Patent ID: 7891316
Filing Date: 2011-02-22
Classification: A01J

Abstract:
1. A rear milking cluster hose support arm for supporting a milking cluster hose in an existing milking system where milking is done from a rear of a cow, said cluster hose support arm comprising: a rubber bumper; a rectilinear rod having a first end directly attached to said rubber bumper and further having a second end extending vertically and downwardly away from said rubber bumper; a rod holder directly connected to said rod; means for selectively adjusting said rod along a first bi-directional linear path when an existing air pinch valve of an existing milking system is activated; wherein said rod has a plurality of monolithically formed planar outer surfaces; wherein said rod holder has a plurality of vertically aligned apertures formed in upper and lower portions thereof respectively, said apertures being sized and shaped such that said rod is interfitted within said apertures during operating conditions, each of said apertures having a centrally registered and vertically oriented axis positioned in such a manner that said rod simultaneously penetrates each of said apertures when said rod is interfitted within said rod holder, said rod holder further having a vertically oriented slot formed in a middle portion thereof; wherein said selectively adjusting means comprises: a cylinder having a distal end directly coupled to a bottom surface of said lower portion of said rod holder, said cylinder having a proximal end extending downwardly and away from said distal end of said cylinder, said distal end of said cylinder being spaced from said middle portion of said rod holder and said rod respectively when said rod is interfitted within said rod holder, said cylinder having a longitudinal length oriented parallel to said longitudinal length of said rod during operating conditions such that a drive cam of said cylinder travels along a second bi-directional linear path defined parallel to said first bi-directional linear path; a coupling nut threadably coupled to said distal end of said cylinder, said coupling nut being abutted against a top surface of said lower portion of said rod holder in such a manner that said lower portion of said rod holder is statically held between said coupling nut and said distal end of said cylinder during operating conditions; an air hose having a first end directly connected to said proximal end of said cylinder and a second end extending away therefrom; a tee union adapter directly connected to said second end of said air hose, said tee union adapter connecting said air hose to an existing air supply source; and a flattened lever having axially opposed left and right ends, said left end of said lever having a top surface oriented along a vertical plane while a medial portion of said lever and said right end of said lever have respective top surfaces oriented along a horizontal plane, said left end of said lever being interfitted within said slot of said middle portion of said rod holder, said medial portion of said lever having an opening formed therein, said opening being vertically aligned with said apertures of said rod holder, said opening being positioned in such a manner that said rod simultaneously penetrates said opening and said apertures respectively when said rod is interfitted within said rod holder during operating conditions, said right end of said lever having a lower surface contacting said coupling nut during non-operating conditions and spaced from said coupling nut during operating conditions; wherein a predetermined oscillating air pressure level is introduced into said cylinder from the existing air supply source to thereby raise and lower said coupling nut and articulate said lever about said rod to thereby adjust the position of said rod and said rubber bumper respectively during non-operating conditions.