Control unit, computer-implemented method for controlling a flow of milk, computer program and non-volatile data carrier
AssigneeDeLaval Holding AB
InventorLukasz Bosek
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A control unit arranged to control a flow of milk through a cooling system from a balance tank to a storage tank where the balance tank receives an input in the form of milk from a number of milking points and the control unit receives a first level-indicating signal reflecting a milk level in the balance tank and a prediction parameter indicating an estimated future input of milk from the number of milking points for generating a first control signal to a milk pump in the cooling system for causing the flow of milk to be pumped out from the balance tank at a flow rate determined by the first control signal.
Claims19
A control unit (110) arranged to control a flow of milk (F) through a cooling system (170) from a balance tank (120) to a storage tank (130), the balance tank (120) receiving an input (MIN) of milk from a number of milking points, the control unit (110) configured to:
- receive a first level-indicating signal (s(L)) reflecting a milk level in the balance tank (120);
- receive a prediction parameter (MINest) indicating an estimated future input (MIN) of milk from the number of milking points;
- and
- generate, based on both the first level-indicating signal (s(L)) and the prediction parameter (MINest), a first control signal (C1) to a milk pump (150) in the cooling system (170), said milk pump (150) arranged to cause the flow of milk (F) to be pumped out from the balance tank (120) at a flow rate determined by the first control signal (C1),
- wherein the control unit compares an indicated milk level (L) in the balance tank, determined from the first level-indicating signal (s(L)), to at least two predefined threshold levels, and generates the first control signal (C1) such that an indicated milk level (L) in the balance tank (120) above any one of the at least two predefined threshold levels causes the milk pump (150) to pump the flow of milk (F) out from the balance tank (120) at one of at least two flow rates, the at least two flow rates respectively corresponding to the at least two predefined threshold levels,
- wherein the control unit determines that the indicated milk level (L) exceeds a first threshold level of the at least two predefined threshold levels causing the milk pump (150) to pump the flow of milk (F) at a first flow rate of the at least two flow rates, and
- wherein the control unit determines that the indicated milk level (L) exceeds a second threshold level of the at least two predefined threshold levels causing the milk pump (150) to increase the flow of milk (F) from the first flow rate to a second flow rate of the at least two flow rates.
A computer-implemented method for controlling a flow of milk (F) through a cooling system (170) from a balance tank (120) to a storage tank (130), the balance tank (120) receiving an input (MIN) of milk from a number of milking points, the method comprising:
- receiving a first level-indicating signal (s(L)) reflecting a milk level in the balance tank (120);
- receiving a prediction parameter (MINest) indicating an estimated future input (MIN) of milk from the number of milking points;
- generating, based on both the first level-indicating signal (s(L)) and the prediction parameter (MINest), a first control signal (C1) to a milk pump (150) in the cooling system (170), said milk pump (150) arranged to cause the flow of milk (F) to be pumped out from the balance tank (120) at a flow rate determined by the first control signal (C1);
- and
- comparing an indicated milk level (L) in the balance tank, determined from the first level-indicating signal (s(L)), to each of at least two predefined threshold levels,
- wherein, in response to determining the indicated milk level (L) exceeds one or more of the at least two predefined threshold levels, the milk pump (150) is controlled to pump the flow of milk (F) out from the balance tank (120) at a respective one of at least two flow rates,
- such that in response to determining the indicated milk level (L) exceeds a first threshold level of the at least two predefined threshold levels, the milk pump (150) is controlled to pump the flow of milk (F) at a first flow rate of the at least two flow rates, and in response to determining the indicated milk level (L) exceeds a second threshold level of the at least two predefined threshold levels, the milk pump (150) is controlled to increase the flow of milk (F) from the first flow rate to a second flow rate of the at least two flow rates.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.