An Improved Milking Machine.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Feb., 1899-Accepted, 22nd July, 1899
An Improved Milking Machine.
We, GEORG SIEMSGLÜSS, of 17, Ruterswordstrasse, Hanover, Merchant, and
GEORG DASEKING, of 179, Allee Chaussee, Hanover, Manufacturer, both 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:-
This invention relates to an improved milking machine having for its object
the more effective milking of cows, on altogether new lines.
Hitherto milking machines have been constructed upon the assumption that
milking is a purely mechanical process and they have been made accordingly to
either press the milk out or suck it out. Now the fact that physiological stimula-
tion ci-the stimulation of the nerves, is essential to the effective milking of a
cow has been hitherto overlooked.
The milk is formed in microscopically small vesicles, of which groups from
three to five in number, are arranged around an open duct. These ducts open
into larger ducts, which all empty themselves into the so-called milk-bag. From
the milk-bag there is an outlet duct which is kept closed by flat constricting
muscles.
It has been held hitherto that the milk collects in the milk bag in consequence
of gravitation, and that only the resistance which the constricting muscles of the
outlet duct offer to the flow of milk has to be overcome. But this is not so. The
milk does not collect in the milk-bag from the numerous side ducts in consequence
of gravitation.. This is indeed impossible, since the extreme branches of the duct
system have openings in the gland which are smaller than the transverse section
of a horse hair. In these narrow ducts capillary attraction and friction are more
powerful than gravitation. Accordingly it is only the milk which is in the pro-
portionately rather large ducts which flows into the milk-bag by gravitation, while,
on the other hand, the larger quantity which is contained in the numerous minute
ducts cannot be brought down by means of gravitation.
In order to extract the milk from the minute ducts and make it pass into the
larger ducts nerve stimulation must be applied, which has the effect of compressing
the minute ducts, and thus the milk is squeezed out from them. The nerves
which are called into action for this purpose are the sexual nerves, and, if it is
possible to excite these nerves to a high degree, then the stimulation, in the case
of a cow with not too strong constricting muscles, is so great that not only is the
milk from all the ducts pressed into the milk-bag, but an effect is produced upon
the gland which is stronger than the muscles which constrict the outlet duct of
the milk-bag, so that the milk spirts out.
It follows therefore from these considerations that a cow must be put under the
influence of sensual stimulation before she will yield the whole of the milk con-
tained in the gland. It must now be observed that in the majority of cases this
sensual stimulation is produced by up-and-down friction on the teat and by gently
pressing and stroking the udder.

page_text: The present milking machine is based upon the principles just enunciated. In
it suction is only resorted to so far as is necessary to overcome the resistance of
the restricting muscles. In order to bring the milk first from the small ducts
into the larger ones and into the milk bag, the teats are moved up and down on a
stroking apparatus, whereby the udder is at the same time lightly massaged, so
that in consequence of the sensual stimulation, which is produced in a cow by
means of stroking the teat, the minute ducts are compressed, and the milk is
squeezed from these into the larger ones and from thence into the milk bag. Thus
cows yield their milk freely and spontaneously. The up-and-down stroking move-
ment of the teat, and the massaging of the udder is brought about by means of a
vacuum, and this with the assistance of a apparatus consisting of inner and outer
air-tight vessels, so arranged that by means of a system of cut-off cocks both vessels
are alternately brought into connection with the vacuum and the outer air; so
that the teat is continuously moved up and down and subjected to friction by
coming into contact with rubbers applied to it..
In the accompanying sheets of drawings the invention is practically set forth,
Fig. 1 being a complete vertical section of the milking machine, Fig. 2 a sectional
view of the air-tight vessels showing a modified form of rubber, Figs. 3, 4, 5,
6, and 7 sectional views of the three-way cut-off cocks employed in the working of
the apparatus, and Fig. 8 showing the means for suspending and adjusting the
apparatus on a cow's back. Figs. 9 and 10 show modified forms of the cut-off
cocks.
The apparatus C consists of an inner air-tight vessel c¹, and an outer air-tight
vessel or receptacle m, the latter carrying the former as shown. In the inner
vessel are situated pendant rollers f, or stationary india-rubber mounts f¹, Fig. 2,
or some similar flexible contrivance is employed which may be easily applied to
the teate and exercise frictional influence upon it. The outer vessel m carries
a spiral spring framework 2 covered by network c³ of soft material. This is for
taking the various sized udders of cows as will be hereinafter described.
The air-controlling means on the vacuum vessel B of the receiver B' consists of
a double three-way cock g, of which the ways ', g³, are arranged at an angle
of 90° to each other. The way g is in connection with the inner vessel c¹, in
which the teat hangs, by means of the pipe D. By turning the cock g over 90°
this inner vessel el is, by means of the way g', at one time in connection with the
vacuum vessel B, and an another time with the outer air. The second way g
of the cock g is in connection with the outer vessel m by means of the pipe 0.
By turning the cock g over 90° this outer vessel m is also at one time in connection
with the vacuum vessel B and at another time with the outer air.
In
There is thus always alternately established in the one vessel a vacuum and in
the other the ordinary atmospheric pressure. Upon turning the cock g a connec-
tion is established, by means of the upper way g', between the vessel B, in
which there is a vacuum, and the inner teat vessel c¹; and a vacuum is conse-
quently produced in c¹ by which the teat e is drawn down into the same.
this position of the cock g, Figs. 1, 3, and 6, the lower way g², which is below
the upper way g', is cut off from the vacuum vessel B, so that, by means of the
pipe the outer vessel m is in connection with the atmospheric air. Through
this connection of the way g with the vacuum vessel B the teat is drawn down-
wards between the rubbers for f¹, whereupon they exercise frictional influence
upon it. If the cock is now turned over 90° the reverse process takes place,
Figs. 4 and 5. The air is now drawn out from the outer vessel M by means
of the pipe O into the vacuum vessel B. In consequence of this part of the
udder is, owing to the resulting vacuum, forced by suction tightly against the
rim of the outer vessel m, and the teat e also passes back, as the part of the
udder to which it is attached is firmly held, and the vacuum in the inner vessel c¹
is put an end to. When the teat e ascends it again rubs itself on the rubbers fi
or f. By continuing to turn the cock to and fro, the teate is also continu-
ously and instantaneously subjected to the friction of the rubbers for f¹, while,

page_text: at the same time, the udder is gently massaged by reason of the resulting up-
and-down pressure. By this means the nerve stimulus mentioned above is
induced, so that the milk flows out in a strong stream. As soon as the milk
begins to flow properly the cock is no longer turned, except when the inner
receptacle vessel e¹ is full of milk, when the latter is drawn off into the vacuum
vessel B.
The more the udder is emptied the slacker it becomes, passes more and more
into the inner "teat" vessel c¹ and fills this up completely, so that, at times,
the teat is forced against the lower wall of same, whereby the outlet opening of
the teat is closed. In order to avoid this a pipe T is branched off from the
pipe 0, which leads to the outer vessel m, which pipe is in direct connection
with the vacuum vessel B, from which it can be cut off by means of the cock s.
Moreover in the passage of the lower way g³, which establishes connection with
the outer air, a cutting-off cock is arranged.
If the nerve stimulus is now in operation and the milk flows strongly, and
milking is going on, then the cock s is opened, whereby the outer vessel space m
is put into continuous connection with the vacuum vessel B, and thus a con-
tinuous vacuum is produced in the same. The cock ris at the same time closed
so that the outer air cannot penetrate. In this way the portions of the udder
surrounding the teate are prevented from passing into the inner
"teat"
vessel c¹.
These portions of the udder are surrounded by the massage spring frame-
work as aforesaid, Between this spring and the udder a network of felt or
wadding, or other material c³, permeable by air, is laid, which has a double effect.
In the first place it prevents the udder from coming into contact with the cold
spring, and, in the second place, it ensures that the suction surface of every
udder is sufficiently large to hold the udder tight, and that the outer vessel m
is adjustable to every udder, as teats are of various sizes, and the portions of
udder surrounding the teats are of different conformations. The frequent open-
ings in the network ensure the adequate size of the suction surface. Besides the
network prevents the parts of the udder from being caught between the coils
of the spring.
An apparatus is provided with several vessels so that more than one cow can
be milked from more than one teat at the same time. Each apparatus is sus-
pended by a belt G of elastic material, which makes it possible for the apparatus
to be removed easily from one teat and transferred to another, and which further,
in consequence of its elasticity, renders possible the massaging of the udder,
mentioned above, by the apparatus, as the same can be intermittently pressed
against the udder.
The belt G is provided with a small buckle K on which there is a cord S.
This buckle K is so constructed that it can be unfastened by pulling up the
cord S, so that if the 'cord is pulled, the belt G is separated; in consequence of
which the apparatus falls away from the teat.
In Figs. 9 and 10 a modified form of the cut-off cock is shown. Here the
ways communicating with the inner and outer vessels are in one plane of the
cock g³, and consequently only one entrance is necessary to the vacuum vessel B.
The cock has two parallel bores, 1 and 2, as well as two bores at an
angle, 3 and 4. In the position, Fig. 9, the inner vessel c¹ is in connection with
the vacuum vessel B through the bore 2. The milk flows in the direction of
the arrow in way 2 through the cock into the said vessel B. On the other hand
the atmospheric air has access to the outer vessel through the angle way 3,
and it passes through the cock in the direction of the arrow.
In position,
Fig. 10, the reverse is the case. Here the outer vessel is in connection with the
vacuum vessel B by means of the way 1. The air passes from m in the direction
of the arrow to the vacuum vessel B. The angle way 2 is, on the other hand,
closed, and in this position the angle way 4 is open, by means of which the
outer air passes into the inner vessel c¹.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is ;-
First. In a milking machine the provision of two air-tight inner and outer
vessels suspended one upon the other, the one and lower vessel for the reception of
the teat being provided with rubbing or friction rolling or stationary surfaces,
and the other and upper vessel for the reception of the udder being provided
with a spring seating covered with network; both vessels being put alternately
in connection with a vacuum vessel and atmospheric air, substantially as and
for the purpose described and set forth.
Second. In a milking machine characterised by the use of two air-tight inner
and outer vessels, the means for alternately producing a vacuum and admitting
atmospheric air into the vessels, substantially as described and set forth.
Third. In a milking machine, the combination of an outer air-tight vessel m
for receiving the udder, an inner air-tight vessel suspended upon the outer
one, friction rollers or rubbers f situated within the latter for exciting the
teat e, air pipes D, O, communicating respectively with the inner and outer
vessels, cut-off three-way cock g for controlling said pipes, vacuum vessel B
communicating with said pipes through cock g, and receiver B¹, substantially
as and for the purpose described and set forth.
Fourth. In a milking machine, providing the outer vessel m which receives
the udder with a spring cushion provided with an air permeable coating c³,
to form a sufficiently large suction surface on the udder, substantially as described
and set forth.
Fifth. In a milking machine characterised by the use of two inner and outer
air-tight vessels c¹, m, the use of a three-way cock g having ways g¹, g², at an
angle of 90° to each other, substantially as described and set forth in Figs 1, 3,
4, 5, 6, and 7.
Sixth. In a milking machine characterised by the use of inner and outer air-
tight vessels c¹, m, the particular construction of cut-off cock as shown in
Figs. 9 and 10.
Seventh. The means for suspending the milking machine as set forth in
Fig. 8.
Eighth. The general arrangement, construction, and fitting of the different
parts, substantially as described and set forth.
Dated this 3rd day of February 1899
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
11, Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
Also of Liverpool, London, and Manchester,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.