GB688332A - Improved apparatus for performing test milking operations - Google Patents

Abstract

688,332. Sampling liquids. AKTIEBOLAGET MANUS. Dec. 1, 1950. No. 29492/50. Class 106 (v). [Also in Groups XIX and XXIX]. Apparatus for taking samples of milk comprises a receptable 1, 2 subjected to the vacuum of a milking machine and having within it means 61 for measuring the quantity of milk supplied to the receptacle and valve means 53, operated by the measuring means 61, for delivering to test tubes 13 positioned outside the receptacle a quantity of milk bearing a predetermined relation to the total quantity measured. The milk passes from a supply pipe 50 through de-aeration and filtering chamber 51 and a pipe 60' to a flow meter 61 comprising a pair of floats 64 in cylinders 62. The alternate filling and emptying of the cylinders 62 is controlled by a slide valve 69 in a cylinder 68 whose opposite ends are alternately connected to atmosphere and to a vacuum in the receptacle by another slide valve 81 (not shown) which is itself controlled by the rise and fall of the floats through toggle mechanism and a T-shaped lever 75 bearing on the tops of the floats. Movement of the slide valve intermittently rotates the measuring valve 53 by means of a lever 90 having a toothed segment engaging a pinion 95 on the valve so that a series of quantities of milk entering a pair of diametrically opposed pockets 55 in the valve is diverted from the filtering chamber 51 to an outlet 58, each quantity being directly proportional to the quantity passing through the meter. The test tubes 13 are contained under a sealed cover 14 in a removable carrier 12 and are engaged by recesses on a pair of discs 31, 32 on a hub 30 rotatable on a pin 29. A plug valve 19 connects the interior of the receptacle either to a vacuum pipe 21 or to atmosphere at 120 and is connected through a Geneva mechanism 40 to give a step-by-step rotation to a splined shaft 27 engaging the hub 30 so that a fresh test tube is brought below the outlet 58 and an opening 37 in the cover 14; the shaft 27 can be withdrawn upwards against a spring - 26 to allow insertion of the carrier. Indicator numbers on a flange 35 appear below a window 36 to show which test tube is being filled. Movement of the slide valve 69 also operates a barograph-type recorder 108 by means of a pawl and ratchet mechanism 96 geared to a rack 105 carrying a writing instrument 107. A spring- loaded piston in a cylinder 114 connected to the receptacle disengages the rack from its pinion 104 when the vacuum in the receptacle is released by operation of the valve 19 as the milking of each animal is complete, so that the writing instrument falls to its initial position; a' stamping device stamps a number on the record strip. Self-sealing test tubes may be employed, in which case they are contained in an evacuated chamber. Specification 653,064, [Group I], is referred to.