NZ743408B - A Milking Platform - Google Patents
A Milking PlatformInfo
- Publication number
- NZ743408B NZ743408B NZ743408A NZ74340818A NZ743408B NZ 743408 B NZ743408 B NZ 743408B NZ 743408 A NZ743408 A NZ 743408A NZ 74340818 A NZ74340818 A NZ 74340818A NZ 743408 B NZ743408 B NZ 743408B
- Authority
- NZ
- New Zealand
- Prior art keywords
- carriage
- carriages
- rollers
- roller
- ring
- Prior art date
Links
- 230000014759 maintenance of location Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 235000013365 dairy product Nutrition 0.000 abstract description 6
- 241000283690 Bos taurus Species 0.000 description 2
- 238000005728 strengthening Methods 0.000 description 2
- 241000283707 Capra Species 0.000 description 1
- 241001465754 Metazoa Species 0.000 description 1
- 210000004080 Milk Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 241000283898 Ovis Species 0.000 description 1
- 238000005299 abrasion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000903 blocking Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004519 grease Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000314 lubricant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000008267 milk Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000013336 milk Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006011 modification reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920001778 nylon Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920002635 polyurethane Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004814 polyurethane Substances 0.000 description 1
Abstract
is known to use rotary platforms for milking dairy cows, having an annular deck supported on at least one circular beam. Rollers take the weight of the beam as it moves in a rotary manner. Loads on the platform can lead to deterioration of the rollers. Replacing the rollers can be unduly inconvenient and time consuming. It is an object of a preferred embodiment of the invention to go at least some way towards addressing this problem. A preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a rotary milking platform having a deck 2, an upper beam 4, a lower beam 6 and a ring of carriages rotatable between the beams. Each carriage 5a has at least a pair of carriage rollers 10 with a side flange 11. The flanges 11 of each pair are at opposite sides of their carriage and prevent the carriages from moving off the lower beam when the platform is in use. At least some of the carriages can be disconnected and swung laterally to move their rollers 10 free of the beams 4, 6 for replacement. nvenient and time consuming. It is an object of a preferred embodiment of the invention to go at least some way towards addressing this problem. A preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a rotary milking platform having a deck 2, an upper beam 4, a lower beam 6 and a ring of carriages rotatable between the beams. Each carriage 5a has at least a pair of carriage rollers 10 with a side flange 11. The flanges 11 of each pair are at opposite sides of their carriage and prevent the carriages from moving off the lower beam when the platform is in use. At least some of the carriages can be disconnected and swung laterally to move their rollers 10 free of the beams 4, 6 for replacement.
Description
TITLE
A Milking Platform
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
A preferred form of the invention relates to a platform for milking dairy cows.
BACKGROUND
It is known to locate dairy cows in bales on a rotary platform and to milk them as the
platform turns through one revolution. Such platforms have an annular deck
supported on at least one circular beam that rotates on rollers to move the platform
with it. The beam takes the majority of the weight of the deck, milking equipment and
cows, and that load is transmitted to the rollers. The weight can be substantial,
particularly with platforms designed to take many cows and this can lead to
deterioration of the rollers. Repair work, for example to replace the rollers, can be
unduly inconvenient and cause economic loss through excessive downtime.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of preferred embodiments of the invention to go at least some way
towards addressing the above problem. While this applies to preferred
embodiments, it should be understood that the object of the invention per se is not so
limited; it is simply to provide a useful choice. Therefore any objects or benefits
applicable to preferred embodiments should not be read as a limitation on claims
expressed more broadly.
DEFINITIONS
The term “comprising” if and when used in this document in relation to a combination
of features or steps does not rule out the option of there being further unnamed
features. The term is therefore inclusive, not exclusive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the invention there is provided a rotary milking platform comprising:
• a deck;
• a circular upper beam connected to and supporting the deck;
• a circular lower beam; and
• a series of carriages joined end to end to form a ring between the beams;
the platform formed such that:
o the upper beam is arranged to rest and rotate on the ring of carriages
to rotate the deck;
o each carriage has at least one carriage roller;
o each carriage roller is arranged to rotate on the lower beam;
o each carriage roller has a retention flange at only one side;
o the flanges of some of the rollers are at or adjacent an inner side of
the ring and the flanges of others of the rollers are at or adjacent an
outer side of the ring;
o the rollers of the ring are arranged such that at least one roller is
oriented with its flange on an opposite side to a roller immediately
adjacent to it;
o the flanges prevent the carriages from moving off the lower beam
when the platform is in use; and
o at least some of the carriages can be disconnected from the ring and
swung laterally to be moved free of the beams for maintenance, repair
or replacement.
Optionally the platform is such that:
o each carriage has at least a pair of the carriage rollers;
o the flanges within each pair are at opposite sides of the carriage; and
o at least some of the carriages can be disconnected and swung
laterally to move their carriage rollers free of the beams.
Optionally the lower beam is stationary.
Optionally the ring of carriages is free to the extent that it can rotate at a different rate
to the upper beam.
Optionally each flange overlaps an upright side of the lower beam and an upright
side of the upper beam.
Optionally each carriage is releasably connected to another of the carriages
immediately before it, and to another of the carriages immediately after it.
Optionally each carriage has a chassis and at least two carriage rollers, the chassis
having at least two internal spaces which receive those rollers, respectively.
Optionally an axle passes through each carriage roller and fastens that roller to the
chassis.
Optionally the carriages are curved to match the curvature of the upper and lower
beams.
Optionally the platform is such that:
o the lower beam is stationary;
o the ring of carriages is free to the extent that it can rotate at a different
rate to the upper beam;
o each flange overlaps an upright side of the lower beam and an upright
side of the upper beam;
o each carriage is releasably connected to another of the carriages
immediately before it, and to another of the carriages immediately
after it;
o each carriage has a chassis connected to at least two carriage rollers,
the chassis having at least two internal spaces which receive those
rollers, respectively;
o an axle passes through each carriage roller and fastens that roller to
the chassis; and
o the carriages are curved to match the curvature of the upper and
lower beams.
According to a further aspect of the invention there is a method of replacing at least
one carriage roller of a rotary milking platform according to any of the preceding
statements, comprising the steps of:
o disconnecting the carriage from immediately adjacent carriages,
o swinging the disconnected carriage laterally to position its roller(s)
clear of the upper and lower beams;
o replacing at least one carriage roller;
o swinging the carriage into alignment with the beams; and
o connecting the carriage to two immediately adjacent carriages.
DRAWINGS
Some preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of
example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
Figure 1 is a an isometric view of a rotary milking platform for dairy cows;
Figure 2 illustrates mechanical detail of the platform;
Figure 3 illustrates part of the platform from beneath;
Figure 4 is an isometric view of a drive roller forming part of the platform;
Figure 5 shows detail of the platform from above, with its deck removed;
Figure 6 is an isometric view of a portion of each of upper and lower support
beams that form part of the platform;
Figure 7 is an isometric view of the platform from above, without its deck,
illustrating how one of its carriages can be manipulated for repair;
Figure 8 is a further isometric view illustrating detail of the platform from above,
with its deck removed for ease of explanation;
Figure 9 is another isometric view illustrating detail of the platform from above,
with its deck is removed;
Figure 10 is an isometric view of a carriage forming part of the platform;
Figure 11 is an isometric view of a roller forming part of the carriage;
Figure 11a is a side view of the carriage’s roller;
Figure 12 is an isometric view of a chassis forming part of the carriage;
Figure 13 is an exploded view of a pedestal forming part of the platform;
Figure 14 is an isometric view of a larger one of the pedestals in association with
a lateral guide roller;
Figure 15 is an isometric view illustrating part of a ring of longer carriages that
may be used in an alternative embodiment of the milking platform; and
Figure 16 illustrates an alternative arrangement of carriages.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to figures 1 and 2, the milking platform 1 has a deck 2 which is divided up
into a series of milking bales 3. Preferably the deck is formed from a series of
molded resinous pre-fabricated modular segments, each having an inner radial end
and an outer radial end. Dairy cows are ushered into the bales, are milked as the
deck goes through one revolution and are then ushered off the deck. As each cow
leaves it is replaced by another cow in a queue.
Referring to figures 2 and 3, the deck 2 is secured to and supported on a circular
upper beam 4. As that beam rotates, so does the deck. More specifically, the upper
beam 4 is supported on a ring of carriages 5, which is in turn supported on a
stationary circular lower beam 6. The upper beam 4 turns on or with the ring of
carriages 5, which in turn rotates on the lower beam 6.
Referring to figures 3, 4 and 5, the platform has several drive rollers 7 that bear
against the upper beam 4 from within its circular perimeter. This causes that beam 4,
and therefore the deck 2, to rotate. As the upper beam 4 rotates, the ring of
carriages 5 does likewise. Preferably the ring of carriages is not fastened to either
beam but rather ‘floats’ between the two. The ring of carriages 5 may not rotate at
the same rate as the upper beam 4, for example it may only turn about half as fast.
In some alternative embodiments the ring of carriages may be connected to the
upper beam.
Preferably there are three of the drive rollers 7 spaced evenly around the upper
beam 4. In other embodiments there may be fewer (for example two), or more (for
example four), of the drive rollers.
Referring to figures 6 and 7, the upper beam 4 is ‘I-shaped’ in transverse cross
section, with strengthening gussets 8 along one side. The lower beam 6 is also ‘I-
shaped’, but in this embodiment it does not have strengthening gussets. An ‘I-shape’
is not essential for either beam, but it is preferred.
Referring to figures 8 and 9, the ring of carriages 5 is formed by securing, eg bolting,
individual carriages 5a end to end. Referring to figure 10, each carriage 5a has a
strip-like chassis 9 curved to match the curvature of the upper and lower beams.
Each chassis 9 is fitted with a pair of rollers 10, one at or near each end. As shown
in figures 10, 11 and 11a, each carriage roller has a flange 11 at one side that has a
greater radius than the rest of the roller
Figure 12 illustrates the chassis 9 in more detail. It has bolt holes 12 at either end to
facilitate connection to immediately adjacent carriages. As also shown, the chassis
has a pair of internal spaces 13 each for rotatably receiving a respective one of the
rollers 10.
Referring to figure 10, the rollers 10 of each carriage are arranged so that the flanges
11 are one either side of the carriage. In other words, when in use the two flanges
11 face in opposite directions and overlap the sides of the lower beam 6. This stops
lateral movement of the carriages 5a so that they cannot slip off the lower beam as
they roll along it. In other words, sideways movement of a carriage 5a would bring
one or other of its flanges 11 into blocking contact with the lower beam 6. The
flanges also overlap the sides of the upper beam 4, respectively, in similar fashion to
further assist in keeping the ring of carriages concentrically aligned with the two
beams 4, 6. Therefore if a carriage started to slide to the ‘left’ with respect to the
beams 4, the right side flange of one of that carriage’s rollers would arrest the
movement. And if the carriage was to start to slide to the ‘right’, the left side flange of
the carriage’s other roller would arrest the movement.
Referring to figures 9 and 13, the lower beam 4 is held slightly elevated by a series of
pedestals 14, each having a base plate 15 fastened on or over a concrete or other
foundation or ground surface by way of bolts 16. The bolts enable the height of the
plate 15 to be adjusted to help set the lower beam, and therefore the ring of carriages
and the upper beam, in a horizontal orientation. A tunnel-like mount 17 extends
from the base plate 15 to receive the lower beam 6 and a pair of connectors 18
releasably clamp each side of the lower beam to the mount 17.
Referring to figures 9 and 14, some of the pedestals, for example every third one,
has a longer mount 17a so as to also support a post 19. The post in turn supports a
lateral guide roller 20 which helps keep the upper beam 4 concentrically aligned with
the lower beam 6. The guide rollers 20 are not powered, they rather rotate freely.
Referring to figure 8, for three of the guide roller arrangements the post 19 also
supports a battery powered lubricant dispenser 21 that automatically squirts grease
or oil onto the lower beam 6 at timed intervals. This reduces abrasion between
beams 4, 6 and the carriage rollers 5, and allows the carriage rollers 10 to slip as
needed, ie in case the outer end of each carriage roller moves at a different speed to
its inner end given that they are not on the same notional radial arc.
Preferably the rollers 10 of each carriage are cast from a tough durable nylon
polymer. They are formed to withstand a 2 tonne loading per roller. Optionally the
drive rollers 7 and the lateral guide rollers 20 are formed from compressible
polyurethane.
Referring to figure 7, when a carriage roller 10 becomes worn and in need of
replacement, the associated chassis 9 is unbolted from the carriages in front of and
behind it. The upper beam 4 and deck are hydraulically jacked-up, slightly, at least in
the vicinity of the carriage, and the freed carriage is then swung laterally through 90 °
to move its rollers 10 clear of the upper and lower beams. From that position the
rollers can be easily accessed, removed and replaced. In this regard the axle that
each roller turns on is unbolted from the chassis and pulled away so that the roller
drops free. The same axle is used for the replacement roller. The chassis 9 is then
swung back into alignment with the upper and lower beams and reconnected to the
carriages in front of and behind it.
An advantage of the preferred embodiment is that the rollers 10 do not require
bearings, they simply turn on their axle 21 (see figure 10). This simplifies
replacement of rollers and helps minimize costs.
In other embodiments of the invention at least some of the carriages may have more
than two rollers. However in that case the rollers at the forward half of the carriage
will have their flanges on the same side of the carriage, and the rollers at the rear half
will all be on the opposite side of the carriage. This will enable the carriage to be
rotated through 90 °, in the manner described above, for replacement rollers or
repairs generally. An example of a ring of carriages made up of, or including, ‘four-
roller’ carriages is shown at figure 15.
While the invention is preferably used for milking dairy cows it can be used in the
same or a similar way for milking other animals, for example goats, sheep and
buffalo, etc.
While some embodiments of the invention have been described by way of example it
should be understood that modifications and improvements can occur without
departing from the scope of the following claims.
Claims (14)
1. A rotary milking platform comprising: • a deck; 5 • a circular upper beam connected to and supporting the deck; • a circular lower beam; and • a series of carriages connected end to end to form a ring between the beams; the platform formed such that: 10 o the upper beam is arranged to rest and rotate on the ring of carriages to rotate the deck; o each carriage has at least one carriage roller; o each carriage roller is arranged to rotate on the lower beam; o each carriage roller has a retention flange at only one side; 15 o the flanges of some of the rollers are at or adjacent an inner side of the ring and the flanges of others of the rollers are at or adjacent an outer side of the ring; o the rollers of the ring are arranged such that at least one roller is oriented with its flange on an opposite side to a roller immediately 20 adjacent to it; o the flanges prevent the carriages from moving off the lower beam when the platform is in use; and o at least some of the carriages can be disconnected from the ring and swung laterally to be moved free of the beams for maintenance, repair 25 or replacement.
2. A rotary platform according to claim 1, wherein: o each carriage has at least a pair of the carriage rollers; o the flanges within each pair are at opposite sides of the carriage; and 30 o at least some of the carriages can be disconnected and swung laterally to move their carriage rollers free of the beams.
3. A rotary platform according to claim 1, wherein the rollers are arranged such that each roller is oriented with its flange on an opposite side to a roller immediately 35 adjacent to it.
4. A rotary platform according to claim 1, wherein the rollers are arranged pairs, and each pair is oriented with their flanges on an opposite side to a pair of immediately adjacent rollers.
5 5. A rotary milking platform according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the lower beam is stationary.
6. A rotary milking platform according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the ring of carriages is free to the extent that it can rotate at a different rate to the 10 upper beam.
7. A rotary milking platform according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each flange overlaps an upright side of the lower beam and an upright side of the upper beam.
8. A rotary milking platform according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each carriage is releasably connected to another of the carriages immediately before it, and to another of the carriages immediately after it. 20
9. A rotary milking platform according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each carriage has a chassis and at least two carriage rollers, the chassis having at least two internal spaces which receive those rollers, respectively.
10. A rotary milking platform according to claim 9, wherein an axle passes through 25 each carriage roller and fastens that roller to the chassis.
11. A rotary milking platform according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the carriages are curved to match the curvature of the upper and lower beams.
12. A rotary milking platform according to claim 1 or 2, wherein o the lower beam is stationary; o the ring of carriages is free to the extent that it can rotate at a different rate to the upper beam; 35 o each flange overlaps an upright side of the lower beam and an upright side of the upper beam; o each carriage is releasably connected to another of the carriages immediately before it, and to another of the carriages immediately after it; o each carriage has a chassis connected to at least two carriage rollers, 5 the chassis having at least two internal spaces which receive those rollers, respectively; o an axle passes through each carriage roller and fastens that roller to the chassis; o the carriages are curved to match the curvature of the upper and 10 lower beams; o the ring of carriages is substantially circular; and o each roller has an axis that is radially aligned with a centre of the ring.
13. A rotary milking platform substantially as herein described with reference to the 15 accompanying drawings.
14. A method replacing at least one carriage roller of a rotary milking platform according to any of the preceding claims, comprising the steps of: o disconnecting the carriage from immediately adjacent carriages, 20 o swinging the disconnected carriage laterally to position its roller(s) clear of the upper and lower beams; o replacing at least one carriage roller; o swinging the carriage into alignment with the beams; and o connecting the carriage to two immediately adjacent carriages.
Priority Applications (8)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
NZ743408A NZ743408B (en) | 2018-06-12 | A Milking Platform | |
AU2019213355A AU2019213355B2 (en) | 2018-06-12 | 2019-08-07 | A Milking Platform |
PT198204737T PT3866586T (en) | 2018-06-12 | 2019-08-12 | A milking platform |
EP19820473.7A EP3866586B1 (en) | 2018-06-12 | 2019-08-12 | A milking platform |
US16/537,861 US11547084B2 (en) | 2018-06-12 | 2019-08-12 | Milking platform |
PCT/NZ2019/050096 WO2019240598A1 (en) | 2018-06-12 | 2019-08-12 | A milking platform |
GB1911481.8A GB2577972B (en) | 2018-06-12 | 2019-08-12 | A milking platform |
ES19820473T ES2930423T3 (en) | 2018-06-12 | 2019-08-12 | milking platform |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
NZ743408A NZ743408B (en) | 2018-06-12 | A Milking Platform |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
NZ743408A NZ743408A (en) | 2019-08-30 |
NZ743408B true NZ743408B (en) | 2019-12-03 |
Family
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