Pulsator

A pulsator of a milking apparatus for providing pressure and vacuum phases to a liner associated with a teat-cup milking apparatus for receiving a teat of an animal, the pulsator comprising:

• a first valve and a second valve, the first valve and second valve each comprising:
• a channel and a solenoid having a first end open to the channel and a second end;
• a respective inlet and a respective outlet through which air pressure and vacuum can be respectively supplied to the teat-cup milking apparatus;
• 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 both of the valves through which air pressure and vacuum are alternately supplied to the teat-cup milking apparatus from the first and second valves, respectively;
• a sensor coupled to the common outlet measuring an air supply level and a vacuum supply level in the common outlet;
• and
• a controller connected to the solenoid of the first valve and the solenoid of the second valve and receiving input from the sensor, the controller respectively actuating and deactivating the first valve and the second valve to provide alternating supply of air pressure and vacuum to the common outlet each for a first duration, and the controller comparing air supply levels and vacuum supply levels to designated air supply levels and designated vacuum supply levels associated with actuation and deactivating the first and second valves.

A valve assembly for periodically supplying fresh air to a pulsation chamber to close a flexible liner of a teat cup assembly of a milking system attached to a teat of an animal, the valve assembly being connected to and working in coordination with a pulsator providing a first supply of air to the pulsation chamber of the pulsator and a second supply of air, 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 in which the first supply of air is provided and a respective outlet through which the first supply of air is 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 air valve apparatus 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 second supply of air pressure to the air valve apparatus outlet.