AU2014274616B2 - A Milking Platform - Google Patents
A Milking Platform Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- AU2014274616B2 AU2014274616B2 AU2014274616A AU2014274616A AU2014274616B2 AU 2014274616 B2 AU2014274616 B2 AU 2014274616B2 AU 2014274616 A AU2014274616 A AU 2014274616A AU 2014274616 A AU2014274616 A AU 2014274616A AU 2014274616 B2 AU2014274616 B2 AU 2014274616B2
- Authority
- AU
- Australia
- Prior art keywords
- roller
- milking platform
- platform according
- rotary milking
- rollers
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Ceased
Links
Abstract
A rotary milking platform has: a) a deck 1 suitable for supporting cows for milking; 5 b) an I' beam 2 arranged to support the deck 1; and c) a plurality of rollers 4 arranged to take at least a substantial amount of the weight of the beam 2 as it moves in a generally rotary fashion; characterised in that each roller 4 is adapted to automatically orient itself to distribute the weight of the beam 2 generally evenly over the roller 4 to avoid or substantially 10 reduce point loading between the beam 2 and the roller 4 in the event that a least part of the beam 2 is not level.
Description
TITLE
A Milking Platform FIELD OF INVENTION A preferred form of this invention relates to a rotary milking platform suitable for use with dairy cows. The platform may however have other applications, and so its preferred forms or uses should not be seen as limiting of the invention.
BACKGROUND
Rotary dairy milking platforms are well known. They typically involve a large disc-like deck which rotates to move cows through a milking procedure. The deck is supported on a circular beam which is in turn supported on a series of rollers. When in use the beam rotates over the rollers and this can lead to it becoming undesirably worn. The wear may be quite severe if the beam gets out of level because in that case there is often substantial point loading between the beam and the rollers. It is accordingly an object of a preferred form of the invention to go at least some way towards addressing this problem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a rotary milking platform having: a) a deck suitable for supporting cows for milking; b) a beam arranged to support the deck; and c) a plurality of rollers arranged to take at least a substantial amount of the weight of the beam as the beam moves in a generally rotary fashion; characterised in that each roller is adapted to automatically orient itself to distribute the weight of the beam generally evenly over the roller to avoid or substantially reduce point loading between the beam and the roller in the event that a least part of the beam is not level.
Optionally each roller is arranged to enable it to tilt from side to side to reduce or avoid point loading between the beam and the rollers.
Optionally each roller is arranged to tilt in response to contact from an uneven part of the beam so as to maintain substantially even contact between the roller and the beam if at least part of the beam is uneven.
Optionally each roller is mounted in a cradle which can tilt, to in turn cause the roller to tilt.
Optionally each cradle is generally U shaped.
Optionally each cradle is mounted on a load bearing pedestal.
Optionally each cradle has a pivot axis which is at right angles to the axis of rotation of its roller.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE IMAGES
Some preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying images, of which:
Figure 1 is an isometric view of a rotary milking platform;
Figure 2 is an isometric view of part of the substructure of the platform;
Figure 3 is a side view of part of the substructure;
Figure 4 is an end view of part of the substructure;
Figure 5 illustrates a beam of the platform;
Figure 6 illustrates the pivoting motion of a roller of the platform; and Figure 7 is a plan view of part of the substructure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to figure 1, the milking platform has a deck 1 on which cows can stand while being milked. The deck 1 is supported on a load bearing I beam joined at each end to form a circle. A small part of the beam 2 is shown in in figures 2-4, and it is illustrated in full at figure 5. It lays on a series of spaced rollers. In figure 2 the roller is obscured by a safety shroud 3, but it is visible in part at reference number 4 in figures 3, 4 and 7. When the milking platform is in use the beam 2 rotates over the rollers to, in turn, rotate the deck to move the cows through a milking cycle.
As illustrated in figure 4, the beam 2 incorporates a wear resistant strip 5 which can be replaced when worn out. This helps to save the more structural parts of the beam from premature aging due to friction between it and the rollers.
Referring to figures 2, 3 and 4, each roller 4 rotates about its axis 6 as the beam 2 rotates over it. If the beam 2 is or becomes out of level or otherwise uneven, then there can be significant point loading between the beam and the roller. The loading may cause the wear strip 5 of the beam and/or the roller to wear relatively fast. A prematurely worn beam or rollers can lead to expensive repairs and milking downtime. Undue downtime can be especially detrimental because dairy cows normally need to be milked regularly to reduce the risk of them developing mastitis or drying out. To address this problem the rollers 4 are arranged so that they can continuously and automatically tilt side to side if uneven parts of the beam 2 bear down on them. The tilt is such that it keeps a wide span of the roller 4 in contact with the beam 2 to avoid, or at least reduce, point loading. This is illustrated in figure 6, where the roller 4 is firstly shown when it is level, then when it is tilted one way, and then the other way.
The tilting ability of the roller 4 is, in the embodiment illustrated, facilitated by mounting it in a generally U shaped cradle 7, although other ways of mounting can be employed if desired. The cradle pivots on an axis 8 which is at right angles to the rotational axis 6 of the roller 4.
As also shown in figures 2, 3 and 4, the cradle 7, and therefore the roller 4, is supported by a pile like pillar 9. The pillar 9 is telescopically height adjustable by way of threaded bolts 10 and nuts 11. As best seen in figure 4, the pillar 9 also supports a cantilevered arm 12 with a retainer roller 13 to help keep the beam 2 from moving laterally off the rollers 4 as it rotates with the deck 1.
Preferably the bottom of each pillar 9 is grub-screwed at its four corners 14 to a plate (not shown) set in a concrete foundation slab (not shown). Referring to figure 2, by adjusting the grub screws 15, or in some cases removing one or more of them altogether, the pillar 9 can be readily levelled.
Referring to figure 7, the substructure includes means to apply oil to lubricate the beam 2 as it rotates. This is facilitated by an oil reticulation tube as shown at 16.
While some preferred embodiments of the invention have been described by way of example it should be appreciated that modifications and improvements can occur without departing from the scope of the following claims.
Claims (7)
- CLAIMS:1. A rotary milking platform having: a) a deck suitable for supporting cows for milking; b) a beam arranged to support the deck; and c) a plurality of rollers arranged to take at least a substantial amount of the weight of the beam as the beam moves in a generally rotary fashion; characterised in that each roller is adapted to automatically orient itself to distribute the weight of the beam generally evenly over the roller to avoid or substantially reduce point loading between the beam and the roller in the event that a least part of the beam is not level.
- 2. A rotary milking platform according to claim 1, where each roller is arranged to enable it to tilt from side to side to reduce or avoid point loading between the beam and the rollers.
- 3. A rotary milking platform according to claim 1 or 2, where each rollers is arranged to tilt in response to contact from an uneven part of the beam so as to maintain substantially even contact between the roller and the beam if at least part of the beam is uneven.
- 4. A rotary milking platform according to claim 1,2 or 3, where each roller is mounted in a cradle which can tilt, to in turn cause the roller to tilt.
- 5. A rotary milking platform according to claim 4, where each cradle is generally U shaped.
- 6. A rotary milking platform according to claim 4 or 5, where each cradle is mounted on a load bearing pedestal.
- 7. A rotary milking platform according to claim 4, 5 or 6, where each cradle has a pivot axis which is at right angles to the axis of rotation of its roller.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
NZ62127714 | 2014-02-14 | ||
NZ621277 | 2014-02-14 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
AU2014274616A1 AU2014274616A1 (en) | 2015-09-03 |
AU2014274616B2 true AU2014274616B2 (en) | 2016-10-06 |
Family
ID=54011299
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
AU2014274616A Ceased AU2014274616B2 (en) | 2014-02-14 | 2014-12-12 | A Milking Platform |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
AU (1) | AU2014274616B2 (en) |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB1398596A (en) * | 1972-05-03 | 1975-06-25 | Hosier Equipment Collingbourne | Rotary milking and or treatment apparatus |
CA2218464A1 (en) * | 1997-10-08 | 1998-02-19 | O&O Structor Limited | Method for transforming rigid support |
WO2007114778A1 (en) * | 2006-04-03 | 2007-10-11 | Delaval Holding Ab | A rotary parlour for milking of animals |
US20090266301A1 (en) * | 2006-07-27 | 2009-10-29 | Delaval Holding Ab | Rotary parlour for milking of animals |
-
2014
- 2014-12-12 AU AU2014274616A patent/AU2014274616B2/en not_active Ceased
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB1398596A (en) * | 1972-05-03 | 1975-06-25 | Hosier Equipment Collingbourne | Rotary milking and or treatment apparatus |
CA2218464A1 (en) * | 1997-10-08 | 1998-02-19 | O&O Structor Limited | Method for transforming rigid support |
WO2007114778A1 (en) * | 2006-04-03 | 2007-10-11 | Delaval Holding Ab | A rotary parlour for milking of animals |
US20090266301A1 (en) * | 2006-07-27 | 2009-10-29 | Delaval Holding Ab | Rotary parlour for milking of animals |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
AU2014274616A1 (en) | 2015-09-03 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
CN204802753U (en) | Interval adjustable cable winding device | |
NL2016168B1 (en) | Device and method for manipulating a rotor blade of a wind turbine. | |
KR101128321B1 (en) | Pipe support for form work | |
AU2011326666B2 (en) | Mobile sizing station | |
GB2523229A (en) | A milking platform | |
US10011442B2 (en) | Bin sweep support | |
KR20120096631A (en) | Leveling device for heavy weight machinery | |
RU2017101959A (en) | MODULAR GYRATION RATTER | |
AU2014274616B2 (en) | A Milking Platform | |
US20160309679A1 (en) | Milking platform | |
RU2676363C2 (en) | Device and method for cooling roller | |
NZ621244B (en) | A Milking Platform | |
KR101611483B1 (en) | Blance keeping apparatus for movable weir | |
US7017220B2 (en) | Spring counterbalance method and apparatus for variably biasing a dock leveler | |
RU2340533C1 (en) | Conveyer belt centering device | |
KR101790972B1 (en) | Wire drum protection means a disk-type drum drive device provided is and Stage device equipped with this | |
US10245591B2 (en) | Bearing element suitable for supporting a grinding table in a roller mill | |
KR101820956B1 (en) | System scaffold with height adjustable structure | |
RU2632554C1 (en) | Transmission stand | |
CN105775808A (en) | Disc type winding-unwinding compound machine capable of adjusting horizontal position | |
JP5422324B2 (en) | Care nut or discharge screw support nut wear detection method and apparatus provided in solid culture apparatus | |
CN205312840U (en) | Stopper loading and unloading anchor clamps | |
KR20120107328A (en) | A stationary lifter swivel horizontally | |
JP6281710B2 (en) | Stopper for preventing the reverse of the ladle | |
CA2384008A1 (en) | A self adjusting dual caster support system |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
FGA | Letters patent sealed or granted (standard patent) | ||
MK14 | Patent ceased section 143(a) (annual fees not paid) or expired |