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AssigneeAn Udder IP Company Ltd.
InventorsThomas Christopher John DUKE, James Richard John DUKE, Richard Angus Fownes BUCHANAN, George Edward James DUKE
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There is provided a milking cluster (102) for milking an animal, the milking cluster comprising a plurality of teat cups (1) connected to a clawpiece (106). The clawpiece comprises a plurality of milk inlets that are connected to the plurality of teat cups via respective short milk tubes (11). A milk flow passageway begins at the barrel of the teat cup and ends at the clawbowl of the clawpiece, and a valve system is present within each milk flow passageway. The valve system comprises a first pressure-actuated valve through which milk flowing along the milk flow passageway must pass.
1-26. (canceled)
A milking cluster for milking an animal, the milking cluster comprising a plurality of teat cups connected to a clawpiece, each teat cup comprising a head, a discharge passageway for discharge of milk from the teat cup, and a barrel portion between the head and the discharge passageway, the head and barrel portion for receiving a teat of an animal to be milked, wherein the clawpiece comprises a plurality of milk inlets that are connected to the plurality of teat cups via respective milk tubes, wherein the plurality of milk inlets discharge into a clawbowl of the clawpiece, wherein each discharge passageway, milk tube, and corresponding milk inlet collectively form a milk flow passageway beginning at the barrel of the teat cup and ending at the clawbowl, wherein a valve system is present within each milk flow passageway, each valve system comprising a first pressure actuated valve which opens in response to a sufficient pressure difference across it along the milk flow passageway, to allow milk to flow through the first pressure actuated valve and along the milk flow passageway.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.