US3893422A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Milking unit support and detacher mechanism
Assignee: Dec International Inc
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Filing: 1974-05-10
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Granted: 1975-07-08
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Expires: 1994-05-10
Abstract
Abstract A milking unit support and detacher mechanism including a vertical column assembly and a horizontally extending retractable milker unit support assembly mounted at the lower end of the column assembly. The vertical column assembly is comprised of an outer tubular jacket and an inner support tube slidably mounted inside the jacket. The inner support tube is supported for vertical movement by means of a threaded rod, the upper end of which is supported from and drivingly connected to motor gear box unit. The lower end of the rod is threaded through an internally threaded collar secured to the top of the support tube. The retractable milker unit support assembly is comprised of four link members pivotally connected together in end-to-end relationship. The link assembly is retracted by means of a ball chain fastened at one end to the end link member and threaded back through openings in the two link members next adjacent the end link member. The other end of the chain link is connected to rotatably mounted hub member. The ball chain is reeled up on the hub by a motor drive to thereby cause the link members to fold up on themselves which in turn will cause the milker unit to be retracted from underneath the cow.
Inventors
- 👤 James J Schnitzler
- 👤 Gary W Schluckbier
- 👤 Paul E Krueger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 21:24
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01J; A01J5/00; A01J5/017
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
A milking unit support and detacher mechanism comprising: a main support assembly; a horizontally extending retractable milking unit support assembly mounted on said main support assembly, said milker unit support assembly comprising a plurality of horizontally extending link members pivotally connected together in end-toend relationship and adapted to support a milker unit on the outer end thereof when the milker unit is attached to a cow for milking, a flexible retract member fastened to one end to the end link member and threaded back through openings in at least two of the other link members, and retract means for pulling on said flexible retract member to cause said link members to fold up on themselves which in turn will cause the milker unit to be retracted from underneath the cow; and a control means for automatically initiating the actuation of said retract means at a predetermined point in the milking cycle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
A milking unit support and detacher mechanism comprising: a main support assembly; a horizontally extending retractable milking unit support assembly mounted on said main support assembly, said milker unit support assembly comprising a plurality of horizontally extending link members pivotally connected together in end-toend relationship and adapted to support a milker unit on the outer end thereof when the milker unit is attached to a cow for milking, a flexible retract member fastened to one end to the end link member and threaded back through openings in at least two of the other link members, and retract means for pulling on said flexible retract member to cause said link members to fold up on themselves which in turn will cause the milker unit to be retracted from underneath the cow; and a control means for automatically initiating the actuation of said retract means at a predetermined point in the milking cycle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
A milking unit support and detacher mechanism according to claim 1 in which said retract means is comprised of a rotatably mounted hub member and a drive motor therefor, said flexible retract member adapted to be reeled up on said hub member when said hub member is rotated by said drive motor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A milking unit support and detacher mechanism according to claim 2 in which said milker unit support assembly further includes a guide tube mounted adjacent said hub member through which said flexible retract member extends.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A milking unit support and detacher mechanism according to claim 1 in which said milker unit support assembly is comprised of four link members with said flexible retract member threaded through openings in the two link members next adjacent said end link member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
A milking unit support and detacher mechanism according to claim 1 in which at least two of said link members have offset portions thereon for housing the pivotal connections to the adjacent link, said offset portions being positioned so that when the link assembly is fully retracted the links will assume a compact, parallel relationship.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A milking unit support and detacher mechanism according to claim 1 in which said main support assembly includes a vertical adjustment means for adjusting the vertical elevation of said milker unit support assembly mounted thereon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
A milking unit support and detacher mechanism according to claim 6 in which said vertical adjustment means includes a vertically extending support member on which said milker unit support assembly is mounted at the lower end thereof and a lift means operatively connected to said vertical support member to drive it up or down as desired.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
A milking unit support and detacher mechanism according to claim 7 in which said lift means is comprised of a motor drivingly connected to said vertical extending support member by a threaded rod engaged with an internally threaded collar fastened to said vertical support member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A milking unit support and detacher mechanism according to claim 8 in which said main support assembly further includes a tubular jacket member inside of which said vertically extending support member and threaded rod are mounted.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A milking unit support and detacher mechanism according to claim 1 in which said control means is operative to shut off the vacuum to the milker unit before said retract means operates to cause said retractable milking unit support assembly to be retracted.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
A milking unit support and detacher mechanism according to claim 6 in which said control means is operative to automatically actuate said vertical adjustment means in the up direction when said milker unit support assembly is retracted to thereby reduce the likelihood of contact between the milker unit and the ground during retraction thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
A milking unit support aNd detacher mechanism according to claim 11 in which the operation of said vertical adjustment means in the up direction is automatically terminated at a predetermined vertical elevation of said milker unit support assembly.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
A milking unit support and detacher mechanism according to claim 1 in which said retractable milking unit support assembly is mounted on said main support assembly by means of a friction clutch assembly to prevent damage to the mechanism should the retractable milking unit support assembly by subjected to a shock force such as a kick from a cow.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
204 words
A milking unit support and detacher mechanism comprising: a main support assembly including a tubular jacket member and a support member slidably mounted therein, said assembly further including a vertical adjustment means for adjusting the vertical position of the support member in the jacket, said adjustment means including a lift motor operatively connected to the support member by a threaded rod; a horizontally extending retractable milking unit support assembly mounted on the lower end of said support member, said milker unit support assembly comprising four horizontally extending link members pivotally connected together in end-to-end relationship and adapted to support a milker unit on the end link thereof when the milker unit is attached to a cow for milking, a flexible retract member fastened at one end to the end link member and threaded back through openings in the two link members next adjacent said end link member, and a retract means for pulling on said flexible retract member to cause said link members to fold up on themselves which in turn will cause the milker unit to be retracted from underneath the cow; and a control means for automatically initiating the actuation of said retract means at a predetermined point in the milking cycle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
204 words
A milking unit support and detacher mechanism comprising: a main support assembly including a tubular jacket member and a support member slidably mounted therein, said assembly further including a vertical adjustment means for adjusting the vertical position of the support member in the jacket, said adjustment means including a lift motor operatively connected to the support member by a threaded rod; a horizontally extending retractable milking unit support assembly mounted on the lower end of said support member, said milker unit support assembly comprising four horizontally extending link members pivotally connected together in end-to-end relationship and adapted to support a milker unit on the end link thereof when the milker unit is attached to a cow for milking, a flexible retract member fastened at one end to the end link member and threaded back through openings in the two link members next adjacent said end link member, and a retract means for pulling on said flexible retract member to cause said link members to fold up on themselves which in turn will cause the milker unit to be retracted from underneath the cow; and a control means for automatically initiating the actuation of said retract means at a predetermined point in the milking cycle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
52 words
A milking unit support and detacher mechanism according to claim 14 in which said retract means is comprised of a rotatably mounted hub member and a drive motor therefor, said flexible retract member adapted to be reeled up on said hub member when said hub member is rotated by said drive motor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
A milking unit support and detacher mechanism according to claim 14 in which said control means is operative to shut off the vacuum to the milker unit before said retract means operates to cause said retractable milking unit support assembly to be retracted.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
55 words
A milking unit support and detacher mechanism according to claim 16 in which said control means is further operative to automatically actuate said vertical adjustment means in the up direction when said milker unit support assembly is retracted to thereby reduce the likelihood of contact between the milker unit and the ground during retraction thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
A milking unit support and detacher mechanism according to claim 17 in which the operation of said vertical adjustment means in the up direction is automatically terminated at a predetermined vertical elevation of said milker unit support assembly.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
47 words
A milking unit support and detacher mechanism according to claim 18 in which the automatic termination of the vertical adjustment means is produced by the cooperation between a permanent magnet member attached to said vertical support member and a reed switch mounted on said tubular jacket member.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
59 words
A milking unit support and detacher mechanism according to claim 14 in which said retractable milking unit support assembly is mounted on said main support assembly by means of a friction clutch assembly to prevent damage to the mechanism should the retractable milking unit support assembly be subjected to a shock force such as a kick from a cow.
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) | 1978-07-07 | 1979-01-06 | 1979-07-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-07 | 1983-01-06 | 1983-07-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-07 | 1987-01-06 | 1987-07-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |