Backflush valve for milking machine system

A milking system backflush valve comprising:

• a body;
• a cleaning solution inlet carried by the body;
• the body comprising inlet and outlet plates and a slide pad mounted between the inlet plate and the outlet plate;
• the inlet plate having a milk inlet and the outlet plate having a milk outlet;
• the slide pad and the inlet and outlet plates comprising contacting sliding surfaces, said sliding surfaces of said pad and said plates each having surface roughness of no more than about 16 RMS;
• the slide pad having first and second of said sliding surfaces;
• said slide pad having a milk path, fluidly coupling the first and second surfaces, and a cleaning solution path formed therein;
• a slide driver operably coupled to the slide pad to selectively move the slide pad between a milking position, at which the milk path fluidly couples the milk inlet to the milk outlet, and a backflush position, at which the outlet is blocked off and the cleaning solution path fluidly couples the milk inlet to the cleaning solution inlet to backflush the milk inlet and upstream of the inlet to prevent contamination therein;
• a clamping element biasing the plates against the pad with a desired force;
• whereby the sliding surfaces and the desired force create a fluid seal between the slide pad and the plates.

A slide pad, for use as a valve element of a milking machine backflush valve, comprising:

• a body having first and second sliding surfaces on opposite sides thereof;
• said body defining a milk path fluidly coupling said first and second sliding surfaces;
• said body defining a cleaning solution path formed in said first sliding surface;
• and
• said first and second sliding surfaces each having a surface roughness of no more than about 16 RMS.

An improved milking system backflush valve of the type comprising a body, a cleaning solution inlet carried by the body, the body comprising inlet and outlet plates and a slide pad mounted between the inlet plate and the outlet plate, the inlet plate having a milk inlet and the outlet plate having a milk outlet, the slide pad defining a fluid path, a slide driver operably coupled to the slide pad to selectively move the slide pad between a milking position, at which the slide pad fluid path fluidly couples the milk inlet to the milk outlet, and a backflush position, at which the outlet is blocked off and the slide pad fluid path fluidly couples the milk inlet to the cleaning solution inlet to backflush the milk inlet and upstream of the inlet to prevent contamination therein, the improvement comprising:

• the slide pad and the inlet and outlet plates comprising contacting smooth sliding surfaces;
• said slide pad fluid path comprising:
• a milk path extending between first and second of said sliding surfaces of said slide pad to fluidly couple the milk inlet and outlet when in the milking position;
• and
• a cleaning solution path formed in said first sliding surface of said slide pad to fluidly couple the milk inlet to the cleaning solution inlet when in the backflush position;
• the milk inlet and the cleaning solution inlet both opening onto said first sliding surface of said slide pad;
• said slide pad comprising lateral sides, a lateral dimension therebetween, and an air gap formed in said first sliding surface of said slide pad across the entire lateral dimension of said first sliding surface, said air gap positioned between the cleaning solution path and the milk path;
• and
• a clamping element biasing the plates against the pad with a desired force;
• whereby the sliding surfaces and the desired force create a fluid seal between the slide pad and the plates.

A milking system backflush valve comprising:

• a body;
• a cleaning solution inlet carried by the body;
• the body comprising inlet and outlet plates and a slide pad mounted between the inlet plate and the outlet plate;
• the inlet plate having a milk inlet and the outlet plate having a milk outlet;
• the slide pad and the inlet and outlet plates comprising contacting smooth sliding surfaces;
• the slide pad having first and second of said sliding surfaces;
• said slide pad defining a milk path, fluidly coupling the first and second surfaces, and a cleaning solution path formed in said first surface;
• said cleaning solution inlet and said milk inlet opening onto said first surface of said slide pad;
• a slide driver operably coupled to the slide pad to selectively move the slide pad between a milking position, at which the milk path fluidly couples the milk inlet to the milk outlet, and a backflush position, at which the outlet is blocked off and the cleaning solution path fluidly couples the milk inlet to the cleaning solution inlet to backflush the milk inlet and upstream of the inlet to prevent contamination therein;
• said slide pad comprising lateral sides, a lateral dimension therebetween, and an air gap formed in the first surface across the entire lateral dimension of said first surface, said air gap positioned between the cleaning solution path and the milk path;
• and
• a clamping element biasing the plates against the pad with a desired force;
• whereby the sliding surfaces and the desired force create a fluid seal between the slide pad and the plates.

A slide pad, for use as a valve element of a milking machine backflush valve, comprising:

• a body having first and second smooth sliding surfaces on opposite sides thereof;
• said body defining a milk path fluidly coupling said first and second sliding surfaces;
• said body defining a cleaning solution path formed in said first sliding surface;
• said body comprising lateral sides and a lateral dimension therebetween;
• and
• an air gap formed in said first sliding surface across the entire lateral dimension of said first sliding surface, said air gap positioned between the cleaning solution path and the milk path.