APPARATUS IN A PIPELINE MILKING PLANT

Abstract: Apparatus in a pipeline milking plant comprising an air separator connected to a milk pipeline at least at one place so that milk streams into the air separator, where the air mixed in the milk is separated and streams through an inlet to a sanitary trap which is fastened on the air separator and which is intended to separate fluid particles from the entering air, the sanitary trap being connected to a line in which vacuum prevails. According to the invention the opening of the inlet from the air separator (10; 31) to the sanitary trap (11; 30) is positioned on a level (21; 37) which is higher than the level (15; 38) of the bottom part of the sanitary trap (11; 30).

Description: Apparatus in a pipeline milking plant This invention relates to an apparatus in a pipeline milking plant comprising an air separator connected to a milk pipeline at least at one place so that milk streams into the air separa¬ tor, where the air mixed into the milk is separated and streams through an inlet to a sanitary trap which is fastened on the air separator and which is intended to separate fluid particles from the entering air, the sanitary trap being connected to a line in which vacuum prevails. In a conventional pipeline milking plant there Is an air separa¬ tor for separating the air mixed into the milk. In this connec¬ tion the air separator comprises at least one inlet, preferably on its side wall for milk mixed with air and an outlet, prefer¬ ably at its bottom for the milk separated from air. Furthermore, there is a vacuum connection in the air separator, preferably at its upper part, whereby the milk mixed with air can be sucked through the pipelines to the air separator. The vacuum connec- tion in the air separator is in connection with the vacuum source of the plant which source, as a rule, comprises a vacuum pump. Thus, when milking cows, the milk mixed with air is sucked into • the air separator where the milk is separated from air and streams out of the air separator at its bottom. The air having been separated from the milk is sucked out of the air separator via the vacuum connection. It has appeared, however, that the air that is sucked out of the air separator contains fluid particles which partly could form layers containing bacteria in the vacuum line, partly could damage the vacuum pump. For these reasons the air must be sepa¬ rated from fluid particles. This has previously been done by placing a sanitary trap (fluid particles separator) in connec- tion to the air separator. The sanitary trap, as a rule, has been placed beside the air separator which has made the plant expensive owing to complicated tube drawing and very voluminous. Thus, there has been a need on the market for a compact and inexpensive plant. There has lately been shown an apparatus comprising an air sepa¬ rator and a sanitary trap, the latter being fastened on the top of the air separator. This apparatus, however, is impaired by certain drawbacks. Thus, there is a risk when using this appara¬ tus partly that fluid particles shall follow the air towards the vacuum pump, partly that condensate containing bacteria shall stream from the sanitary trap and/or the vacuum line to the air separator. This invention intends to solve the problems that are associated with known technics. The solution of the problems will be appa¬ rent from the claims accompanying this specification. Three preferred embodiments of the invention shall be described more closely in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment, Fig. 2 shows a modification of the embodiment according to Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 shows a third embodiment. In Fig. 1 there is shown the upper part of an air separator 10, on top of which is fastened a sanitary trap 11. There Is an open connection between the latter and the air separator. The sanitary trap 11 comprises a receptacle 12 with walls for¬ ming a tube 13 about in the centre of the receptacle. This tube encloses the opening between the air separator 10 and the sani- tary trap 11 and has a cross section area being essentially less than that of the sanitary trap. The tube 13 functions as a level tube for that fluid that is separated in the sanitary trap and prevents the separated fluid to stream back to the air separa- tor. Furthermore, the sanitary trap comprises a vacuum connec¬ tion 14 that can be shut off by means of a valve not shown. In the receptacle on one side of the tube 13 there is arranged a guide 16 for a float 17. This float that preferably has the form of a ball 17 moves up and down in dependence on the fluid level In the receptacle 12 and In its uppermost position can shut off the vacuum connection. The upper part of the tube 13 debouches on a level 21 that is considerably higher than the level 15 on which the bottom part of the receptacle 12 is positioned. That means that the risk that condensate accumulated in the receptacle 12 shall stream down into the air separator 10 is eliminated. Moreover, the level 21 is positioned above that level 22 on which the vacuum connection 14 debouches in the container 12. Furthermore, the tube 13 is placed beside the vacuum connection 14. That means that the opening of the inlet to the sanitary trap is positioned on a higher level than and is laterally displaced In relation to the opening of the line where vacuum prevails. According to the figure the tube 13 and the vacuum connection 14 have been made in one piece with the receptacle. This is, of course, not necessary but the tube and the vacuum connection may consist of separate details which are fastened onto the recep¬ tacle. According to another alternative the tube is made in one piece with the air separator, the sanitary trap having such a design that it can be placed outside the tube and thus enclose It. Furthermore, instead of having one tube it is possible to have several tubes which connect the air separator and the sanitary trap with each other. During milking, milk mixed with air enters the air separator 10 where the milk is separated from the air. The air containing fluid particles is sucked into the sanitary trap 11 where the fluid particles are separated from the air and stream down to the bottom of the sanitary trap 11 along the tube 13. The fluid can be drained off from the bottom of the sanitary trap via a conduit 18. This conduit 18 is normally closed by a not shown valve which is automatically opened when the vacuum in the receptacle 12 has fallen to a certain value. This valve, of course, can also be governed by the fluid level in the sanitary trap so that it is opened when the fluid has risen to a certain level• As mentioned previously, fluid particles are separated in the sanitary trap 11 from the air entering via the tube 13. These fluid particles are collected on the bottom of the sanitary trap, whereafter the fluid level In this one successively in¬ creases. Due to that fact the float begins to move upwards until it reaches its uppermost position. In this position the float closes the opening of the vacuum connection 14, whereby the vacuum in the receptacle 12 Is reduced. This in its turn has the consequence that the shut off-valve of the conduit 18 Is opened, whereby the fluid in the receptacle 12 Is drained off. Due to the fact that the vacuum connection 14 has such a posi¬ tion in relation to the tube 13 as has been described above the risk Is practically eliminated that fluid particles shall be sucked into the line- 14. Moreover, in the sanitary trap there is a connection 19 for Introduction of a cleaning fluid during the cleaning procedure. Thus, the cleaning fluid is injected into the sanitary trap 11 via a not shewn cleaning fluid sprinkler, a part of the cleaning fluid streaming down into the air separator on the Inside of the tube 13. The rest of the cleaning fluid streams along the walls on the Inside of the receptacle 12 down to its bottom where it is accumulated. In the receptacle there is a further connection 20 to which a not shown tube is connected, the other connection is either the air separator 10 or a line going to that one. In the tube there is a valve that Is closed during milking and open during clea¬ ning. Thus, the connection 20 makes a feed back of cleaning fluid to the pipeline milking system possible. During the cleaning procedure, as mentioned previously, cleaning fluid is collected on the bottom of the receptacle 12. When the cleaning fluid level has reached the connection 20, the cleaning fluid streams out of the receptacle 12 via this connection and into the air separator 10 where it is mixed with the rest of the cleaning fluid for further transport through the system. According to the drawing the connection 20 is positioned on a higher level than the connection 18. The advantage with this fact is that cleaning fluid is left on the bottom of the recep¬ tacle 12. This cleaning fluid is drained off when the shut-off valve in the conduit to the connection 18 is opened, whereby also this conduit is cleaned. In Fig. 2 there is shown a modification of the apparatus accor- • ding to Fig. 1. The apparatus according to Fig. 2 has no connec¬ tion 20 and is instead provided with a closable opening 23 In the wall of the tube 13. The opening 23 is suitably closed by means of a bar 24 going through the wall of the receptacle 12, whereby the bar 24 can be operated outside the receptacle 12. The opening 23 is closed during the milking procedure and is open during the cleaning procedure. The operation of the bar 24 can be made automatically via signals from for instance the cleaning apparatus. The cleaning of the apparatus according to Fig. 2 functions essentially In the same way as in the apparatus according to Fig. 1. Thus, cleaning fluid is brought Into the receptacle 12 via the connection 19. The level of the cleaning fluid that.is accumulated on the bottom of the receptacle 12 rises until it reaches the opening 23, whereafter the cleaning fluid streams down through the tube 13 to the air separator 10. In Fig. 3 there is shown a further embodiment of the invention. This embodiment differs from the first one regarding the design of the sanitary trap. The sanitary trap comprises a receptacle 30 which is fastened on the top of the air separator 31. In the uppermost part of the receptacle 30 there is a vacuum connection 32 which is placed at the centre line of the receptacle. Into the receptacle 30 at one side of its centre line there is made a tube 33, one end of which constitutes the opening between the sanitary trap and the air separator and the other end of which debouches in the upper part of the receptacle 30 and constitutes the inlet to the sanitary trap. Thus, the inlet opening to the . sanitary trap is laterally displaced in relation to the opening of conduit where vacuum prevails. The upper part of the tube has a sloping roof 34 which leads the air mixed with fluid particles towards the side wall of the receptacle. At the same time the air Is thrown downwards before it passes out through the vacuum connection 32 as is shown by arrows In the figure. Due to that fact a good separation of fluid particles from the mixture of air and fluid particles entering the receptacle 30 is made, which fluid particles are collected on the bottom of the recep¬ tacle 30. As Is apparent from the figure the upper part of the tube 33 debouches on a level 37 positioned considerably higher than the level 38 of the bottom part of the receptacle 30. Due to that fact the risk is eliminated that the fluid that is collected In the lower part of the sanitary trap shall stream down into the air separator 31. Furthermore, in the receptacle 30 there is a ball 35 functioning as a float, which ball moves upwards in the receptacle in depen¬ dence on the fluid level in the same. In the bottom of the re- . ceptacle 30 there is an automatic shut-off valve 36 which func- tions in that way that when vacuum prevails in the receptacle, the valve is closed, and when the vacuum in the receptacle is reduced, the valve Is opened. This happens when the fluid level in the receptacle is so high that the float 35 shuts off the opening of the vacuum line 32. The valve 36 can, of course, be directly governed by the fluid level in the sanitary trap so that when the fluid in this one has reached a certain level the valve 36 is opened and the sanitary trap 30 is drained off. Due to the fact that the tube 33 is laterally displaced in relation to the vacuum connection 32 and that there is a sloping roof 34 -the risk is eliminated that fluid particles shall fall down into the tube and then.down to the air separator.

Claims: Claims 1. Apparatus in a pipeline milking plant comprising an air separator connected to a milk pipeline at least at one place so 5 that milk streams into the air separator, where the air mixed in the milk is separated and streams through an inlet to a sanitary trap which is fastened on the air separator and which is Inten¬ ded to separate fluid particles from the entering air, the sani¬ tary trap being connected to a line in which vacuum ' prevails, 10 c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the opening of the inlet from the air separator CIO; 31) to the sanitary trap (11; 30) is positioned on a level (21; 37) which is higher than- the level (15; 38) of the bottom part of the sanitary trap (11;30). 15. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, the sanitary trap being positioned on the top of the air separator, c a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d I n that the sanitary trap comprises a recep¬ tacle (12; 30) inside which there is arranged a tube (13; 33) for conducting the air from the air separator (10; 31) to the 20 receptacle (12; 30). 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the tube (13; 33) is so arranged that it is laterally displaced in relation to the opening of the vacuum connection 25 (14; 32). 4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, c h a r a c t e r ¬ i z e d i n that the receptacle (12; 30) comprises a float (17; 35), which moves upwards or downwards in dependence on the 30 fluid level in the receptacle, and which at a certain fluid level in the receptacle is intended to close the opening of the vacuum line (14; 32). 5. Apparatus according to anyone of the claims 2 - 4, 35 c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the upper part of the tube (13) debouches on a level (21) positioned above that level (22) on which the vacuum line (14) debouches. 6. Apparatus according to anyone of the claims 2 - 5, 5 c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the receptacle (12) com¬ prises a tube connection (18) through which fluid can be drained off from the receptacle by means of a valve which is automati¬ cally opened when the vacuum in the receptacle has- fallen to a certain level and/or when' the fluid in the receptacle has 0 reached a certain level. 7. Apparatus according to claim 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the receptacle (12) comprises another tube connection (20) through which fluid is taken out from the receptacle (12) 5 -during the cleaning procedure, and that the tube connection (20) is positioned on a higher level than the tube connection (18). 8. Apparatus according to claim 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that on a level above that one for the tube connection 0 (18) the tube (13) has an opening (23) which is closable by means of a bar (24) going through the wall of the receptacle (12). 9. Apparatus according to anyone of the claims 2 - 4, 5 c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the upper part of the tube (33) has a sloping roof (34) directed towards the side wall of the receptacle (30) so that the separated air is conducted against the side wall and then passes out through the vacuum connection (32). 0 10. Apparatus according to claim 4 or 9, c h a r a c t e r ¬ i z e d i n that the receptacle (30) has a valve (36) at its bottom which valve Is closed when vacuum prevails in the recep¬ tacle and is automatically opened when the vacuum in the recep- 5 tacle is reduced and/or when the fluid in the receptacle has risen to a certain level.

Inventors: MAEEHANS VAEINO, MAEEHANS, VAEINO
Applicants: ALFA LAVAL AGRI INT, ALFA-LAVAL AGRI INTERNATIONAL AB
Application year: 1985
Main classification: A01J7
IPC codes: A01J5, A01J7