WO2014144297A1 - Milking liner and milk hose - Google Patents

Abstract

A short milk tube end portion has a configuration to secure the short milk tube to a claw nipple. A milking liner and a milk hose have a plurality of different sections identified by their function wherein at least two of the different sections are integrally formed from materials having different material properties. The material can change its properties in response to temperature to provide an indicator during a cleaning cycle. The material can be clear to provide a visual window. The material can be more flexible in the areas of the liner that require more flexibility.

Description

MILKING LINER AND MILK HOSE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1 . Technical Field

This disclosure generally relates to dairy equipment and, more particularly, to milking liners, the short milk tube that delivers milk from the liner barrel to a milking claw, and milk hoses.

2. Background Information

Automatic milking machines have been used to extract milk from different mammals through most of the past century. Most of these machines include a claw that typically has four nipples that are connected to teat cup assemblies that are attached to the teats. The teat cup assemblies include a rigid (hard plastic or metal) shell with a resilient milking liner (also known as a milking inflation) disposed within the shell. A short milk tube extends from the liner. A vacuum source is applied to the short milk tube and an alternating vacuum is applied to the shell to cause the liner inside the shell to collapse and expand and thereby massage and suck milk from the teats. The milk flows from the liners, into the short milk tube, to the nipples of the claw, and from there through a conduit to a collection tank. Although the milking liners appear to be relatively simple elastomeric tubes, each part of the liner performs an important, yet different, function for the extraction and delivery of milk. The configurations of the different portions must be married with the mechanical properties of the material used to form the liner to achieve a reliable milking liner that successfully extracts milk and has a good life span.

When the teat cup assemblies are not being used to milk, they are removed from the teat and are left hanging down from the claw. The teat cup assemblies and claw are periodically cleaned by rinsing with warm water not exceeding 48.9 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit) and then flushing water or a cleaning solution through the channels that had contact with the milk. This stage uses a higher temperature that should be over 48.9 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit). For a hand wash, the parts are supposed to be soaked in 48.9 to 57.2 degrees Celsius (120 to 135 degrees Fahrenheit) water or solution for

l at least five minutes. The water or solution cools when flushed in a clean-in-place system and the temperature is started over 76.7 degrees Celsius (170 degrees Fahrenheit) so that it will not have time to cool below 48.9 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit) while being flushed through the system. Using the proper temperatures is important for proper cleaning.

A problem with existing short milk tubes is the tendency for the short milk tube to be pulled off the nipple of the claw when the liner and shell are not milking and are hanging down from the claw held in place only by the connection of the short milk tube and the nipple. When the teat cup assembly is hung in this position, gaps can form between the nipple and the short milk tube. Such gaps lessen the friction between the short milk tube and the nipple which often causes the short milk tube to fall off the nipple. An exemplary prior art milking liner is disclosed in US Patent 7,578,260 wherein FIGS. 5-7 show how the end of the short milk tube is thickened where the short milk tube receives the nipple of the claw. This thickened area is provided to guard against tears resulting from when the short milk tube is bent about the end of the nipple.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In one configuration, the disclosure provides a short milk tube having an end portion that cooperates with the nipple of the claw that is disposed inside this end portion to hold the short milk tube in place. The end portion may be configured to close the nipple when the teat cup assembly is hanging from the claw by the short milk tube.

In another configuration, the disclosure provides a milking liner having a plurality of different sections identified by their function wherein at least two of the different sections are integrally formed from materials having different material properties. The milking liner may be divided in up to five different sections with the material used at each section (or different combinations of sections) having desirable material properties for the function required at that section of the milking liner. Although the milking liner may be provided with a plurality of different sections and a plurality of different materials, the liner is integrally formed in a single mold with gradual transitions between the materials at the boundaries of the different sections. This allows each section to be optimized for its purpose. Another configuration of the liner uses a channel through the short milk tube having sections with different diameters.

Another configuration of the liner uses a temperature sensitive material to indicate when a desirable cleaning temperature is reached.

Another configuration of the liner uses a transparent or semi-transparent material to provide a viewing window in the liner.

The disclosure also provides milk hose formed from or having sections formed from a temperature sensitive material to indicate when a desirable cleaning temperature is reached.

The disclosure also provides milk hose formed from or having sections formed from a transparent or semi-transparent material to provide a viewing window in the milk hose.

These configurations and the features described below are provided independently and in combination such that the different features of the disclosure may be used in different combinations wherein only some or all of the features may be combined to form a plurality of different combinations and sub

combinations of features to form new configurations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevation view of an example of the milking liner and the short milk tube.

FIG. 2 is a section view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 depicting one example of a plurality of different sections.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the encircled portion of FIG. 1 depicting an exemplary configuration of an end portion of the short milk tube.

FIG. 5 is a left side view of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 6 is a right side view of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an exemplary end portion of a short milk tube with a reference line indicating a transition area between two materials.

FIG. 8 is an perspective view of an exemplary liner disposed in a shell with the short milk tube of the liner having the end portion of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the short milk tube of FIGS. 7 and 8 hanging down from a claw nipple. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the short milk tube of FIGS. 7 and 8 connected to a claw nipple and disposed upright in a milking position.

Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the specification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

An exemplary milking liner configuration is indicated generally by the numeral 2 in FIG. 1 . Milking liner 2 generally includes a short milk tube 4, a sleeve or barrel 8 that is connected to short milk tube 4, and a mouthpiece 10. In the exemplary configuration, barrel 8 is configured to quickly and uniformly collapse during a vacuum milking condition (where the pressure inside the barrel is significantly less than outside the barrel) from an uncollapsed (or expanded) condition to a collapsed condition. The configurations of barrel 8 and mouthpiece 10 may be the same as that disclosed in US Patent 7,578,260 which is incorporated herein by reference. A transition bead which secures liner 2 to the shell (see FIG. 8) may be disposed between short milk tube 4 and barrel 8.

In order to uniformly and reliable collapse from the resting uncollapsed position to the collapsed condition, barrel 8 includes a sidewall having an inner surface that defines at least three longitudinally-disposed channels that each extend substantially from mouthpiece 10 to the transition bead. Each channel may taper as it approaches each end. Each channel stops short of the transition bead but may extend through the mouthpiece bead.

Each channel may have a depth that is less than the thickness of the sidewall. In other configurations, each channel may have a depth equal to or larger than the thickness of the sidewall. In these configurations, ribs extend outwardly from the outer surface of the sidewall to provide room for the channels.

In one exemplary configuration that has been found to uniformly collapse, each of three sidewall segments disposed between ribs is semi-circular and substantially equal in thickness, diameter, and arc length. In the collapsed condition, each of the segments is flexed inwardly of its circular resting position. When there is no teat in liner 2, each segment is bowed outwardly in the resting position and bowed inwardly in the collapsed condition. When a teat is disposed in liner 2, each of the segments may be bowed inwardly depending of the size of the teat. A first configuration of the disclosure provides an end portion 50 (an example depicted in FIG. 4) for short milk tube 4. End portion 50 defines at least one ring-shaped indentation 52 that helps to keep short milk tube 4 connected to a claw nipple 53 by defining a bending point that allows short milk tube 4 to bend at a location aligned with or spaced from the end of the claw nipple 53 (FIGS. 9 - 10). Causing short milk tube 4 to bend at a location aligned with or spaced from the end of claw nipple 53 reduces the stresses in the portion of tube 4 that engages claw nipple 53 that tends to separate tube 4 from the claw nipple. As shown in FIG. 9, this allows tube 4 to readily bend down when it is not in use so that the resiliency of the tube walls do not pry tube 4 off the claw nipple.

End portion 50 optionally may be configured to seal the nipple when short milk tube 4 is hanging down away from the claw. Liner 2 with end portion 50 may thus function to shut off vacuum to barrel 8 of liner 2 when in the non-milking position by sealing the claw nipple.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 7, one configuration of end portion 50 uses a ring-shaped indentation 52 defined by tapered or curved sidewalls that join with a thin flat band that defines the bottom of the indentation. This thin band is located about one to two inches from the end of tube 4 so that indentation 52 is aligned with the tip end of the claw nipple or is disposed outwardly past the tip end of the claw nipple. As shown in cross section in FIGS. 2 and 3, indentation 52 extends radially inwardly from the exterior of the tube body and thus reduces the wall thickness without creating an interruption in the interior wall surface or a protuberance at the interior wall surface of the through channel of short milk tube 4.

End portion 50 may also include an optional feature of a second ring- shaped indentation 54 spaced from ring 52 and disposed closer to the end 56 of tube 4. Rings 52 and 54 are spaced apart from each other with an enlarged body portion 58 having a wall thickness greater than the wall thickness of either ring 52 or 54. Enlarged body portion 58 may have an outer diameter that is no larger than the outer diameter (not counting the longitudinal ribs 60) of the portion 62 of short milk tube 4 that joins with end portion 50. Thin-walled ring 54 collapses inwardly and grip the claw nipple when tube 4 is pulled away from the claw nipple to help retain tube 4 on the claw nipple. An optional flange 64 may be provided at end 56. When flange 64 is not provided, then the bottom wall of ring 54 extends all the way to end 56.

In the configuration described above, end portion 50 may be used with a short milk tube that is integrally formed with barrel 8 or, in an alternative configuration, short milk tube 4 having end portion 50 may be formed

independently from barrel 8 and is a separate part.

In the configuration described above, end portion may be formed from the same material as short milk tube 4 or in an alternate configuration, end portion 50 may be formed from a different material that merges with the material of the short milk tube at the boundary between the two. The material of end portion 50 may have a different Shore A Durometer than the material used to form the main portion of tube 4. The material for end portion 50 is one that has desirable gripping and non-slip characteristics compared to the material used for the main portion of tube which is configured to withstand collapse and kinking. The two different shades shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 represent how the different materials blend together gradually about the boundary of the two sections.

The through channel defined by tube 4 may have a constant diameter or a tapering diameter. In the configuration of FIG. 3, three channel sections are provided with the channel disposed through end portion 50 having a smaller diameter than the main portion of the channel through the main length of tube 4. A tapered channel connects the two. Each section of the channel may be independently tapered. For example, the main section of channel may have a diameter of 1 1 .633 mm (0.458 inches) and the channel through end portion 50 may have a diameter of 8.991 mm (0.354 inches) which is a reduction of about 20 to 25 percent. Using a smaller diameter channel at end portion 50 also helps maintain a tight connection between tube 4 and the claw nipple.

Liner 2 may be divided into five sections identified by reference numerals 100 (roughly the same as end portion 50 of short milk tube 4), 102 (main body of short milk tube 4); 104 (transition bead which secures liner 2 to a shell); 106 (main body of barrel 8); and 108 (mouthpiece 10). These sections have different functions and may be formed from different materials. Not every section has to have a different material. The materials are selected for physical properties such as Durometer, tensile strength, elongation, tear strength, specific gravity, temperature sensitivity (such as color change in response to temperature), clarity or transparency, compression set, hysteresis, resistance to collapse, and grip/non-slip. Materials having a Shore A Durometer of 35-70 may be used.

Materials such as plastic, rubber, and silicone may be used and different compositions may be used at different sections to optimize the operation of liner 2. The sections are integrally molded with gradual transitions at the section boundaries. The different materials are introduced to the different sections of liner 2 in an injection mold.

An example of liner 2 includes integrally forming section 100 from a material with nonslip characteristics, sections 102 and 104 from a material with desirable firmness and non-collapse characteristics, section 106 from a material with good hysteresis characteristics, and section 108 from a material with desirable compression set characteristics.

Another example of liner 2 includes integrally forming sections 100-102-104 from a material that changes color above a certain temperature and sections 106 from a material with good hysteresis characteristics. The material at sections 100- 102-104 may change color above at least 120 degrees Fahrenheit so that a person can readily check to determine if the cleaning fluid is at a high enough temperature to achieve good cleaning. In this configuration only one section 100- 102-104 may be formed from the color changing material. During cleaning, the person runs the solution until the section of material changes color and then the person runs the cleaning fluid for a minimum time to ensure good cleaning.

In another configuration, the different sections may be formed from materials having different colors.

In another configuration, entire sections (or windows or rings of material within a section) may be formed from a transparent material or semi-transparent material to provide a sight window to the interior of liner 2. The window may be a rectangular section on one side of short milk tube 4. The rectangular window may be elongated in the longitudinal direction of tube 4.

In another configuration, entire sections (or windows or rings of material within a section) may be formed from a material that changes in response to vibrations to provide a flow sensor for liner 2.

Milk hose also may be formed from or having sections formed from materials that change properties in response to different temperatures. Milk hose also may be formed with windows or an elongated window strip to allows the inside of the milk hose to be viewed.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover, the above description and attached illustrations are an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described. Throughout the description and claims of this specification the words "comprise" and "include" as well as variations of those words, such as "comprises," "includes," "comprising," and "including" are not intended to exclude additives, components, integers, or steps.

Claims

Claims

1 . A milking liner having an integral body defining a plurality of sections with at least a first section formed from a material having a first set of physical properties and at least second section formed from a material having a second set of physical properties; the first set of physical properties being different from the second set of physical properties.

2. A milking liner having a short milk tube with an end portion; the end portion defining a first ring-shaped indentation.

3. The liner of claim 2, wherein the end portion defines a second ring-shaped indentation spaced from the first ring-shaped indentation.

4. A milking liner having a portion formed from a temperature sensitive material that changes condition in a visually determinable manner in response to a temperature higher than a predetermined temperature.

5. The liner of claim 4, wherein the predetermined temperature is at least 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

6. The liner of claim 4, wherein the material changes color.

7. A milking liner having a body portion formed from a transparent or semi- transparent material to provide a viewing window.

8. A milking liner having a short milk tube that defines a through channel having different sections with different internal diameters.

9. A milking liner having an integral body defining a plurality of sections with a first section formed from a material having a first set of physical properties and a second section formed from a material having a second set of physical properties; the first set of physical properties being different from the second set of physical properties; the second section being an end portion of the short milk tube with the second set of physical properties have desirable grip and non-slip characteristics.