A SUSPENSION DEVICE FOR ATTACHMENT OF AN OBJECT TO A SUPPORT STRUCTURE IN A MILKING STALL

Abstract: The invention relates to a suspension device for attachment of an object (1) to a support structure in a milking stall. The suspension device comprises a first part (3) which, in an initial mounting stage, is arranged to be connected to the support structure (2) by first fastening means, a second part (4) which, in the initial mounting stage, is arranged to be connected to the object (1) by second fastening means, and third fastening means arranged to connect the first part (3) and the second part (4), in a later mounting stage, to each other in an adjustable manner including at least two different fixed positions.

Description: A suspension device for attachment of an object to a support structure in a milking stall THE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART The present invention relates to a suspension device for attachment of an object to a support structure in a milking stall. Such suspension devices are, for example, used for mounting a retractor cylinder to a horizontally extending pipe in a milking stall. The object of the retractor cylinder is to remove a milking member of a milking machine from a cow after a milking process. The retractor cylinder may also be fixedly arranged on an elongated aluminium profile together with a control panel. Such an aluminium profile unit is very difficult for one person to mount to a horizontal pipe in a milking stall in a desired position. It takes a lot of time also for two persons to mount and adjust the aluminium profile unit in a vertical and horizontal direction in relation to the pipe. It is desired that several aluminium profile units may be mounted to hang uniformly in the respective milking stall. US 3 973 520, US 4 228 763, US 4 333 421 and US 5 937 786 show different types of suspension devices for attachment of a retractor cylinder or a retractor mechanism to a horizontal pipe or another support structure in a milking stall. By using the known suspension devices, it is difficult for only one person to mount such a retractor mechanism to a support structure. These known suspension devices also provide restricted possibilities to adjust the retractor mechanism to a desired position. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide a suspension device for attachment of an object to an support structure in a milking stall, which suspension device provides such a simple mounting and adjusting work that it is possible for one person to mount the object to the support structure in a desired position. This object is achieved by the suspension device initially defined, which is characterised in that the suspension device comprises a first part, which, in an initial mounting stage, is arranged to be connected to the support structure by first fastening means, and a second part, which, in the initial mounting stage, is arranged to be connected to the object by second fastening means, and third fastening means arranged to connect the first part and the second part, in a later mounting stage, to each other in an adjustable manner including at least two different fixed positions. By using a suspension device comprising two separable parts, it is possible, in a first stage, to connect the first part to the support structure and the second part to the object. Thereafter, in a second stage, the person lifts the object together with the second part and may by a suitable third fastening means connect the first and second parts to each other. In the connected state, it is easy for the person, to adjust the first and second parts to a desired position in relation to each other. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the third fastening means comprises an articulated connection between the first part and the second part. Such an articulated connection makes it possible for a person, in the connected state, by a turning movement to displace the first and second parts to a position in relation to each other, where the object obtains a desired position in relation to the support structure. The articulated connection may comprise two projecting members each being provided on one of said parts and arranged to be mounted in a corresponding holes in the other part in a mounted state. By using projecting members and corresponding holes, it is possible to mount a second part having a hole to a projecting member of the first part directed upwards. Alternatively, the second part may have a projecting member directed downwards and the first part a corresponding hole. Preferably, the projecting members at least in the mounted state extend along a common axis. Thereby, the first and second parts, in the mounted state, are adjustable around this axis to a desired fixed position. When several projecting members are to be displaced into corresponding holes at the same time, the person must hold the second part in an exact position. That is difficult with a relatively heavy object, especially for only one person. By that fact, the mounting of the articulated connection is arranged to enable an initial positioning of the first projecting member in its corresponding hole and a later positioning of the second projecting member in its corresponding hole. Advantageously, the first projecting member is longer than the second projecting member. By such a construction, a person may easy move the object and the second part having, for example, a hole to a position where the hole surrounds an upper end of the first projecting member. When, the person turns the object and the second part to an exact position, where also the second projecting member can be moved into its corresponding hole. According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, locking members is provided on at least one projecting member in order to prevent the first from disengaging the second part in the mounted state. If the projecting member comprises threads, the locking member may be a nut. Advantageously, the free ends of projecting members are directed outwards from the articulated connection. Thereby, it is easy to apply the locking members by a machine. According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the third fastening means comprises a lock mechanism arranged to lock the first and second parts in said fixed positions in relation to each other. The object of the mechanism is to keep the object safely in a desired fixed position in relation to the support structure. Preferably, said lock mechanism comprises a toothed path arranged on one of the parts and at least one pointed wedge provided on the other part. Thereby, the edge of the wedge will be positioned in a notch of the toothed path. By such a lock mechanism, the first and second parts obtains a stable positioning in relation to each other in a great numbers of fixed positions. According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the first fastening means is arranged to enable a fastening of the first part in an adjustable position in relation to the support structure. Thereby, it is possible to obtain a further adjustment of the object in relation to the support structure. Preferably, the first fastening means comprises a clamping member arranged to be provided at least partly around an element of the support structure and be releasably connected to the first part. In order to connect the first part to the element of the support structure, the person may arrange a substantially C-shaped clamping member around the element. When the free ends of the C- shaped clamping member are connected to the first part by, for example, screws. According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the second fastening means is arranged to enable a fastening of the object in an adjustable position in relation to the second part. Thereby, it is possible to obtain a further adjustment of the object in relation to the support structure. Preferably, the second fastening means comprises a bolt arranged to be provided in a hole in the second part and wherein a nut is provided on the bolt and in a groove in the object. The object may have a T-shaped groove at a rear side. By such a second fastening means, the object can be displaced in relation to the second part to a desired position. In this position the person tightening the bolt until the second part and the object are kept fixedly together. According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the object comprises a retractor cylinder for removing a milking member from a cow after a milking process. By using the suspension device according to the present invention, it is possible for only one person to mount and adjust the relatively heavy retractor cylinder to a desired position. Preferably, the element of the support structure includes a pipe having an essentially horizontal extension. Such horizontal pipes are available in a milking stall and are well suited to be a support structure for an object comprises a retractor cylinder. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention is now to be explained more closely by means of a preferred embodiment, which is disclosed as an example, and with reference to the attached drawings. Fig 1 shows a side view of a suspension device according to the present invention, Fig 2 shows a first perspective view of the suspension device and Fig 3 shows a second perspective view of the suspension device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Fig 1 shows schematically an object such as an elongated aluminium profile 1 carrying a retractor cylinder V and a control panel 1 ". The retractor cylinder 1 ' and the control panel 1 " are schematically shown in Fig 1. A suspension device is arranged to fixedly attach the aluminium profile 1 to a horizontal pipe 2, which is an element of a support structure in a milking stall. The suspension device comprises a first part 3, which is connected to the horizontal pipe 2, and a second part 4, which is connected to the aluminium profile 1. The first part 3 comprises a base portion 5 and gable portions 6a, b. The second part 4 comprises a base portion 7 and gable portions 8a, b. The first part 3 comprises at the upper gable portion 6a a fixedly arranged bolt 9. The bolt 9 is inserted through and mounted in a corresponding hole 10 in the upper gable 8a of the second part 4. A nut 1 1 is provided on the bolt 9. The second part 4 comprises at the lower gable portion 8b a fixedly arranged bolt 12. The bolt 12 is inserted through and mounted in a corresponding hole 13 in the lower gable 6b of the first part 3. A nut 14 is provided on the bolt 12. The free ends of the bolts 9, 12 are directed outwards from the gable portions 6a, 6b, 8a, 8b. Thereby, it is easy to attach the nuts 11 , 14 on the bolts 9, 12 and tightening the nuts 1 1 , 14 by a machine. The upper bolt 9 is longer than the lower bolt 12. By such a construction, a person may easy move the object 1 and the second part 4 to a position where the hole 10 surrounds an upper end of the bolt 9. Thereafter, the person turns the object 1 and the second part 4 to an exact position, where also the bolt 12 can be moved into its corresponding hole 13. An axis 15 extend through the bolts 9, 12 and the holes 10, 13 in the mounted state of the first 3 and second 4 parts, wherein the bolts 9, 12 extend in opposite directions along the axis 15. By loosely arranged nuts 1 1 , 14, the object 1 and the second part 4 are adjustable to a desired position in relation to the horizontal pipe 2 by a turning movement around the axis 15. Fig 2 and 3 show different perspective views of the suspension device. In order to fasten the first part 3 to the horizontal pipe 2, a C-shaped clamping member 16 is used. The clamping member 16 has a first end comprising two projections 17 arranged to be hooked in corresponding holes in the first part 3. The clamping member 16 has a second end comprising two holes for a respective screw 18. By tightening the screws 18, the clamping member 16 and the first part 3 will be fixedly attached on the horizontal pipe 2. The clamping member 16 comprises a tapped hole 19. A screw is provided to be arranged in said tapped hole 19, in order to finally fix the first part 3 in relation to the horizontal pipe 2. The upper gable 8a of the second portion 4 comprises a toothed path 20 and the upper gable 6a of the first part 3 comprises a pointed wedge 21. The edge of the wedge 21 will be positioned in a notch of the toothed path 20 in order to lock the first part 3 and the second part 4 in a fixed position. The aluminium profile 1 comprises at a rear side an elongated T-shaped groove (not shown on the figures). The second part 4 comprises on the base portion 7 projecting members 22. The projecting members 22 are arranged to provide stability during displacement of the second part 4 in the T-shaped groove in the aluminium profile 1. The base portion 7 of the second part 4 comprises two holes 23. A bolt (not shown on the figures) is arranged to extend through the respective hole 23. A corresponding nut (not shown on the figures) is provided on the free end of the bolt. The bolt is unturnably arranged in the T- shaped groove in the aluminium profile 1. By a relative loose connection between the respective nut and bolt, the aluminium profile 1 is slideable arranged in relation to the second part 4. In a desired position, the bolts are tightened and the aluminium profile 1 obtains a fixed position in relation to the second part 4. When a person intends to mount an aluminium profile 1 to a horizontal pipe 2 in a milking stall, the first part 3 and second part 4 of the suspension device are separated. In an initial mounting stage, the first part 3 is fixedly connected to the horizontal pipe 2 by means of the clamping member 16. It is possible to attach the first part 3 in an adjustable turning position in relation to the horizontal pipe 2. In the initial mounting stage, the person also fixedly connects the second part 4 to the aluminium profile 1. It is possible to connect the second part 4 in an adjustable linear position in relation to the aluminium profile 1 as the manner described above. In a later mounting stage, the person lifts the fixedly connected second part 4 and aluminium profile 1 to a position where the upper hole 10 of the second part 4 surrounds an upper end of the bolt 9 of the first part 3. By the fact that the upper bolt 9 is longer than the lower bolt 12, it is possible for the person, with the hole 10 in a fixed position around the upper end of the bolt 9, to turn the shorter bolt 12 to a position exactly above the hole 13 in the first part 3. Thereafter, the person connects the first part 3 and the second part 4 to each other. When the person let the second part 4 fall down to an end position, the edge of the wedge 21 will automatically be positioned in a notch of the toothed path 20. Such a lock mechanism locks the first part 3 and the second part 4 in a fixed position in relation to each other. If the person wants to adjust the locked position, he lifts the aluminium profile 1 a short distance upwards so the edge of the wedge 21 get out of engagement with the notch of the toothed path 20. Advantageously, the nut 11 is screwed loosely on the upper of the bolt 9 before the aluminium profile 1 is lifted. Thereby, the nut 1 1 prevents the first 3 from disengaging the second part 4 during the adjusting work. Finally, then the aluminium profile 1 is mounted in a desired position to the horizontal pipe 2 a hole is drilled in the pipe 2 at a place corresponding to the tapered hole 19 in the clamping member 16. A fastening screw (not shown on the figures) is provided through the hole 19 and the drilled hole in the horizontal pipe 2. The fastening screw provides a safe fixed attachment of the aluminium profile 1 to the horizontal pipe 2. The invention is not restricted to the described embodiments in the figures, but may be varied freely within the scope of the claims. The object may be an essentially arbitrary object, which is attached to an arbitrary support structure in a milking stall.

Claims: Claims 1. A suspension device for attachment of an object (1 ) to a support structure in a milking stall, characterised in that the suspension device comprises a first part (3) which, in an initial mounting stage, is arranged to be connected to the support structure (2) by first fastening means, a second part (4) which, in the initial mounting stage, is arranged to be connected to the object (1 ) by second fastening means, and third fastening means arranged to connect the first part (3) and the second part (4), in a later mounting stage, to each other in an adjustable manner including at least two different fixed positions. 2. A suspension device according to claim 1 , characterised in that the third fastening means comprises an articulated connection between the first part (3) and the second part (4). 3. A suspension device according to claim 2, characterised in that the articulated connection comprises two projecting members (9, 12) each being provided on one of said parts (3, 4) and arranged to be mounted in a corresponding hole (10, 13) in the other part (3, 4) in a mounted state. 4. A suspension device according to claim 3, characterised in that the projecting members (9, 12) at least in the mounted state extend along a common axis (15). 5. A suspension device according to claim 4, characterised in that the mounting of the articulated connection is arranged to enable an initial positioning of the first projecting member (9) in its corresponding hole (10) and a later positioning of the second projecting member (12) in its corresponding hole (13). 6. A suspension device according to claim 5, characterised in that the first projecting members (9) is longer than the second projecting member (12). 7. A suspension device according to any one of claims 3 - 6, characterised in that a locking member (1 1 , 14) is provided on at least one of the projecting members (9, 12) in order to prevent the first part (3) from disengaging the second part (4) in the mounted state. 8. A suspension device according to any one of claims 3 - 7, characterised in that the free ends of the projecting members (9, 12) are directed outwards from the articulated connection. 9. A suspension device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the third fastening means comprises a lock mechanism (20, 21 ) arranged to lock the first (3) and second (4) parts in a said fixed positions in relation to each other. 10. A suspension device according to claim 9, characterised in that said lock mechanism comprises a toothed path (20) arranged on one of the parts (3, 4) and at least one pointed wedge (21 ) provided on the other part (3, 4). 1 1. A suspension device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first fastening means is arranged to enable a fastening of the first part (3) in an adjustable position in relation to the support structure (2). 12. A suspension device according to claim 1 1 , characterised in that the first fastening means comprises a clamping member arranged to be provided at least partly around an element of the support structure (2) and be releasably connected to the first part (3). 13. A suspension device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the second fastening means is arranged to enable a fastening of the object (1 ) in an adjustable position in relation to the second part (4). 14 A suspension device according to claim 13, characterised in that the second fastening means comprises a bolt arranged to be provided in a hole in the second part (4) and wherein a nut is provided on the bolt and in a groove of the object (1 ). 15. A suspension device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the object (1 ) comprises a retractor cylinder for removing a milking member from a cow after a milking process. 16. A suspension device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the element of the support structure includes a pipe (2) having an essentially horizontal extension.

Inventors: JOHANNESSON LEIF, JOHANNESSON, LEIF
Applicants: DELAVAL HOLDING AB, JOHANNESSON LEIF, JOHANNESSON, LEIF
Application year: 2001
Main classification: A01K1
IPC codes: A01J5