CA1130391A - Device for indicate oestrus and/or illness in cows - Google Patents
Device for indicate oestrus and/or illness in cowsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1130391A CA1130391A CA332,440A CA332440A CA1130391A CA 1130391 A CA1130391 A CA 1130391A CA 332440 A CA332440 A CA 332440A CA 1130391 A CA1130391 A CA 1130391A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- temperature
- sensing element
- cow
- temperature sensing
- improved apparatus
- 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.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01K—MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G01K3/00—Thermometers giving results other than momentary value of temperature
- G01K3/005—Circuits arrangements for indicating a predetermined temperature
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61D—VETERINARY INSTRUMENTS, IMPLEMENTS, TOOLS, OR METHODS
- A61D17/00—Devices for indicating trouble during labour of animals ; Methods or instruments for detecting pregnancy-related states of animals
- A61D17/002—Devices for indicating trouble during labour of animals ; Methods or instruments for detecting pregnancy-related states of animals for detecting period of heat of animals, i.e. for detecting oestrus
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01K—MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G01K13/00—Thermometers specially adapted for specific purposes
- G01K13/20—Clinical contact thermometers for use with humans or animals
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An apparatus designed to indicate oestrus and/or diseases in mammals, particularly cows, by determining the temperature of the milk leaving the cow. The apparatus includes a temperature sensing element which is arranged to change its electrical resistance in dependence on its temperature and to control the activation of a number of indicating means via an electronic circuit in order to activate these means selectively at different levels of the temperature of the milk as sensed by said sensing element.
An apparatus designed to indicate oestrus and/or diseases in mammals, particularly cows, by determining the temperature of the milk leaving the cow. The apparatus includes a temperature sensing element which is arranged to change its electrical resistance in dependence on its temperature and to control the activation of a number of indicating means via an electronic circuit in order to activate these means selectively at different levels of the temperature of the milk as sensed by said sensing element.
Description
~ACKGF~t)UND OF THE INVENTION
.... _ _ The subject invention relates to an apparatus or a clevice designQd to indicate oestrum periods and/or illnesses in mammals, particularly in cows.
It is well l<nown that an increase of the body temperature of cows might be a sign of illness but also a sign of oestrum in the cow In both cases it is essential that proper measures be taken without delay, in the case of an incipisnt disease it is essential that treatment is initia-ted to prevent aggravatlon of the ~lsease, allowing it to be cure~ at an early stage, and in the case of oestrum, it is essential that the cow is inseminated (or covered) at the exact time, since diseases as well as missed-out or untimely insemination negatively af~ect the economic production results As an alternative to rectal determination of the body tempera~ure of cows it is known since decades to measure the temperature of the milk as it is being milked from the cow, Scientific tests of a laboratory nature have proved that the temperature of the milk of the cow being milked may be used both to indicate .",,,. ~
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the existance of illnesses and to indicate the oestrum periods with extrsme accuracy. However, until now these scientific ~indings have not yielded tangible results in the forrn o~ appropriate equlpment that may be used in the dairy production line to indicate continuously the body tempsrature of the cows in a stock of cattle in a manner that ensures that to-day's routines in the caring and rising of cattle on dairy farms with high-efficiency milk production need not be altered or made more complicated, This is important, since the narrow profitability margins do not allow the introduction of further time-consuming routines in the caring of the cattle. One condition that must be met if continuous temperature determination for the purpose of establishing the presence of illnesses and/or oestrum is to be made practical use of therefore is that it be possible to determine the temper,ature in a manner that does not require separate working routines and that does not either require careful and precise readings of the measuring equipment with consequential risks of erroneous readings, For the purpose outlined above has been suggested an instrument incorporating a couple of electrodes disposed in the milk passage tube from the cow and ....
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inserted in an electric circuit. This instrument registers rises in th~ milk temperature as a consequence of the increased conductivity of milk when its temperature increases. On~ disadvantage inherent in this instrument is ~hat the electric current must pass through the milk and that it must incorporate a balancing circuit for automatic temperature compensation in the determination of the conductivity of the milkO
The U.S. Patent Specification No. 3 022 766 1~ suggests the use of an instrument comprising a thermometer which is inserted in the milk passage tubs and which i5 connected to a source of electricity.
The thermometer registers electrically the temperature of the milk leaving the cow. The thermometer is provided with very thin contact pins which are soldered thereto at different levels and which are connected to a source of current. These contact pins have a comparatively short servicable life as a consequence of eOg~ burning damages caused by current passage.
S~MMARY OF THE _NVENTION
In view of the important effects that early detection of illnesses and timely insemination of cows during their oestrum periods have on the economics of modern .' ' ' ' :.,, . ..
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milk production and in awareness of the fact that every irnprovement of the possibilities of applying the correct measures safely and swiftly in both cases undoubtedly will lead to improvents of the economic prnduction results~ there is a pronounced need for practically useful squipment to be used for safet rapid and easy detection and indication of the state of health and/or oestrum csnditions in cows, ûne of the purposes of the subject invention thersfors is to satisfy this need by providing an apparatus which is simple in structure and easy to run and manage and which makes it easy to read and detect~ even from a distance, the increase of the body temperature of the cow that is being milked.
The apparatus in accordance with the invention includes a temperature sensing element which is disposed in the milk passage tube connected to the teats of the cow udder.
The characterising ~eature of the invention i5 that the temperature sensing element consists o~ a~
means the electrical conductivity of which depends on the temperature of the milk and which means is arranged to control an electronic amplifier circuit as well as .,~.
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a number of electronic circuits connected in parallel therewith~ each such parallel circuit comprising an optical indication member, which members are arrangsd to be actiuated selectively at different tsmperature levels in response to ths temperature that is sensed by the temperature sensing element, these temperature levels spaced predetermined intervals apart BRIEF DESCRIPTIûN OF THE DRAWINGS
The inuention will be described in the following in closer detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. l is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the invention used in combination with a tube milking machine, Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the electronic part of the machine, and Fig. 3 lllus-trates in more details the upper part of said block diagram.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
.
The tube milking machine illustrated in Fig, 1 comprises a milk-passage tube 10 and a vacuum tube 11 extending in parallel therewith, both tubes being installed permanently in a barn along the cribs ,, ' ~ ` ~ . ;
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therein. A handle 12 is arranged to be suspended on the vacuum tube 11 with the aid of a bow 13 at various connection points thereon, one of which is shown at 14, the corresponding connection point being arranged on the milk-passage tube at 15. On the bow 13 is arranged a flow indicating slement 16 and the ~ handls 12 supports a pulsator 17. The flow indlcating - element is arranged to be connected to the connection point 15 by means of a hose 18 and the pulsator to lû be connected to the connection point 1~ by means of a hose 19. From the flow indicating element a tube 20 extends to a teat cup unit 21 comprising four teat cups 22, the latter bsing also connected to the pulsator 17 by means of a hose 23. This arrangement agrees entirely with conventional apparatuses.
On the hose 20 is disposed a control panel 24 in accordance with the invention. A wire 25 connects the control panel to a temperature sensing element 26 disposed in the hose 20, either immediately adjacent the point of connection of the hose to the teat cup unit or else in the teat cup unit itself. The temperature sensing element 26 consists of a means the electrical resistence of which changes in dependence on its temperature, in the present case in dependence , . .
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on changes in the temperature of the milk, The wire 25 may be secured on the external face of the tube 20 by means of suitable clamps 27, as illustrated, but it could also be uulcanized or cast into the vsry hose wall, In the present case it consists of a screened double conductor, Five indicating lamps 28, 29, 30, 31, and 32 are provided on the control panel, these lamps being of different colour and intended to light up in response to the temperature level sensed by the temperature sensing element, More precisely, the lamp 28 is intended to light up, when the body temperature of the cow is normal and said lamp as well as lamp 29 are to be lit up, when the body temperature is slightly raised, a raised temperature being the normal one in some cows, The lamps 28 - 30 incl, are lit up upon further increases of the body temperature of the cow, The control panel 24 contains electronic ~ircuits to regulate and control the energization of the lamps at the pre-determined temperature levels, These circuits are supplied with current from a battery in the control panel but it is likewise possible to arrange for connection of -the çircuits in ~the control panel to a permanent low ourrent wire drawn along the vacuum , :,.' ' - ~
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and milk-passage tubes 10 and 11, either by effectiving such connection via an outlet on the low-current wirr- when the bow 13 is suspended on the vacuunnline 11, or by effecting the connection manually by means of a plug in a sockst on the low--current wire, The block diagram of Fig. 2 illustrates one possibility of arranging the electronic ~omponents in the control panel 24, The wire 25 which is in the form of a screened double conductor connects the temperature sensing element 26, which might be a thermistor, to a first arnplifier unit 33 in the control panel, which amplifier in turn is connected to ~ive amplifier units 34, 35, 36, 3;7 and 3a coupled in parallel therewith, All arnplifier units may be composed of : 15 semiconductor components and therefore rsquire very little space, with the result that the control panel rnay be rnade very light and small, A current passed through the thrrmistor 26 from the source of current will vary in size in dependence on the.actual temperature of the thermistor. A voltage which varies with the temperature oF the rnilk is derived via a resistor in the thermistor circuit, this voltage serving as the input signal of the amplifier unit 33. Since the : ,, ~, ,.: . ~
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temperature sensing element 26 may be positionad in dif~erent places in the path of milk flow from the cow being milked, the thermistor circuit should include a variable resistor, allowing the input signal to the amplifier unit 33 to be adjusted to the various possible positions of the temperature sensing element.
The outlet of the amplifier unit 33 is connected to the inlets of the amplifier units 34 - 38 coupled in parallel therewith, and these five amplifier units have their outlets connected to their respective one of the five indicating lamps 28 - 32 The parallel amplifier units 34 - 38 preferably are of the type in which the input signal must reach abovs a predetermined threshold value in order to render the respective amplifier unit conductive and emit an output signal which turns on the associated indicating lamp. In other words, the amplifier units are equivalent to switches with on and off positinns, In the case of a certain design of the device, with the temperature sensing element positioned in a certain one of its alternative positions, the variable resistor in the therrnistor circuit therefore should be set on purely empirical grounds with the guidance of the cow body temperature determined in rectum in such a mann=r as ' .
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to ensure that the lamp 28 is turned on at a body temperature that is somewhat below the normal body temperature T of cows, that is 38.3C. Sinc;e the tempsrature of the milk does not exactly coincide with the body temparature of the cow but follows its variations, and since the temperature of the milk registered by the tsmperature sensing element 26 will be dependent on where in the path of milk flow that the registration takes place, the setting of the variable resistor must be adjusted, depending on the position of the temperature sensing element. I~ the tsmperature sensing element is positioned at the bow 13, which is possible per se, one must take into consideration that the temperature sensed by the temperature sensing element will be lower than the actual body temperature of the cow, because the milk is cooled on its ~ay through the tube 22 from the udder.
The threshold value of the amplifier unit 35 should be of such a magnitude that an input signal corresponding to a body temperature T1 of the cow must be T ~ t1 in order to turn on the indicating lamp 29, The threshold value of the input signal of the amplifier unit 36 should correspond to a body temperature T2 f , . . ~, , ~ ~
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the cow that is T ~ t2 and for the amplifier unit 37 the threshold value should correspond to a temperature T3 _ T ~ t3 and for the amplifier unit 38 the threshold value should correspond to a tempsrature T4 = T + t4, wherein t4 ~ t3 ~ t2 ~ t1. This means that the lamp
.... _ _ The subject invention relates to an apparatus or a clevice designQd to indicate oestrum periods and/or illnesses in mammals, particularly in cows.
It is well l<nown that an increase of the body temperature of cows might be a sign of illness but also a sign of oestrum in the cow In both cases it is essential that proper measures be taken without delay, in the case of an incipisnt disease it is essential that treatment is initia-ted to prevent aggravatlon of the ~lsease, allowing it to be cure~ at an early stage, and in the case of oestrum, it is essential that the cow is inseminated (or covered) at the exact time, since diseases as well as missed-out or untimely insemination negatively af~ect the economic production results As an alternative to rectal determination of the body tempera~ure of cows it is known since decades to measure the temperature of the milk as it is being milked from the cow, Scientific tests of a laboratory nature have proved that the temperature of the milk of the cow being milked may be used both to indicate .",,,. ~
, ~
, ' ''- ::
.
`39~
the existance of illnesses and to indicate the oestrum periods with extrsme accuracy. However, until now these scientific ~indings have not yielded tangible results in the forrn o~ appropriate equlpment that may be used in the dairy production line to indicate continuously the body tempsrature of the cows in a stock of cattle in a manner that ensures that to-day's routines in the caring and rising of cattle on dairy farms with high-efficiency milk production need not be altered or made more complicated, This is important, since the narrow profitability margins do not allow the introduction of further time-consuming routines in the caring of the cattle. One condition that must be met if continuous temperature determination for the purpose of establishing the presence of illnesses and/or oestrum is to be made practical use of therefore is that it be possible to determine the temper,ature in a manner that does not require separate working routines and that does not either require careful and precise readings of the measuring equipment with consequential risks of erroneous readings, For the purpose outlined above has been suggested an instrument incorporating a couple of electrodes disposed in the milk passage tube from the cow and ....
.
- ~ . ,. . :
,:' , ' ' : , , :
~ ~ 3~J~ ~ ~
inserted in an electric circuit. This instrument registers rises in th~ milk temperature as a consequence of the increased conductivity of milk when its temperature increases. On~ disadvantage inherent in this instrument is ~hat the electric current must pass through the milk and that it must incorporate a balancing circuit for automatic temperature compensation in the determination of the conductivity of the milkO
The U.S. Patent Specification No. 3 022 766 1~ suggests the use of an instrument comprising a thermometer which is inserted in the milk passage tubs and which i5 connected to a source of electricity.
The thermometer registers electrically the temperature of the milk leaving the cow. The thermometer is provided with very thin contact pins which are soldered thereto at different levels and which are connected to a source of current. These contact pins have a comparatively short servicable life as a consequence of eOg~ burning damages caused by current passage.
S~MMARY OF THE _NVENTION
In view of the important effects that early detection of illnesses and timely insemination of cows during their oestrum periods have on the economics of modern .' ' ' ' :.,, . ..
: . .
3~
milk production and in awareness of the fact that every irnprovement of the possibilities of applying the correct measures safely and swiftly in both cases undoubtedly will lead to improvents of the economic prnduction results~ there is a pronounced need for practically useful squipment to be used for safet rapid and easy detection and indication of the state of health and/or oestrum csnditions in cows, ûne of the purposes of the subject invention thersfors is to satisfy this need by providing an apparatus which is simple in structure and easy to run and manage and which makes it easy to read and detect~ even from a distance, the increase of the body temperature of the cow that is being milked.
The apparatus in accordance with the invention includes a temperature sensing element which is disposed in the milk passage tube connected to the teats of the cow udder.
The characterising ~eature of the invention i5 that the temperature sensing element consists o~ a~
means the electrical conductivity of which depends on the temperature of the milk and which means is arranged to control an electronic amplifier circuit as well as .,~.
' ' ~L~3~
a number of electronic circuits connected in parallel therewith~ each such parallel circuit comprising an optical indication member, which members are arrangsd to be actiuated selectively at different tsmperature levels in response to ths temperature that is sensed by the temperature sensing element, these temperature levels spaced predetermined intervals apart BRIEF DESCRIPTIûN OF THE DRAWINGS
The inuention will be described in the following in closer detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. l is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the invention used in combination with a tube milking machine, Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the electronic part of the machine, and Fig. 3 lllus-trates in more details the upper part of said block diagram.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
.
The tube milking machine illustrated in Fig, 1 comprises a milk-passage tube 10 and a vacuum tube 11 extending in parallel therewith, both tubes being installed permanently in a barn along the cribs ,, ' ~ ` ~ . ;
' ~ , ` ,:
1~3~3~
therein. A handle 12 is arranged to be suspended on the vacuum tube 11 with the aid of a bow 13 at various connection points thereon, one of which is shown at 14, the corresponding connection point being arranged on the milk-passage tube at 15. On the bow 13 is arranged a flow indicating slement 16 and the ~ handls 12 supports a pulsator 17. The flow indlcating - element is arranged to be connected to the connection point 15 by means of a hose 18 and the pulsator to lû be connected to the connection point 1~ by means of a hose 19. From the flow indicating element a tube 20 extends to a teat cup unit 21 comprising four teat cups 22, the latter bsing also connected to the pulsator 17 by means of a hose 23. This arrangement agrees entirely with conventional apparatuses.
On the hose 20 is disposed a control panel 24 in accordance with the invention. A wire 25 connects the control panel to a temperature sensing element 26 disposed in the hose 20, either immediately adjacent the point of connection of the hose to the teat cup unit or else in the teat cup unit itself. The temperature sensing element 26 consists of a means the electrical resistence of which changes in dependence on its temperature, in the present case in dependence , . .
-:
" ;, , .
:.
L3~'39~
on changes in the temperature of the milk, The wire 25 may be secured on the external face of the tube 20 by means of suitable clamps 27, as illustrated, but it could also be uulcanized or cast into the vsry hose wall, In the present case it consists of a screened double conductor, Five indicating lamps 28, 29, 30, 31, and 32 are provided on the control panel, these lamps being of different colour and intended to light up in response to the temperature level sensed by the temperature sensing element, More precisely, the lamp 28 is intended to light up, when the body temperature of the cow is normal and said lamp as well as lamp 29 are to be lit up, when the body temperature is slightly raised, a raised temperature being the normal one in some cows, The lamps 28 - 30 incl, are lit up upon further increases of the body temperature of the cow, The control panel 24 contains electronic ~ircuits to regulate and control the energization of the lamps at the pre-determined temperature levels, These circuits are supplied with current from a battery in the control panel but it is likewise possible to arrange for connection of -the çircuits in ~the control panel to a permanent low ourrent wire drawn along the vacuum , :,.' ' - ~
- . . . . .
:
:
~ ~13~ 3~
and milk-passage tubes 10 and 11, either by effectiving such connection via an outlet on the low-current wirr- when the bow 13 is suspended on the vacuunnline 11, or by effecting the connection manually by means of a plug in a sockst on the low--current wire, The block diagram of Fig. 2 illustrates one possibility of arranging the electronic ~omponents in the control panel 24, The wire 25 which is in the form of a screened double conductor connects the temperature sensing element 26, which might be a thermistor, to a first arnplifier unit 33 in the control panel, which amplifier in turn is connected to ~ive amplifier units 34, 35, 36, 3;7 and 3a coupled in parallel therewith, All arnplifier units may be composed of : 15 semiconductor components and therefore rsquire very little space, with the result that the control panel rnay be rnade very light and small, A current passed through the thrrmistor 26 from the source of current will vary in size in dependence on the.actual temperature of the thermistor. A voltage which varies with the temperature oF the rnilk is derived via a resistor in the thermistor circuit, this voltage serving as the input signal of the amplifier unit 33. Since the : ,, ~, ,.: . ~
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3~3~
temperature sensing element 26 may be positionad in dif~erent places in the path of milk flow from the cow being milked, the thermistor circuit should include a variable resistor, allowing the input signal to the amplifier unit 33 to be adjusted to the various possible positions of the temperature sensing element.
The outlet of the amplifier unit 33 is connected to the inlets of the amplifier units 34 - 38 coupled in parallel therewith, and these five amplifier units have their outlets connected to their respective one of the five indicating lamps 28 - 32 The parallel amplifier units 34 - 38 preferably are of the type in which the input signal must reach abovs a predetermined threshold value in order to render the respective amplifier unit conductive and emit an output signal which turns on the associated indicating lamp. In other words, the amplifier units are equivalent to switches with on and off positinns, In the case of a certain design of the device, with the temperature sensing element positioned in a certain one of its alternative positions, the variable resistor in the therrnistor circuit therefore should be set on purely empirical grounds with the guidance of the cow body temperature determined in rectum in such a mann=r as ' .
' , :
.
~13~p3~
to ensure that the lamp 28 is turned on at a body temperature that is somewhat below the normal body temperature T of cows, that is 38.3C. Sinc;e the tempsrature of the milk does not exactly coincide with the body temparature of the cow but follows its variations, and since the temperature of the milk registered by the tsmperature sensing element 26 will be dependent on where in the path of milk flow that the registration takes place, the setting of the variable resistor must be adjusted, depending on the position of the temperature sensing element. I~ the tsmperature sensing element is positioned at the bow 13, which is possible per se, one must take into consideration that the temperature sensed by the temperature sensing element will be lower than the actual body temperature of the cow, because the milk is cooled on its ~ay through the tube 22 from the udder.
The threshold value of the amplifier unit 35 should be of such a magnitude that an input signal corresponding to a body temperature T1 of the cow must be T ~ t1 in order to turn on the indicating lamp 29, The threshold value of the input signal of the amplifier unit 36 should correspond to a body temperature T2 f , . . ~, , ~ ~
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.
~L~3C~
the cow that is T ~ t2 and for the amplifier unit 37 the threshold value should correspond to a temperature T3 _ T ~ t3 and for the amplifier unit 38 the threshold value should correspond to a tempsrature T4 = T + t4, wherein t4 ~ t3 ~ t2 ~ t1. This means that the lamp
2~ is lit up, when the body temperature of the cow is at a normal value and that in addition one or several o~ lamps 29 - 32 are lit up, when the body temperature of the cow exceeds the normal value, The incremental intervals between temperatures T, T1, T2 and T3 may be e,g, 0,3C and the interval between T3 and T4 e,g, 0,8C, The temperatures T1, T2 and T3 thus correspond to respectively 3a,6C, 38,9C and 39,2C, i,e, they are o~ the magnitudes occurring during the oestrum periods of cows, In case all the lamps 2~ - 32 are lit up during milking, which indicates temperatur T4, that is 40C, there is cause to examine the - ~ condition and behaviour of the cow more closely to establish whether the increased temperature _ 40C
or more - might not be caused ~y a disease, The ~i~th lamp 3Z pre~erably is positioned to the side of the rest which are arranged in a row, in order to maka the indication of a possible condition of illness parti-cuarly obvious~ as is illustriated in Fig. 1, ..
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As mentioned above, the normal temperature may vary from cow to cow, a slightly raised temperature being the normal one in some individual cows, and on ths information data chart of each cow thersfore should be indicated whether one or two lamps, that is whether the on-condition of lamp 28 alons or the on-condition of lamps 28 and 29 simultaneously is indicative of the normal condition of the re$pective cow.
One e;xample of a suitable block diagram pertaining to a control panel in accordance with the invention is illustrated in Fig. 3 In this case, the element designed to sense ths temperature of the milk in the tube is a thermistor Rt the electrical resistance of which increases proportionate to the rise of the tempsrature of the milk. The thermistor is inserted in a Wheatstone bridge 39 comprising a potentiometer P1. To the bridge 39 is connectsd an amplifier unit IC1 in which voltage variations caused by the changes in the f~ s t~3 r : -f~i resistance of the k~s~r are amplified, An RC
circuit 40 which is a Feed-back coup.ling to the bridge 39, is coupled in parallel with the amplifier unit.To the first amplifier 33 in accordance with the block diagram of Fig 2 thus described are connected the amplifiers 34 - 38 of which only the two upper ones, , ~.
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i.e. amplifiers 34 and 35, are illustrated, since amplifiers 36 - 38 have a design agreeing with that of amplifier 35.
In the amplifier 34 is included a means IC2 which is connected to the outlet of the amplifier 33 and which compares the amplified voltage over the outlet of ths amplifier 33 with a constant reference voltage over two resistOrs R11' R12 coupled in series. The reference voltage in the amplifier 35 may be varied by means of a potentiometer P20. Diodss D10 and D20 are connected in parallel with the comparative means IC2 and IC3, respectively, said diodes serving as feed-back couplings. The base b of a transistor Tr is connected to the oulet of the amplifiers 34, 35 ... via a resistor R14 and a Zener ~iode Z17 a light emitting diode LED
being inserted in the collector circuit of said transistor. The higher output voltage from IC2, IC3 ....
is via R14 and Z1 connected to the transistor Tr~ which begins to be conductive when the output voltage 2û exceeds the voltage of the Zener diodr Z1-Whsn the voltage at the outlet of the amplifier 33excesds the referential voltage over R11, R12, the light emitting diode LED is switched off. On the other hand, when the output voltage from the amplifier 33 falls :, :
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or more - might not be caused ~y a disease, The ~i~th lamp 3Z pre~erably is positioned to the side of the rest which are arranged in a row, in order to maka the indication of a possible condition of illness parti-cuarly obvious~ as is illustriated in Fig. 1, ..
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.
.
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As mentioned above, the normal temperature may vary from cow to cow, a slightly raised temperature being the normal one in some individual cows, and on ths information data chart of each cow thersfore should be indicated whether one or two lamps, that is whether the on-condition of lamp 28 alons or the on-condition of lamps 28 and 29 simultaneously is indicative of the normal condition of the re$pective cow.
One e;xample of a suitable block diagram pertaining to a control panel in accordance with the invention is illustrated in Fig. 3 In this case, the element designed to sense ths temperature of the milk in the tube is a thermistor Rt the electrical resistance of which increases proportionate to the rise of the tempsrature of the milk. The thermistor is inserted in a Wheatstone bridge 39 comprising a potentiometer P1. To the bridge 39 is connectsd an amplifier unit IC1 in which voltage variations caused by the changes in the f~ s t~3 r : -f~i resistance of the k~s~r are amplified, An RC
circuit 40 which is a Feed-back coup.ling to the bridge 39, is coupled in parallel with the amplifier unit.To the first amplifier 33 in accordance with the block diagram of Fig 2 thus described are connected the amplifiers 34 - 38 of which only the two upper ones, , ~.
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i.e. amplifiers 34 and 35, are illustrated, since amplifiers 36 - 38 have a design agreeing with that of amplifier 35.
In the amplifier 34 is included a means IC2 which is connected to the outlet of the amplifier 33 and which compares the amplified voltage over the outlet of ths amplifier 33 with a constant reference voltage over two resistOrs R11' R12 coupled in series. The reference voltage in the amplifier 35 may be varied by means of a potentiometer P20. Diodss D10 and D20 are connected in parallel with the comparative means IC2 and IC3, respectively, said diodes serving as feed-back couplings. The base b of a transistor Tr is connected to the oulet of the amplifiers 34, 35 ... via a resistor R14 and a Zener ~iode Z17 a light emitting diode LED
being inserted in the collector circuit of said transistor. The higher output voltage from IC2, IC3 ....
is via R14 and Z1 connected to the transistor Tr~ which begins to be conductive when the output voltage 2û exceeds the voltage of the Zener diodr Z1-Whsn the voltage at the outlet of the amplifier 33excesds the referential voltage over R11, R12, the light emitting diode LED is switched off. On the other hand, when the output voltage from the amplifier 33 falls :, :
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3~9~
below the referential voltage, that is, when the output voltage IC2, IC3 rises from a low value to a high value~ the associated light emitting diode LED
lights up. ~ia diodes D10, D20 . the higher output voltage is now connected back to the inlet of the associated amplifier In this manner, the referential voltage will always be larger than and independent of the voltage at the outlet of the ampli~ier 339 which in turn means that the light emitting diodes LED will be lit up, independent of the temperature of the thermistor Rt. This is an advantage, since the personnel supervising the milking machinery can establish which indicating member or members are li-t up, also after the milking of the respective cow has finished and milk to longer passes through the tube 20. Only after disconnection o~ the apparatus from the power supply to move it to the subsequent rib do the lights of all light emitting diades LED go out~
Resistor R2 and Zener diode Z2 ensure that the voltage at the outlat of the amplifier 33 doss not exceed the voltage fed back by diodes D10, D20 . . .
It should be understood without further that by indicating the body temperature of the cow, which takes place a-t each mill<ing instance, considerably improved ' ;
, . ,,~
.....
-,. : , , :
- : .. ..
~3~391 possibilities o~ easy and rapid determination of thr;~ oestrum periods in the animals are obtained, if ~he milking machine is equipped with a devics in accordance with the invention.
The ~evice in accordance with the invention can of course be combined with milking machines of a structure different from the one described, e.g.
with bucket milking machines, in which case the control panel of the device preferably is arranged on the bucket. It is likewise possible to provide for more than five amplifiers with indica~ing lamps associated therewith, although five indicating lamps should suffice for the majority of the practical needs that are likely to occur.
As mentioned above, the amplifier units rnay be in the form of semiconductor circuits, which is the most practical, and at the present stage of development of electronics the expert in the field should have no difficulty in designing semiconductor circuits having the function described These circuits could be made as simplr-~ amplifirJr units which norrnally are cut off bu-t become Gonductive at the occurrence of an input signal of a predetermined magnitude and are again cut ~ off7 when the input signal falls below the predetermined ''~ ,;:
,. : ~ . .
. .
, ' . i, , ~3~ 3~
magnitude. The r,ircuits may also be made as transistor 5Wi tches anri it is evell possible to combine together bhe five units 34 - 38 or several such units into one logic unit. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the indicating lamps may be light ramitting diodes, . .. ..
below the referential voltage, that is, when the output voltage IC2, IC3 rises from a low value to a high value~ the associated light emitting diode LED
lights up. ~ia diodes D10, D20 . the higher output voltage is now connected back to the inlet of the associated amplifier In this manner, the referential voltage will always be larger than and independent of the voltage at the outlet of the ampli~ier 339 which in turn means that the light emitting diodes LED will be lit up, independent of the temperature of the thermistor Rt. This is an advantage, since the personnel supervising the milking machinery can establish which indicating member or members are li-t up, also after the milking of the respective cow has finished and milk to longer passes through the tube 20. Only after disconnection o~ the apparatus from the power supply to move it to the subsequent rib do the lights of all light emitting diades LED go out~
Resistor R2 and Zener diode Z2 ensure that the voltage at the outlat of the amplifier 33 doss not exceed the voltage fed back by diodes D10, D20 . . .
It should be understood without further that by indicating the body temperature of the cow, which takes place a-t each mill<ing instance, considerably improved ' ;
, . ,,~
.....
-,. : , , :
- : .. ..
~3~391 possibilities o~ easy and rapid determination of thr;~ oestrum periods in the animals are obtained, if ~he milking machine is equipped with a devics in accordance with the invention.
The ~evice in accordance with the invention can of course be combined with milking machines of a structure different from the one described, e.g.
with bucket milking machines, in which case the control panel of the device preferably is arranged on the bucket. It is likewise possible to provide for more than five amplifiers with indica~ing lamps associated therewith, although five indicating lamps should suffice for the majority of the practical needs that are likely to occur.
As mentioned above, the amplifier units rnay be in the form of semiconductor circuits, which is the most practical, and at the present stage of development of electronics the expert in the field should have no difficulty in designing semiconductor circuits having the function described These circuits could be made as simplr-~ amplifirJr units which norrnally are cut off bu-t become Gonductive at the occurrence of an input signal of a predetermined magnitude and are again cut ~ off7 when the input signal falls below the predetermined ''~ ,;:
,. : ~ . .
. .
, ' . i, , ~3~ 3~
magnitude. The r,ircuits may also be made as transistor 5Wi tches anri it is evell possible to combine together bhe five units 34 - 38 or several such units into one logic unit. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the indicating lamps may be light ramitting diodes, . .. ..
Claims (6)
1. An improved apparatus to indicate the body temperature in mammals, particularly in cows, to establish oestrum periode and diseases by determining the temperature of the milk leaving the cow, said apparatus comprising a temperature sensing element disposed in a milk passage tube connected to the teats of the cow udder during the milking of the cow, the improvement comprising said temperature sensing element being a means the electrical circuits connected in parallel therewith, said temperature sensing element arranged to control said amplifier circuit and said parallel circuits, an optical indication member coupled to each one of said parallel circuits, said members arranged to be activated selectively at different temperature levels in response to the temperature sensed by said temperature sensing element, said temperature levels spaced predetermined intervals apart.
2. An improved apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a Wheatstone bridge including said temperature sensing element, an amplifier unit connected to said bridge, the outlet of said amplifier unit connecteds to the inlet of said circuits which are coupled in parallel with said amplifier unit and which include said indication members
3 An improved apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said temperature sensing element is a thermistor.
4 An improved apparatus according to claim 2, comprising a comparing means in each one of said circuits including said indication members, said comparing means arranged to compare the voltage at the outlet of said amplifier circuit with a constant reference voltage at the inlet of the associated indicator circuit.
An improved apparatus according to claim 4, comprising a semiconductor, preferably a diode, which is coupled in parallel with said comparing means so as to ensure that said reference voltage always exceeds and always is independent on the magnitude of the voltage at the outlet of said amplifier circuit.
6. An improved apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the indicator member is a light emitting diode inserted in an electrical circuit in series with a transistor in the collector circuit thereof, the base of said transistor connected to the outlet of said comparing means.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| SE7808330-0 | 1978-08-02 | ||
| SE7808330A SE437608B (en) | 1978-08-02 | 1978-08-02 | DEVICE FOR DISEASE CONDITIONS AND / OR CROPS |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1130391A true CA1130391A (en) | 1982-08-24 |
Family
ID=20335532
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA332,440A Expired CA1130391A (en) | 1978-08-02 | 1979-07-24 | Device for indicate oestrus and/or illness in cows |
Country Status (15)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS5540585A (en) |
| AR (1) | AR229927A1 (en) |
| BE (1) | BE878045A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1130391A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2931206A1 (en) |
| DK (1) | DK161937C (en) |
| FI (1) | FI77151C (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2432300A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2027213B (en) |
| IT (1) | IT1122399B (en) |
| MX (1) | MX150057A (en) |
| NL (1) | NL7905849A (en) |
| NO (1) | NO792530L (en) |
| NZ (1) | NZ191184A (en) |
| SE (1) | SE437608B (en) |
Families Citing this family (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IE851055L (en) * | 1985-10-25 | 1987-04-25 | Walton Philip Wilson | Apparatus for indicating the quantity of thermal energy in a¹fluid in a tank |
| US4654977A (en) * | 1985-11-19 | 1987-04-07 | Irwin Measuring Tool Company | Electronic level |
| JPH01279278A (en) * | 1988-05-06 | 1989-11-09 | Ricoh Co Ltd | Fixing device |
| JPH01303147A (en) * | 1988-06-01 | 1989-12-07 | N Y S:Kk | Health control method and device for milch cow and the like |
| GB8907011D0 (en) * | 1989-03-28 | 1989-05-10 | Matthews Susan M | Food thermometer indicator |
| FR2784889B1 (en) | 1998-10-21 | 2001-02-16 | Instr Medecine Veterinaire | DEVICE FOR DETECTING THE CONDITION OF OUSTRUS IN DAIRY COWS COMPRISING A SUPPORT INCLUDING A DETECTOR EMITTING LIGHT SIGNALS ENCLOSED IN A HOUSING |
| DE19900089A1 (en) * | 1999-01-04 | 2000-07-06 | Fritz Happel | Animal health monitoring device for dairy cows detects temperature of animal e.g. of udder to allow early detection of illness |
| JP5035861B1 (en) * | 2012-02-29 | 2012-09-26 | 茂夫 宇都宮 | Estrus reporting system |
| DE102019110304A1 (en) * | 2019-04-18 | 2020-10-22 | Bernhard Polten | Device, kit and method for the contactless determination of the body temperature of a farm animal |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3022766A (en) * | 1959-04-23 | 1962-02-27 | Raymond E Mckinley | Milking machine and temperature control in combination therewith |
| GB1330571A (en) * | 1970-11-05 | 1973-09-19 | Ford Motor Co | Speedometer for an automotive vehicle |
| US3874337A (en) * | 1973-07-30 | 1975-04-01 | Raymond E Umbaugh | Temperature responsive system for milking apparatus |
| US3927571A (en) * | 1974-01-18 | 1975-12-23 | Hobart Corp | Temperature indicating device |
-
1978
- 1978-08-02 SE SE7808330A patent/SE437608B/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
1979
- 1979-07-17 FI FI792246A patent/FI77151C/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1979-07-19 GB GB7925192A patent/GB2027213B/en not_active Expired
- 1979-07-24 CA CA332,440A patent/CA1130391A/en not_active Expired
- 1979-07-29 NL NL7905849A patent/NL7905849A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1979-07-30 DK DK319579A patent/DK161937C/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1979-08-01 NO NO792530A patent/NO792530L/en unknown
- 1979-08-01 MX MX178741A patent/MX150057A/en unknown
- 1979-08-01 JP JP9744479A patent/JPS5540585A/en active Granted
- 1979-08-01 FR FR7919783A patent/FR2432300A1/en active Granted
- 1979-08-01 DE DE19792931206 patent/DE2931206A1/en active Granted
- 1979-08-01 NZ NZ191184A patent/NZ191184A/en unknown
- 1979-08-02 BE BE6/46906A patent/BE878045A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1979-08-02 IT IT24877/79A patent/IT1122399B/en active
- 1979-08-02 AR AR277572A patent/AR229927A1/en active
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| FR2432300A1 (en) | 1980-02-29 |
| DE2931206C2 (en) | 1989-06-22 |
| SE7808330L (en) | 1980-02-03 |
| FI77151B (en) | 1988-10-31 |
| MX150057A (en) | 1984-03-06 |
| FR2432300B1 (en) | 1984-04-20 |
| NZ191184A (en) | 1983-05-10 |
| FI792246A (en) | 1980-02-03 |
| NO792530L (en) | 1980-02-05 |
| JPS5540585A (en) | 1980-03-22 |
| DK319579A (en) | 1980-02-03 |
| JPS6338168B2 (en) | 1988-07-28 |
| AR229927A1 (en) | 1984-01-31 |
| GB2027213A (en) | 1980-02-13 |
| IT1122399B (en) | 1986-04-23 |
| DK161937B (en) | 1991-09-02 |
| BE878045A (en) | 1979-12-03 |
| NL7905849A (en) | 1980-02-05 |
| DK161937C (en) | 1992-02-24 |
| DE2931206A1 (en) | 1980-07-10 |
| SE437608B (en) | 1985-03-11 |
| GB2027213B (en) | 1983-05-25 |
| IT7924877A0 (en) | 1979-08-02 |
| FI77151C (en) | 1989-02-10 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| MKEX | Expiry |