Patent GB-729184-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for cleaning milking machines
IPC: A01J7/02
Filed: 1953-03-26
Abstract: 729,184. Cleaning pipes. CHRISTENSEN, S. A. March 26, 1953 [March 31, 1952 ; Nov. 21, 1952], No. 8421/53. Class 99 (2). [Also in Group XXIII] Apparatus for cleaning milking machines comprising two containers which are connected by means of the milking unit consisting of hoses, teat cups and milk junction, and in which cleaning liquid is conveyed from one container to the other so as to flow through the milking unit, the containers being alternately connected with a compressed air or vacuum source and the atmosphere by means of a change-over valve, is characterised in that the two containers are mounted for movement in such a manner that one is raised when: the other, owing to its excess weight, is lowered and vice-versa, thereby reversing the valve, so that the connection of the containers with the compressed air or, vacuum source and the atmosphere is reversed, the containers being connected with the valve in such a manner that there is always a higher pressure in the lower-lying container than in the higher-lying container. The two containers 14, 15, Fig. 1, which are preferably the milk pails of the milking machine are carried by a weighbridge 12 pivoted at 13 on a bracket 25. A weight 16 is also carried by the weighbridge and is slidable on a rod 26 fixed thereto by means of rollers 11. Milking units 17 are connected in series and with the containers by pipes 30 and tubing 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, the pipes 30 passing in an airtight manner through the lids of containers. Short pipes also passing through the lids connect by tubing 36, 37 with the change-over valve 29 attached to the weighbridge. Within the valve 29 is a slide having a projection adapted to engage with an arm 27 fixed to the bracket 25. In the position of the weighbridge shown in Fig. 1 the slide causes a vacuum source connected to the valve at 8 to be placed in communication with the container 14 and the container 15 to be placed in communication with the atmosphere as described with reference to Fig. 4 (not shown). Under these circumstances cleaning liquid in the container 15 is passed therefrom to the container 14. When the amount of liquid in the container 14 outweighs that which is remaining in the container 15 together with the weight 16 the weighbridge tilts to the opposite side to that shown wherein the weight 16 slides to the left hand side of the weighbridge. During this movement the arm 27 causes the slide of the valve 29 to move so that the container 14 is then placed in communication with the atmosphere and the container 15 with the vacuum and consequently the direction of flow of liquid through the milking units is reversed. This action is repeated continually. Compressed air may be supplied to the valve 29 at 8 in lieu of suction. Each milking unit 17 is disposed within a three part holder 20,. Fig. 6, the lines of the abutting edges of the three parts passing through holes which receive teat cups 19. The three parts of the holder are clamped together around the cups by means of pivoted arms and wing nuts 31 the complete holder being supported on a wall by means of a bracket 33. A plate 21 carried by a lid 22 forcibly engages the collars 34 of the teat cups with the holder. The lid 22 is clamped to the holder 20 by means of a pressure arm 24 having a catch member (not shown). The teats cups connected with the tubing, e.g. 1, through a milk junction 18 and'the lid 22 is connected to the tubing, e.g. 5. In modifications of the above embodiment, the weighbridge may be hollow and contain water which serves as a shiftable weight in lieu of the weight 16; the containers 14, 15 may be suspended from a weighbridge instead of as shown ; the movement of the slide of the valve 29 may be effected by the weight 16 itself ; and the valve 29 may be of a rotary type as described with reference to Fig. 5 (not shown). In another embodiment the two containers are supported on a weighbridge and two sets of teat cups are arranged one above the other with the collars thereof joined together by flexible sockets, the lower teat cups being supported in a holder. The milk junction of the upper set is connected by tubing to one container, and the milk junction of the lower set is connected to the other container by a trap formed by the tubing to prevent flow-back of liquid from the lower set when the direction of flow of liquid is changed, as described with reference to Fig. 8 (not shown).