Back to results
US 9,763,421 B2Granted
Dairy harvesting facility with milk line protection system and methods
AssigneeGEA Farm Technologies GmbH
InventorsKevin L Torgerson, Duane F Sellner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for a dairy harvesting facility including valves and valve assemblies that prevent contaminants from reaching a central milk collection system.
Claims18
A dairy animal milking apparatus comprising:
- a milker unit having a plurality of teat cups, each teat cup for receiving a respective teat of the dairy animal;
- a teat wash conduit in fluid communication with at least one teat cup;
- a teat wash valve assembly in communication with the teat wash conduit, and movable between a teat wash position and a closed milking position;
- a box wash conduit in fluid communication with the milker unit;
- a box wash valve assembly in communication with the box wash conduit, and movable between a box wash position and a closed milking position;
- a clean-in-place conduit in fluid communication with the milker unit;
- a clean-in-place dispenser assembly in fluid communication with the milker unit and movable between a clean-in-place position and a closed milking position;
- a milk conduit in fluid communication with the milker unit;
- a good milk valve assembly in fluid communication with the milk conduit, and movable between an open position for passing good milk and a closed position;
- a calf milk valve assembly in fluid communication with the milker unit, and movable between an open position for passing calf milk and a closed position;
- a bad milk valve assembly in fluid communication with the milker unit, and movable between an open position for passing bad milk and a closed position;
- and
- a controller for opening and closing the teat wash valve assembly and the box wash valve assembly to control;
- teat washing, box washing, clean-in-place washing, and milking;
- and
- for opening and closing the good milk valve assembly, the calf milk valve assembly, and the bad milk valve assembly to control the flows of good milk, calf milk, and bad milk in response to a milk factor;
- and
- wherein each valve assembly comprises:
- three block-bleed-block valve assemblies.
16 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.