US3986482A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Liquid flow control arrangements
Assignee: SIMPLEX OF CAMBRIDGE Ltd
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Filing: 1975-06-18
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Granted: 1976-10-19
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Expires: 1995-06-18
Abstract
Abstract A control device designed to be responsive to a change in the rate of flow of liquid in a flow line, for example milk in the flow line of an animal milking machine, between a relatively high value and a relatively low value, including a vessel through which the liquid is arranged to pass and in which it can attain different levels, and a control member movable in response to the change in volume of liquid in the vessel between a first position into which it is biased when the vessel is empty, and a second position into which it is arranged to move when the vessel is full, the vessel having in its lower part an aperture through which liquid can flow out of the vessel, and the arrangement, including the size of the aperture, being such that when the liquid flow rate changes from the relatively low to the relatively high value the vessel fills and the control member, which may be the vessel itself or a float, moves to its second position, and when the liquid flow rate changes from the relatively high to the relatively low value to the vessel empties through the aperture and the control member moves to its first position under the action of the biasing force, the device including a mechanism having a trigger release arrangement operable in response to movement of the control member between its two positions to actuate control means.
Inventors
- 👤 Karel Novak
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 12:23
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01J; A01J5/00; A01J5/017; G; G05; G05D; G05D7/00; G05D7/01; G05D7/0193
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
308 words
A control device designed to be responsive to a change in the rate of flow of liquid in a flow line between a relatively high value and a relatively low value, said device including A. a vessel through which the liquid is arranged to pass and in which it can attain different levels, B. a control member a. movable in response to the change in volume of liquid in the vessel i. between a first position into which it is biased when the vessel is empty, and ii. a second position into which it is arranged to move when the vessel is full, C. the vessel having in its lower part an aperture through which liquid can flow out of the vessel, and D. the arrangement, inchuding the size of the aperture, being such that a. when the liquid flow rate changes from the relatively low to the relatively high value the vessel fills and the control member moves to its second position, and b. when the liquid flow rate changes from the relatively high to the relatively low value the vessel empties through the aperture and the control member moves to its first position under the action of the biasing force, and E. a mechanism responsive to movement of the control member between its two positions to actuate control means, said mechanism including a. an actuating member b. means coupling said actuating member to said control means, C. a trigger element adapted to hold said actuating member in a loaded position against the action of a biasing force, d. a trigger release member, the control member being coupled to said trigger release member, e. said trigger release member being operative upon movement of the control member from its second to its first position to release the actuating member and so cause it to actuate said control means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
308 words
A control device designed to be responsive to a change in the rate of flow of liquid in a flow line between a relatively high value and a relatively low value, said device including A. a vessel through which the liquid is arranged to pass and in which it can attain different levels, B. a control member a. movable in response to the change in volume of liquid in the vessel i. between a first position into which it is biased when the vessel is empty, and ii. a second position into which it is arranged to move when the vessel is full, C. the vessel having in its lower part an aperture through which liquid can flow out of the vessel, and D. the arrangement, inchuding the size of the aperture, being such that a. when the liquid flow rate changes from the relatively low to the relatively high value the vessel fills and the control member moves to its second position, and b. when the liquid flow rate changes from the relatively high to the relatively low value the vessel empties through the aperture and the control member moves to its first position under the action of the biasing force, and E. a mechanism responsive to movement of the control member between its two positions to actuate control means, said mechanism including a. an actuating member b. means coupling said actuating member to said control means, C. a trigger element adapted to hold said actuating member in a loaded position against the action of a biasing force, d. a trigger release member, the control member being coupled to said trigger release member, e. said trigger release member being operative upon movement of the control member from its second to its first position to release the actuating member and so cause it to actuate said control means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
110 words
A control device according to claim 1 wherein the control member consists of the vessel itself which is arranged to be biased into an upper (i.e. first) position at the lower liquid flow rate and to move under gravity to a lower (i.e. second) position at the higher liquid flow rate, and which vessel is contained within an outer container within which it is arranged to move and into which the liquid flowing through said aperture, and otherwise from the vessel at the relatively high flow rate, is arranged to pass and which has an outlet capable of passing the whole of the liquid at the relatively high flow rate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A control device according to claim 1 wherein the control member consists of a float which rests on the surface of the liquid in the vessel and rises to its second position or falls to its first position with the liquid level.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
A control device according to claim 1, wherein said actuating member comprises a pivotted control lever having a weighted end which is arranged to drop from an upper position at which the lever is loaded to a lower position upon release of said trigger element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
101 words
A control device according to claim 4, wherein the control member is biased into its first position by a second pivotted lever having a weighted end which provides the member biassing force, the arrangement being such that an upper position of the said second lever corresponds to the second position of the control member and a lower position of said second lever corresponds to the first position of the control member, and such that movement of said second lever from its upper to its lower position causes said trigger release member to operate the trigger element and release the control lever.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
86 words
A control device according to claim 5, wherein the trigger release member is pivotted on an extension of said second lever beyond its pivot and away from its weighted end, and is formed with a shoulder such that on movement of the second lever from its lower to its upper position the shoulder engages with the trigger element so that upon subsequent movement of the second lever from its upper to its lower position the trigger element is operated by the upward pull of the shoulder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
71 words
A control device according to claim 6, wherein the control lever carries a pawl by means of which it is held in its loaded upper position by the engagement of the pawl in a detent carried by the trigger element, the latter being of resilient cantilever form so as to return to its initial position after being raised by the trigger release member shoulder to allow the control lever to fall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A control device according to claim 1 wherein the mechanism is arranged to open or close a valve between the inlet and outlet of a gas flow passage carried by the device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
93 words
A milking machine comprising a teat-cup cluster arranged to be applied to the tests of an animal's udder during the milking operation, and vacuum means connectable to the teat-cup cluster through a flow line for drawing milk from the udder in use of the machine, the machine incorporating a control device according to claim 1 arranged to control actuating means for withdrawing the teat-cup cluster from the animal's udder when the rate of flow of milk in the flow line falls below a predetermined low value corresponding to completion of the milking operation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
68 words
A milking machine according to claim 9, wherein said control means of the control device is operative, when actuated, to cut off the vacuum to the teat-cup cluster and to apply a vacuum to a piston and cylinder arrangement the pistion of which is connected to the teat-cup cluster and arranged to withdraw the teat-cup cluster from the animal's udder when the vacuum is applied to the cylinder.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
100 words
A milking machine according to claim 10 wherein the teat-cup cluster carries a vacuum shut-off valve having a closure member normally biased into its open position, and the piston of the piston and cylinder arrangement is coupled to the teat-cup cluster via said closure member by a flexible cable, the arrangement being such that upon application of a vacuum to the piston and cylinder arrangement, the piston pulls on the cable to draw the closure member into its closed position and thereby cut off the vacuum to the teat-cup cluster, and subsequently withdraws the teat-cup cluster from the animals's udder.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
69 words
A milking machine according to claim 10, wherein said control means includes a valve carried by the control device and connected in a gas flow passage between said vacuum means and the piston and cylinder arrangement, the control device being operable too actuate the valve to apply a vacuum to the cylinder when the rate of flow of milk in the flow line falls below said predetermined low value.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A milking machine according to claim 12, wherein said valve is also arranged, upon actuation, to disconnect the vacuum means from the teat-cup cluster so as to release it from the animal's udder.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
89 words
A milking machine according to claim 13, wherein said valve is connected in a gas flow passage between the vacuum means and a milk collecting jar connected to the downstream end of said flow line, so that the vacuum means is connectable to the teat-cup cluster through the milk collecting jar, the milk collecting jar having in its base an outlet aperture connectable to a vacuum milk pipeline for withdrawing milk from the collecting jar following actuation of the valve to disconnect the vacuum means from the teat-cup cluster.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
51 words
A milking machine according to claim 14, wherein the milk collecting jar includes a sealing member arranged to float on the surface of milk contained within the collecting jar, in use of the machine, and to automatically seat over, and seal the said outlet aperture when the collecting jar becomes empty.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
129 words
A milking machine according to claim 15, including a milk flow control valve connected in a milk flow passage between the outlet aperture of the collecting jar and the vacuum milk pipeline and controllable by a vacuum operated actuating means connected to the gas flow passage between the valve of the control means and the teat-cup cluster, the arrangement being such that when the vacuum means is connected to the teat-cup cluster, vacuum is also applied to the vacuum operated actuating means whereby to close said milk flow control valve, and when the vacuum means is disconnected from the teat-cup cluster, upon actuation of the valve of the control means, the milk flow control valve is arranged to be opened by the release of the vacuum operated actuating means.
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) | 1979-10-19 | 1980-04-19 | 1980-10-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-10-19 | 1984-04-19 | 1984-10-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-10-19 | 1988-04-19 | 1988-10-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |