Milkhouse sink
OwnerRonald G. Forbes, Mitchell R. Andersoninventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sink for washing tie-stall dairy farm milk pipeline systems includes a narrow trough at the bottom of the sink. The trough receives the inflations of milking machines placed in the sink for washing. The sides of the trough confine and constrain the inflations so that the machine does not tip over while in the sink. The water level remaining in the sink when the pipeline system is flushed through therefore can be small, leading to water savings of up to 30%. The trough is made from stainless steel sheets, bent to shape; the sides of the sink extend outwards and outwards from the trough at an angle, whereby the sink sides guide the inflations into the trough as the farmer lowers the milking machine into the sink.
Claims13
In a washing apparatus for use on a dairy farm for washing a milk pipeline system, in which the apparatus includes at least one milking machine unit, the unit comprising a set of four inflations each having a predetermined length, and includes a means for flushing wash water through the units, and the apparatus includes an elongate milkhouse sink;
- an improvement to the milkhouse sink, wherein:
- the sink includes a narrow trough extending longitudinally coextensively along the sink bottom having substantially vertical side-wall, and the trough further having a depth and dimensons such that the inflations extend a substantial distance into the trough and the trough alone will hold and constrain the milking machine inflations substantially upright in the lateral direction at the sink bottom during the washing procedure;
- the sink above the trough is wider than the trough, and has the capacity to contain enough water to flush through the pipeline system.
Washing apparatus for use on a dairy farm for washing a milk pipeline system wherein:
- the apparatus includes at least one milking machine unit, the unit comprising a set of four inflations each having a predetermined length, and includes a means for flushing wash water through the units;
- the apparatus includes an elongated milkhouse sink;
- the sink includes a narrow trough extending longitudinally coextensively along the sink bottom having substantially vertical side-walls and the trough further having a depth and dimensions such that the inflations extend a substantial distance into the trough and the trough alone will hold and constrain the milking machine inflations substantially upright in the lateral direction at the sink bottom during the washing procedure;
- the sink above the trough is wider than the trough, and has the capacity to contain enough water to flush through the pipeline system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.