NZ245355A - Milking machine with unitary extruded plastics multi-conduit for milk, air, water and electrical wiring - Google Patents

Description

NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT, 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION "Improvements in or Relating to Milking Systems or Apparatus and to Related Methods and Uses" We, CARTER HOLT HARVEY PLASTIC PRODUCTS GROUP LIMITED a company duly incorporated under the laws of New Zealand of 696 Te Rapa Road, Hamilton, New Zealand hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement- No.: 245355 Date: 3 December 1992 ,2: 24 5 3 5 The present invention relates to improvements in and/or relating to milking systems or apparatus and to related methods and uses.

Milking machines such as those marketed by us include clusters of cups mounted from claw having a milk line outlet from a bowl, a milk line infeed from each inflation including milking cup. A pulsator unit which includes air lines for the control of the movement of the inflation of each cup is preferably associated with the claw to provide a milking action.

It is fundamental in such milking machinery to provide dedicated utility lines as required to collect the milk from the milk line from the bowl. It is also customary to provide a series of air lines for ducting appropriate pressurizing fluid to the pulsator units and/or air injector input of a washing system. In recent times it has also been appropriate to provide water lines which serve multiple functions including the provision of water for reverse flushing or milking mode washing of the milk lines, claw etc after milking.

The present invention is directed to an improved milk line which provides several new "plumbing" options in milking systems or apparatus.

In a first aspect the present invention consists in, in a milking system or apparatus, the use of a Liulti conduited elongate member defined by a plastic extrusion or an assembly which includes a plastic extrusion to provide at least two or more of the following: (i) a milk line to collect milk from the milk outlet from the bowl of a milking claw; N.Z. PATENT 24 5 3 5 5 (ii) a pulsation line to provide a fluid (e.g. air) to a pulsation unit of a milking claw; (iii) a jetter line for supplying a cleaning fluid (e.g. water) to jetters for the purpose of reverse flushing and/or milking mode flushing of the system (iv) a water line (v) an air line" (e.g. for an air injector); and (vi) an electrical wiring line.

Preferably said multi conduited elongate member is an extrusion having at least two or more of (i) to (v) and at least a channel member providing (vi) for electrical wiring.

Preferably said conduit includes a capping member.

Preferably said milk line, pulsation lines and jetter lines are present and there is a tapping into the appropriate conduits substantially transversely.

Preferably said multi conduited member is a structural member capable of acting as a beam or substantially as a beam between support points.

Preferably said multi conduited elongate member is fabricated from at least one channel defining member to define the milk line conduit.

Preferably said multi conduited elongate member is of a form substantially as hereinafter described with or without reference to any of the accompanying drawings.

In yet a further aspect the present invention consists in a method of providing utilities to milking claws and/or pulsators of a milking machine which involves the use of a multi conduited elongate member defined by a plastic extrusion or an assembly which includes a plastic extrusion to provide at least two of the following: X = 8 JAN 1997 BPr.Pi\/rn 24 5 35 (i) a milk line to collect milk from the milk outlet from the bowl of a milking claw; (ii) a pulsation line to provide a fluid (e.g. air) to a pulsation unit of a milking claw; (iii) a jetter line for supplying a cleaning fluid (e.g. water) to jetters for the purpose of reverse flushing and/or milking mode flushing of the system (iv) a water line (v) an air line; and (vi) an electrical wiring line.

In yet a further aspect the present invention consists in milking apparatus which comprises a multi conduited elongate member as previously defined in conjunction with appropriate tapping conduiting thereto from a plurality of milking claws and/or pulsation units and/or jetter units.

In a further aspect the present invention consists in, in a milking shed, a milking machine which uses multi conduited elongate members as previously defined to supply utilities to at least one and preferably several of the milking claws, the pulsation units and the jetter units.

One preferred form of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is an end view of one form of fabricated multi conduited elongate member in accordance with the present invention capable of acting as a beam structure between points of support, and n.z. patent - 8 JAN 1997 received 24 5 35 5 Figure 2 is a variation of the arrangement as shown in Figure 1 showing the flexibility of layout that is possible and again showing jetter units attached thereto and additionally showing how if desired the milk line conduit can be formed as a fabricated line.

In the preferred form of the present invention as depicted in Figure 1 there is provided an extrusiofr'l (for example of an appropriate plastics material or a metal or some composite material) defining a plurality of conduits therethrough. As depicted in Figure 1 there is for example a milk line 2 into which the milk collection line from each of a plurality of milking claws can be connected by appropriate lateral tappings or spigoting (not shown).

Also shown is a conduit 3 capable of feeding water to jetters 4 for use in the cleaning of the milking system by a reverse flushing conventional process, each of the jetter units 4 being able to take a cleaning fluid (e.g. water) from the conduit 3.

Also shown is a water line 5 and a filtered air line 6. Filtered air line can supply air to an air injector site in the milk line to move "slugs" of cleaning fluid as desired.

Since it is usual to position pulsation units either in the ducting or to have them carried on the milking claws themselves, a pulsation line 7 can be provided to enable the option of either fitting pulsation units (not shown) directly over the member 1 or, as now frequently happens, or to provide a fluid line to the pulsation units on the miiking claw.

A channel member 8 is provided capable of being capped by a capping member 9 so that wiring can be run easily internally of the outer general perimeter of the beam perimeter formed by the extrusion 1. n.2. patent office 1 8 JAN 1997 received 24 5 35 5 -o- In the arrangement as shown strapping or the like members 10 are provided to hold a mounting assembly 11 for the jetter units 4 against the extrusion 2. Such amounting plates are not essential.

In the embodiment as shown in Figure 2 the same references where possible are used as with Figure 1. Again preferably the jetter line is the lower most conduit and again the pulsation line is at an uppermost position. In this form, however, preferably the filtered air line 6 is alongside the pulsation line should that be required.

In this particular form the wiring channel is an extruded conduit 8a. The conduit 5 is a mains pressure water line while a conduit 12 of lesser pressure is utilised to provide a teat spray line. Other utilities can be provided with the other conduits. For example, conduit 13 could be used as a conduit for ducting drenching fluids to be tapped from the beam and administered as required to animals. No particular designated use is allocated for the conduit 14.

A feature of the embodiment as shown in Figure 2 is the fact that the milking line 2 to be tapped into is formed in part by a channel in the member 1 and an overcapping elongate extruded member 15 which provides the mounting for tappings into the conduit 2 which may be required by regulation to have a flush entry point into the conduit 2.

Persons skilled in the art would appreciate that while a generally rectangular form has been chosen (which is used with the major axis thereof substantially vertical to render the same substantially self supporting over reasonable spans) more complex forms in the form of T shaped or I beams can be utlised. In fact some of these more complex exterior configurations may provide for a greater ease of tapping into or N.Z. patent OFFICE j - 8 JAN 1997 received ' -i- 24 5 3 5 5 support from the beam structure of the attachments such as, for example, the jetter units 4. Indeed the extrusion can be provided with channels to facilitate the attachment of such units.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate how an aesthetic multi utility line for servicing milking machinery can be provided within the ambit of the present invention thereby enhancing the appearance of a milking shed and minimising the exterior surfaces that can attract filth and require cleaning. At the same time the self supporting nature of the conduit means that support for the structure can be spaced over longer spans and with existing structures.

A further feature of the invention is the advantage is confers on a manufacturer since a single length of the unitary or fabricated member provides all of the conduiting needed for the various utilities for servicing milking, i.e. it is not necessary for a manufacturer to ensure an appropriate length of the different conduits to match those of any other of the utilities. Hence, the packing of containers for foreign destinations is greatly facilitated as it is not necessary to match different conduiting into a single pack. n.z. patent office ~ 8 JAN 1997 received 24 5 35 5

Claims (15)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. Apparatus of a milking system which includes a multi conduited elongate member defined by a plastics extrusion or an assembly which includes a plastics extrusion to provide at least two or more of the following: (i) a milk line to collect milk from the milk outlet from the bowl of a milking claw; (ii) a pulsation line to provide a fluid to a pulsation unit of a milking claw; (iii) a jetter line for supplying a cleaning fluid (e.g. water) to jetters for the purpose of re verse flushing and/or milking mode flushing of the system (iv) a water line (v) an air line; and (vi) an electrical wiring line.

2. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fluid of (ii) is air.

3. Apparatus of claim 1 or 2 wherein said cleaning fluid of (iii) is or includes water.

4. Apparatus of any one of the preceding claims wherein said air line of (v) is for air injection, into said milk line.

5. Apparatus of any one of the preceding claims wherein said multi conduited elongate member is an extrusion having at least two or more of (i) to (v) and at least a channel member providing (vi) for electrical wiring.

6. Apparatus of claim 5 wherein said elongate member includes a capping member for said channel member providing (vi) for electric wiring.

7. Apparatus of claim 5 or 6 wherein there ;s at least one substantially transverse tapping in least one of said milk line, pulsation lines and jetter lines. N.Z. patent office - 8 JAN 1997 received I * 24 5 35 5 -9-

8. Apparatus of any one of the preceding claims wherein said multi conduited elongate member is a structural member capable of acting as a beam or substantially as a beam between support points.

9. Apparatus of any one of preceding claims wherein said multi conduited elongate member is fabricated from at least one channel defining member to define the milk line conduit.

10. Apparatus of any one of the preceding claims wherein'said multi conduited elongate member is of a form substantially as hereinafter described with or without reference to any of the accompanying drawings.

11. A milk line conduit suitable as part of apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, said conduit being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

12. A method of providing utilities to milking claws and/or pulsators of a milking machine which involves the use of a multi conduited elongate member defined by a plastic extrusion or an assembly which includes a plastics extrusion to provide at least two of the following: (i) a milk line to collect milk from the milk outlet from the bowl of a milking claw; (ii) a pulsation line to provide a fluid to a pulsation unit of a milking claw; (iii) a jetter line for supplying a cleaning fluid to jetters for the purpose of reverse flushing and/or milking mode flushing of the system (iv) a water line (v) an air line; and n.z. patuist o.tic - 8 JAN 1997 -10- 24 5 35 5 (vi) an electrical wiring line.

13. Milking apparatus which comprises a multi conduited elongate member as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 with tapping conduiting thereto from a plurality of milking claws and/or pulsation units and/or jetter units.

14. In a milking shed, a milking machine which uses multi conduited elongate members as defined in any one of claims 1 to 10 to supply utilities to at least one of the milking claws, the pulsation units and the jetter units.

15. Apparatus of claim 14 wherein utilities are supplied to the milking claws, the pulsation units and the jetter units. n.z. patent - 8 JAN 1997 received