US3874337A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Temperature responsive system for milking apparatus
Assignee: UNIVERSAL COOPERATIVES Inc 3001 METRO DRIVE SUITE 500 MINNEAPOLIS MN 55420 A CORP OF
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Filing: 1973-07-30
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Granted: 1975-04-01
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Expires: 1993-07-30
Abstract
Abstract A temperature responsive system for a milking apparatus is disclosed wherein the temperature of milk received from an animal being milked and conducted through the apparatus is sensed within the apparatus and an electrical signal developed therefrom that is indicative of animal abnormalities and/or the rate of milk flow, the developed electrical signal being utilized to indicate abnormalities and/or milk flow and/or to control milk flow through the apparatus. The apparatus includes a sensing device within the milking apparatus, which sensing device forms a part of an electrical bridge circuit the output of which is coupled to comparators which provide output signals when preselected reference levels are exceeded. The outputs from the comparators are utilized to energize visual and/or audio indicators of both sensed abnormalities and completion of milking, as well as for controlling operation of the milking apparatus by terminating milking when substantial completion of milking is sensed. The sensing device, preferably a thermistor, may be positioned at a variety of locations contiguous to the flow path of the milk through the apparatus, such as in the teat cup, bowl, tube, or communicating special chamber of the milking apparatus, and the remainder of the electronic circuitry utilized may be remotely positioned from the sensing device, as desired. In addition, a plurality of systems can be utilized for individual or cluster indications and/or control of milking to facilitate preferred milking patterns such as enabling milking of each teat, or group of teats, of the animal being milked for differing time periods. To preclude erroneous automatic termination of milking, a delay and/or inhibit may also be utilized for a predetermined period of time after commencement of milking.
Inventors
- 👤 Raymond E Umbaugh
- 👤 Jerry H Polson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 13:17
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01J; A01J5/00; A01J5/013; A01J5/0135; A01J5/0133; A01J5/0138; A01J7/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A temperature responsive system for a milking apparatus having milk receiving and conducting means for receiving milk from an animal being milked at a milking area and conducting the received milk from said area, said system comprising: temperature sensing means having at least a portion at said receiving and conducting means for sensing the temperature of milk within said receiving and conducting means; signal developing means connected with said temperature sensing means for providing an output signal indicative of milk flow rate based upon said sensed temperature; and utilization means connected with said signal developing means and responsive to an output signal therefrom.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
A temperature responsive system for a milking apparatus having milk receiving and conducting means for receiving milk from an animal being milked at a milking area and conducting the received milk from said area, said system comprising: temperature sensing means having at least a portion at said receiving and conducting means for sensing the temperature of milk within said receiving and conducting means; signal developing means connected with said temperature sensing means for providing an output signal indicative of milk flow rate based upon said sensed temperature; and utilization means connected with said signal developing means and responsive to an output signal therefrom.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The temperature responsive system of claim 1 wherein said temperature sensing means includes a thermistor positioned within said receiving and conducting means of said milking apparatus.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The temperature responsive system of claim 1 wherein said milk receiving and conducting means of said milking apparatus includes a bowl and wherein said temperature sensing means has said portion at said receiving and conducting means within said bowl for sensing the temperature of milk therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The temperature responsive system of claim 1 wherein said milk receiving and conducting means of said milking apparatus includes a tube and wherein said temperature sensing means has said portion at said receiving and conducting means within said tube for sensing the temperature of milk therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
The temperature responsive system of claim 1 wherein said milk receiving and conducting means of said milking apparatus includes teat cups and wherein said temperature sensing means has said portion at said receiving and conducting means within at least one of said teat cups for sensing the temperature of the milk within said cup.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The temperature responsive system of claim 1 further including a chamber communicating with said milk receiving and conducting means of said milking apparatus and wherein said temperature sensing means has said portion within said chamber for sensing temperature of milk within said chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The temperature responsive system of claim 1 wherein said temperature sensing means includes a bridge circuit, which circuit includes said portion of said temperature sensing means at said receiving and conducting means as one leg of said bridge circuit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The temperature responsive system of claim 1 wherein said signal developing means includes a comparator circuit for establishing a signal threshold.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The temperature responsive system of claim 8 wherein said signal developing means also includes pulse processing means for receiving the output from said comparator circuit, said pulse processing means including a trigger circuit and monostable multivibratoR means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The temperature responsive system of claim 1 wherein said signal developing means includes first and second comparators and wherein said utilization means includes a visual indicator and apparatus control circuitry connected to receive the output from said first and second comparators.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The temperature responsive system of claim 10 further including an audio indicator connected to receive the output from one of said comparators.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The temperature responsive system of claim 1 wherein said signal developing means includes circuit means for preventing erroneous milking state output signals to said utilization means for a predetermined period of time after said milking apparatus is placed in operation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The temperature responsive system of claim 1 wherein said utilization means includes indicating means for indicating animal abnormalities occurring during milking.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The temperature responsive system of claim 1 wherein said utilization means includes indicating means for providing an indication of completion of milking.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The temperature responsive system of claim 1 further including manual operating means for bypassing control by said temperature sensing means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
The temperature responsive system of claim 1 wherein said utilization means includes means for controlling said milking apparatus to automatically terminate milking when an output signal is received from said signal developing means indicating sensed temperatures beyond a predetermined level.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
115 words
The temperature responsive system of claim 1 further including a plurality of milk receiving and conducting means for receiving milk from an animal being milked at a milking area and conducting the received milk from said area at least initially in separate paths, and further including a plurality of temperature sensing means for individually sensing the temperature of milk in each said path, a plurality of signal developing means, each of which is connected with a different one of said temperature sensing means, and a plurality of utilization means each of which is connected with a different one of said signal developing means whereby said animal can be milked in a predetermined pattern and manner.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
65 words
A method for controlling the flow of milk in a milking apparatus said method comprising: sensing the temperature of the milk within the milking apparatus; developing a signal based upon said sensed temperature that is indicative of the rate of milk flow within said milking apparatus; and utilizing said developed signal to vary the rate of milk flow and thereby operationally control said milking apparatus.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
65 words
A method for controlling the flow of milk in a milking apparatus said method comprising: sensing the temperature of the milk within the milking apparatus; developing a signal based upon said sensed temperature that is indicative of the rate of milk flow within said milking apparatus; and utilizing said developed signal to vary the rate of milk flow and thereby operationally control said milking apparatus.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 18 further including utilizing said developed signal by indicating animal abnormalities during milking and completion of milking.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method fo claim 18 wherein utilizing said developed signal to vary the rate of milk flow includes terminating the milking operation when sensed tempertures indicate completion of milking.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
113 words
A temperature responsive system for a milking apparatus having milk receiving and conducting received milk from said area, said system comprising: temperature sensing means having at least a portion at said receiving and conducting means for sensing the temperature of milk within said receiving and conducting means and providing an output indicative thereof; comparator means for receiving said output from said temperature sensing means and providing a predetermined output when said input signal reaches a predetermined level; signal processing means connected with said comparator means and providing a processed output signal indicative of output received from said comparator means; and utilization means connected with said processing means for receiving the output signal therefrom.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
113 words
A temperature responsive system for a milking apparatus having milk receiving and conducting received milk from said area, said system comprising: temperature sensing means having at least a portion at said receiving and conducting means for sensing the temperature of milk within said receiving and conducting means and providing an output indicative thereof; comparator means for receiving said output from said temperature sensing means and providing a predetermined output when said input signal reaches a predetermined level; signal processing means connected with said comparator means and providing a processed output signal indicative of output received from said comparator means; and utilization means connected with said processing means for receiving the output signal therefrom.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
The temperature responsive system of claim 21 wherein said system includes a second comparator receiving the output from said temperature sensing means and providing a predetermined output when said iNput reaches a second predetermined level.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
50 words
The temperature responsive system of claim 21 wherein said milking apparatus includes means providing separate milk paths from predetermined teats of an animal being milked, and wherein a temperature responsive system is provided for each of said milk paths to enable individualized miling of each animal in a predetermined manner.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
301 words
The temperature responsive system for a milking apparatus having milk receiving and conducting means for receiving milk from an animal being milked at a milking area and conducting received milk from said area, said system comprising: temperature sensing means including a bridge circuit one leg of which has at least one temperature sensing element within said receiving and conducting means for sensing the temperture of milk within said receiving and conducting means; a first comparator connected with said bridge circuit and providing a predetermined output when a predetermined level of input signal is reached; a one shot multivibrator connected to receive the output from said first comparator; first indicating means connected to receive the output from said one shot multivibrator for indicating an animal abnormality sensed during milking by said temperature sensing means; a trigger pulse circuit connected to receive the output from said one shot multivibrator; an audio indicator circuit connected to receive the output from said trigger pulse circuit and provide audible indications of a sensed animal abnormality when an abnormality is sensed by said temperature sensing means; a second comparator connected to receive the output from said brideg circuit, and providing a predetermined output when a predetermined level of input signal is reached; a differential amplifier connected to receive the output from said second comparator; second indicator means connected to said differential amplifier to indicate completion of milking when an output is received from said differential amplifier; a second trigger pulse circuit connected to receive the output from said differential amplifier; delay and inhibit circuit means connected to receive the output from said second trigger pulse circuit and said differential amplifier; and control means for controlling the operation of said milking apparatus to terminate milking when an output is received from said delay circuit indicating completio of milking.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
301 words
The temperature responsive system for a milking apparatus having milk receiving and conducting means for receiving milk from an animal being milked at a milking area and conducting received milk from said area, said system comprising: temperature sensing means including a bridge circuit one leg of which has at least one temperature sensing element within said receiving and conducting means for sensing the temperture of milk within said receiving and conducting means; a first comparator connected with said bridge circuit and providing a predetermined output when a predetermined level of input signal is reached; a one shot multivibrator connected to receive the output from said first comparator; first indicating means connected to receive the output from said one shot multivibrator for indicating an animal abnormality sensed during milking by said temperature sensing means; a trigger pulse circuit connected to receive the output from said one shot multivibrator; an audio indicator circuit connected to receive the output from said trigger pulse circuit and provide audible indications of a sensed animal abnormality when an abnormality is sensed by said temperature sensing means; a second comparator connected to receive the output from said brideg circuit, and providing a predetermined output when a predetermined level of input signal is reached; a differential amplifier connected to receive the output from said second comparator; second indicator means connected to said differential amplifier to indicate completion of milking when an output is received from said differential amplifier; a second trigger pulse circuit connected to receive the output from said differential amplifier; delay and inhibit circuit means connected to receive the output from said second trigger pulse circuit and said differential amplifier; and control means for controlling the operation of said milking apparatus to terminate milking when an output is received from said delay circuit indicating completio of milking.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
The temperature responsive system of claim 24 wherein said system includes means for bypassing said contrl means whereby manual termination of milking is provided.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
40 words
The temperature control system of claim 24 wherein said control means provides an output signal suitable for causing said milking machine to be automatically withdrawn from the animal being milked when an output signal is coupled from said control means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
The temperature control system of claim 24 wherein said bridge circuit includes a second temperature sensing element for providing automatic compensation for ambient temperature variation.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-31 | 1978-09-30 | 1979-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-31 | 1982-09-30 | 1983-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-31 | 1986-09-30 | 1987-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |