An Improved Milking Apparatus.
Year: 1899

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Milking Apparatus.
I, CLEMENS FREIHERR VON BECHTOLSHEIM, of 27, Maria Theresiastrasse, Munich,
in the Empire of Germany, 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.:-
Milking apparatuses which are merely intended to empty the teats without
applying a direct pull thereto have the drawback of necessitating a subsequent
stripping or re-milking by hand because the glands miss the excita-
t on or irritation which very much assists the separation of the milk,
and which is produced in hand milking or by the calf when sucking,
by the jerks or shocks imparted to the udder. On the other hand, the ordinary
milking machines which drain the teats by mechanical means have the draw-
back of easily injuring the teats and also are usually attached to the animals with
difficulty and consume a considerable amount of time, and require a somewhat
great driving power.
The present milking apparatus is intended for the use of suitable already
known hydraulic or pneumatically operated milking devices which do not injure
the teats and periodically produce a pull or pressure against the udder, and it
differs from the ordinary milking apparatus, firstly, by its being suspended itself
on the teats without requiring any other attachment to the animal, and, secondly,
that it is operated with constant pressure by compressed air or water under
pressure, and is provided with an automatic regulating device which allows this
constant air pressure to be changed into a periodic one both for moving the
apparatus up and down and also for the milking parts. This operating under
pressure with a constant action has the advantage over the methods of operating
with periodically changing pressures hitherto employed of a much smaller require-
ment as to power, because the dead space of the whole pipe or cup (d) is without
deleterious action and further the total arrangement is made much simpler.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a section of the apparatus on the line A B C of Figure 2;
Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus;
Figure 3 shows an arrangement for avoiding the dead point during reversal
of movement;
Figure 4, an arrangement with indirect reversal of action for the cylinder
chambers;
Figure 5 shows the invention arranged for use with Shiel's suction can, as
described in English Patent No. 14789 of 1894:
The apparatus consists of a cylinder a with a piston 6 and carries milk cups d,
Figure 2, capable of being adjusted away from or towards the centre of the
apparatus, and carried by means of arms c. In Figure one of these cups is
shown on the right hand side in section. The piston carries by means of arms e
cups (see Figure 2) also capable of being adjusted towards or away from the
centre of the apparatus, of which cups a view is shown in section in Figure 1 on
Prine SI

page_text: the left hand side. On the rise and fall of the piston in the cylinder, the mutual
position of the one pair of cups relative to the other pair is periodically altered
as regards height. In the drawing it is assumed that the milk cups are provided
with an indiarubber cushion or ring g capable of being inflated by air or water
pressure, and the arrangement is adopted of inflating with the air pressure the
ring g of the milk cup f which is at the moment descending and which thus fits
tightly on the teat and milks the same dry, whilst the rings g of other cups d
which are at the moment rising, receive no air pressure and therefore stand open
and allow the teat to enter therein. The action is reversed towards the end of
the movement and for this object the various constructions common to direct acting
steam pumps, whether working directly or indirectly, may be employed.
The reversal of movement is a double one, as the direction of the compressed
air for the piston and also for the cups must be reversed. This may take place
by means of a single valve or regulating device so long as a proportionately
larger section is given to the pipes leading to the cups in order to cause a rapid
inflation and discharge of the cushions than to the pipes which lead to the cylinder
chambers, the latter being given a smaller section which may be adjusted by means
of regulating screws or the like, in order on the one hand that the piston may not
move up and down too rapidly, and on the other hand that no reversal of the
piston may take place before the cups have received a suitable pressure for the
new direction of movement.
It is however better to employ separate valves or reversing organs for the cups
and cylinder because it is desired to have a different distribution of pressure
for the cups than for the cylinder.
In Figure 1 the piston rod is bored longitudinally and receives therein a slide
rod thickened at its upper end, which rod is connected with a slide valve i
and effects its reversal of movement. This slide à effects by means of the ports ki
and the pipes connected therewith, merely a reversal of movement for the
cups, whilst a smaller slide valve m which is moved by means of pins on the
slide i, and makes a shorter movement than the slide, , effects the distribution
of the compressed air in the two ends or chambers of the cylinder by means of
a pipe n which communicates with the upper port of this smaller valve, and a
pipe To which communicates with the lower port.
The front casing of the two slide valves is shown cut away in order to render
visible the whole valve seat and slides.
The compressed air passing into the slide chest through the pipe passes
at the moment shown in the drawing through a pipe to the pair of cups f and
through a pipe o into the upper cylinder chamber so that the piston is moved
downwards whilst the cups f connected therewith firmly clutch the teats by means
of the inflated indiarubber cushions g and extract the milk. The pipe leading
to the other pair of cups and also the pipe " communicating with the lower
chamber of the cylinder, in the position of the slides shown, stand in com-
munication with the outer air through the central openings in the valve plate or
seat.
The whole cylinder and the cups d connected therewith consequently move
upwards in opposition to the piston and the cups allow the teats to enter as the
indiarubber cushions are opened.
Towards the end of the piston movement the slide valve i is moved downwards
by means of the slide rod whilst the smaller slide m is held fast in consequence
of the pressure of air resting upon it. When the slide has reached the middle
of its movement, the two pipes and ¹, are in communication with the com-
pressed air because the slide i is shorter than the mutual distance between the
ports in the slide seat with which the pipes and ¹, are connected. In this
position all four cups are under the action of the compressed air, and the cups d,
which have now almost reached their highest position, already adhere firmly to
the teats even before the other cups f are deprived of the compressed air, so that
any drooping off of the apparatus is prevented.

page_text: On the further downward movement of the piston, the cups which now stand
lowest are deprived of their compressed air, and then the second slide m is pushed
downwards by a pin s mounted on the slide i thus reversing the direction of the
compressed air in the cylinder chambers, whereupon the piston rises and the
operation recommences. This reversal of movement has by its slow travel always
the drawback of allowing the possibility of a stoppage at the dead point. This
can be avoided by the construction shown in Figure 3. Here the slide i is not
pressed by the compressed air against the valve seat but is rather lifted off by it,
as the compressed air supplied by the pipe p enters beneath the slide at a place
where otherwise the air escape takes place, but it is pressed on the valve seat by
an arm w by means of a spring u.
When the slide rod h commences the move-
ment of the slide and has pushed the latter about over its centre position; the
slide completes the rest of its course of itself under the action of the spring u,
carrying with it by means of the pin s attached to it the second slide m which
effects the distribution of the compressed air for the cylinder chambers. The
slide m must of course be also pressed against the valve seat by means of a spring
which however is omitted in the drawing for the sake of clearness. In this con-
struction the two ports and must in the middle position of the slide i, lie
entirely within the same in order that at the moment of the change of movement
all 4 cups may be simultaneously under pressure. In order that the slide i shall
not exceed its course suitable stops e must be provided, as shown in the drawing.
Figure 4 shows a construction with indirect acting reversing valves for the
cylinder chambers. The slide i is reversed or operated, in similar manner to that
shown in Figure 1, by means of the rod h. The air distribution for the cylinder
chambers here takes place by means of a piston slide y which moves to-and-fro
under the action of the pressure existing in the pipes and k. The pipes
and lead to the upper and lower cylinder chambers respectively.
At the moment indicated which in Figure 1 corresponds to the descent of the
piston, the compressed air passes, in Figure 4, through the pipe both to the
cups and also to the left hand piston valve chamber and from thence through
the pipe o over the piston, whilst the air situated beneath the piston escapes to the
outside through the pipe and the opening z. Towards the end of the stroke
or movement, the slide i again reaches its middle position so that the pipe again
receives compressed air and the cups & grip the teats. The piston slide
y remains
however still in its position because equal pressure rules on both sides. The
cylinder piston 6 therefore still descends carrying the slide i further with it.
Finally, the pipe l, in the lowest position of the slide, is freed from pressure.
The air also over the piston escapes through the pipes o and until the pressure
in the chamber to the left hand side of the piston valve y has diminished until
the piston valve is thrown to the left in consequence of the excess pressure on the
right hand side. The air then escapes from the upper piston chamber through
the pipe
o and opening z whilst the compressed air flows from ¹ to n and under
the piston.
The three constructions of reversing valves hereinbefore described must be
merely regarded as examples as they may of course be replaced by any other
suitable forms of construction, such as are employed for direct acting steam
pumps. The reversing action for the cups in particular may of course be effected
in an indirect way, and instead of slide valves, cock valves or rotary valves and
the like may be employed.
The working of the apparatus is thus the same as described at the commence-
ment of the specification as the descending cups firmly grip the teats by means of
the inflated rubber cushions and give them a pull which is greater than the weight
of the apparatus as the rising cups exert a pressure on the udder which in com-
bination with the weight of the apparatus counterbalances the pull with which
the momentarily emptying teats are pulled. It thus causes not only a complete
milking out of the teats but also the excitation or mechanical action (massage)
of the milk glands facilitating the yielding of the milk.

page_text: With the apparatus hereinbefore described all necessary conditions for milk-
ing are fulfilled in an entirely similar manner to hand milking, but it is also
preferable to keep the milk pail always under a slight but constant vacuum by
which the milk is first drawn away from the pipe, and secondly the teats enter
with more certainty into the opened cups and more completely fill the latter
with milk. Any dropping off of the apparatus by means of an accidental move-
ment of the cow is also prevented. By this is also attained that a suction action
is exerted on the teats resembling the sucking of a calf, and thus the milking
is carried out in a manner pointed out by nature. Instead of attaching the milk-
ing parts in pairs to to the piston and cylinder, all four cups together may be
arranged on the cylinder and caused to exert a pull on all four teats simultaneously
by providing the piston at the top with a plate cushion or the like and allowing
it to press against the udder. Without suction on the teats this would not be
possible as otherwise the apparatus would fall off. As already remarked at the
commencement instead of the milk cups shown in the drawings, other milking
devices may be employed so long as they are operated with pneumatic or hydraulic
pressure.
Figure 5 shows particularly how the invention is adapted for use with Shiel's
suction cups, as used in English Patent 14789 of 1894. These cups work as is well
known with a periodically altering vacuum.
In the period of reduced vacuum which is only sufficiently great to carry the
weight of the cups, the cup is opened (right hand side of Figure 5) and allows
the teat to enter the same, whilst on a greater vacuum being formed, the cup is
pressed flat under the action of the outer air pressure (left hand side Figure 5)
and empties the teat. These cups which are employed with the so-called
Thistlemilking machine without being moved up and down are very suitable for
milking the teat out but in their use in the "Thistle" milking machine do not
completely strip the cow because the pull on the teats as well as the pressure on
the udder is not provided for. The milk glands thus undergo no mechanical
treatment and consequently a final stripping by hand is necessary.
if on the other hand the cups be combined with the present invention and be
moved up and down, the milk glands receive the irritation or excitation neces-
sary for the best extraction of the milk, and thus any subsequent stripping by
hand is unnecessary.
It is also preferable in order not to need two pipes, to operate the cylinder a
also by means of vacuum instead of compressed air. The arrangement of the
slides or valves is in general the same but with the difference that here the milk
also must make its way through the valves because the whole teat is exposed to
two different vacuums. If the preference be given to cock-valve constructions
in the arrangement in order to save the milk, yet still for the sake of simplicity
a slide valve arrangement is again shown in the drawings in order merely to show
diagrammatically the working of the apparatus.
In Figure 5 the moment of the descent of the piston is again retained and
the slide, which must now be of greater width in order to allow of the passage of
the milk, is in its highest position. The pipe E leads to the milk pail which
stands constantly under the greatest vacuum. The pipe F which produces the
greatest vacuum in the cylinder is also under the same vacuum. In the slide
or valve chest 7" ou the contrary there is only a moderate vacuum
corresponding to the moderate vacuum of Shiel's cups. It is brought
about by outside air being admitted through the valve D, the vacuum being
capable of being regulated by the spring pressure of said valve. This valve
which is arranged at the lower end of the slide chest in the drawing for the sake
of clearness, will in the arrangement find its place at the upper end in order that
the. air shall not be forced to pass through the milk contained in the under part
of the slide chest which would produce unnecessary froth.
The working of the apparatus is again similar to that described with reference
to Figure 1 only with the difference that not merely air but also milk passes
through the pipes k¹ and 1.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. A milking apparatus characterised by a cylinder operated pneumatically,
hydraulically, or by vacuum and provided with an automatic reversing valve
arrangement and located between the teats being suspended thereon by milking
devices which are also operated pneumatically or hydraulically and are moved up
and down so as to exert at periodical intervals a pull on the teats and a pressure
on the udder with the object of enabling the milking machine to be worked with
a constant pressure in the operating pipe and of requiring no further support for
the apparatus than that afforded by the milking devices themselves, substantially
as hereinbefore described.
2. In a milking apparatus such as hereinbefore described, the arrangement of two
cups diametrically opposite one another and attached to a piston and two others
attached to a cylinder so that the respective pairs mutually alter their positions as
regards height in such a way that the for the time being descending pair squeez-
ing the teats, milk the same out, and exert a pull thereon, whilst the rising pair
of cups are opened to allow the teats to enter therein and exert a pressure against
the udder substantially as described.
3. In a milking apparatus such as described, the arrangement of valves or
devices for producing the alteration in the conditions of pressure in the cups, in
such a way that on a change of movement all four cups simultaneously squeeze
the teats in order to prevent at this moment the apparatus dropping off the cow,
substantially as described.
T1
1000
WP. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant