NZ505956A - Milk flow analyser with sensor(s) located on shoulder in passageway, with shoulder trapping milk - Google Patents

Abstract

Sensor 7 is located on shoulder 8 for monitoring milk in a zone B of reduced milk flow adjacent and upstream of shoulder 8.

Description

Our Ref: EEL004 Patents Form No. 5 30 No.s 505956/510046 Dated 1 February 1999 PATENTS ACT 1953 35 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION APPARATUS FOR MEASURING AND ANALYSING FLUID 40 I, GEOFFREY JAMES BATES, a New Zealand citizen, of 5 Ross Street, Remuera, Auckland, New Zealand, do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. 2 6 OCT 2001 RECEIVED APPARATUS FOR MEASURING AND ANALYSING FLUID TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to apparatus for detecting, measuring and analysing fluid. More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention relates to a device and apparatus for measuring and analysing milk and the like.

BACKGROUND ART Apparatus for measuring the properties or condition of fluid, particularly milk taken from dairy cows, has become necessary due to the importance of identifying infected animals and applying early treatment.

Infections such as mastitis and the like in dairy cows can be detected by measuring the conductivity of the milk flowing through milking equipment. As mastitis affects one or more of the mammary glands of a dairy cow, but not generally all of the mammary glands, a comparison of the electrical conductivity of the milk flowing from separate discharge outlets from each teat in an udder can provide an indication of mastitis 20 infection. Mastitis also affects the conductivity of the various parts of the milk differently, for example, foremilk, main milk and strippings.

A common form of detection is with electrodes being mounted in a milk line, and measurements are taken and fed to an externally located measuring device. In a variant 25 of the above device, milk is fed from the tube into a measuring chamber containing electrodes, and measurements are taken and compared and an alarm is activated if a difference in measurements is detected between milk lines attached by suction cups to different teats of an udder from a dairy cow. 2 It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for monitoring milk properties, or which overcomes at least some of the abovementioned problems, or which provides the public with a useful choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first broad aspect of the invention there is provided a device for monitoring milk, the device including a passageway adapted for placement in a milk flow line from a milking machine, the passageway having an inlet, in use, to be 10 coupled to the milking line, and an outlet, the passageway having a shoulder projecting toward the central longitudinal axis of the passageway, and a milk sensing means being mounted in the shoulder for measuring milk in an area of trapped milk created adjacent and upstream of the shoulder.

Preferably the sensing means is an electrode for measuring electrical conductivity in milk.

According to a first broad aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for monitoring/measuring and analysing milk, the apparatus including a body portion 20 adapted for placement in a milking machine, the body portion being provided with at least one passageway having an inlet to be coupled to a milking tube and an outlet, the passageway having a shoulder projecting toward the central longitudinal axis of the passageway to create an area of trapped milk upstream of the shoulder, a sensing means being mounted in the shoulder for measuring milk in the trapped milk area 25 and providing a signal to a measurement processing means located in the body portion, the processing means being configured and arranged to determine the integrity of the milk, and an indicator alert means located in the body portion and being associated with the output of the processing means to alert a user when an adverse milk condition has been determined. 3 Desirably the body portion is provided with a plurality of passageways, and measurements from each said sensing means in each said passageway are fed to the processing means.

Preferably the body portion is configured and arranged in the milking machine to form a claw for placement in a claw type of milking machine.

Preferably the indicator means is an audio and/or visual alert means. Desirably the indicator means includes a display means. Advantageously the indicator means is 10 located in a surface of the claw.

® BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be illustrated, by way of example 15 only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1: illustrates a cross sectional view of a milk sensing or monitoring device; Figure 2: illustrates a cross sectional view of a milk analysing apparatus incorporated in the claw of a milking machine in accordance with a further aspect of the invention; and Figure 3: illustrates a milk monitoring and analysing apparatus in a milking machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to figure 1, a cross sectional view of the milk sensing device, generally 30 referred to as 1, is illustrated. 4 The device 1 includes a passageway 2 in the form of a tube for allowing fluid to pass therethrough in direction A. It will be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention can include applications in many areas of measurement of fluids in passageways. However, in this embodiment of the invention the fluid is in the form of 5 milk in a milking machine and references to fluid herein are to be referred to as milk.

The tube 2 has an inlet 3 adapted for connected to a milking line or tube. The outlet 4 can be connected downstream of a milk line or tube. The device 1 can desirably be adapted to mount to a standard milking machine (as partly shown in figure 3). It will be 10 appreciated that the device 1 may desirably form a permanent part of the milking line.

Standard milking machines generally operate with a partial vacuum created when part of the air is removed from a confined space such as from various tubes in a milking system. The amount of air removed determines the vacuum level, and such level typically is about 50 kilopascals. The milk flow therefore is aerated and a mixture of air and milk flows through the passageway 2.

It is considered desirable to separate some of the air from milk for measurement purposes. In an aspect of the invention the inner wall 5 of the passageway 2 is adapted 20 to provide a shoulder 6 projecting toward the central longitudinal axis C of the passageway effectively into the main milk flow when in operation. The shoulder 6 may be formed of any suitable method and in the case of the passageway 2 being a thermoplastics material, may be formed by applying a suitable degree of heat to the passageway to mould the form of the shoulder 6.

The effect of the shoulder 6 in the milk flow is to create a dam in the milk flow causing a puddle to form in area B upstream of the shoulder 6 that, once formed, gives us a conductivity path for an electrical measurement between two electrodes through the trapped milk that is not significantly effected by the milk flow rate. Such a pool of milk 30 is largely separated from the entrained air in the milking machine.

A sensing means 7 desirably in the form of an electrode or electrodes is mounted in the bearing face 8 of the shoulder 6. The sensing means 7 can alternatively be referred to as a measuring means or a detecting means but for purposes of definition will herein be referred to as a sensing means.

It will be appreciated that for electrical conductivity to be measured two points are required. Either the electrode 7 includes two electrodes or points, or one electrode 7 can be used with a metal passageway 2, the passageway 2 desirably being made of stainless steel.

The sensing means 7 may include a temperature sensor or other desirable measuring device. The electrode 7 is suitable for measuring milk properties, and in one form of the invention, the electrode 7 desirably measures the electrical conductivity of the milk indicative of the quality of the milk being extracted from a dairy cow or other lactating 15 animal.

The output signal from the electrodes 7 is fed to a signal processing means and such a further aspect of the invention is now described.

Referring now to figure 2, a cross sectional view of a milk analysing apparatus, generally referred to as 50, incorporated in the claw of a milking machine, according to a further aspect of the invention, is illustrated. Reference is also made to figure 3, showing a part of a milking machine 51 incorporating the apparatus 50.

The apparatus 50 is configured and arranged for adaptation as a claw in a standard milking machine, the cluster and other parts are shown as 51. As seen in figure 2, the apparatus 50 includes a body portion 52 having a passageway or passageways 53. The body portion 52 is made of any suitable durable and resilient material and is desirably made of stainless steel and plastics material, or a combination thereof. More 30 particularly, the passageways 53 are desirably formed of a plastics material. 6 Each passageway 53 has an inlet 54 to which a milk tube or line 55 is attached. The inlet section is desirably made of stainless steel. The inner wall 56 of each passageway 53 is adapted to provide a shoulder 57 with a bearing face 58 projecting toward the central longitudinal axis of the passageway 53 (as described and shown in figure 1) or 5 effectively projecting into the main milk flow, in operation.

A sensing means 59 desirably in the form of an electrode, or electrodes as appropriate, is mounted in the shoulder bearing face 58. Either the electrode 59 includes two electrodes or points, or one electrode 59 can be used with a metal passageway 53, the 10 passageway 53 desirably being made of stainless steel. It is envisaged that the sensing means 59 may include a temperature sensor or other desirable measuring device (not shown) for sensing milk properties.

The electrodes 59 are suitable for measuring the integrity of the milk, and in one form of 15 the invention, the electrode 59 desirably measures the electrical conductivity of the milk. Multiple electrodes 59 and other sensors may be incorporated in the bearing face 58, as required.

The output signal from the electrodes 59 located in each passageway is fed via suitable 20 communications means to a digital processing means 60. The digital processing means 60 is preferably in the form of a microprocessor programmed to analyse milk and provide an output signal for display on a display means 61. Advantageously the processing means 60 is a compact electronic circuit integrated into the body portion 52 of the apparatus 50.

The effect of the shoulder 57 in the milk flow is to create a dam in the milk flow shown by area D upstream of the shoulder 57 causing a puddle that, once formed, gives us a conductivity path for an electrical measurement between two electrodes through the trapped milk that is not significantly effected by the milk flow rate. It is considered that 30 such a pool is significantly separated from the entrained air in the milking system. 7 The processing means 60 analyses the measurements taken by the electrodes 59 in each passageway 53 and determines whether the integrity of the milk flowing through any one passageway 53 is compromised. For example, with detecting traces of mastitis infection in the milk from a teat, the electrical conductivity of the milk can be measured 5 over a very short time period, in microseconds or nanoseconds. The measurement is repeated at longer time periods and the results digitally processed. The processing means 60 desirably includes filtering by eliminating all measurements with low conductivities. Other processing may desirably include identification of types of milk such as the foremilk, main milk and stripping milk and the comparison of electrical 10 conductivity measurements of each of the types of milk. Such comparisons may include measurements from the same teat in a milk line 55 or relative to other types of milk from other teats from other milk lines 55 in the same milking machine 51.

The processing means 60 desirably includes a data storage means for storing 15 measurements periodically taken, and such data is advantageously uploaded via an interface means 61. Any known form of data transfer means, desirably an infra-red, radio frequency or fixed wire device, may be used to transfer data to an external digital processing means or system.

The processing means 60, after determining that the milk in a passageway 53 is not acceptable, will trigger an indicator means 62 in the form of an audio and/or visual alert means. The visual means may include the illumination of a light emitting diode or array thereof (not shown), and/or may include a liquid crystal display indicating an alert message. A transparent cover 63 over the indicator means and being desirably located 25 on a surface of the claw or apparatus 50 protects the display from operational conditions.

In this embodiment a liquid crystal display (LCD) forms the indicator means 62. The LCD 62 desirably also provides a display of measurements, whether comparisons made 30 or otherwise between milk tubes from each teat, and advantageously displays alert messages. 8 It is envisaged that a valve (not shown) may be connected upstream of the milk flow of each passageway 53 and be associated with the processing means 60 such as to be activated by the processing means 60 should the milk be infected, contaminated or 5 otherwise determined as being unsuitable by the processing means 60.

In operation of the embodiment with reference to figures 2 and 3, the apparatus 50 is fitted centrally within the milk cluster to perform the function of a claw, as it is known in the diary milking industry. The display means 62 will be viewable from the top of the 10 apparatus 50. Once milking commences, milk will flow through each passageway 53 and the sensing means 59 will periodically take measurements of the electrical conductivity (and other measurements such as temperature, if required). The measurements are received, processed and analysed by the processing means 60. When the processing means 60 determines that milk flowing through a passageway 53 15 is not regular, the indicator means 62 is activated. Activation of the indicator means 62 will alert a milker that the animal being milked, such as a dairy cow, may be suffering from an infection or other such condition.

It is envisaged in an alternative embodiment that the processing means 60 may also 20 automatically activate a valve (not shown) to stop the flow of milk from a particular passageway 53 to prevent contamination of the collected milk.

It is considered an advantage to have a compact milk analysing apparatus located as a claw in a milking machine. The apparatus can be easily removed and cleaned, and 25 replaced, if required. It is also an advantage to have a sensing means located in a shoulder in the passageway of a milk line as a cost effective means of accurately measuring electrical conductivity of milk, temperature, and the like. Further, the use of a shoulder can reduce the potential for material to collect about the electrodes.

Wherein the aforegoing reference has been made to integers or components having known equivalents, then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set 9 forth. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that changes may be made to the above described embodiments of the invention without departing from the principles taught herein.

Additional advantages of the present invention will become apparent for those skilled in the art after considering the principles in particular form as discussed and illustrated. Thus, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described or illustrated, but is intended to cover all alterations or modifications which are within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (10)

What I Claim is: 5G595

1. A milk monitoring device, the device including a passageway adapted for placement in a milk flow line from a milking machine, the passageway having an inlet, in use, to be coupled to the milking line, and an outlet, the passageway having a shoulder projecting toward the central longitudinal axis of the passageway, and a milk sensing means being mounted on the shoulder for monitoring milk in an area of reduced milk flow created adjacent and upstream of the shoulder.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the sensing means is an electrode for measuring electrical conductivity in milk.

3. An apparatus for monitoring and analysing milk, the apparatus including a body portion adapted for placement in a milking machine, the body portion being provided with at least one passageway having an inlet to be coupled to a milking tube and an outlet, the passageway having a shoulder projecting toward the central longitudinal axis of the passageway to create an area of reduced milk flow upstream of the shoulder, a sensing means being mounted on the shoulder for monitoring milk in the area of reduced milk flow and providing measurement signals to a processing means located in the body portion, the processing means being configured and arranged to determine the integrity of the milk, and an indicator alert means located in the body portion and being associated with the output of the processing means to alert a user when an adverse milk condition has been determined.

4. An apparatus according to either claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the body portion is provided with a plurality of passageways, and measurements from each said sensing means in each said passageway are fed to the processing means. 11 Intellectual Property Office of NZ 1 8 JAN 20C2 RECEIV 5.

An apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the body portion is configured and arranged in the milking machine to form a claw for placement in a claw type of milking machine.

An apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein the indicator means is an audio and/or visual alert means.

An apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 6 wherein the indicator means includes a display means.

An apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein the indicator means is located on a surface of the claw.

A device for monitoring milk substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the drawings.

10. An apparatus for measuring and analysing milk substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the drawings. 20 GEOFFREY JAMES BATES By his Agents SCHUCH & COMPANY per: 25 7. 10 8. 9. 15 Intellectual Property Office of NZ 1 8 JAN 2332 12