Improvements in and relating to Milking Appliances.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 29th July, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 27th Apr., 1893-Accepted, 17th June, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Milking Appliances.
We, JAMES FLEMING STRUTHERS, Commercial Traveller, Strathclyde Works,
Carluke, and JoHN WEIR, Engineer, Lanark, both in the County of Lanark, do
hereby declare the nature of our invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to and comprises new or improved constructions and
arrangements and combination of the parts of appliances for milking cows, goats,
and like animals, and which will be more convenient and efficient than the appliances
heretofore in use for this purpose.
The improvements consist all as follows:-An open four leggel or standard
frame would be made to carry the vacuum producing mechanism, and would have
overhung lugs or projections near the lower ends of the legs for inserting the axles
of rollers for portably moving the frame about; but these rollers can be easily
withdrawn and the frame bolted down to a floor or other fixed foundation through
projecting flanges on the opposite sides of the leg standards. A double acting air-
pump would be fitted on the upper horizontal table of this frame, having its
reciprocating piston or plunger rod passed out through a stuffing box in the
cylinder and jointed to the one end of a connecting rod, the other end of which is
jointed to the crank of a crank shaft carried in bearings on the frame. This crank
shaft would be rotated to actuate the piston of the air pump by a crank handle on
its one end, or be fitted with a pulley rotated by a band from any adjacent prime
moving shaft; and a fly-wheel would be mounted on the opposite end of the crank
shaft. Or the piston rod of the air pump might be actuated direct from a small
motor erected on the framing. The cylinder of the air pump would be fitted with
duplex branches and valves at each end, the one set of branches being connected
to the suction vacuum pipes, and the other set leading or exhausting the air to the
atmosphere at each reciprocation of the piston from opposite ends of the cylinder.
The passage to the valves at back end of pump would preferably be made of a
square or hexagonal shape so that by placing the nut on end of the plunger in it,
and twisting round the pump rod the packing of the plunger may be rectified after
it has become worn. The suction pipes from the opposite ends of the pump
cylinder would be jointed to one main pipe leading to a main vacuum tank or
cylindrical vessel placed on a table or plate at the lower part of the frame, and
fitted with a vacuum gauge, and safety and blow off valves. A continuous vacuum
would thus be produced and maintained in this main tank or reservoir at each.
stroke of the pump from opposite ends, and a pipe connection would be taken from
this tank through the byre or building where the cows are to be milked, preferably
carried from the rafters overhead, and having branch pipes leading down at intervals
apart opposite each cow or pair of cows and connected by a nozzle and vacuum
shut off plug valve to a portable close milk receiving pail or vessel, so as to
produce a continuous vacuum therein as long as the portable plug valve remains in
its seat in the vessel. Flexible short pipes or tubes would lead from this milk
vessel and have branches leading to the lower end of the teat cups made to enclose
each of the four teats of a cow, and so by the continuous vacuum within the vessel
draw away the milk through the flexible tubes to the milk receiving vessel.
The teat receiving cups would cach consist of an outer shell of tin or other
metal or rigid substance, and an inner lining of rubber or other flexible substance
jointed to the outer rigid shell at top and bottom by passing over a bead and tied
or secured by wire or other fastenings. An annular air space is thus formed
between the outer shell and inner flexible tube in which is produced an alternating
or intermittent vacuum, as hereinafter described. The bottom of each teat

page_text: receiving cup would be formed of rubber or other flexible material and have a milk
delivery tube or orifice leading from it; while a projecting flap or other rigid
valve would be fitted above the flexible bottom. When the cup is applied to a teat
the suction action of the vacuum producing appliances draws and distends
upwards the flexible bottom which has the effect of keeping the rigid valve open,
but when the cup is removed from the teat, the valve will automatically fall down
and shut off the vacuum from the milk vessel.
An alternating or intermittent vacuum is produced in the annular space of each
teat cup, so as to produce an intermittent pressure of the annular rubber diaphragm
on the teat to counteract the influence of the vacuum on the blood circulation, and
to prevent the teat from swelling. This intermittent pressure is effected by having
flexible branch tubes leading to the annular space of teat cups from flexible pipes
suspended opposite each cow or pair of cows from main pipes erected overhead in
the byre, alongside of the continuous vacuum pipes, and these main pipes would
lead from the chamber of a rotating or moving plug or cock preferably fitted on
the frame carrying the air pump, and where the alternating air and vacuum
pressure is produced. The chamber of this rotating plug would have a branch
leading into it from the continuous vacuum main tank, and another branch would
lead from it opposite to the tank branch, to the atmosphere. The plug is formed
of a cylindrical preferably tapering shape, and has a part cut away out of it
opposite the branches to vacuum tank, and atmosphere, and with a continuation
tube or branch opening at right angles through its centre to the main pipe leading
to the overhead alternating vacuum pipes in byre. As this plug is rotated the
orifice in plug is alternately open to the branch pipe from vacuum tank and to the
branch leading to atmosphere, and so an alternating or intermittent vacuum is
produced in the pipes leading to the air space of teat cups. The plug would be
held in position within its chamber by a clamp screwed round a spindle projecting
outside, and this spindle of the plug would be rotated by hand from a crank handle
mounted on its outer end, or by pulley on same driven by a band from a pulley on
the crank shaft actuating air pump; or a ratchet wheel may be mounted on spindle
and be actuated by a pawl on the end of a connecting rod which receives its motion
from crank shaft of air pump; or other equivalent mechanism may be used for
operating the plug. Instead of one rotating plug and chamber being used to
produce an alternating vacuum for all the pipe connections of the byre, separate
plugs and chambers may be used for each cow or a set of cows, and be operated
from an overhead crank shaft in the byre. Another form of teat cup would be
made with two annular air-spaces or diaphragms or rubber faced buffers. One set
of buffers would be placed at top of cup and the other immediately beneath it, and
the alternating plug would be so constructed and worked that the top diaphragms
or buffers would press the teat previous to the lower set doing so. This would
create a descending or downward squeeze on the teat, or as it is called when done
by hand stripping."
To further assist the milking of the cows we pass a cloth or other band under
the udder of each cow between the front and back teats, and lead said band over
her haunches and connect its ends to a joint ring to which is connected the one end
of a leather or other belt, or chain, the other end of same being connected to the
crank of an overhead shaft, and this band or chain will be capable of adjustment
for lengthening or shortening and slackening or tightening the band round the
udder of the cow. This overhead crank shaft would be carried on the rafters or
other supports in byres, and rotated in bearings preferably by a band passed over
a pulley on same from the fly wheel or a pulley on crank shaft of pump. By the
rotation of overhead crank shaft in byre an intermittent pressing action will thus
be produced by the bands on the udder of each cow.
Dated the 28th July 1892.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Milking Appliances.
We, JAMES FLEMING STRUTHERS, Commercial Traveller, Strathclyde Works,
Carluke, and JOHN WEIR, Engineer, Lanark, both in the County of Lanark, do
hereby declare the nature of our invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, that is to say :-
This invention has reference to and comprises new or improved constructions and
arrangements and combinations of the parts of appliances for milking cows, goats,
and like animals, and which will be more convenient and efficient than the
appliances heretofore in use for this purpose.
And in order that our said invention and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood, we have hereunto
appended an explanatory sheet of drawings in which the same reference letters are
used to indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown.
Figures 1 and 2 are an elevation and plan view respectively of an air pump and
fittings, carrying frame, and air reservoir, as arranged in accordance with our
improvements.
Figure 3 is a perspective clevation showing the arrangement of milk vessel and
pipe connections to the cows.
Figures 4 to 7 show sectional elevations of two modified arrangements of teat
milking cups and their pressing organs. And
Figure 8 is a sectional elevation of our plug or cock for producing an intermittent
or alternating vacuum in the annular chambers of the teat cups.
Referring to these drawings:-The improvements consist all as follows:-An
open four legged or standard frame A, would be made to carry the vacuum
producing mechanism, and would have recessed bearings at A', or overhung lugs or
projections near the lower ends of the legs for inserting the axles of rollers A, for
portably moving the frame A about, but these rollers can be easily withdrawn and
the frame bolted down to a floor or other fixed foundation, through projecting
flanges on the opposite sides of the leg standards. A double acting air pump B, is
fitted on the upper horizontal table A of this frame A, having its reciprocating
piston or plunger rod B₁ passed out through a stuffing box in the cylinder B, and a
guide B, and jointed to the one end of a connecting rod B2, the other end of
which is jointed to the crank C', of a crank shaft C, carried in bearings on the
frame A. This crank shaft C, C₁, would be rotated to actuate the piston of the
air pump by a pulley or fly-wheel B³, rotated by a band from any adjacent prime
moving shaft. Or the piston rod 13, of the air pump might be actuated direct
from a small motor erected on the framing. The cylinder B, of the air pump
would be fitted with duplex branches b, and valves at each end, the one set of
branches b, b, being connected to the suction vacuum pipes a, a, and the other
set ',, leading or exhausting the air to the atmosphere at each reciprocation of
the piston from opposite ends of the cylinder B. The suction pipes a, a, from the
opposite end of the pump cylinder B, would be jointed to one main pipe a' leading
to a main vacuum tank or cylindrical vessel «², placed on a table or beams A, at
the lower part of the frame A, and fitted with a vacuum gauge, and dead weight
vacuum safety valve opening inwardly and screwed into the under side of vacuum.
tank. A continuous vacuuin of any desired degree would thus be produced and
maintained in this main tank or reservoir a at each stroke of the piston of the
punip from opposite ends; and a pipe connection all would be taken from this
tank a², through the byre or building where the cows are to be milked, preferably
carried from the rafters overhead, and having branch pipes a³ leading down at
intervals apart opposite each cow or pair of cows, as shown in Figure 3, and,
connected by a nozzle and vacuum shut off plug valve at c" to a portable close

page_text: milk receiving pail or vessel e so as to produce a continuous vacuum therein as long
as the portable plug valve c remains in its seat in the vessel c. Flexible short
pipes or tubes c, preferably fitted with a glass tube to enable the attendant to see
when the milk ceases to flow, would lead from this milk vessel e and have branches c
leading to the lower end of the teat cups D made to enclose each of the four teats
of a cow, and so by the continuous vacuum within the vessel e draw away the milk
through the flexible tubes c², c', to the milk receiving vessel c.
As shown in Figures 4 to 7, the teat receiving cups would each consist of an
outer shell D, of tin or other metal or rigid substance, and an inner lining of rubber
or other flexible substance d. jointed to the outer rigid shell D at top and bottom
by passing over a bead and being tied or secured by wire or other fastenings at
di, d. An annular air space D is thus formed between the outer shell D and the
inner flexible tube d in which is produced an alternating or intermittent vacuum as
hereinafter described. The bottom D' of each teat receiving cup D would be
formed of rubber or other flexible material and have a milk delivery branch or
orifice D³, leading from it; while a projecting flap or other rigid valve D² would
be fitted above the flexible bottom D over the branch D³. When the cup D is
applied to a teat the flexible bottom D is pressed upwards by the finger of the
attendant and the suction action of the vacuum passes into the central chamber of
the teat cup and draws and distends upwards the flexible bottom D', as shown in
Figures 4, 5, and 7, which has the effect of keeping the rigid valve D2 open, but
when the cup D is removed or accidentally drops off from the teat, the valve D
will automatically fall down and close the branch D³, as shown in this position in
Figure 6, which also shows the inner lining d in its normal position, and thus shuts
off connection with the milk vessel c. The
cup D
may be formed with one annular
air chamber D. Or as shown in Figures 4 and 5, it may be made with two air
spaces D, D" by having one lateral flexible diaphragm d, or have two
diaphragms d, and form three air spaces D' D", D, as shown in Figures 6 and 7.
By this construction the inner lining d would by the alternating action and pressure
of air admitted to the chamber D, first press the teat above the diaphragms d²,
until it expanded sufficiently to open a small hole in the diaphragm d², when the
air would be admitted to the second chamber D" aud press the lining & in it
against the teat; in the three chambered arrangement, shown in Figures 7, no
small hole d³ need be formed in the lower diaphragm. This would create a
descending or downward squeezing or pressing action on the teat, or as it is called,
when done by the hand "stripping," and assist the milk to flow into the inner
central lower vacuum chamber of the cup D. In applying the teat cup to cows
with short teats, a protecting ferrule would preferably be inserted near the lower
part of teat cup to prevent the lining d pressing under the nipple of the teat.
The alternating or intermittent vacuum is produced in the annular space D' or D¹¹,
of each teat cup D; so as to produce the intermittent pressure of the annular
rubber diaphragm d on teat to counteract the influence of the vacuum on the blood
circulation, to prevent the teat from swelling, and assist in withdrawing the milk.
This intermittent pressure is effected by having flexible branch tuhese connected
to branches d' leading to the annular space Dot teat cup D, from flexible pipes el
suspended opposite each cow or pair of cows, as shown in Figure 3, from main
pipes e, erected overhead in the by re alongside of the continuous vacuum pipes a",
and these main pipes e, would lead from the branch E", of the chamber E¹ of a
rotating or moving plug or cock E, shown in Figure 8, preferably fitted on the
Irame A carrying the air pump, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and where the
alternating air and vacuum pressure is produced. The chamber E¹ of this rotating
plug E would have a branches leading into it from the continuous vacuum main
tank a, and another branch e would lead from it opposite to the tank or vacuum
branch, to the atmosphere. The plug E is formed of a cylindrical, preferably
tapering shape, and has a hole bored in it or a part cut away out of it at E', which
alternately as it is turned comes opposite the branches ee to vacuum tank, and
atmosphere, and with a continuation tube or branch opening E at right angles

page_text: through its centre to the chamber E' and branch E", and main pipe e leading to
the overhead alternating vacuum pipes el, in byre. As this plug E is rotated the
orifice E in plug is alternately open to the branch pipe e³ from vacuum tank a
and to the branch e leading to atmosphere, and so an alternating or intermittent.
vacuum is produced in the pipes e, el, e, leading to the air spaces D' D¹¹ of teat
cup D, to produce the action herein before described. The plug E would be held
in position within its chamber E' by a clamp F screwed round a spindle F',
pro-
jecting outside, and this spindle F of the plug E³, may be rotated by hand from a
crank handle mounted on its outer end, but preferably, as shown in Figure 8, by a
pulley F on same driven by a band from a pulley C" on the crank shaft C actuating
the air pump, as shown in Figure 2; or other equivalent mechanism may be used
for operating the plug E, such as that shown in Figure 1.
In this arrangement
Figure 1 there is shown an alternative mode of actuating the plug E and which
consists in giving it an oscillatory segmental motion say about a third turn round,
as dotted in Figure 1 instead of a complete rotation as would be the case with the
arrangement shown in Figure 8. This would be effected by coupling a lever
the spindle F, and attaching s.id lever to the one end of a link or connecting
rod, the other end of this rod being attached to a stud or lever / projecting
from the crank end of the connecting rod B² of the pump, so as to transmit through
these rod and lever connections an oscillatory to and fro motion to the plug E, so
that its port E shall be alternately opened and closed to the branches e³, and 4,
Figure 8, leading to the vacuum tank a² and atmosphere respectively. Instead of
one rotating plug E and chamber E', being used to produce an alternating vacuum
for all the pipe connections of the byre separate plugs and chambers may be used
for each cow or a set of cows, and be operated from an overhead crank shaft in the
byre.
to
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
First. The construction or arrangement and combination of the parts of milking
appliances consisting of an air pump and air reservoir carried on a framing, and
vacuum pipe connections to milk vessel and teat cups, and alternating vacuum and
air pipes from producer to pulsating chambers in teat cups, substantially as herein
described in reference to and by way of application shown in the accompanying
drawings.
Second. In milking appliances, the construction and use of teat cups formed
with two or a multiple number of air chambers to produce a descending squeezing
or "stripping" action on the teat, substantially as herein described.
Third. In milking appliances, the construction and use of teat cups with a valve
at their lower end which automatically closes and shuts off the vacuum when the
cups drop from the teats, substantially as herein described in reference to and shown
in the accompanying drawings.
Fourth. In milking appliances the use in combination with the teat cups, of a
cock with a rotating or oscillating plug to alternately place the annular chambers
of teat cup in communication with a vacuum and air pressure respectively,
substantially as herein described in reference to and by way of application shown
in the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 25th April 1893
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.