CA1179289A

CA1179289A - Milking apparatus

Info

Publication number: CA1179289A
Application number: CA000402474A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Syd E. Bodmin
Original assignee: NU PULSE NEW ZEALAND Ltd
Current assignee: NU PULSE NEW ZEALAND Ltd
Priority date: 1982-05-07
Filing date: 1982-05-07
Publication date: 1984-12-11
Also published as: FR2526628A1; GB2119620B; ZA823185B; AU8411182A; NL8201917A; GB2119620A; FR2526628B3

Abstract

NU PULSE NEW ZEALAND LIMITED
IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO TEAT CUP INFLATIONS AND ASSEMBLIES
ABSTRACT (fig. 5) This invention relates to teat cup inflations with location means arranged to locate with locating means of a teat cup shell such that on an assembly of the inflation with a teat cup shell there can be no (or minimal) twisting of the inflation relative to the teat cup shell. An assembly of a teat cup inflation with a teat cup shell is also described.

Description

This invention relates to teat cup in~lations and assemblies oF teat cup in~lations with teat cup shells.
A common problem with milking apparatus i5 that one or more "quarters" o~ a cluster is not miLking satis~actDrily. This is oFten attributable to situations where one or both ends of the in~lation twist radially with respect to the other end and as a result the teat cup in~lation does not expand and contract as is desirable ~or e~Ficient milking because the in~lation is stressed in an undesirable manner. A
problem o~ this type is di~icult to identi~y particularly by an operator unFamiliar with -the mechanics o~ a milking machine who may not realise that "twisting"
in an individual teat cup assembly or assemblies has taken place.
Accordingly, it is an object o~ the present invention to provide a teat cup in~lation which is arranged to be assembled with a teat cup shell in a manner such as to eliminate or minimise twisting o~ the in~la-tion relative to a teat cup shell to which it is assembled.
In conventional milking apparatus a teat cup shell Cusually in stainless steel~ is used to encase individual in~lations. In the majority o~ milking installations a vacuum source or sources is/are applied to individual clusters and accordingly as the teat cups are applied and removed it is desirable that excess air be prevented from entering the vacuum system and ~or this to be achieved milk lines to unused teat cups must be individually isolated. In order to isolate the unused teat cups milk inlst nipples o~ the cluster claws to which the milk lines are connected are inclined outwardly and upwardly and when the teat cups are not in use t.hese are allowed to fall such that the line to the milk inlet nipple will seal against the end of the nipple. A per~ect seal however is not always obtained because oF the relative inflexibility of the milk lines and because the centre of mass in a convention teat cup assembly is often too close to the point where the milk line engages with the nipple o~
the cluster claw.
It is accordingly a ~urther object o~ the present inventiOn to provide a weighted teat cup shell ~or an assembly with an inflation as aForesaid which will go someway to eliminating the afnresaid problem.
Further objects and advantages o~ the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a teat cup inFlation comprising an elongate substantially cylindrical body de~ining a teat chamber in the upper regions thereof and a milk chamber in the lower regions thereo~, said upper region o~ the body including a downwardly depending flange arranged to ~orm an upper teat cup shell engaging portion between the flange and the body of the upper regions of the inflation, wherein at least said upper teat cup shell engaging portion includes location means for complimentary engagement with locating means in an upper portion of a teat cup shell, such that on an assembly of a teat cup shell with the inFlation there can be no radial twisting, or a minimal amount of radial twisting of the inflation relative to the teat cup shell.
According to a still further aspect o~ the present invention there is provided an assembly o~ a teat cup in~lation as aforesaid with a teat cup shell wherein the teat cup shell comprises a body having an upper portion with an open end arranged to engage with the teat cup engaging portion of the teat cup inflation and a lower portion inoluding an aperturc through whioh the lower rsgion of the body of the teat cup inflation may pass.
Aspects of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1: is a side view of a teat cup inflation in accordance with one possible embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2: is a partial cross-section of the upper region of the teat cup inflation of figure 1, and Figure 3: is a cross-section at III:III of Figure 1, and Figure 4: is a diagrammatic cross-section of the lower region of a teat cup inflation of figures 1 to 3 showing its engagement with a teat cup shell in an assembly of the teat cup inflation with a teat cup shell, and Figure 5: is a diagrammatic partial long-section of an assembly of a teat cup inflation in accordance with another possible embodiment of the present invention shown in an assembly with a teat cup shell, and Figure 6: is a diagrammatic cross-section taken at VI:VI of figure 5, and Figure 7: is a cross-section taken at VII:VII of figure 6, and Figure_8: is a top view of a teat cup shell with which an inflation in accordance with the present invention may be assembled, and 4.

Figure 9: is a side view oF the teat cup shell of ~igure 8, and Figure 10: is a long-section taken at X:X oF figure 8, and _igure 11: is 3 cross-seotion taken at XIII:XIII o~
~igure 9, and Fi~ure 1Z: is a top view o~ a weight ~or a teat cup shell in accordance with ~igures 10 to 13, and Figure 13: is a cross-section o~ the weight o~ ~igure 14 taken at Y:Y o~ figure 1Z.

With re~erence ~irstly to Figures 1 - 7 of the drawings a teat cup in~lation in accordance wi-th one possible embodiment oF the present invention can comprise an elongate substantially cylindrical body generally indicated by arrow 1 de~ining a teat chamber 2 in the upper regions thereo~ and a milk chamber 3 in the lower regions thereoF, an upper portion 1a of the body 1 including a downwardly depending ~lange 4 arranged to ~orm an upper teat cup shell engaging portion generally indicated by arrow 5 between the Flange and the body 1 o~ the upper portion 1a oF the inflation, wherein at least the said upper teat cup shell engaging portion 5 includes location means generally indicated by arrow B
~or complimentary engagement with locating means generally indicated by arrow 7 in an upper portion of a teat cup shell generally indicated by arrow 8 such that on assembly oF the teat cup shell 8 with the in~lation 1 there can be no radial twisting, or, a minimal amount o~ radial twisting, o~ the in~lation 1 relative to the teat cup shell B.
In the embodiment illustrated by ~igures 1, 2, 3 and 4 o~ the drawings, the inflation 1 is provided with 5. 4 location means 6 where the inFlation 1 engages with upper portion 8a oF the teat cup shell and location means 6 where the inFlation 1 engages with the lower pOrtiOnS 8b oF the teat cup shell.
In the embodiment illustrated by Figures 5, 6 and 7, the inFlation is provided with location means 6 only in the upper regions thereoF where the inFlation 1 engages with the upper portions 8a oF the teat cup shell 8.
The location means 6 at the upper regions oF the teat cup in~latian can comprise three radially equally spaced notches 9 in a groove 10 within the upper teat cup engaging portion 5. The notches 9 may be spaced at 120 degree intervals. The groove 10 is arranged to receive a Flange 11 oF the teat cup shell 8 which is provided with complimentary cut-outs 1Z therein. Thus when the inFlation 1 is assembled with the teat cup shell 8, in the manner illustrated there can be no radial twisting of the inFlation 1 relative to the teat cup shell 8.
As aForesaid in the embodiment illustrated by figures 1 to 4 oF the drawings, the inFlation 1 is also provided with location means 6 where the inFlation engages with lower portions Bb oF the teat cup shell. Such location means ~ can comprise three tabs 13 Formed on the outer surFace oF the body 1 oF the inFlation arranged to engage with locating means 7 oF the teat cup shell 8.
The tabs 13 are equally spaced at 120 degrees and are adapted to engage with cut-outs in the inner surFace 15 oF an inwardly directed Flange 16 adjacent an aperture 17 in the teat cup shell 8 to which the in~lation is assembled. Thus, on an assembly oF the teat cup shell 117~
6.

with the in~lation 1 there can be no radial twisting of the in~lation 1 relative to the teat cup shell 8 where the lower region o~ the inflation passes through the teat oup shell.
To assist with the assembly oF the inflation 1 relative to the teat cup shell 8 the in~lation and teat cup shell can be provided with indexing means, an example of which is illustrated by ~igures 5 and 6 oF the drawings.
Indexing means, generally indicated by arrow 18 can be positioned at upper and lower regions o~ the assembly.
At the upper region o~ an assembly indexing means 18 can comprise raised parts 19 on the outer sur~aces of the inflation 1 and the teat cup shell 8, which indicate proper alignment o~ the inflation 1 with the teat cup shell 8. The lower region o~ an assembly may include spaced notches 10 on the lower outer surface 21 o~ the flange 11 of the teat cup shell and a notch 22 on the outer surface of the inflation 1 which also indicate proper alignment oF the in~lation 1 relative to the teat cup shell 8.
Figures 8 - 13 o~ the accompanying drawinss illustrate a teat cup shell with which an in~lation in accordance with the present invention may be assembled. The assembly o~ an inFlation 1 and teat cup shell 8 may be joined to a cluster claw [not shown~ provided with nipples to which lower ends o~ the in~lation 1 can be engaged such that the interiors of the cluster claw are in communication with the milk chamber ~ of the inflation 1.
8e~ore and after individual cows have been milked and the teat cup assemblies are removed they are allowed to hang vertically downwardly ~rom the cluster claw.

11 7<3'~
7.

In this situation the interiors o~ ~he inFlation or at least the lower portions thereo~ provide a seal with bevelled ends o~ the nipples o~ a cluster claw.
To ensure an adequate seal is made in this situation tha teat cup qssembly should be suoh qs to ensur~ that the inFlation shuts o~ bevelled ends oF milk nipples of a milking claw.
The teat cup shell illustrated by ~igures 8 to 13 includes an internally moulded weight which ensures that the mass o~ an assembly is at the ~ree end a~
the assembly.
The teat cup shell 8 is ~ormed in a mouldable material such as plastics and has an intergrally moulded and inset weight generally indicated by arrow Z3 of a non-homogenous material in the wall thereo~. The teat cup shell illustrated comprises a tubular body having an open end 24 and a lower end 25 mounting a pulsator line nipple Z6 and providing an aperture 27 through which the lower end o~ a teat cup in~lation may pass.
Preferably the teat cup shell 8 is provided with a bore 28 in which the width in a first plane is substantially greater than the width in another plane at right angles to the ~irst plane and in the exampla given these requirements are met with an oval bore which may be converging ~rom top to bottom although it i5 to be appreciated that the bore 28 of the teat cup shell may be o~ an alternative con~iguration. In the example illustrated the outer sur~ace 29 o~ the teat cup body is circular and includes a flange 11 to ~acilitate its engagement with a teat cup in~lati~n.

8.

As aforesaid the upper body portion oF the teat cup body is provided with internally moulded and inset weight generally indicated by arrow 23. The inset weight 23 which may be a lead weight i9 formed in a continuous ring which is in the embodiment illustrated completely surrounded by mouldable material and is shaped in cross-section to correspond with the cross section of the upper body portion of the teat cup.
When the teat cup shell is provided with an oval bore the outer perimeter of the lower end of the body 25 can also be oval shaped ~see figure 11~ a transition region 30 is provided between the circular and oval perimeters just below the weighted end of the teat cup body 8. The shape of the outside of the teat cup body as illustrated is most convenient as the oval shaped lower end of the body corresponds with the shape defined by a persons hand between the thumb and the fingers when the hand closes.
The size o~ the weight 23 can be altered to suit various types of milking plant and to achieve the results required and accordingly the weight may be provided in other forms for example by providing a plurality of vertically disposed pellets or the like [not shown]
of a suitable high density steel or metal. It is also envisaged that the weight may be a fluid. For most effect the weight 23 can extend throughou~ an upper portion 29a at the teat cup shell.
With reference to figures 12 and 13 of the drawings illustrating the inset weight 23 the inset weight is provided with a cross-section which is complimentary to the cross-section of the upper portion 29a of the body of the teat cup shell 8 and is provided with a plurality of shallow holes 23a in the upper surface 23b.

9.

The teat cup body is ~ormed in a die ~not shown]
whilst the inset weight is supported cs-axially in the die when Finger members [not shown~ associated with the die engage with the holes 23a securing the weight 23 in poaition a~ the mouldable material is inJeoted into the die and surrounds the weight. To complete the manu~acturing process the ~inger members are disengaged from the holes 23a and the void areas crea-ted by the removal thereo~ are Filled with an appropriate material.
An alternative means ~or supporting the weight 23 in a die during moulding may include the provision o~
a plastics cradle [not shown~ which positions and spaces the weight ~rom the internal core of a die For ~orming the teat cup shell. The cradle which may be in a compatable material may comprise a pair of ring members spaced by supports and the weight can be ~itted over the cradle during the moulding process.
Although the teat cup in~lation 1 is described herein in an assembly with a teat cup shell as illustrated by figures 8 to 13 o~ the drawings, it is to be appreciated that an in~lation in accordance with the present invention may be assembled with other teat cup shells such as the conventional metal shell with appropriate modi~ications.
Aspects o~ the present invention have been described by way o~ example only and it is to be appreciated that modi~ications and additions thereto may be made without departing From the scope o~ the invention as de~ined in the appended claims.

Claims

10.

[1] A teat cup inflation comprising an elongate substantially cylindrical body defining a teat chamber in the upper regions thereof and a milk chamber in the lower regions thereof, said upper region of the body including a downwardly depending flange arranged to form a upper teat cup shell engaging portion between the flange and the body of the upper regions of the inflation, wherein at least said upper teat cup shell engaging portion includes location means for complimentary engagement with locating means in an upper portion of a teat cup shell, such that on an assembly of a teat cup shell with the inflation there can be no radial twisting, or a minimal amount of radial twisting of the inflation relative to the teat cup shell.
[2] A teat cup inflation as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lower region of the body of the inflation includes location means for complimentary engagement with locating means in the lower portion of a teat cup shell such that, on an assembly of a teat cup shell with the inflation there can be no radial twisting of the inflation relative to the teat cup shell.
[3] A teat cup inflation as claimed in claim 1 wherein the location means in the upper regions comprise a plurality of notches in a groove in the upper teat cup engaging portion.
[4] A teat cup inflation as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the lower region of the body of the teat cup inflation is provided with location means comprising a plurality of notches on the outer surface thereof arranged to be engagable between complimentary grooves in the body of a teat cup shell with which the inflation may be assembled.

11.
[5] An assembly of a teat cup inflation as claimed in claim 1 with a teat cup shell wherein the teat cup shell comprises a body having an upper portion with an open end arranged to engage with the teat cup engaging portion of the teat cup inflation and a lower portion including an aperture through which the lower region of the body of the teat cup inflation may pass.
[6] An assembly of a teat cup inflation with a teat cup shell as claimed in claim 5, wherein the body of the teat cup shell is formed in a mouldable material and includes at least one internally moulded and inset weight of a non-homogenous material in the wall thereof.
[7] An assembly of a teat cup inflation with a teat cup shell as claimed in claim 6 wherein the said at least one internally moulded and inset weight is positioned in the upper regions of the teat cup shell.
[8] An assembly of a teat cup inflation with a teat cup shell as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein the teat cup shell has an internal bore in which the width in a first plane is greater that the width in a second plane at right angles to the first plane.
[9] An assembly of a teat cup inflation with a teat cup shell as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein the teat cup shell has an oval bore.
[10] An assembly of a teat cup inflation with a teat cup shell as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein said at least one internally moulded and inset weight has a cross-sectional configuration which is complimentary with the cross-sectional configuration of the upper portion of the teat cup shell.
11. An assembly of a teat cup inflation with a teat cup shell as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein the internal bore of the teat cup shell is converging from top to bottom.
12. An assembly of a teat cup inflation with a teat cup shell as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein the upper portion of the teat cup body is provided with a substantially circular outer surface whereas the lower portion of the teat cup body is provided with a substantially oval or rectangular outer surface.
13. An assembly of a teat cup inflation with a teat cup shell as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the lower portion of the teat cup shell includes an internally projecting skirt defining a centrally positioned aperture through which the lower part of a teat cup inflation may pass.
14. An assembly of a teat cup inflation with a teat cup shell as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said internally projecting skirt mounts a nozzle to which a pulsating pressure line in a milking plant can be attached.