Improvements in Teat Cups for Suction Milking Apparatus.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Teat Cups for Suction Milking Apparatus.
We, WILLIAM HENRY LAWRENCE, of 102, Kenmure Street, Pollokshields, in the
County of Glasgow, North Britain, Engineer, and ROBERT KENNEDY, of 109, South
Portland Street, in the same county, Dairyman, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows, that is to say :-
This invention relates to suction milking apparatus in which pulsation or inter-
mittent variation of the degree of suction is produced by any suitable known.
means; and it comprises an improved construction of teat cup in which an.
advantageous action on the teat is derived from the pulsating action. The invention
also comprises an improved valve at the bottom of the teat cup.
The improved teat cup consists of a suitably shaped shell or cup of metal or
other suitable rigid material which is provided with an external covering of rubber
or other impermeable flexible material. The rigid shell is made with, one, two, or
more lateral openings, which are covered by the external flexible covering. When
the greater degree of suction is acting within the teat cup the atmospheric pressure-
acting on the outside of the flexible covering presses it inwards through the openings
in the inner rigid shell, making it press the sides of the cow's teat and thereby render
the suction more effective. The action is gentle and discontinuous or intermittently
varying, which is advantageous. Instead of the flexible covering bearing directly on
the teat through the openings in the rigid shell, strips or pieces or a complete inner
lining may be interposed within the rigid shell.
At the hottom of the teat cup there is an opening which is closed excepting when
the teat cup is in action, by a valve on the upper end of a tube to the lower end of
which the flexible pipe communicating with the suction apparatus is attached. The
tube has fixed to it a disk which is connected to the bottom of the teat cup by a
flexible band in a manner to enclose a space or chamber. Within the chamber a
helical spring tends to press the disk away from the teat cup and to close the valve.
When the teat cup is applied to a teat the tube with the disk is pressed upwards by
hand, which action opens the valve; and then if the suction is acting, it will operate.
in the cup and in the chamber so that atmospheric pressure on the disk will keep the
valve open. The milk will then pass the valve and enter the tube through holes inade
for the purpose in the tube. On atmospheric pressure having access to the interior..
of the cup the valve will be at once closed by the spring.
Dated this Thirtieth day of April 1896.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicants' Agent.

page_text: Improvements in Teat Cups for Suction Milking Apparatus.
We, WILLIAM HENRY LAWRENCE, of 102, Kenmure Street, Pollokshields, im
the County of Glasgow, North Britain, Engineer, and ROBERT KENNEDY, of
109, South Portland Street, in the same county, Dairyman, 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, that is
to say :-
This invention relates to suction milking apparatus in which pulsation or inter-
mittent variation of the degree of suction is produced by any suitable known
means; and it comprises an improved construction of teat cup in which an
advantageous action on the teat is derived from the pulsating action. The invention
also comprises an improved valve at the bottom of the teat cup.
And in order that the said invention and the manner of performing the same may
be properly understood we hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings to be
hereinafter referred to and showing the improved teat cup.
Figures, 1, and 2, on the drawings are, respectively, a plan, and an elevation of the
improved teat cup.
Figure, 3, is a sectional elevation as at right angles to Figure, 2.
Figures, 4, and 5, are, respectively, a horizontal section, and a sectional elevation
corresponding to Figures, 1, and, 2.
Figures, 6, to 10, are views of details to be hereinafter more particularly
referred to.
In these drawings the same reference letters are used to mark the same or like parts
wherever they are repeated.
The improved teat cup consists of a shell or cup, A, of metal or other suitable rigid
material shaped, as shown in Figures, 1, to 5, so as to be circular at the bottom,
whilst proceeding upwards two of the sides are slightly elongated the other two being
rounded and the opening at the top being also circular. This rigid shell, A, is
provided with an external covering of rubber, B, or other impermeable flexible
material; and it is made with two lateral openings, C, D, which are covered by the
external flexible covering, B. Inside of the bottom of the rigid shell, A, there is held
a circular piece, E, of metal shown separately in Figures, 6, and 7, which are
respectively, a plan, and an elevation. This piece, E, carries by flexible stems, F,
two metal diaphragms, G, H, extending up opposite the two lateral openings, C, D,
in the rigid shell, A. The piece, E, has also extending upwards from it two spring
supports, J, K, between which is inserted a complete inner lining, L, of rubber or
other impermeable flexible material, shown separately in Figures, 8, 9, and 10, which
are, respectively, a plan, an elevation and an inverted plan. As will be seen from
these figures the inner lining, L, is simply a piece of circular tubing at two diametri-
cally opposite sides of which there are grooves, M, N, formed for the spring
supports, J, K. When the greater degree of suction is acting within the teat cup the
atmospheric pressure acting on the outside of the flexible covering, B, presses it
inwards through the openings, C, D, in the rigid shell, A, making it press against the
metal diaphragms, G, H, which in their turn press against the complete inner lining, L,
and make this lining press the sides of the cow's teat and thereby render the suction
more effective. The action is gentle and discontinuous or intermittently varying,
which is advantageous. Instead of a complete inner lining, L, strips or pieces only
of rubber or other impermeable flexible material may be used.
At the bottom of the teat cup there is an opening which is closed excepting when
the teat cup is in action, by a valve, P, (Figure, 5,) on the upper end of a tube, Q,
to the lower end of which the flexible pipe (not shown) communicating with the

page_text: suction apparatus is attached. The tube, Q, has fixed to it a disk, R, which is
connected to the bottom of the teat cup by a flexible band, S, in a manner to enclose
a space or chamber, T. Within the chamber, T, a helical spring, U, tends to press
the disk, R, away from the teat cup and to close the valve, P. When the teat cup.
is applied to a teat the tube, Q, with the disk, R, is pressed upwards by hand, which
action opens the valve, P, and then if the suction is acting in the cup, the atmospheric
pressure acting on the disk, R, will keep the valve, P, open. The milk will then
pass the valve, P, and enter the tube, Q, through holes, W, made for the purpose in
the tube. On atmospheric pressure having access to the interior of the cup the-
valve, P, will be at once closed by the spring, U.
With the hereinbefore described combination of parts the action of the improved
teat cup is as follows:-When the suction within the cup is at or near its maximum
atmospheric pressure acting externally causes the metal diaphragms or blades, G, H,
to bear on opposite sides of the cow's teat and to compress the part of the teat near
the neck into an approximately flat form, and the suction draws the milk from the
lower part of the teat. And then as from the pulsating action the suction next
diminishes, the blades, G, H, spring outwards and the rubber tube or lining, L, by its
elasticity aided by the reaction of the spring supports, J, K, resumes its circular or
nearly circular form. and milk passes from the udder into the teat. The compressing
of the teat by the blades, G, H, as described has the important advantage of preventing
the suction from acting injuriously on the udder and neck of the teat.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The improved teat cup comprising a rigid shell, having a flexible covering, and
made with openings on opposite sides through which openings atmospheric pressure-
can act on spring diaphragms or blades which bear on a lining tube the parts being
constructed arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The combination with a teat cup of a valve (P) constructed and operating
substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this Twenty-ninth day of January 1897.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicants' Agent.