# US 8,464,656 B2 · Milking cup and milking method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,464,656 B2 - Document ID: US8464656B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/085,421 - Filed: 2006-11-21 - Published: 2009-06-18 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2005-11-22 - Assignees: GEA Farm Technologies GmbH - Applicants: Bernhard Schulze Wartenhorst; Reinhard Frenser - Inventors: Bernhard Schulze Wartenhorst; Reinhard Frenser - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8464656B2 ## CPC - A01J 5/08: Teat-cups with two chambers - A01J: MANUFACTURE OF DAIRY PRODUCTS ## Abstract A milking cup for milking animals, the milking cup having a liner arranged inside a housing to define a pulsation chamber therebetween. The pulsation chamber is divided into multiple compartments so that vacuum pulsation applied to the pulsation chamber compartments causes controlled collapse of the liner on an animal teat inserted therein. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Apparatus for milking animals, the apparatus comprising: a housing; a liner arranged at least partially inside the housing; and a pulsation chamber disposed at least partially between the housing and the liner, wherein the pulsation chamber is subdivided into at least four separated pulsation compartments, each of which is separately chargeable with gas to a pressure that is substantially different from a pressure in at least one other adjacent pulsation compartment, and to a pressure that is substantially similar to a pressure in at least one other non-adjacent pulsation compartment, and wherein the pulsation compartments extend in an axial direction of the liner and are arranged in the peripheral direction of the housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pulsation chamber defines an annular space substantially surrounding the liner. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising: a plurality of openings, wherein each opening is in fluid communication with a corresponding pulsation compartment. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the openings are spaced apart substantially evenly. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein air moves through each opening independently of air moving through other openings. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liner and the housing are arranged substantially coaxially relative to one another. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein adjacent pulsation compartments are separated by a separator. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the separator is arranged in a substantially longitudinal direction relative to the housing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the separator is a substantially gas-tight wall extending between the liner and the housing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the gas-tight wall is disposed in a receiving apparatus joined to an inner surface of the housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, and further comprising: a plurality of pulsation spouts, and each pulsation spout is in fluid communication with a corresponding pulsation compartment. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, and further comprising: at least four separators spaced apart from each other to subdivide the pulsation chamber into at least four pulsation compartments. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, and further comprising: a pulsation control device in fluid communication with the pulsation chamber. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the pulsation control device withdraws air through openings in each pulsation compartment at predetermined intervals. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the pulsation control device provides air to each of the pulsation compartments in a substantially similar volume. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pulsation compartments each define an opening in fluid communication with a pulsation spout. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, and further comprising: a first valve for communicating with the first pulsation chamber. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the valve is automatically controllable. ### Claim 19 A device for milking animals, the device comprising: a teat cup; a teat cup liner disposed at least partially in the teat cup; and a pulsation chamber defined at least partially by the teat cup liner and the teat cup; wherein the pulsation chamber is subdivided into at least four separated pulsation compartments, and each pulsation compartment is separately chargeable with gas at a substantially different pressure from at least one other adjacent pulsation compartment, and at a substantially similar gas pressure to at least one other non-adjacent pulsation compartment, and wherein the pulsation compartments extend in an axial direction of the liner and are arranged in the peripheral direction of the housing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The device according to claim 19, wherein the pulsation chamber is subdivided into a plurality of pulsation compartments by a substantially radially oriented separator. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The device according to claim 19, and further comprising: a valve disposed between the compartments. ### Claim 22 A method for milking animals with an apparatus including: a housing; a liner arranged at least partially inside the housing; and a pulsation chamber disposed at least partially between the housing and the liner; and wherein the pulsation chamber is subdivided into at least four pulsation compartments wherein the pulsation compartments extend in a longitudinal direction of the liner and are arranged in the peripheral direction of the housing, and the method comprising the step of: applying a gas pressure to one pulsation compartment that is substantially different from a gas pressure in at least one adjacent pulsation compartment and is substantially similar to a gas pressure in at least one other non-adjacent pulsation compartment. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method according to claim 22, wherein the step of applying different gas pressures to the pulsation compartments comprises: providing gas through different openings in the housing. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The method according to claim 22, wherein the step of applying different gas pressures comprises the step of: applying substantially similar gas pressures to pulsation compartments that are disposed substantially opposite one another in a peripheral direction of the housing. ### Claim 25 Apparatus for milking animals, the apparatus comprising: a housing; a liner disposed at least partially inside the housing; a pulsation chamber disposed at least partially between the housing and liner, and subdivided into at least four gas-tight compartments extending in an axial direction of the liner and arranged in a peripheral direction of the housing; and a plurality of pulsation spouts, each in fluid communication with a corresponding gas-tight compartment to supply fluid to the compartment at a pressure that is substantially different from a pressure supplied to at least one other adjacent gas-tight compartment, and that is substantially the same as a pressure supplied to at least one other non-adjacent gas-tight compartment. ### Claim 26 Apparatus for milking animals, the apparatus comprising: a housing; a liner disposed at least partially inside the housing; a pulsation chamber disposed at least partially between the housing and liner, and subdivided into a first non-adjacent pair and a second non-adjacent pair of gas-tight compartments, and the pairs of non-adjacent compartments extend in an axial direction of the liner and are arranged in a peripheral direction of the housing; and a first pulsation spout connected with the first pair of non-adjacent pulsation compartments to charge the first pair of non-adjacent compartments to a substantially similar gas pressure, and a second pulsation spout connected with the second pair of pulsation compartments to charge the second pair of non-adjacent compartments to a gas pressure that is substantially different than the gas pressure in the first non-adjacent pair of compartments.