flowing in a pipeline by weight, is likewise inaccurate in that it relies on estimates being made of the milk delivered into the weighing container during the emptying period.
There is therefore a need for a meter which measures the quantity by weight of a liquid flowing in a pipeline more accurately than prior art devices. In certain cases, there is also the need for such a meter which is suitable for taking a representative sample of all the liquid being weighed. For example it is desirable that a representative sample of milk being milked from a cow should include samples of milk over substantially the entire milking cycle.
It is an object of the invention to provide a meter and a method for measuring the quantity by weight of a fl
Harty Edmond P.
Harty, Jr. Edmond P.
O'Callaghan Edmond
Dewvale Limited
Huson Gregory L.
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