# US 2014/0190416 A1 · Dairy milking devices and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190416 A1 - Document ID: US20140190416A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/101,303 - Filed: 2013-12-09 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-07 - Assignees: Lauren AgriSystems, Ltd. - Applicants: Lauren AgriSystems, Ltd. - Inventors: Aaron Kochman; Christopher B. Pfeiffer; Benjamin D. Nibali; Kristopher C. Hall; Gary L. Mitchell - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190416A1 ## CPC - A01J 7/00: Accessories for milking machines or devices - A01J 5/00: Milking machines or devices (A01J1/00, A01J3/00 take precedence) - A01J 5/041: {Milk claw} - A01J 5/06: Teat-cups with one chamber - A01J 5/08: Teat-cups with two chambers - A01J 5/16: Teat-cups with pulsating devices - A01J: MANUFACTURE OF DAIRY PRODUCTS ## Abstract A milking liner includes an integrated short air tube and short milk tube. In one configuration, the pulsation air is delivered through the bead of the milking liner directly inside the shell through a plurality of outlets. The disclosure also provides alignment features that assist the person assembling a milking liner and shell. The features limit rotation between the liner and the shell. The liner includes a short air tube that extends beyond a short milk tube with each having a sealing bead. The sealing beads are offset from each other. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A milking liner comprising: a barrel adapted to receive the teat of the animal to be milked; a short milk tube; a transition bead disposed between the barrel and the short milk tube; and a short air tube connected to the short milk tube; the short air tube having a plurality of outlets disposed on the barrel side of the transition bead. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The milking liner of claim 1, wherein the transition bead defines a seat adapted to receive a shell; the seat having a non-circular cross section. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The milking liner of claim 1, wherein the short air tube extends beyond the short milk tube. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The milking liner of claim 3, wherein the short milk tube defines a sealing bead that is offset from a sealing bead defined by the short air tube. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The milking liner of claim 1, further comprising a mouthpiece connected to the barrel; the mouthpiece having a mouthpiece flange; the mouthpiece flange having one of a location tab and a location notch. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The milking liner of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of axial ribs extending from an inner surface of the mouthpiece flange. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The milking liner of claim 6, wherein the axial ribs are disposed asymmetrically about the mouthpiece flange. ### Claim 8 A teat cup assembly comprising: a milking liner having a short milk tube and an integrated short air tube; a shell disposed around a portion of the milking liner; and the short air tube having a plurality of outlets disposed inside the shell. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The assembly of claim 8, wherein the milking liner includes a transition bead; the shell engaging the milking liner at the transition bead; and the transition bead defining the plurality of outlets for the short air tube. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The assembly of claim 9, wherein the transition bead defines a seat that receives the shell; the seat having a non-circular cross sectional shape; a lower end of the shell matching the shape of the seat so that it can only be properly seated in a single orientation. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The assembly of claim 10, wherein the seat that receives shell is tear-drop-shaped or egg-shaped. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The assembly of claim 10, wherein the milking liner includes a mouthpiece; the mouthpiece including at least one feature that corresponding to a feature defined by the shell so that the mouthpiece can only be properly connected to the shell in a single orientation which is the same orientation provided by the transition bead. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The assembly of claim 8, wherein the milking liner defines outlets to the short air tube on opposite sides of the milking liner. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The assembly of claim 8, wherein the short air tube defines a main pulsation channel; the milking liner defining a plurality of outlet channels that connect the outlets to the main pulsation channel; the outlet channels being substantially transverse to the main pulsation channel. ### Claim 15 A milking liner comprising: a barrel adapted to receive the teat of the animal to be milked; a short milk tube; a transition bead disposed between the barrel and the short milk tube; and the transition bead defining a seat adapted to receives a portion of a milking shell; the seat having a non-circular cross sectional shape such that a lower end of the shell matching the shape of the seat can only be properly seated in a single orientation. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The assembly of claim 15, wherein the seat of the transition bead is tear-drop-shaped or egg-shaped. ### Claim 17 A milking liner comprising: a barrel adapted to receive the teat of the animal to be milked; a short milk tube connected to the barrel; and a short air tube connected to the short milk tube; the short air tube having an lower end that is offset from a lower end of the short milk tube. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The milking liner of claim 17, wherein the short milk tube defines a sealing bead that is offset from a sealing bead defined by the short air tube.