Patent GB-496767-A (GB)
Title: Improved teat element for milking machines
IPC: A01J5/06
Filed: 1937-08-26
Abstract: 496,767. Cow-milkers. ORRE, B. V. Aug. 26, 1937, No. 23433. Convention date, Aug. 26, 1936. [Class 84] Teat cups for pneumatic milking - machines are formed as a single cup engaging all four teats, or a separate cup for one half and another for the other half of the udder, each of which engages two teats, the cups acting to subject the teats alternately to vacuum and pressure. The teat cups may be made wholly or partly of transparent material. In one form, the cup A, Fig. 2, which takes the four teats S, is made wholly of elastic material which may be thickened or otherwise stiffened downwards, or partially of elastic material, and has a central elastic hollow body B which communicates with the atmosphere through a tube C. In the interior of cup A vacuum and atmospheric pressure are produced alternately by connection through a nipple D to a pump O, the teats S when under vacuum being, simultaneously with the udder, subjected to pressure by the body B, which is expanded by the atmospheric pressure acting on it, and by the, elastic rim of cup A, thus providing a massaging action, the pressure being released on restoration by the pump O of atmospheric pressure within cup A. Pump O may be replaced by a pump giving a constant vacuum co-operating with a device for providing intermittent vacuum and acting for a number of teat cups. The body B may, alternatively, be made of sections acted on by a centrally positioned wedge or cone to deform it temporarily. In other forms, the upper portion of the cup A is elastic and the lower portion rigid and the central body B is rigid. In one such form, the body B, Fig. 3, is supported by a tube A<1> in which reciprocates a piston E having a passage E<1> connected through nipple F to a vacuum pump and registering, at the commencement of operations, with an aperture D in tube A<1> to evacuate the interior y of cup A which is also related constantly to the atmosphere through a channel E<2> in piston E, a space x and a narrow port A<2>. As aperture D is larger than channel E<2>, after a time sufficient vacuum is produced in space x to lift piston E and break the vacuum connection to aperture D. As further air enters through channel E<2> the pressure increases in spaces x, y until piston E falls, restoring the vacuum connection, and the procedure is repeated. During the vacuum period the milk is drawn from the teats through aperture D, passage E<1>, nipple F and rubber tubing to a container. In place of channel E<2>, the cup A may have a small aperture connecting it to the atmosphere. The starting position of piston E is fixed by a spring Z. The nipple F and its aperture in tube A<1> may be given a non-circular crosssection to prevent the piston E rotating. A recess may be provided in nipple F so that the piston E after turning may be fixed in position. The body B may have radial projections which bear against the udder between the teats. In a modification, the tube A<1>, Fig. 5, extends only up to the bottom of cup A and the body B is connected to piston E by a rod B<1> preferably by screw-threads to permit adjustment of the height. The piston E is pressed upwards to relate vacuum passage E<1> to space y which is evacuated, causing the cup A to be pressed up against the udder until tube A<1> covers passage E<1>, on which atmospheric pressure is substantially restored in the cup through a narrow aperture therein or a channel in piston E. The cup A then falls, but the body B is momentarily retained by the teats, again Lu-icovering. passage E<1>, and the cycle of operations begins again. In another form, the cup A, Fig. 9, and body B are formed of a single piece of elastic material, the upper portion being of substantially horseshoe section. When a teat cup engaging two teats only is used, it may be made wholly of rigid material and have a temporarily deformable central body, or partly of elastic and partly of rigid material without a central body, the elastic walls when compressed by atmospheric pressure applying pressure to the teats and to the udder upwardly between the teats. These teat cups may each be provided with a device as shown in Fig. 3 for obtaining the variations of pressure therein or a separate device of this construction may be employed operating a pair of the teat cups. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 comprises also pulsators for relating a pair of teat cups, each taking two teats, alternately to vacuum and atmospheric pressure consisting in one form of a piston E, Fig. 14 (Cancelled), reciprocating in a casing A<1> having a closed top B, the piston having a transverse channel E<1> by which the ports Dy leading to the teat cups are connected to vacuum through a nipple F. The closed space x above the piston is evacuated through a channel E<2> causing the piston to rise relating the ports Dy and, through a channel A<2>, the space x to the atmosphere. The piston then falls and the cycle of operations begins again. A spring Z acts on piston E. In another form, Fig. 16 (Cancelled), the piston E is connected by a rod B<1> to the member B which is of elastic material. A channel is provided for connecting space x to vacuum, and a channel A<2> for connecting it and ports Dy to the atmosphere in the lower position of piston E. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.