Back to results
US 12,550,860 B1Granted
Milk meter for measuring milk
AssigneeInterpuls S.P.A.
InventorsAndrea Garimberti, Stefano Ferri
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various embodiments provide a milk meter (100) for measuring milk flow in a milking machine. In an embodiment the milk meter comprises a plurality of ducts (140a, 140b) forming a plurality of flow paths through the milk meter. Also, the milk meter comprises a plurality of flow sensors (142) positioned within the plurality of flow paths. Each flow sensor is operable to measure a flow rate of fluid through its respective flow path. Other types of milk meter are provided in other embodiments.
Claims23
A milk meter (100) for measuring milk flow in a milking machine, comprising:
- an inlet (110) for receiving fluid, the inlet (110) having a first cross-sectional area;
- a chamber (130) downstream of the inlet (110) for receiving fluid from the inlet (110), the chamber having a second cross-sectional area greater than the first cross-sectional area;
- a plurality of ducts (140) extending downstream from the chamber (130) for receiving fluid from the chamber (130), the ducts forming a plurality of flow paths through the milk meter (100), the ducts (140) having a combined cross-sectional area greater than the first cross-sectional area and less than the second cross-sectional area;
- the first, second, and combined cross-sectional areas being selected such that when the inlet receives a non-stratified bi-phase flow of fluid, the milk meter (100) is configured to generate stratified flow of fluid within a stratified flow region in each of the plurality of ducts (140);
- and
- a plurality of flow sensors (142) positioned within the plurality of flow paths, each flow sensor (142) being operable to measure a flow rate of fluid through its respective flow path.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.