Improvements in Milking Apparatus.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Milking Apparatus.
We, WILLIAM HENRY LAWRENCE, of 158, Kenmure Street, Pollokshields,
Engineer, and ROBERT KENNEDY, of 109, South Portland Street, Dairyman, both
in the City of Glasgow, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to milking apparatus of the kind referred to in the
Specification of Letters Patent No. 8846 of 1897, in which pulsating apparatus in
the form of a vacuum motor is fitted on or in proximity to the milk receptacle and
is operated by suction from suction producing apparatus or a vacuum chamber
placed at any convenient distance therefrom in order to produce a pulsating action
at the teat cups of the milking apparatus by suitably and intermittently varying
the suction acting on the cow's teats between maximum and minimum degrees.
The present improvements have for their object to simplify and improve the action
of such apparatus and to render the same in general more efficient.
Under the present invention we connect the milk receptacles by branches to a
single main pipe led from the suction producing apparatus or maximum suction
chamber and we dispense with the use of the minimum suction pipe employed with
the apparatus described in the specification above referred to, by utilizing a part
of each milk receptacle as a minimum vacuum chamber, the milk pail or receptacle
being for this purpose made with a closed double casing at its upper end or other
part which is connected to the pulsating apparatus.
The pulsating apparatus consists of a cylinder in which works a double-ended
piston, either end of which is alternately put into communication with the
atmosphere and with the suction producing apparatus or vacuum chamber by
means of a valve actuated from the piston substantially in the manner described
in the specification above referred to, but the cylinder instead of having three
ports only is provided with four ports arranged in pairs transversely of the
cylinder. The two ports of each pair are put into communication with each other
on the movement of the piston by means of a transverse recess in said piston so
as to make connection between these and the maximum or minimum suction in
order to produce the necessary suction to collapse the teat cups and cause the
milk to flow from the cow's teats into the milk pail or to relieve the suction to
such an extent at to allow the teat cups to expand to their normal condition.
Each of the ports on one side of the longitudinal axis of the cylinder is connected
to a cup covered by a glass dome and forming an inspection cup, which is in
turn connected to the pipes leading to the teat cups. These pipes of which there
are preferably two are led into this inspection cup in such wise as to prevent any
backward surge of the milk on the release of the suction, due to the communication
being transferred from the maximum to the minimum suction. The connection
between the inspection cup and the ports on one side of the longitudinal axis
of the cylinder is obtained through passages, one of which when put into con-
nection by the piston recess with its neighbour places the inspection cup into
communication with the milk pail and maximum vacuum, and the other when

page_text: the piston moves placing the inspection cup in communication with the partial or
minimum vacuum in the double cased chamber formed in the milk pail and
which constitutes a minimum vacuum storage chamber, the minimum or partial
vacuum being automatically produced by the alternate connection of the inspection
cup with the maximum vacuum and the minimum suction storage. The maximum
vacuum in the inspection cup at each alternate movement of the piston serves to
exhaust the minimum storage chamber, and the degree of vacuum in the latter is
prevented from exceeding that desired by means of a spring loaded valve which
admits air to the minimum vacuum passage or chamber.
The valve for actuating the pulsator piston has around its circumference two
annular grooves which are in constant communication with two ports in the valve
casing one of which communicates with the maxinium vacuum and the other with
the atmosphere. Each annular groove has three vertical grooves connected
therewith, the alternate groove being connected to the top and bottom annular
grooves so that as the valve is turned, it, by means of two other ports in the valve
casing connected by passages to either end of the cylinder, establishes communica-
tion between one end of the piston and the vacuum, and between the other end and
the atmosphere. The alternate grooves of atmosphere air and vacuum balance the
valve so that it floats and can be readily turned by the action of the piston. The
actuating valve has a lever arm attached to its lower side adapted to
be acted on by a trip lever pivoted on the cylinder casing and actuated
by the movement of the piston. The trip lever moves with the piston
and acts upon the valve lever arm to turn it, the lever arm being so
connected to the valve that the said arm is turned through an angle of about thirty
degrees before the valve is acted upon, a spring being so connected between these
two levers that the spring carries the valve suddenly through the next thirty
degrees which is the necessary distance to effect the reversal of the piston. The
passages leading from the valve casing to the cylinder are at their junction
therewith provided with regulating screws, the conical points of which may be
periodically fully screwed down so as to clear the needle holes which form the
entrances to the cylinder and dislodge any foreign matter therefrom.
The piston is provided with cup leathers beneath each of which an endless
spiral spring in the form of a ring is placed in order to press the leathers tight
against the cylinder.
The pulsating apparatus is secured upon the lid of the milk pail which is
made air tight by a rubber ring or other means, and attached to said lid or cover
is a carrying handle formed with horns which are adapted to hold the teat cups
or the flexible tubes connected to them when the teat cups are out of use.
The teat cups are preferably formed of removable and reversable sleeves which
are made of rubber tubing cut with beveled ends and which are fitted to slide
upon metallic cylinders so that the length of the flexible tubing engaging the
cow's teats may be varied or adjusted to suit the length of teat; and the metallic
cylinders are by preference cut at an angle on each side or to cone shape so that
the rubber tube may tend to flatten or collapse always in the same direction when
the suction is applied. The lower end of the cylinder is closed by a spring loaded
valve through which the milk passes into a tube connected to the valve and to
the inspection cup.
The above described apparatus is intended for the milking of two cows on which
the suction acts simultaneously, but it may be so modified as to admit of the suction
acting on the cows alternately, the ports and passages in the pulsator being suitably
modified.
D
1

page_text: Improvements in Milking Apparatus.
We, WILLIAM HENRY LAWRENCE, of 158, Kenmure Street, Pollokshields,
Engineer, and ROBERT KENNEDY, of 109, South Portland Street, Dairyman, both
in the City of Glasgow, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:
This invention relates to milking apparatus in which pulsating apparatus in
the form of a vacuum motor is fitted on or in proximity to the milk receptacle
and is operated by suction-from suction producing apparatus or a vacuum
chamber placed at any convenient distance therefrom-in order to produce a
pulsating action at the teat cups of the milking apparatus by suitably and inter-
mittently varying the suction acting on the cow's teats between maximum and
minimum degrees. The present improvements have for their object to simplify
and improve the action of such apparatus and to render the same in general more
efficient.
The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 being a
vertical longitudinal section of the pulsating apparatus, and Figure 2 a horizontal
section of the same. Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section of the pulsating
apparatus fitted in position on the milk receptacle or maximum vacuum chamber.
Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 are vertical sections of various forms of teat cups.
Under the present invention we connect the milk receptacles A, part of one of
which is shown at Figure 3, by branches A¹ to a single main pipe led from the
suction producing apparatus or vacuum chamber, and we utilize a part of each
milk receptacle A as a minimum vacuum chamber, the milk pail. or receptacle A
being for this purpose made with a closed double casing A2 at its upper end or
other part and having both its chambers A, A³, connected to the pulsating
apparatus.
The pulsating apparatus consists of a cylinder B in which works a double
ended piston C, provided with cup leathers C beneath each of which an endless
spiral spring C³ in the form of a ring is placed in order to press the leathers tight
against the cylinder B, either end of the piston being alternately put into com-
munication with the atmosphere and with the suction producing apparatus
through the milk receptacle A by means of a valve D actuated from the piston.
The valve D for actuating the pulsator piston C has around its circumference
two annular grooves D1, D2, which are in constant communication with the
ports D3, D4, respectively, in the valve casing D5, one D³ of which communicates
by means of a pipe De with the maximum vacuum chamber A and the other with
the atmosphere by means of the port D. Each annular groove D¹, D³, has
three vertical grooves connected therewith, the alternate groove being connected
to the top and bottom annular grooves, D1, D2, so that as the valve Ď is turned,
it, by means of two ports D', D8, in the valve casing 15 connected by pas-
sages D, D10, to either end of the cylinder B, establishes communication between
one end of the piston C and the vacuum, and between the other end and the
atmosphere, in order to traverse the piston C in either direction. The alternate
vertical grooves of atmospheric air and vacuum balance the valve D so that it
floats and can be readily turned by the action of the piston C. The actuating
valve D has a lever arm D¹ attached to its lower side adapted to be acted on by
a trip lever I pivoted on the cylinder casing B and actuated by the movement of
the piston C through a pin C which engages a slot I in said lever. The trip
lever I moves with the piston and acts upon the valve lever arm D¹ to turn itį

page_text: the lever arm D₁ being so connected to the valve that the said arm is free to turn
through an angle of about thirty degrees before the valve D is acted upon, a
spring J being so connected between these two levers D¹ and I that the spring
carries the valve D suddenly through the next thirty degrees which is the neces-
sary distance to bring the other set of grooves into communication with the
passages D, D¹º, and effect the reversal of the piston C. The passages 1º, D10,
leading from the valve casing De to the cylinder B are at their junction there-
with provided with regulating screws K, the conical points of which may be
periodically fully screwed down so as to clear the needle holes L which form
the entrances to the cylinder B and dislodge any foreign matter therefrom.
The cylinder B is provided with four ports B1, B2, B3, B4, arranged in pairs B¹,
Ba, and B3, B4, transversely of the cylinder, the two ports of each pair being put
into communication with each other on the movement of the piston C by means
of a transverse recess C in said piston so as to make alternate connections between
the maximum suction chamber A or minimum suction chamber A2, and the teat
cups shown by Figures 4 and 5 and hereinafter described, causing the cup to
collapse, and the milk to flow from the cow's teats into the milk pail maximum
suction chamber A or to relieve the suction to such an extent as to allow the teat
cups M to expand to their normal condition. Each of the ports B1, B3, on one
side of the longitudinal axis of the cylinder is connected by pipes 61, 63, to a
cup E covered by a glass dome F and forming an inspection cup, which is in
turn connected to a pipe or pipes G leading to the teat cups M. These pipes G
of which there are preferably two are led into this inspection cup and bent in
such wise as to prevent any backward surge of the milk on the release of the
suction, due to the recess C¹ in the piston C being transferred from the maximum
to the minimum suction ports. The connection between the inspection cup E and
ports B1, B3, on one side of the longitudinal axis of the cylinder B is obtained
through the passages 61, 63. One port B3 when put into connection by the piston
recess C¹ with its neighbour B places the inspection cup E into communication
with the milk pail A or maximum vacuum, and the other when the piston C
moves places the inspection cup E in communication with the partial or minimum
vacuum chamber A2 of the milk pail and which constitutes a minimum vacuum
storage chamber, the minimum or partial vacuum being automatically produced
therein by the alternate connection of the inspection cup with the maximum
vacuum and the minimum suction storage chamber A³. The maximum vacuum
produced in the inspection cup E serves at each alternate movement of the piston C
to exhaust the minimum storage chamber A2 and the degree of vacuum in the
latter is prevented from exceeding that desired by means of a spring loaded
diaphragm valve, the diaphragm H of which is preferably of larger area than
the valve and on being raised by the atmospheric pressure acts upon the valve H¹
to raise it and admit air to the minimum vacuum chamber A3 by way of holes H2
in the valve casing above and a passage H³ below the valve seat and a port H in
the cylinder casing communicating with the port B2, the latted being in constant
communication with the minimum vacuum chamber by a pipe A³.
The pulsating apparatus is secured upon the lid A of the milk pail or maximum
vacuum chamber A and is made air tight upon said chamber by a rubber ring A5
or other means; and attached to said lid or cover A is a carrying handle formed
with horns which are adapted to hold the teat cups M when the teat cups are out
of use.
The teat cups M are preferably formed of removable and reversible sleeves M¹
which can be made of rubber tubing cut with beveled ends and which are fitted
to slide upon metallic cylinders M³ so that the length of the flexible tubing M
engaging the cow's teats may be varied or adjusted to suit the length of teat, and
the metallic cylinders M² are by preference cut at an angle as shown at M³, Fig. 5,
on each side, or to cone shape so that the rubber tube M¹ may tend to flatten or
collapse always in the same direction when the suction is applied. The lower end
of the cylinder is preferably as shown at Figure 4, closed by a spring loaded

page_text: valve M through which the milk passes into a flexible tube N connected to the
valve M and to the inspection cup E. The rubber portion of the teat cups
may have semi-circular grooves M5, as shown at Figs. 5 and 6, formed around
them near both ends, or they may be thinned down near the ends as shown at
Fig. 7, which grooving or thinning has the effect of allowing that portion of the
rubber between these grooves M³ or thinned portion №6 to collapse without
affecting the parts which take hold upon the cow's teats and upon the metallic
outlet passage.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-After placing the pulsator on
the milk receptacle the connection between the vacuum supply is opened, which
causes the piston to reciprocate and partly exhaust the minimum vacuum reservoir.
The teat cups are then applied to the teats which alternately collapse and expand
under the variations of vacuum so produced. When the connection is established
with the maximum vacuum and teat cups the milk is, by the combined action of
the suction and collapse of the cup, drawn into the milk receptacle, and on the
connection being changed to the minimum vacuum reservoir the suction on the
teat is reduced sufficiently to stop the flow of milk and allow the cup to expand.
When this is taking place, the pulsator piston C is in the position shown at
Figures 1, 2 and 3, the milk being drawn from the cow's teats and passing by way
of the inspection cup E through the passage 63, port B³, recess C¹, and port B
to the milk receptacle A. The lever arm D¹ on the pulsator actuating valve D
has been acted upon by the trip lever I and is just about to complete its travel
under the action of the spring J which latter has now been brought by the
movement of the lever arm D¹ past the centre line of said lever arm. The lower end
of the valve D is cut away to allow of the free movement of the lever arm D¹
excepting only during the last 30° or thereby of its travel during which it carries
with it the valve D, to bring the annular groove communicating with the atmo-
sphere into communication with that end of the cylinder B to which the piston C
has travelled. The piston C is thus caused to move in the opposite direction to
bring its recess C₁ over the ports B1, B2, and break the maximum suction by
establishing communication between the inspection cup E and minimum vacuum
chamber A3, this action having the effect of reducing the suction at the teat cups
and stopping the flow of milk from the cows' teats. By this time the trip lever I
having been acted upon by the piston C has carried the lever arm D¹ of the valve D
over to the position in which the spring J acts upon it to carry it through the
remainder of its travel and turn the actuating valve D so as to establish communi-
cation with the atmosphere and that end of the cylinder B which was previously
communicating with the vacuum. The piston C is then caused to travel so that
its recess C¹ covers the ports B3, B4, whereby communication is again established
by way of the inspection cup E between the teat cups and the maximum vacuum
chamber A whereby milk is again caused to flow into the milk receptacle A. The
vacuum produced in the inspection cup E tends to produce equal vacuum in the
minimum vacuum chamber A2 when this is in communication with the former
and the milk would also flow towards the chamber A2 but for the valve H¹ which
opens to admit air to this chamber by way of the port H on the vacuum
exceeding a predetermined degree.
Instead of the maximum vacuum acting on both animals at the same time
the ports of the apparatus may be so modified as to act on the cows alternately
or by connecting the four teats on the one cow in pairs to the two branches of
the pulsator the teats on the same cow may be acted upon alternately in pairs.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In a milking machine, the combination with pulsating apparatus operated
by suction of a milk receptacle having one compartment (A) connected to suction
producing apparatus and to a port (B4) in the pulsator and a separate compart-

page_text: ment (A2) connected to another port in the pulsator and in which latter compart-
ment a minimum degree of vacuum is maintained automatically by the action of
the pulsator in conjunction with an air admission valve (H¹) controlled by the
vacuum.
2. In a pulsating apparatus operated by suction producing apparatus at a
distance therefrom, the arrangement of a cylinder (B) having in it four
ports (B1, B2, B3, B4) arranged in pairs and communicating one pair (1³, B4)
with the milk pail and an inspection cup (E) and the other pair (B1, B2) with said
cup E and with the minimum vacuum storage (A2) and a piston (C) reciprocated
by vacuum and having formed in it a recess (C¹) adapted to alternately connect
the maximum and the minimum suction with the inspection cup (E).
3. In a pulsating apparatus of the kind referred to in the preceding claim a
reversing valve D formed with vertical grooves extending from annular
grooves (D1, D2) communicating one with the vacuum and the other with the
atmosphere, the vertical grooves being so arranged that the pressure and vacuum
act equally on all sides.
4. For use in a milking machine a teat cup formed by a rubber sleeve (M¹)
fitted to slide on a metallic cylinder (M2) through which the milk is drawn, the
sleeve (M) being adjustable upon the cylinder to suit varying lengths of cows'
teats.