Milking device, milk filter and filter cartridge
AssigneeLely Patent N.V.
InventorGerard Mostert
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A milking device has milking means, a controller, a milk line for transporting the milk from the milking means to a milk tank, a milk filter for filtering the milk passing through the milk line, and a cleaning device for cleaning the milk filter with cleaning fluid. The milk filter comprises a housing which surrounds a filter volume and has a milk inlet and a milk outlet, and a circumferential filter body. The filter body comprises filter holes and divides the filter volume into an inner filter volume and an outer filter volume. The milk filter is configured to be flushed during use. The cleaning device is configured to clean the milk filter. The filter holes are grouped into a first group and a second group. The diameter of the holes in the first group is greater than that of the second group.
Claims18
A milking device for milking a dairy animal, the milking device comprising:
- a milking means;
- a controller for the milking device;
- a milk line for transporting milk from the milking means to a milk tank;
- a milk filter for filtering the milk passing through the milk line, the milk filter comprising
- a housing surrounding a filter volume, the housing comprising
- a milk inlet part having a milk inlet,
- a milk outlet part having a milk outlet, and
- a circumferential outer wall disposed between the milk inlet part and the milk outlet part,
- a single circumferential filter body disposed within the filter volume, the single circumferential filter body being comprised of a plurality of filter holes, the plurality of filter holes dividing the filter volume in a central inner filter volume connected to the milk inlet or the milk outlet, and a surrounding outer filter volume connected to the milk inlet or the milk outlet;
- and
- a cleaning device for cleaning the milk filter with cleaning fluid,
- wherein the milk filter is configured to be flushed during use by the milk to be filtered,
- wherein the cleaning device is configured to clean the milk filter by passing cleaning fluid through the milk filter,
- wherein, during use of the milk filter, the plurality of filter holes comprises a first group of filter holes, and a second group of filter holes located below the first group of filter holes, the second group of filter holes having a mean minimum diameter Dg, and
- wherein a subgroup of the first group of filter holes has a larger minimum diameter than Dg.
A milk filter for use in a milking device, the milk filter comprising:
- a housing surrounding a filter volume, the housing comprising
- a milk inlet part having a milk inlet,
- a milk outlet part having a milk outlet, and
- a circumferential outer wall disposed between the milk inlet part and the milk outlet part;
- and
- a single circumferential filter body disposed within the filter volume, the single circumferential filter body being comprised of a plurality of filter holes, the plurality of filter holes dividing the filter volume into a central inner filter volume and a surrounding outer filter volume,
- wherein the milk filter is configured to be flushed during use by the milk to be filtered in a first direction, the first direction running from the milk inlet to the milk outlet,
- wherein, during use of the milk filter, the plurality of filter holes comprises a first group of filter holes, and a second group of filter holes located below the first group of filter holes, the second group of filter holes having a mean minimum diameter Dg, and
- wherein a subgroup of the first group of filter holes has a larger minimum diameter than Dg.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.