Method and apparatus for introducing air into a vacuum milking system during the washing cycle

Claim 2

A valve assembly comprising: a first housing member (16) having a first interior chamber therein (56) and a flange (22), said first housing member adapted for connection to a vacuum line; a second housing member (14) having a second interior chamber therein (62) and a flange (20); a flexible diaphragm means mounted between the flanges of said first and second housing members and positioned with one side facing said first interior chamber and with the other side facing said second interior chamber, said diaphragm adapted to move between an unflexed position and a flexed position in response to forces exerted on opposite sides thereof, the effective surface area of said diaphragm means facing said second interior chamber being greater than the effective surface area facing said first interior chamber; valve means (26) mounted on said diaphragm means to place said first interior chamber in communication with the atmosphere through a plurality of openings (36) in said first housing flange when said diaphragm is in its flexed position and to cut off said first interior chamber from the atmosphere when said diaphragm means is in its unflexed position; and a control valve means (12) operable to selectively place said second interior chamber in communication with the atmosphere wherein said diaphragm means is forced to assume its unflexed position and to alternatively place said second interior chamber in communication with the vacuum in said first interior chamber wherein said diaphragm means is forced to assume its flexed position.

Claim 3

A valve assembly according to claim 1 in which said control valve means is comprised of a solenoid operator (46) and a valve body (48) having a first port (50) open to the atmosphere, a second port (52) connected to said first interior chamber, and a third port (54) connected to said second interior chamber, said control valve means further including a three-way valve mechanism in said body portion in which is operable when said solenoid operator is deenergized to place said third port in communication with the atmosphere through said first port and to simultaneously close said second port, said control valve means being further operable when said solenoid is energized to place said second port in communication with said third port and to simultaneously close said first port.

Claim 4

A valve assembly according to claim 1 in which said second port is connected to said first interior chamber by a tubular member.

Claim 5

A valve assembly according to claim 1 in which said third port is connected to said second interior chamber by a tubular member.

Claim 6

A valve assembly comprising: a first housing member (16) having a first interior chamber therein (56) and a flange (22), said first housing member adapted for connection to a vacuum line; a second housing member (14) having a second interior chamber therein (62) and a flange (20); a flexible diaphragm means mounted between said flanges of said first and second housing members and positioned with one side facing said first interior chamber and with the other side facing said second interior chamber, said diaphragm adapted to move between an unflexed position and a flexed position in response to forces exerted on opposite sides thereof, the effective surface area of said diaphragm means facing said second interior chamber being greater than the effective surface area facing said first interior chamber; valve means (26) mounted on said diaphragm means to place said first interior chamber in communication with the atmosphere through a plurality of openings (36) in said first housing flange when said diaphragm is in its flexed position and to cut off said first interior chamber from the atmosphere when said diaphragm means is in its unflexed position; an adjustment plate (37) mounted adjacent said first housing flange and having a plurality of openings therein in which are spaced and sized approximately the same as said openings in said first housing flange so that when said adjustment plate is rotated with respect to said flange the effective size of the openings through said flange and plate will be varied; and a control valve means (12) operable to selectively place said second interior chamber in communication with the atmosphere wherein said diaphragm means is forced to assume its unflexed position and to alternatively place said second interior chamber in communication with the vacuum in said first interior chamber wherein said diaphragm means is forced to assume its flexed position.

Claim 7

A valve assembly comprising: a first housing member (16) having a first interior chamber therein (56) and a flange (22), said first housing member adapted for connection to a vacuum line; a second housing member (14) having a second interior chamber therein (62) and a flange (20); a flexible diaphragm means mounted between said flanges of said first and second housing members and positioned with one side facing said first interior chamber and with the other side facing said second interior chamber, said diaphragm adapted to move between an unflexed position and a flexed position in response to forces exerted on opposite sides thereof, the effective surface area of said diaphragm means facing said second interior chamber being greater than the effective surface area facing said first interior chamber; valve means (26) mounted on said diaphragm means to place said first interior chamber in communication with the atmosphere through a plurality of openings (36) in said first housing flange when said diaphragm is in its flexed position and to cut off said first interior chamber from the atmosphere when said diaphragm means is in its unflexed position; an adjustment plate (37) mounted adjacent said first housing flange and having a plurality of openings therein in which are spaced and sized approximately the same as said openings in said first housing flange so that when said adjustment plate is rotated with respect to said flange the effective size of the openings through said flange and plate will be varied; and a control valve means (12) operable to selectively place said second interior chamber in communication with the atmosphere wherein said diaphragm means is forced to assume its unflexed position and to alternatively place said second interior chamber in communication with the vacuum in said first interior chamber wherein said diaphragm means is forced to assume its flexed position.

Claim 8

A valve assembly according to claim 5 in which said control valve means is comprised of a solenoid operator (46) and a valve body (48) having a first port (50) open to the atmosphere, a second port (52) connected to said first interior chamber, and a third port (54) connected to said second interior chamber, said control valve means further including a three-way valve mechanism in said body portion which is operable when said solenoid operator is deenergized to place said third port in communication with the atmosphere through said first port and to simultaneously close said second port, said control valve means being further operable when said solenoid is energized to place said second port in communication with said third port and to simultaneously close said first port.