Animal husbandry – Milkers – Methods of milking
Patent
1998-12-09
1999-10-26
Price, Thomas
Animal husbandry
Milkers
Methods of milking
A01J 500
Patent
active
059709103
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of milking an animal by a milking machine having a teatcup with a teatcup liner and a pulsation chamber, a first pressure source for generating a first pressure, and a second pressure source for generating a sub-atmospheric second pressure, which is lower than the first pressure, the method comprising connecting the second pressure source to the interior of the teatcup liner, and alternately transmitting the first pressure from the first pressure source and the second pressure from the second pressure source to the pulsation chamber, to generate a pulsating pressure in the pulsation chamber, whereby the teatcup liner cyclically moves with a decreasing opening rate to an essentially open position during the transmission of the second pressure and with a decreasing closing rate to an essentially closed position during the transmission of the first pressure. Moreover, the invention relates to a milking machine comprising at least one teatcup having a teatcup liner and a pulsation chamber, a first pressure source for generating a first pressure, a second pressure source for generating a sub-atmospheric second pressure, which is lower than the first pressure, conduit means for transmitting the first pressure and the second pressure, respectively, from the first pressure source and the second pressure source, respectively, to the pulsation chamber, and a pulsator for alternately connecting the first pressure source and the second pressure source to the pulsation chamber via the conduit means, such that the teatcup liner cyclically moves with a decreasing opening rate to an essentially open position during the transmision of the second pressure and with a decreasing closing rate to an essentially closed position during the transmission of the first pressure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional milking machine comprises a cluster having a claw and four teatcups, each teatcup having a shell and a teatcup liner provided in the shell to form a pulsation chamber between the teatcup liner and the shell. During milking the interior of the teatcup liner is subjected to a sub-atmospheric pressure, i.e. normally about 50 kPa under atmospheric pressure. There are also milking machines working under high-pressure conditions, wherein the low pressure might be above atmospheric pressure. The pulsation chamber is subjected to a cyclically pulsating pressure normally varying between atmospheric pressure, when the teatcup liner is collapsed or closed and a minimum pressure level when the teatcup liner is fully open. The minimum pressure level is normally equal to said sub-atmospheric pressure level, i.e. 50 kPa under atmospheric pressure. This means that the pressure difference across the wall of the teatcup liner is essentially equal to zero when the teatcup liner is fully open.
The pulsating pressure demonstrates a pulsation cycle which may be divided into four phases, i.e. (a) an opening phase during which the pulsating pressure decreases from atmospheric pressure to normally said sub-atmospheric pressure prevailing in the interior of the teatcup liner and during which the teatcup liner moves from an essentially closed position to an essentially open position, (b) an open phase during which the pulsating pressure has reached its minimum level and is essentially equal to said sub-atmospheric pressure and during which the teatcup liner is in an open position, (c) a closing phase during which the pulsating pressure increases from about said sub-atmospheric pressure to the atmospheric pressure and during which the teatcup liner moves from the open position to the closed position, and finally (d) a closed phase during which the pulsating pressure is equal to the atmospheric pressure and the teatcup liner is in a closed position. The time relations between the open and closed positions are defined in the pulsator ratio. The opening and the closing of the teatcup liner during phase (a) and (c) respectively, comprises a very fas
REFERENCES:
patent: 3754532 (1973-08-01), Troberg et al.
patent: 3900005 (1975-08-01), Goldsmith
patent: 4572104 (1986-02-01), Rubino
patent: 5090359 (1992-02-01), Pettersson et al.
patent: 5218924 (1993-06-01), Thompson et al.
patent: 5443035 (1995-08-01), Lind et al.
patent: 5697323 (1997-12-01), Visigalli
Grimm Hartmut
Innings Lars
Lind Ole
Ornerfors Benny
Schlaiss Gunter
Alfa Laval Agri AB
Price Thomas
LandOfFree
Method of milking an animal and a milking machine does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method of milking an animal and a milking machine, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method of milking an animal and a milking machine will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-752023