NZ228982A - Milk flow measurement; static and dynamic correction factors - Google Patents

Description

2289 8 2 Priority Date(s): Cemplrrfi# Speotlication Filed: Class: (5)...Aa.LX,.7^QO.| .....

Publication Date: P.O. Ho: J&S.U-.

Patents Form No. 5 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 195 3 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION METHOD OF MEASURING QUANTITY OF" DRAWN FROM ONE COW BY MILKING INS1 AND DEVICE THEREFOR %/Vle, LATVIISKAYA SELSKOKHOZYAISTVENNAYA AKADEMIA, A scate-owned organisation which exists under the laws of the DSSR, of ulitsa Lenina» 2, Elgava, Latviiskaya SSR, USSR hereby declare the invention, for which £/we pray that a patent may be granted to n>6/us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: (followed by page la) - la - 22 8 9 8 METHOD OF MEASURING QUANTITY OP MILK DRAWN FROM ONE COW BT£ MILKING INSTALLATION AND DEVICE THERETOH The present invention relates to methods of measuring quantity of milk and devices therefor, more particularly, to metbods cf meseuriig quantity cf milk drawn from cne cow by a milking installation and devices therefor.

The invention may be used in any known milking installations intended for drawing milk from one cow and measuring its quantity in the course of milking.

Accurate, reliable and objective information on milk yield of each cow is essential for carrying out systematic zootechnic, veterinary and selective work with a dairy herd, effecting commercial deals with consumers and planning science-based feed rates according to the physical condition and productivity of each cow.

Moreover, insertion of information on individual milk outputs in the computer system controlling the operation of a dairy farm calls for daily collection of data during each milking. The output signal of the milk counter should be compatible with the computer, simple and reliable in transmission over corresponding communication channels.

In addition to automation of a relevant labour-consuming process, it is also important to consider the properties of the physical medium under measurement, that (followed by page 2) 228 9 8 2 is milk in view of its unique characteristics since the prior-art industrial methods of measuring the amount of liquid are unsuitable for measuring the quantity of milk drawn from one cow and for a device therefor.

Also, there exists a substantial difference between the mathematical and physical models relating to methods of measuring the quantity of milk drawn from one cow by milking installations and to devices therefor, a factor introducing additional measurement errors. Furthermore, the accuracy of the known devices for measuring the quantity of milk drawn from one cow is appreciably affected by specific operating conditions of the milk counters and. by structural features thereof. Improvements relating to the construction of such-milk counters without departing from the known technical scope do not yield positive results, which indicates that the capabilities of the known devices are limited as regards the possibility of enhancing accuracy in measuring quantity of milk drawn from one cow.

The existing difference in operating conditions of milk counters of similar types leads to variations ia the accuracy of the obtained results which cannot be compared and properly evaluated at the present time since the known methods for measuring quantity of milk drawn, more specifically, from one cow and the devices therefor do not sptisfy metrological requirements for - 3 228 9 8 2 unity of the processes of adjustment, testing and operation of the counters, a factor introducing additional errors in measuring an individual milk output of each cow.

Moreover, dynamic error components of milk counters are generally due to continuity of the milcing process characterized by pulsating milk flow set up by the use of a milking installation and also due to abruptly varying intensity of milk flow J^Q = f(t)J associated with individual dynamic characteristics of animals.

The curve Q = f(t) representative of the intensity of milk flow during milking characterizes nonlinear changes in the milk flow rate in carrying out the known method of measuring quantity of milk drawn from one cow by a milking installation.

Thus, in the known devices no account is taken of the changes in the milk flow rate in the course of milking [q = f(t)]when the milk quantity is measured, a disadvantage substantially decreasing the measuring accuracy.

Another important problem relating to milking is concerned with stabilization of a vacuum level under the teats during milking and measurement of the quantity of milk drawn from one cow by a milking installation inasmuch as the Known methods of measuring the quantity of milk drawn from one cow by a milking installation and the Usvices for accomplishing said methods appre- - 4 228 9 82 ciably affect the vacuum conditions in milking, which results in udder and teat troubles and is physiologically unacceptable in machine milking. Furthermore, such factors decrease productivity of cows and the quantity of milk drawn therefrom.

There are also known methods of measuring quantity of milk drawn from one cow by a milking installation, comprising the steps of creating continuous milk flow from one cow, forming from said flow separate portions of milk and subsequently summing up said separate portions of milk, said separate portions of milk being formed as discrete volume (cf. SU, A, 886,885) or mass (cf. SU, A, 1,020,090) quantities.

In the foregoing methods the accuracy in measuring quantity of milk drawn from one cow by a milking installation depends, to a large extent, on the milk flow rate characterizing continuous milk flow from one cow.

With the aforesaid methods, nonlinear dependence of changes in the amount of separate portions of milk on the milk flow rate holds true both for volume and mass quantities, which is not taken into account in measuring milk drawn from one cow.

So, in the disclosed methods no consideration is given to a dynamic error during milk quantity measurements .

Furthermore, the described methods fail to account for specific properties of the measured medium, that is, 228 9 8 milk and to do not ensure correspondence between the mathematical and physical models of the measuring process, a disadvantage making the productivity assessment inaccurate, unreliable, complicated and labour-consuming.

There are Known devices for measuring quantity of milk drawn from one cow by a milking installation, which are adapted for carrying out the afore-mentioned methods and comprise a discrete mass or volume milk counter communicating via inlet and outlet pipes with a milking unit of a milking installation and with its milk pipeline and accommodating a sensitive metering element made as a rotary drum (cf. SU, A, 886,855) or a chute (cf. SU, A, 1,020,090) with measuring and corrective chambers and a magnet secured thereon and interacting with a sensing means for summing up separate portions of milk, which forms discrete volume or mass quantities of milk, respectively.

Such devices have fairly low measuring accuracy due to the fact that the measurement error is dependent on the milk flow rate. In the aforesaid devices the utilization of a corrective chamber provides for correction of data at one milk flow set in adjustment of the milk counter, whereas intensity of milk flow from each cow is a variable quantity. Also, the disclosed devices include no structural elements to account for the actual dynamic characteristics of milk flow, a 228 9 8 2 disadvantage suDstantially decreasing accuracy in measuring quantity of milk drawn from one cow by a milking installation, Moreover, the aforesaid devices incorporate no means for processing information on the results of measurement of separate portions of milk and for introducing static and dynamic corrections, which makes separate portions formed by the milk counter uncontrollable and nonoptimal.

The construction of such milk counters adversely affects the vacuum conditions in machine milking, a factor impairing the physical condition of cows.

There are further known methods of determining quantity of milk drawn from one cow by the use of a milking installation (cf. Landtechnitc, BRD, No. 4, 1982, D. Ordolff: "Technische Losungen zur Milchmengenmessung" pp. 188-190).

In the last-described methods formation of separate portions of milk is appreciably influenced by the milk flow intensity, a disadvantage reducing the measuring accuracy thereof.

The disclosed methods adversely affect the health of cows in milking since the milk counters therefor noticeably impair the vacuum condition of the milking installation, which leads to various diseases, more specifically, udder troubles whereby milk yield from each cow will be decreased. - 7 228 9 8 Furthermore, in the disclosed methods optimal portions of milk: may not be formed in accordance with the physical model of the measuring process, which limits the field of their uses due to low accuracy in measuring quantity of mil's drawn from one cow.

There are still further known devices for measuring quantity of milk drawn from one cow, which are adapted for carrying out the last-described methods and comprise a differently designed sensitive element forming separate portions of milk in machine milking (cf. Landtechnik, BRD, No. 4, 1982, D. Ordolff: "Technische Losungen zur Mi 1 c time nge nines sung", pp.188 - 190).

However, portions of milk formed by the known devices in milking are nonoptimal for their construction does not account for operational features and properties of the medium under measurement.

Also, the aforesaid devices include no means for making corrections under static and dynamic operating conditions. In the last-described devices no provision is made for excluding the effect of their construction on the vacuum milking conditions and eliminating the influence of the milk flow rate on the measuring accuracy.

Also known in the art is a method of measuring quantity of milk drawn from one cow by a milking installation, comprising the steps of forming separate portions of milk from continuous milk flow involving one cow and 228 9 8 2 subsequently summing up said separate portions of milk (cf. DE, A, 3,214,734).

In the foregoing method no account is tasen of the properties of milk, structural features of a milk counter, static and dynamic corrections of its errors, due to which it is unsuitable for forming optimal portions of milk when the milk flow is divided into separate portions. The absence of requisite facilities for programming the measuring process in the known method prevents correction of the obtained data to account for specific operating conditions of the milk counter and properties of milk, that is, no automatic response is possible in controlling the process of forming optimal portions of milk, a disadvantage appreciably decreasing accuracy in measuring quantity of milk.

There is also known a device for measuring quantity of milk drawn from one cow by a milking installation, which is adapted for accomplishing the last-aes-crioed method and comprises a discrete milk counter with a float-type sensitive element and a magnet mounted thereon and interacting with a sensing means for summing up separate portions of milk, which is made as an adder (cf. DE, A, 3,214,734).

The foregoing device includes no means for taking into account its structural and operational features and properties of milk in milking and measuring quantity of milk drawn from one cow by a milking installation. - 9 228 9 Besides, in the aforesaid device no facilities are provided for considering the influence of the milk flow rate on measuring accuracy and for introducing static and dynamic corrections to suit actual operating conditions. The aforementioned factors limit functional capabilities of the Known device and its accuracy in measuring quantity of milk drawn from one cow due to nonoptimal portions of milk formed in operation thereof.

This generally decreases effectiveness of milk production and zootechnic, veterinary and selective work with a dairy herd* ;There is further known a method of automatically measuring quantity of milk drawn from one cow by a milling installation, which employs the "intellectual" principle of measuring separate portions of milk, depending on the milk level in a measuring tank in milking each cow, a computer being used therein to account for the properties of milk and to record.automatically the current amount of drawn milk (cf. SU, A, 1,109,092). ;The disclosed method does not present health hazards but ensures only static correction in determining quantity of milk and has fairly low measuring accuracy. ;Furthermore, the use of the last-descrioed method is limited due to specific milking technology involving ;228 9 82 ;- 10 - ;the utilization of measuring tanks, a factor preventing full and. effective use of the computer. ;There is still further known a device for measuring quantity of milk drawn from one cow, which is adapted for carrying out the last-described method and comprises a measuring tank and a float-type sensitive element with a magnet mounted thereon and interacting with a sensing means for summing up separate portions of milk, which is made as a computer, said interaction occurring while the measuring tank is filled with milk drawn from one cow (cf. SU, A, 1,109,092). ;In such a device account is taken of its structural and operational features and the properties of milk and health hazards are essentially prevented. However, the disclosed device ensures only static correction in determining quantity of milk drawn from one cow, a disadvantage substantially decreasing measuring accuracy thereof. ;Moreover, the use of the aforesaid device is generally limited due to specific milking technology involving the utilization of measuring tanks, a factor precluding full and effective use of the functional and computational capabilities of the computer. ;There is finally known a method of measuring quantity of milk drawn from one cow by a milking installation, comprising the steps of creating continuous milk flow from one cow, forming from said milk flow separate portions ;of milk, using said, separate portions of milk to determine optimal portions of milk talcing into account the properties of milk and maximum sensitivity of the milk counter of the milking installation, thereby introducing correction in determining optimal portions of mils, representative of a static error in formation of said separate portions of milk, and subsequently summing up said optimal portions of milk to determine quantity of milk drawn from one cow (cf. SU, A, 1,175,403). ;The foregoing method employs the static principle of correcting errors in measuring quantity of milk drawn from one cow with digital simulation of optimal volume of the measuring chamber of the milk counter, a feature allowing formation of optimal portions of milk by dividing said milk flow into separate portions, ;said optimal portions being statically corrected taking into account the properties of milk, structural features of the milk counter and the results of digital simulation of optimal portions of milk drawn from one cow. ;However, nonuniformity of real milk flow in milking leads to changes in the intensity of milk flow and to variations in the rate of milk flow passed through the milk counter which is static.illy corrected considering that the milk flow passed therethrough is a constant quantity. ;Consequently, in the known method no account is taken of real changes in the milk flow rate in measuring ;- 12 ;2289 82 ;quantity of milk unuer nonuniform milk flow conditions and said changes are disregarded in formation of separate portions of milk, a factor making determination of optimal portions of milk less precise and, in effect, decreasing accuracy in measuring quantity of milk drawn from one cow by the milking installaJ . n. ;There is finally known a device for measuring quantity of milk drawn from one cow by a milking installation, which is adapted for carrying out the last-described metnod and comprises a discrete milk counter communicating via inlet and outlet pipes with a milking unit of a milking installation and with its milk pipeline, respectively, and accommodating within its casing a means for sensing optimal portions of milk, its sensitive element mounting a magnet interacting with a sensing means for summing up optimal portions of milk at the moment when optimal portions of milk are determined, said sensing means being installed in close proximity to the magnet of the sensitive element of said means for sensing optimal portions of milk on the outside of the casing of the milk counter and connected to a respective input of a computer (cf. 3U, A, 1,175,403). ;In the aforesaid device the milk counter includes only the means for sensing optimal portions of milk, ;which are statically corrected considering the properties of milK, structural and operational features of the device without accounting for the dynamic characteristics of milk flow. ;- 13 ;22 8 9 8 2 ;The disclosed, device is intended only for specific independent systems with separate facilities for milking and transporting milk over pipelines and is unsuitable for use with conventional milking installations wherein milk drawn from each cow is supplied directly to the milk pipeline. ;Thus, the knjwn device operates effectively only when the rate of the milk flow through the milk counter is constant. ;Moreover, the aforesaid devic is cons true tionally unsuitable for providing sparing milking conditions for each cow with milk drawn directly to the milk pipeline of the milking installation. ;So, the last-described device has fairly low accuracy in measuring quantity of milk drawn from one cow and adversely affects the health of animals, a disadvantage substantially decreasing effectiveness of zootech-nic, selective and veterinary work with a dairy herd. ;It is an object of the present invention to create a method of measuring quantity of milk drawn from one cow by a milking installation, which would make it possible to taice into account the influence of changes in intensity of milk flow on formation of optimal portions of milk obtained by dividing a variable-intensity continuous milk flow into separate portions and ensure adequate vacuum conditions in operation of the milking unit of the milking installation, thereby ;22 8 n ;- 14 - ;increasing accuracy in measuring quantity of milk drawn from one cow and preserving physiologically optimal sparing conditions in machine milking without any health hazards. ;Another object of tne invention is to provide a device for measuring quantity of oils drawn from one cow by a milking installation wish a view to carrying out the proposed metnod, which would ensure dynamic correction of an error occurring as a result of caaages in the intensity of milk flow during milsing, thereby increasing accuracy in measuring quantity of milk drawn from one cow by a milking installation, and stabilize a vacuum level directly uaaer the teats to prevent health hazards during milking and guard against decreases in quantity of oiik drawn from one cow and in total productivity of a dairy herd. ;There is provided a method of measuring the quantity of milk drawn from a cow by a milking installation, comprising the steps of converting a pulsating milk flow from,the cow to a continuous flow, forming from said continuous milk flow discrete portions of milk, determining corrected portions from said discrete portions taking into account properties of milk and maximum sensitivity of a milk counter of the milking installation, correcting a static error in their formation, and subsequently summing up the corrected portions of milk, whereby the discrete portions are formed corresponding to a predetermined milk flow rate, thus correcting a dynamic error in their formation. ;'file predetermined ails flow rate may be continuously obtained by creating a steady resultant miltc flow defined at each moment as a difference between the initial and final silk flow rates. ;There is also providea a device for measuring quantity of mi lie drawn from one cow by a nil sing installation with a view to carrying out the method according to ttie invention, comprising a discrete mils counter communicating via inlet and outlet pipes with a ailsiag unit of a nil icing installation and with its milk pipeline, respectively, and accommodating within ,its casing a means for sensing optimal portions of milk, a sensing element of v/hich mounts a magnet interacting with a sensor for summing up optimal portions of milk at the moment when optimal portions of milk are determined, ;said sensor being installed in close proximity to the magnet of the sensitive element of said sensing means on the outside of the casing of the milk counter and connected to a respective input of a computer, in which, ;- 16 ;22 8 9 8 ;according to the invention the casing of the discrete milk counter contains a partition having a milk outlet hole with a predetermined cross-sectional area and dividing the space inside the casing of the milk counter into a receiving chamber disposed on the side of the inlet pipe and an outlet chamber arranged on the side of the outlet pipe and accommodating the means for sensing optimal portions of milk, provision being also made for a milk flow rate sensor placed within the receiving chamber in close proximity to one of the walls of the casing of the milk counter and communicating via its inlet with the inlet pipe of the milk counter and via its outlet hole having a predetermined cross-sectional area with said hole in the partition, said sensor having a sensitive element representing a float with a magnet attached to the float on the side of said wall of the casing of the mils counter having in close proximity thereto said milk flow rate sensor, the cross-sectional area of the outlet hole in the milk flow rate sensor being smaller than the cross-sectional area of said hole in the partition, the device being also fitted with a sensor suited to select separate portions of milk corresponding to a predetermined milk flow rate and arranged in close proximity to the magnet of the sensitive element of the milk flow rate sensor on the outside of the casing of the milk counter, said sensor suited to select separate portions of milk interacting with the magnet of the sensitive element of the milk flow ;2289 82 ;- 17 - ;rate sensor at the moment when separate portions of milk are determined, said sensor suited to select separate portions of cailK being connected to a respective input of the computer. ;It is advantageous that the device according to the invention should comprise an element suited to direct milk flow along walls of the milk flow rate sensor and disposed at the inlet of the milk flow rate sensor. ;It is also advantageous that the sensor for selecting separate portions of milk corresponding to a predetermined milk flow rate should comprise a group of parallel-connected reed relays suitably spaced at distances corresponding to a change in tne intensity of milk flow in the milK flow rate sensor. ;Such an emoodiment of the proposed device for measuring quantity of mils, intended for carrying out tne method according to the invention ensures high accuracy in measuring quantity of milk drawn from one cow by a milking installation, regardless of changes in the intensity of milk flow therefrom during milicing, protects the health of animals, increases milk yield due to enhanced accuracy in zootechnic, veterinary and selective work based on accurate determination of the quantity of milk drawn from each cow and on the analysis of its physiological condition, decreases feed consumption and makes better use of fodder, which generally increases effectiveness of milk production at dairy farms. ;22 8 9 8 ;- 18 - ;The invention will now be described further wita reference to specific embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: ;Figure 1 illustrates diagrammatically the principle of forming vector for correcting an error in three-dimensional metric space, accounted for by the method of measuring quantity of milk according to the invention, in which plotted along axes X, Y, Z in three-dimensional space are, respectively, milk flow rate Q, milk level h in a milk counter, corresponding to a ;O ;predetermined milk flow rate, and measurement error o ; ;Figure 2 illustrates the principle of discrete formation of optimal portions of milk in accordance with the proposed method of measuring quantity of milk by selecting appropriate correction factors (laid off as ordinate), depending on variations of the milk flow rate Q (laid off as abscissa) in kg/min; ;Figure 3 is a master diagram of the proposed device for measuring quantity of milk drawn from one cow by a milking installation, intended for carrying out the method according to tne invention; ;Figure 4- shows the schematic of Figure 1 on an enlarged scale; and ;Figure 5 is a circuit diagram of a discrete milk counter and a computer of the device of Figure 1. ;The method of measuring quantity of milk drawn from one cow by a milking installation in compliance with the invention comprises the steps of creating continuous ;- 19 ;228 9 8 2 ;milk flow from one cow and. forming separate portions of milk from said milk flow. ;The formation of separate portions of milk from continuous milk flow is effected by creating from said milk flow separate portions of milk corresponding to a predetermined milk flow rate, thereby introducing correction in the process of forming separate protions of milk, characterizing a dynamic error in the formation of said separate portions of milk. ;Thereafter said separate portions of milk are used to determine optimal portions of milk taking into account the properties of milk and maximum sensitivity of trie milk counter of the milking installation, thus introducing correction in the process of determining-optimal portions of milk, characterizing a static error in the formation of said separate portions of milk. Next, said optimal portions of milk are summed up to determine the quantity of milk drawn from one cow. ;In the preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention a predetermined milk flow rate is continuously obtained by creating a steady resultant milk flow defined at each moment as a difference between the initial and final milk flow rates. ;Hence, the method of measuring quantity of milk drawn from one cow by a milking installation according to the invention essentially consists in that it includes operations on forming'optimal portions of milk ;20 ;228 9 82 ;tasing into account dynamic changes in milk flow by creating from continuous milk flow separate portions of milk corresponding to a predetermined milk flow rate, thereby introducing correction in ttie process of forming separate portions of mils, characterizing a dynamic error in the formation of said separate portions of milk. Preliminary monitoring of changes in the formation of said separate portions of milk according to the proposed method brings about corresponding variations in the formation of optimal portions of milk, provisions being made therein for determination of optimal portions of milk with due regard for a dynamic error thereof, continuous automatic summation of said portions during milking- and final measurement of the quantity of milk drawn from one cow. ;To reduce a random error in forming separate portions of milk from continuous milk flow, it is preferable that, according to the proposed method, account should be tasen of relative changes in the intensity of milk flow instead of absolute values of the milk flow rate, which involves formation of separate portions of milk considering a difference between the initial and final milk flow rates. ;The above factor increases stability in forming separate portions of milk, eliminates milk flow rate pulsations in the course of milicing and creates a sort of lag network to equalize milk flow pulsations regard- ;- 21 ;228 9 8 2 ;less of an instantaneous change in the intensity of milk flow. This further increases reliability and. stability in forming separate portions of milk for reasons of milking technology since in the proposed method the aforesaid formation process is not affected by inhibiting reactions in alveolar discharge of milk, which are unavoidable in milking, for example, due to stresses and teat troubles attributable to non-optimal milling Condi tions. ;Moreover, the method forming the subject of the present invention provides for physiologically optimal conditions in milking cows by a milking unit of a milking installation inasmuch as it does not deteriorate vacuum conditions in operation of toe milking installation,particularly at the instant the milking unit is connected to cow's udder and also when pulsating milk flow is supplied from the milKing unit to the milk counter. Such an aaditjonal positive effect is attained by feeding milk flow from each cow to the miltc counter wherein the receiving chamber having a predetermined sufficiently large capacity acts as an intermediate link stabilizing milk flow and vacuum conditions whereby said counter equalizes vacuum pulsations, more particularly, those occurring unaer the teats and in the milking installation, a feature protecting the health of animals and simultaneously improving the conditions for forming optimal portions of milk (by decreasing a dynamic error in measuring separate por- ;- 22 ;228 9 8 2 ;tions of milk during the formation process thereof). ;In the method according to the invention the resultant error correction vector ~r^ (figure 1) in formation of optimal portions of milk is a continuously varying vector quantity in three-dimensional metric space formed by coordinate planes whose axes correspond to the error & , milK flow rate Q and milk level h in the milk counter, corresponding to a predetermined milk flow rate. The vector r^ for correcting the process of forming optimal portions of milk has current coordinates i*, and charac terizes correlation between parameters 8^ = f(Q^), 4 - 81 " «h6 > " In accordance with the proposed method discrete formation of optimal portions of milk by selecting appropriate correction factors (Figure 2) is accomplished in the following manner.

The necessary step is to choose certain discrete intervals of correction factor variations cor responding to certain preset intervals A.Q^ of milk flow rate variations. Thus, in formation of optimal portions of milk the milk flow rate corresponds to the correction factor IL|, the milk flow rate corresponds to the correction factor and so forth. The number of correction factors is chosen depending on required maximum sensitivity of the milk counter according to the invention. The minimum chosen interval 228 9 8 AQi £ •••> nilk flow rate variations corresponds to ttie minimum interval AKj^£ .X^, • ■ • t%<pj of correction factor variations, that is, to maximum sensitivity of the milk: counter with respect to a dynamic error in formation of separate portions of milk.

To carry out the method according to the invention, the proposed device for measuring quantity of milk drawn from one cow by a milking installation comprises a discrete milk counter 1 (figure 3) wnose casing 2 has an inlet pipe 3 and an outlet pipe 4 adapted, respectively, for supplying milk to and from the counter 1 and also a pipe 5 used to discharge air from the casing 2, of the counter 1. Ths. counter 1 communicates via the inlet pipe 3 and the outle pipe 4 with a milking unit 6 of a milking installation 7 and with its evacuated milk pipeline 8, respectively. Said counter is also in communication with the pipe 4 through the pipe 5.

For milking, the milking unit 6 is connected to udder 9 of a cow 10 and placed in communication via a hose 11 and a pulsator 12 secured to the casing 2 of the counter 1 with a vacuum pipeline 13 of the milking installation 7 by means of a vacuum milk cock 14 used also to communicate the counter 1 with the .ilk pipeline 8 during milking.

Installed on the outside of the casing 2 of the 228982 milk counter 1 over the height of the casing 2 are a sensor 15 for selecting separate portions of milk corresponding to a predetermined, milk flow rate and a sensing means 16 for summing up optimal portions of milk, which are connected to respective inputs 17 and 18 of a computer 19.

The casing 2 (Figure 4) of the discrete milk counter 1 contains a partition 20 with a milk outlet hole 21 having a predetermined cross-sectional area. The partition 20 divides the inner space of the casing 2 of the milk counter 1 into a receiving chamber 22 disposed on the side of the inlet pipe 3 and an outlet ctiamber 23 arranged on the side of the outlet pipe 4.

The receiving chamber 22 of the milk counter 1 holds a float-type milk flow rate sensor 24 arranged in close proximity to one of the walls of the casing 2, which is made common with one of the walls of the sensor 24 in the preferred embodiment of the invention.

The sensor 24 communicates via its inlet 25 with the inlet pipe 3 and via its outlet hole 26 having a predetermined cross-sectional area with the hole 21 in the partition 20. The cross-sectional area of the outlet hole 26 in the sensor 24 is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the hole 21 in the partition 20.

Arran6ed at the inlet 25 of the sensor 24 is an element 27 for directing milk flow 28 along the walls of the milk flow rate sensor 24, said element being cone-shaped. 228 9 8 Ttie sensitive element of ttie milt flow rate sensor 24 is a float 29 mounting a permanent magnet 30. The magnet 30 is attached to the float 29 on the side of that wall of the sensor 24 which is common with cne of the walls of the casing 2 of the milk counter 1. Arranged in close proximity to tae magnet 30 on the outside of the casing 2 of the counter 1 is the sensor 15 for selecting separate portions of milk:, which interacts with the magnet 30 at the moment when separate portions of the milk flow 28 are determined.

The float 29 has projections 31 on the side of the outlet hole 26 in ttie sensor 24. The float 29 is placed on a guide 32, a constructional feature preventing full closure of the hole 26 in the absence of the milk flow 28.

The receiving chamber 23 of the milk counter 1 accommodates a discrete means 33 for sensing optimal portions of milk. The sensitive element of the discrete means 33 is a two-chamber chute 34 mounting a permanent magnet 35. The two-chamber chute 34 is arranged in a manner allowing its turn about an axis 36 up to a limiter 37.

Arranged in close proximity to the magnet 35 on the outside of the casing 2 of the counter 1 is the sensing means 16 for summing up optimal portions of milk, which interacts with the magnet 35 at the moment when optimal portions from the milk flow 28 are determined.

In Figure 4 dashed arrows show passage of a gas-air - 26 228 9 8 constituent in milk flow, whereas solid arrows show passage of milk in the device forming the subject of the present invention.

In the illustrated embodiment of the device the sensor 15 (Figure 5) for selecting separate portions of milk corresponding to a predetermined rate of the milk flow 28 comprises a group of parallel-connected reed relays 38 connected to the input 17 of tne computer 19 and installed at a predetermined distance from each other over the height of the casing 2 of the counter 1, said distance corresponding to a change in the intensity of the milk flow 28 in the milk flow rate sensor 24.

The sensing means 16 for summing up optimal portions of milk comprises a reed relay 39 connected to the input 18 of the computer 19.

In the preferred embodiment of the proposed device the computer 19 may be constructed in any suitable manner known to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope . the invention.

For example, the computer 19 (Figure 5) may comprise a microprocessor 40 whose respective inputs are connected through a control console 41 to the reed relays 38 of the sensor 15 for selecting separate portions of milk and to the reed relay 39 of the sensing means 16 for summing up optimal portions of milk.

The microprocessor 40 may be constructed in a known 228 9 8 2 manner apparent to those skilled in the art (cf. S.T. Khvosch et al: "Mikroprotsessory i mikroEVM v sistemakh avtomatichesKogo upravlenia", 1987, Masjai— nostroeniye publishers, Leningrad, p. 8 or "Arkaitectura i proeictirovanie mikroEVM. Organizatsia vycnislitel-nyKh protsessov" edited by L.N. Presnukhin, 1987, Visshaya snkola, Minstc, pp 46 and 131)- Connected to the microprocessor 40 are an instruction register switch 4-2 of the microprocessor 40, a moae switch 43 of the microprocessor 40 and a clock pulse generator 44. The control console 41 and the microprocessor 40 are electrically connected to a digital indicator 48 through wires 45, 46 and 47.

Described below is the operation of the proposed device for measuring quantity of milk drawn from one cow by a milking installation to carry out the method forming the subject of the present invention.

To meet the operating requirements, rated vacuum conditions of the milking installation 7 (Figure 3) are obtained in the prescribed manner whereupon the milking unit 6 is connected to the udder 9 of the cow 10. The cow 10 is milked with appropriate vacuum conditions provided in the vacuum pipeline 13 of the milking installation 7, the pulsator 12, the hose 11 and the milking unit 6.

At the initial milking stage, owing to the milk flow reflex peculiar to each cow there is provided grow- 28 228982 ing milk flow via the inlet pipe 3 (Figure 4) from the milking unit 6 to the receiving chamber 2d. of tne discrete milk counter 1. Thereafter the portions of the pulsating milk flow 28 are supplied to the element 27 for directing the milk flow 28 along the walls of the milk flow rate sensor 24 and are accumulated in the lower section of the sensor 24 as the rate of milk flow from the cow 10 (Figure 3) exceeds a predetermined value, say 200 g/min. The corresponding function is performed by the outlet hole 26 (Figure 4) in the milk flow rate sensor 24 having a predetermined cross-sectional area.

Due to a fairly large capacity of the receiving chamber 22 of the casing 2 of the milk counter 1, there occurs stabilization of vacuum conditions under the teats of the udu.er 9 (Figure 3) of the cow 10, vacuum pulsations being possible when one of the four teat cups of the milking unit 6 incidentally slips off the teat during connection or disconnection of said mil king-units operating simultaneously in the milking installation 7 » except for the given milking unit 6, since it is conventional practice to use several milking units operating in parallel, for example, four or five concurrently working units. Vacuum pulsations under the teats presenting a health hazard may occur for other reasons, for example, due to inadequate milking technology causing inflow of air through leaky joints in the milk pipeline 8 or the vacuum pipeline 13 of the 228 9 8 2 milking installation 7 and the like.

As tae milk is accumulated in the flow rate sensor 24 (Figure 4), an increase in the intensity of the milk flow 28 causes the float 29 with the magnet 30 to rise along the guide 32 whereby the magnet 30 will be located in close proximity to the respective reed relay 38 (Figure 5) of ttie sensor 15 for selecting separate portions of milk corresponding to a predetermined milk flow rate in the sensor 24. The magnetic field set up by the permanent magnet 30 interacts with ttie respective reed relay 38 whereby the respective control circuit of the microprocessor 40 of the computer 19 will be completed through corresponding contacts of the control console 41. The digital indicator 48 will then read the numerical value of a separate portion of milk of the counter 1, which accounts for a specific value of the intensity of milk flow from the cow at a given moment of time by introducing in the computer 19 one of the factors K2,...,Kr, corresponding to the intensity of milk flow and indicative of dynamic error correction, said correction factors being in accord with the respective discrete values of the milk flow rate ,..., Q^, chosen by the use of the sensor 24, as shown in Figure 2.

Characteristically, the milk flow rate sensor 24 is used to select the discrete levels of the milk flow rate fy, Qy using instead of their absolute 228 9 8 2 magnitudes a difference between tae milic flow rates at the inlet 25 (Figure 5) of ttie sensor 24 and across its outlet tiole 26.

Next, ttie milli drawn from one cow 10 (Figure 3) flows out of the milk flow rate sensor 24 (Figure 4) through ttie outlet hole 26, while the gas-air milk constituent is separated from the main milk flow 28 bypassing the milk flow rate sensor 24 along the respective wall of the casing 2 of the receiving chamber 22 of the counter 1. The milk is then supplied to the outlet chamber 23 through the hole 21 in the partition 20, thereby flowing into the means 33 for sensing optimal portions of milk. The gas-air milk constituent is drawn off through the pipe 5 which is in communication with tne outlet pipe 4.

Thus, the milk flow 23 separated from the gas-air constituent and coming out of the hole 21 in the partition 20 &ets into the means 33 for sensing optimal portions of milk. Inasmuch as the sensitive element of the means 33 (Figure 5) comprises the two-chamber chute 34 wita the magnet 35» the chute 34 turns about its axis 36 as optimal portions of the milk 28 are obtained, while the magnetic field set up by the permanent magnet 35 interacts with the reed relay 39 of the sensing means 16 for summing up optimal portions of milk and the respective control circuit of the microprocessor 40 of the computer 19 is completed through corresponding contacts of the control console 41. 22 8 9 8 As ttie sensing means 24, 15 and 33» 16 operate in succession, ttie digital indicator 48 of the computer 19 receives a signal to sum up the numerical values of separate portions of milk chosen by the use of the sensor 15 to suit a specific discrete value of milk flow rate (intensity of milk flow), as illustrated in figure 2.

As said separate portions of milk are summed up in the course of milking, account is -;aken of static and dynamic corrections of tae reading error of the milk counter 1 (Figure 5) in response to instructions from the sensor 15 for selecting separate portions of milk and from the milk flow rate censor 24.

Hence, upon receipt of instructions from the sensor 15> the digital indicator 48 of the computer 19 accepts dynamic correction signals , K^, » .• (figure 2) of the milk counter 1 (figure 5), which correspond to a predetermined milk level in the milk flow rate sensor 24 and, consequently, to tae position of one of the reed relays 38 of the sensor 15 for selecting optimal portions of milk, for each reed relay 38, there is the respective dynamic correction factor K/j, Kg,..., K.y (figure 2) of the counter 1 at the respective milk flow rate point which has been initially stored in the computer 19 (Figure 5).

So, the milk counter 1 counts separate portions corrected taking into account its structural and - 32 228 9 82 operational features and the properties of milk, while the digital indicator 4-8 accurately records the current numerical quantity of milk drawn from one cow by the milking installation 7. The metered portions of milk are drained from the outlet chamber 23 in the casing 2 (Figure 4) of the counter 1 through the outlet pipe 4.

It should be noted that the operation of the proposed device is not affected with retarded individual milk flow reflexes attributable to impaired health, improper milking technology or stress conditions since the shape and construction of the milk flow rate sensor 24 make it essentially a lag network operating with a time delay. Desired results are obtained by having the outlet hole 26 in the sensor 24 calibrated for a predetermined milk flow rate, for example, 200 g/min, a feature preventing the entire quantity of milk 28 accumulated in the milk flow rate sensor 24 from flowing out in the event of interruption in milk flow or due to afterflow.

Such an embodiment of the proposed method of measuring quantity of milk and tae device therefor makes it possible to correct the error in measuring quantity of milk drawn from one cow depending on the milk flow rate, provide invariance under the effect of factors destabilizing the milk flow and account for the influence of static and dynamic errors in forming optimal portions of milk, attributable to external and internal factors 2289 82 such as operating conditions, structural features of the milk counter and properties of the medium under measurement, an advantage substantially increasing accuracy in measuring quantity of rjilk drawn from one cow by a milking installation.

Hence, the proposed, device for measuring quantity of milk drawn from one cow by a milking installation to carry out the method according to the invention appreciably enhances measuring accuracy, eliminates health hazards and increases productivity of the entire herd due to a novel individual approach including zootechnic, selective and veterinary programs aimed at examining animals on the basis of accurate data on milk yield of each cow.

The device for accomplishing the method in compliance with the present invention relates to a novel promising class of "intellectual" milk yield measuring instruments readily compatible with the computer system controlling the operation of a dairy farm and suitable for use with any tcnown type of milking installation. The utilization of the proposed device generally increases effectiveness of milk production at dairy farms owing to optimal use of accurate data on milk yield of each animal in goal-oriented zootechnic, selective and veterinary programs involving the use of computers for working out optimal feed rates and better employment of the genetic productivity potential of each animal. 228982

Claims (7)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS;

1. A method of measuring the quantity of milk drawn from a cow by a milking installation, comprising the steps of converting a pulsating milk flow from the cow to a continuous flow, forming from said continuous milk flow discrete portions of milk, determining corrected portions from said discrete portions taking into account properties of milk and maximum sensitivity of a milk counter of the milking installation, correcting a static error in their formation, and subsequently summing up the corrected portions of milk, whereby the discrete portions are formed corresponding to a predetermined milk flow rate, thus correcting a dynamic error in their formation.

2. A method of measuring the quantity of milk as claimed in claim 1, in which the predetermined milk flow rate is a steady continuous milk flow, the flow rate of the milk flow being determined by calculating the difference between the initial and the final milk flow rates.

3. A device for measuring the quantity of milk drawn from a cow by a method as claimed in claim 1, the device comprising a discrete milk counter communicating via inlet and outlet pipes with a milkirg unit of a milking installation, the milk counter comprising a casing, the casing accommodating a means for sensing optimal portions of milk and a milk flow rate sensor, said casing containing a partition having a milk outlet hole with a predetermined cross-sectional area, the partition dividing the casing into a receiving chamber into which the inlet pipe enters, and an outlet chamber, from which the outlet pipe exists, the milk flow rate sensor being located in the receiving chamber in close proximity to one of the walls of the casing, the sensor comprising an inlet which communicates with the inlet pipe of the milk counter, and an outlet of a predetermined cross-sectional area which communicates with the 'v"1, t'v/ hole in the partition, the sensor further comprising a «*\;V <^1;1 28 JAW/992 j;' * / 35 22MS2 sensitive element, the sensitive element comprising a float with an attached magnet, the magnet being attached to a side of the wall of the casing in close proximity to second sensor for selecting separate particles of milk corresponding to a predetermined milk flow rate, said second sensor being connected to an input of a computer and being suited to select separate particles of milk.

4. A device for measuring quantity of milk as claimed in claim 3, which comprises an element at the inlet of the milk flow rate sensor which directs milk flow along walls of the milk flow rate sensor.

5. A device for measuring quantity of milk as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, in which the sensor which selects separate portions of milk corresponding to a predetermined milk flow rate comprises a group of parallel-connected reed relays suitably spaced at distances corresponding to a change in the intensity of milk flow in the milk flow rate sensor.

6. A method of measuring the quantity of milk drawn from one cow as claimed in claim 1, substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings.

7. A device for measuring quantity of milk drawn from one cow substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings. IATV1ISKAYA SELSKOKHOZYAISTVENNAYA AKADEMIA By their attorneys BALDWIN, SON & CAREY 1S JAN 1392