Pressure control device for a milking machine
AssigneeDeLaval Holding AB
InventorThomas Johansson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pressure control device for a milking machine includes a housing, a vacuum inlet, and two control circuits. Each circuit includes a main vacuum passage extending through the housing from the vacuum inlet to an outlet, and a main valve configured to take one of an open position and a closed position. A pilot passage extends from the main vacuum passage and includes a pilot valve body configured to take one of an open pilot position and a closed pilot position. The pilot passage acts in the open pilot position on the main valve to move to the open position, and permits in the closed pilot position the main valve to move to the closed position. A solenoid controls the pilot valve body. A holding member receives the solenoid and is attached to the housing through a first bayonet coupling.
Claims20
A pressure control device for a milking machine, comprising:
- a first bayonet coupling comprising a first part (16) and a second part (17);
- a housing (1) with a vacuum inlet (2) located at a first side of the housing (1), a vacuum outlet (5) located at a second side of the housing (1), and the first part (16) of the first bayonet coupling being located along an exterior surface extending between the first and second sides of the housing;
- and
- at least one control circuit (3a, 3b) comprising
- i) a main vacuum passage (4) that extends through the housing (1) from the vacuum inlet (2) to the outlet (5), and includes a main valve (6) that moves between an open position, in which the main vacuum passage (4) is open, and a closed position, in which the main vacuum passage (4) is closed,
- ii) a pilot passage (7) that extends from the main vacuum passage (4) and includes a pilot valve body (8) that moves between an open pilot position, in which the pilot passage (7) is open, and a closed pilot position, in which the pilot passage (7) is closed, wherein the pilot passage (7) in the open pilot position acts on the main valve (6) to move the main valve (6) to one of the open position and the closed position, and in the closed pilot position permits the main valve (6) to move to the other of the open position and the closed position,
- iii) a solenoid (9) controlling the pilot valve body (8) of the pilot passage (7), and
- iv) a holding member (10) including a first side and an opposite second side, the solenoid (9) being held to the first side of the holding member (10), wherein the pilot passage (7) extends through an opening (22) in the holding member (10) and wherein the pilot valve body (8) is movably provided between the solenoid (9) and the holding member (10) to abut a seat surface (24) around the opening (22) in the closed pilot position, and
- v) the second part (17) of the first bayonet coupling being located on the second side of the holding member (10),
- wherein the first part (16) and the second part (17) of the first bayonet coupling engage to hold the at least one control circuit (3a, 3b) against the housing, and rotation of the holding member (10) releases the at least one control circuit (3a, 3b), including the solenoid held to the holding member (10), from the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.