US 5,218,924 A · Milking system with variable pressure source

Abstract

A milking system uses a variable pressure source and varies the pressure supplied to the pulsation chamber along a controllably variable pressure curve of selectable waveshape. Pulsation cycles are shortened by shortening the transition time between pressure levels providing on and off portions of the pulsation cycle. The pulsation chamber is sequenced through different pressure change rates, all during the transition. Pressure transition times during pulsation cycles are varied at the beginning, middle and end of a milking interval to provide a faster rate of liner opening movement and/or larger diameter liner opening at the beginning of the milking interval to provide deeper teat penetration into the liner, an intermediate rate of liner opening movement and/or intermediate diameter liner opening during the middle of the milking interval, and a slower rate of liner opening movement and/or smaller diameter liner opening at the end of the milking interval to limit loss of adhesion between a less than full teat and the interior of the liner. The repetition rate of the waveshape may be varied to provide a plurality of pulsation cycles of variable duration, further reducing milking time. The pressure is further varied during both on portions and off portions of the pulsation cycle at a higher frequency than the repetition frequency of the pulsation cycle to stimulate milk flow.

Claims60

Dependent claims

In a method for milking a mammal, comprising providing a teat cup having a liner around a teat of the mammal and defining a milk flow passage within said liner and a pulsation chamber between said liner and said teat cup, providing a negative pressure source and applying negative pressure to said milk flow passage, providing a two-way valve and alternating said two way valve between a first condition connecting said negative pressure source to said pulsation chamber and a second condition supplying atmospheric or higher pressure to said pulsation chamber, said valve providing a pulsation cycle having an on portion during said first condition of said valve and an off portion during said second condition of said valve, the improved method comprising replacing said two-way valve with a variable pressure source and supplying controllably variable pressure to said pulsation chamber.

A method for milking a mammal, comprising:

providing a teat cup having a liner around a teat of the mammal and defining a milk flow passage within said liner and a pulsation chamber between said liner and said teat cup;
applying negative pressure below atmospheric pressure to said milk flow passage;
applying a first pressure level to said pulsation chamber to open said liner below the teat;
applying a second pressure level, higher than said first pressure level, to said pulsation chamber to collapse and close said liner below the teat;
alternately and repetitively applying said first and second pressure levels to said pulsation chamber to provide a plurality of repetitive pulsation cycles, each cycle having an on portion during application of said first pressure level, and an off portion during application of said second pressure level;
shortening said pulsation cycle by shortening the transition time from at least one of said first and second pressure levels to the other of said first and second pressure levels by varying the rate of change of pressure applied to said pulsation chamber during the transition from at least one of said on and off portions to the other of said on and off portions.

3 more elements

A method for milking a mammal, comprising:

providing a teat cup having a liner around a teat of the mammal and defining a milk flow passage within said liner and a pulsation chamber between said liner and said teat cup;
applying negative pressure below atmospheric pressure to said milk flow passage;
applying a first pressure level to said pulsation chamber to open said liner below the teat;
applying a second pressure level, higher than said first pressure level, to said pulsation chamber to collapse and close said liner below the teat;
alternately and repetitively applying said first and second pressure levels to said pulsation chamber to provide a plurality of repetitive pulsation cycles, each cycle having an on portion during application of said first pressure level, and an off portion during application of said second pressure level;
during the transition from one of said on and off portions to the other of said on and off portions, controllingly varying the pressure applied to said pulsation chamber at a rate which generates a linear change in internal liner volume at a maximum desired rate and reducing delays in liner movement, comprising maintaining the pressure at one of said first and second levels until it is desired to move said liner, then abruptly changing the pressure to an intermediate level to begin liner movement, then changing the pressure at a slower rate to complete liner movement, then abruptly changing the pressure to the other of said first and second levels.

3 more elements

A method for milking a mammal, comprising:

providing a teat cup having a liner around a teat of the mammal and defining a milk flow passage within said liner and a pulsation chamber between said liner and said teat cup;
applying negative pressure below atmospheric pressure to said milk flow passage;
applying a first pressure level to said pulsation chamber to open said liner below the teat;
applying a second pressure level, higher than said first pressure level, to said pulsation chamber to collapse and close said liner below the teat;
alternately and repetitively applying said first and second pressure levels to said pulsation chamber to provide a plurality of repetitive pulsation cycles, each cycle having an on portion during application of said first pressure level, and an off portion during application of said second pressure level;
controllingly varying the pressure applied to said pulsation chamber during said on portion of said pulsation cycle.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Milking system with variable pressure source

Life of this patent

Milking system with variable pressure source

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims60