US3786782A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Milk flow sensing valve for teat cup release
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-06-30
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Granted: 1974-01-22
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Expires: 1992-06-30
Abstract
Abstract A milk flow sensing valve unit particularly for location in a milk line to a set of teat cups and whereby vacuum supply to the teat cups can be cut off, or at least substantially reduced, to effect release of the teat cups from the animal upon cessation or substantial reduction in milk flow from the animal. The sensing valve unit including a hollow body defining a milk receiving float chamber housing a float member which is arranged to actuate and hold open valve means on filling of the chamber with milk from the teat cups to permit milk discharge through a main outlet to which vacuum is applied. A secondary or drain outlet is provided for emptying the chamber after cessation of milking and the arrangement providing that the float member will hold the valve means open whilst there is full milk flow from an animal in excess of the milk flow permitted through the secondary or drain outlet, but when the milk flow from the animal into the chamber falls below the flow rate through the secondary or drain outlet, the float lowers to close the valve means and shut off vacuum supply to the upper part of the chamber and milk inlet to thus shut off vacuum supply to the teat cups and permit the teat cups to fall away from the cows udder.
Inventors
- 👤 W Abrahamson
- 👤 J Abrahamson
- 👤 B Abrahamson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 18:41
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01J; A01J5/00; A01J5/007; A01J5/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
350 words
A milk flow sensing valve unit for effective teat cup release comprising a hollow body defining a milk receiving float chamber, a float member within the chamber, a milk inlet to the chamber and through which milk from the milking teat cups can pass, a vacuum supply and milk discharge conduit connected to the body and having a main outlet opening to another part of the chamber and whereby vacuum is supplied to the chamber and inlet, valve means actuable by the float member and held open by the float member on filling of the chamber with milk to permit milk discharge through the main outlet, drain means for emptying the chamber after cessation of milking, and there being means to effect initial supply of vacuum from the main outlet to the chamber and inlet to enable commencement of milking and the valve means being closable by the float member at least to substantially reduce vacuum to the chamber upper part and the inlet on cessation or substantial lessening of milk flow from the teat cups so that such vacuum reduction permits release of the teat cups from the animal, the float chamber and float member being cylindrical in form and an upper part of the float member being provided with an annular outwardly directed flange or lip which is arranged to seat upon a complementary annular lip or shoulder on the inner wall of the cylindrical body part when the float member is at its lower limit so that the main float chamber is divided into upper and lower chamber parts when the float member is at its said lower limit, said flange forming a valve and the said annular lip or shoulder forming or provided with a valve seat, the milk inlet from the teat cups to the body entering at the chamber upper part and the main milk outlet for the vacuum supply/milk discharge conduit entering to an upper part of the lower chamber part, and a drain outlet extending from the bottom part of the lower chamber part and being in communication with the discharge conduit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
350 words
A milk flow sensing valve unit for effective teat cup release comprising a hollow body defining a milk receiving float chamber, a float member within the chamber, a milk inlet to the chamber and through which milk from the milking teat cups can pass, a vacuum supply and milk discharge conduit connected to the body and having a main outlet opening to another part of the chamber and whereby vacuum is supplied to the chamber and inlet, valve means actuable by the float member and held open by the float member on filling of the chamber with milk to permit milk discharge through the main outlet, drain means for emptying the chamber after cessation of milking, and there being means to effect initial supply of vacuum from the main outlet to the chamber and inlet to enable commencement of milking and the valve means being closable by the float member at least to substantially reduce vacuum to the chamber upper part and the inlet on cessation or substantial lessening of milk flow from the teat cups so that such vacuum reduction permits release of the teat cups from the animal, the float chamber and float member being cylindrical in form and an upper part of the float member being provided with an annular outwardly directed flange or lip which is arranged to seat upon a complementary annular lip or shoulder on the inner wall of the cylindrical body part when the float member is at its lower limit so that the main float chamber is divided into upper and lower chamber parts when the float member is at its said lower limit, said flange forming a valve and the said annular lip or shoulder forming or provided with a valve seat, the milk inlet from the teat cups to the body entering at the chamber upper part and the main milk outlet for the vacuum supply/milk discharge conduit entering to an upper part of the lower chamber part, and a drain outlet extending from the bottom part of the lower chamber part and being in communication with the discharge conduit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
88 words
A sensing valve unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least part of the base of the hollow body is formed as or provided with a resilient diaphragm which is arranged to be depressed inwardly of the chamber by a cam-like lever or trigger so that the inner surface of such a diaphragm can contact and lift the float member to cause actuation of the valve means to permit initial supply of vacuum to the chamber and inlet and teat cups in permitting milking operations to commence.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
88 words
A sensing valve unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein a by-pass tube connects the upper and lower chamber parts and such by-pass tube is provided with an on/off tap whereby vacuum to the lower chamber part can be by-passed to the upper chamber part and inlet on opening of the by-pass tap to commence milking operations, the by-pass tap being closed when milk flow commences sufficiently to raise the float member and lift its valve flange off the co-operating valve seat shoulder of lip of the body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
A sensing valve unit as claimed in claim 1 and having an upper end wall comprising a resilient diaphragm member which is connected to and arranged to move and actuate a flexible tubular valve in a vacuum line adapted to be connected to a vacuum cylinder which is arranged to effect withdrawal and support of the teat cup assembly upon release from an animal on cessation of milking.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
179 words
A sensing valve unit as claimed in claim 4 wherein the flexible tubular valve member forms A bridging connection between two rigid tube parts in the vacuum line, one of said parts having its open end inclined relative to the tube axis downwardly and inwardly of the flexible tube so that the upper wall part of the flexible tube is capable of closing on and sealing such inclined tube end when the medial part of the flexible tube is moved downwardly, the lower medial part of the flexible tube being also provided with a transverse slit which is normally closed but is arranged to open on downward flexing of the tube medial part, the arrangement providing that when vacuum is applied to the float chamber, the diaphragm upper end wall is drawn downwardly to thus pull the flexible tube downwardly to open the slit and close off the inclined end of the vacuum tube rigid part, vacuum supply to the withdrawal cylinder being thus cut off and air admitted to the vacuum cylinder by way of the opened slit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-21 | 1977-07-23 | 1978-01-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-21 | 1981-07-23 | 1982-01-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-21 | 1985-07-23 | 1986-01-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |