IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MILKING Cows
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Watkins, of Smethwick, in the County of
Stafford, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MILKING
Cows."
Sealed the 27th March 1863, and dated the 4th October 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Watkins at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th October 1862.
I, FRANCIS WATKINS, of Smethwick, in the County of Stafford, do hereby
declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
MILKING COWS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for milking cows.
For these purposes four elastic flexible teat cups made of vulǝanized india-
rubber are used to receive the four teats of a cow. The lower ends of these
teat cups are fixed to a hollow ring or vessel. In the centre of this hollow
ring or vessel a chamber is formed, over which a flexible dished diaphragm
is fixed, the centre part of which is arranged to be moved up and down by a
lever handle, the end of which is attached to a disc or plate fixed in the
centre of the flexible diaphragm. At the bottom of the hollow ring or vessel
is a valve which opens outwards, and below this valve is a spout into which
the milk is received as it descends from the hollow chamber or ring to which
the flexible elastic teat cups are attached. The hollow ring or vessel and
apparatus is supported on a suitable stand so as readily to admit of the teat
cups being brought into position under a cow to receive the four teats. When

page_text: the flexible diaphragm is moved in one direction, the pressure of air within
the hollow ring or chamber is reduced, and the milk is thus caused to flow
from all the teats; when the flexible diaphragm is moved in the opposite
direction, the milk received into the hollow vessel is forced out therefrom
through the valve, the milk ceasing to flow from the teats during the time
that milk is flowing from the hollow vessel. The movement of the flexible
diaphragm again in the direction first mentioned will again reduce the
pressure of air in the hollow vessel, when the milk will again flow into the
hollow vessel, and so on, the milk alternately flowing from the teats and then
from the outlet spout of the vessel.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Francis Watkins in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th April 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANCIS
WATKINS, of Smethwick, in the County of Stafford, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of October in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Francis Watkins, Her special licence that I, the said Francis Watkins,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Francis
Watkins, my executors; administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
MILKING Cows," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Francis
Watkins, my executors or. administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said. Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Francis Watkins, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment thereof, that is to say :-

page_text: This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for milking
Cows. For these purposes four elastic flexible teat cups made of vulcanized
india-rubber are used to receive the four teats of a cow.
The lower ends of
In the centre of this
these teat cups are fixed to a hollow ring or vessel.
hollow ring or vessel a chamber is formed, over which a flexible dished
diaphragm is fixed, the centre part of which is arranged to be moved up and
down by a lever handle, the end of which is attached to a disc or plate fixed
in the centre of the flexible diaphragm. At. the bottom of the hollow ring or
vessel is a valve which opens outwards, and below this valve is a spout into
which the milk is received as it descends from the hollow chamber or ring to
The hollow ring or vessel
which the flexible elastic teat, cups are attached.
and apparatus is supported on a suitable stand so as readily to admit of the
teat cups, being brought into position under a cow to receive the four teats:
When the flexible diaphragm is moved in one direction, the pressure of air
within the hollow ring or chamber is reduced, and the milk is thus caused to
flow from all the teats; when the flexible diaphragm is moved in the opposite
direction, the milk received into the hollow vessel is forced out; therefrom
through the valve, the milk ceasing to flow from the teats during the time
that milk is flowing from the hollow vessel. The movement of the flexible
diaphragm again in the direction first mentioned will again reduce the pressure
of air in the hollow vessel, when the milk will again flow into the hollow
vessel, and so on, the milk alternately flowing from the teats and then from
the outlet spout of the vessel.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed more
fully to describe the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shows a plan; Figure 2, a side view, supported by a fixed arm or
projection on the vessel; Figure 3, a side elevation in section; Figure 4
shows a plan in section taken below the flexible diaphragm, the flexible teat
cups being also removed from the upper ends of the four branch pipes.
a, a, are the four flexible teat cups, which are made of vulcanized india-
rubber, each having a spiral wire within the thickness of the india-rubber, by
which the form of the teat cups is better preserved, but their use is not
essential. These teat cups are made conical, so as to receive different sizes
5 of teats, and the teat cups by their flexibility and elasticity are readily capable
of being bent outwards or inwards from and to each other so as to allow of
their being applied to different cows. The apparatus may be supported by a
stand as shewn in Figure 5, or by a fixed arm or projection on the vessel as

page_text: shewn in the previous Figures; it may be arranged to be supported by being
strapped to the arm of the user. Or. such projecting arm may be formed in
such manner as to admit of the apparatus being attached on or above the
knee or other part of the person using the apparatus. a*, a*, is a vessel,
within which is placed a moveable flexible diaphragm b, by preference of
vulcanized india-rubber, and it is desirable that such diaphragm should be
so applied to the vessel as to admit of its being readily introduced and re-
moved from the vessel in order that all parts of the apparatus may be well
cleansed from time to time. The lower end of each of the teat cups is passed
through a ring c, which has two projecting hooks; this ring is of somewhat
less diameter than the lower end of the teat cup. The hooks on the ring when
the teat cup is to be fixed to one of the branch pipes c¹ pass between the
notches in the flange at the outer end of the branch pipe, and then the ring
and the teat cup is turned partly round, bringing the hooks under the flange;
the lower end of the teat cup which protrudes through the ring will be shut
and pressed between the flange and the ring. d is a valve which opens out-
wards, and is, by preference, of vulcanized india-rubber; e is a spout, down
through which the milk descends into a pail or other suitable vessel below;
f is a handle by which the flexible diaphragm is moved up and down. The
centre of the flexible diaphragm is strengthened by discs, and fixed to the
spindle which is connected to the end of the lever handle, as is shewn in the
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis Watkins, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
FRANCIS WATKINS. (L.S.)
Witness,
BARNARD J. CURETON.