Milking system
OwnerLanny Gehm, William Gehminventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Improving milking system performance through the incorporation of a source of greater than atmospheric pressure air into a pulsator while limiting total pressure in the teat cup. The system is further improved by providing an improved supply of regulated vacuum to the milking cluster throughout the milking process. The system is further improved with a monitoring and detecting the functional failure of the pulsation assemblies. Additional system improvements are provided with the addition of a fresh air valve assembly, a wireless method of regulating vacuum levels and the remote location of a pulsator assembly in a basement style parlor.
Claims44
A pulsator for alternatingly supplying air and vacuum to a pulsation chamber to open and close a flexible liner of a teat cup assembly of a milking system attached to an animal comprising:
- a first valve comprising:
- a first solenoid housing having a first end open to a channel and a second end;
- a first solenoid having an interior end, located within the channel of the first solenoid housing;
- a respective inlet and a respective outlet through which greater than atmospheric pressure air can be respectively supplied to the pulsation chamber of the teat cup assembly;
- and
- a first solenoid valve plunger reciprocally movable in the first solenoid housing with a first end in the channel for sealing the inlet from the outlet and a second end opposite the first end;
- a second valve comprising:
- a second solenoid housing having a first end open to a channel and a second end a second solenoid having an interior end, within the channel of the second solenoid housing;
- a respective inlet and a respective outlet through which a vacuum can be respectively supplied to the pulsation chamber of the teat cup assembly;
- and
- a second solenoid valve plunger reciprocally movable in the second solenoid housing with a first end in the channel for sealing the inlet from the outlet and a second end opposite the first end;
- a common outlet operatively connected to both the valves through which air pressure and vacuum are alternately supplied to the pulsation chamber of the teat cup assembly from the first and second valves, respectively;
- and
- controller connected to the first solenoid of the first valve and the second solenoid of the second valve, the controller respectively actuating and deactivating the first and second valves to provide alternating supply of greater than atmospheric pressure air and vacuum to the common outlet, with the first and second valve never being simultaneously actuated.
A pulsator for alternatingly supplying greater than atmospheric pressure air and vacuum to a pulsation chamber of a milking system to open and close a flexible liner of a teat cup assembly attached to an animal comprising:
- a valve comprising:
- a solenoid housing having a first end open to a channel and a second end a solenoid having an interior end, located around the solenoid housing;
- a respective inlet and a respective outlet through which greater than atmospheric pressure air can be respectively supplied to the pulsation chamber of the teat cup assembly;
- and
- a solenoid valve plunger reciprocally movable in the solenoid housing with a first end in the channel for sealing the inlet from the outlet and a second end in the solenoid housing opposite the first end;
- a common outlet operatively connected to the valve through which air pressure and vacuum are alternately supplied to the teat cup assembly from the valve;
- controller connected to the solenoid of the valve, the controller respectively actuating and deactivating the valve to provide alternating supply of air pressure and vacuum to the common outlet, with air and vacuum never being simultaneously actuated;
- and
- a pressure limiting device on the common outlet to limit an absolute pressure supplied to the pulsation chamber of the teat cup assembly.
A volume apparatus for supplying a vacuum to a milking cluster comprising:
- a body defining a volume having a first port connected to the milking cluster, a second port, and a third port connected to a source of regulated vacuum.
A collection volume apparatus of a milking cluster of a milking system comprising:
- a body defining a volume having a plurality of hose ports with hose inlet ports for connection to milking hoses of a milking cluster, wherein the hose inlets ports are arranged such that flow through a first hose inlet port does not flow over another hose inlet of another hose inlet port.
A vacuum pump control system for a vacuum system being used to milk animals comprising:
- a wireless sensor for sensing vacuum level within the vacuum system provided by a vacuum pump;
- and
- a remote control unit for wirelessly receiving the vacuum level of the vacuum system from the wireless sensor;
- the remote control unit altering a speed of the vacuum pump to provide a desired regulated vacuum level.
A method of detecting a failure of at least one solenoid operating in a pulsator used to milk dairy animals comprising the steps of:
- a computer monitoring electrical resistance of all solenoids connected to a single power source to detect a total current supplied to all of the solenoids connected to the single power source;
- the computer comparing the total current supplied to all of the solenoids connected to the single power source to a required amount of current to all of the solenoids connected to the single power source;
- and
- if the total current supplied to all of the solenoids connected to the single power source is less than the required amount of current to all of the solenoids connected to the single power source, the computer sending an indication representative of a failed solenoid, to a user.
A method of detecting a failure of at least one solenoid operating in a pulsator used to milk dairy animals comprising the steps of:
- a computer determining an expected pressure drop of fresh air supply to the pulsator during a period of time when the pulsator is known to be operating properly;
- the computer measuring the absolute pressure in the fresh air supply of the pulsator;
- the computer comparing the expected pressure drop of the fresh air supply to the measured absolute pressure in the fresh air supply of the pulsator;
- and
- if the expected pressure drop of the fresh air supply is greater than the measured absolute pressure in the fresh air supply of the pulsator, the computer sending an indication representative of a failed solenoid, to a user.
A milking system for milking an animal located in a structure having at least a first floor in which the animal is located and second floor, beneath the first floor comprising:
- a pulsator located separately from a vacuum supply pipe with a connecting hose or pipe providing vacuum to the pulsator;
- wherein the pulsator is located near the animal being milked, while the vacuum supply pipe is located in a separate room on the second floor, beneath the first floor in which the animal being milked is located, the separate room on the second floor further comprising a pipe for transporting the milk to a holding tank.
A valve assembly for periodically supplying fresh air to a pulsation chamber to open and close a flexible liner of a teat cup assembly of a milking system attached to an animal, the valve assembly being connected to and working in coordination with a pulsator, providing additional fresh air to the fresh air being provided by the pulsator the valve assembly comprising:
- a solenoid housing having a first end open to a channel and a second end
- a solenoid having an interior end, located within the channel of the solenoid housing;
- a respective inlet and a respective outlet through which atmospheric pressure air can be respectively supplied to the pulsation chamber of the teat cup assembly;
- and
- a solenoid valve plunger reciprocally movable in the solenoid housing with a first end in the channel for sealing the inlet from the outlet and a second end in the solenoid housing opposite the first end;
- an outlet operatively connected to the valve through which air pressure is periodically supplied to the teat cup assembly from the valve;
- and
- a controller connected to the solenoid of the valve, the controller respectively actuating and deactivating the valve to provide the periodic supply of air pressure to the outlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.