DK147721B

DK147721B - Milk indicator

Info

Publication number: DK147721B
Application number: DK22280A
Authority: DK
Inventors: Svend Aage Christensen
Original assignee: Christensen & Co As S A
Priority date: 1980-01-18
Filing date: 1980-01-18
Publication date: 1984-11-26
Also published as: DK22280A; DK147721C

Description

i 147721and 147721

Opfindelsen angår en mælke- eller mælkestrømsindikator til iværksættelse af automatisk aftagning af et malkeanlægs malkeorgan fra yveret via en magnetventil, som er forbundet med malkeanlæggets vakuumsystem, hvilken indikator omfatter en 5 gennemstrømningsbeholder med et første og et andet kontaktorgan, som hver er elektrisk forbundet med magnetventilen, og som er således placeret, at tilstedeværelsen af mælk imellem disse kontaktorganer sikrer opretholdelsen af en elektrisk strøm i det kredsløb, der styrer magnetventilen.The invention relates to a milk or milk flow indicator for initiating automatic removal of a milking device of a milking parlor from the udder via a solenoid valve, which is connected to the vacuum system of the milking parlor, which indicator comprises a flow container with a first and a second contact means electrically connected to the solenoid valve. , and which are positioned so that the presence of milk between these contact means ensures the maintenance of an electric current in the circuit which controls the solenoid valve.

10 Der kendes mælkeindikatorer af den ovenfor nævnte type, som består af en gennemstrømningsbeholder, hvis bund er fremstillet i stål eller lignende elektrisk ledende materiale, som udgør det første kontaktorgan, og hvor der i bundstykket er anbragt en herfra isoleret kontaktskrue, sop udgør det andet kontaktorgan, er så-15 ledes anbragt, at blot enkelte mælkedråber i kamærets bund vil kunne opretholde den elektriske forbindelse. I bundstykket er der endvidere en mindre udstrømningsåbning for mælken. Beholderen har endvidere en anden større udstrømningsåbning, som muliggør udstrømning af større mængder af mælk, når mælkeniveauet inden i beholde-20 ren overstiger et vist niveau. Når omtrent al mælken i en sådan indikator er forsvundet ud af beholderen, afbrydes den elektriske forbindelse til magnetventilen, som står i forbindelse med malkeanlæggets vakuumledning, hvorved der via magnetventilen tilsættes vakuum til en aftagercylinder med et 25 stempel, som ved snoretræk er forbundet med forgreningsrørets (malkecentralens) vakuumaflukningsmekanisme, eller til en på forgreningsrøret anbragt ventil, som kan tilsætte forgreningsrøret tilstrækkeligt meget atmosfærisk luft, til at forgreningsrørets lukkemekanisme træder i funktion, hvorefter mal-30 keorganet løsner sig fra yveret og derefter med snoretrækket fra aftagercylinderen føres væk fra dette.Milk indicators of the above-mentioned type are known, which consist of a flow-through container, the bottom of which is made of steel or similar electrically conductive material, which constitutes the first contact member, and where a contact screw isolated therefrom is placed in the base, the second constituent contact means, are arranged in such a way that only a few drops of milk in the bottom of the chamber will be able to maintain the electrical connection. In the bottom piece there is also a smaller outflow opening for the milk. The container further has another larger outflow opening, which allows outflow of larger amounts of milk when the milk level inside the container exceeds a certain level. When almost all the milk in such an indicator has disappeared from the container, the electrical connection to the solenoid valve, which is connected to the vacuum line of the milking system, is disconnected, whereby vacuum is added via the solenoid valve to a take-off cylinder with 25 pistons connected to the manifold. the vacuum drainage mechanism of the (milking center), or to a valve arranged on the manifold, which can add sufficient atmospheric air to the manifold for the branching mechanism to come into operation, after which the milking means detaches from the udder and then with the drawbar from the take-off cylinder.

Magnetventilen er indrettet til at styre vakuumtilførselen til aftagercylinderen og med åbenstående ventil da at holde vakuumorganet i ophejst stilling. Når malkeorganet skal an-35 bringes på koens yver, sluttes den elektriske strøm til mag- 2 147721 netventilen, og denne lukker da for vakuumet til aftagercylinderen, og malkeorganet kan nu føres hen under yveret og påsættes . Strømtilslutningskontakten til magnetventilen er forsynet med en forsinkningsmekanisme med et tidsinterval, der er 5 tilstrækkeligt stort til, at koen kan nå at aflevere så meget mælk, at indikatoren kan træde i funktion og overtage strømtilførselen til magnetventilen og derved holde denne lukket.The solenoid valve is arranged to control the vacuum supply to the take-off cylinder and with the valve open to keep the vacuum means in the raised position. When the milking means is to be placed on the cow's udder, the electric current is connected to the solenoid valve, and this then closes the vacuum to the take-off cylinder, and the milking means can now be passed under the udder and applied. The power connection switch for the solenoid valve is provided with a delay mechanism with a time interval sufficiently large for the cow to be able to deliver so much milk that the indicator can come into operation and take over the power supply to the solenoid valve and thereby keep it closed.

For alle kendte mælkestrømsindikatorer gælder det endvidere, at de skal være monteret i en fast position, hvor deres bund-10 stykke befinder sig i et vandret plan. Årsagen hertil er især, at mælkens udløb sker fra indikatorens bundstykke - enten i centrum af denne eller i periferien - og at bundstykket eller en del af dette danner et afgrænset kammer, hvorfra mælken kun kan strømme bort gennem en mindre åbning svarende til en 15 mælkestrøm på ca. 200 g/min., medens en større mælkestrøm vil forlade kammeret via overløbet og herved forlade indikatoren gennem den større udstrømningsåbning sammen med den fra malkesættet kommende luftmængde. En svag hældning af bundstykket i det nævnte kammer vil enten bevirke, at mælken ikke kan for-20 lade kammeret, som følge af, at en del af bundstykket kommer til at befinde sig under udløbet, eller at mælken forlader kammeret for hurtigt, og at kammeret ikke fyldes helt op, da det ene kontaktorgan hæves i forhold til overløbet, så at mælken strømmer ud igennem den større udstrømningsåbning, uden at 25 komme i forbindelse med det ene kontaktorgan. I begge tilfælde opnås en kraftig variation i registreringen af mælkestrømmen og en heraf følgende usikkerhed for, hvornår indikatoren giver signal til,at malkesættet fjernes fra koens yver.For all known milk flow indicators, it also applies that they must be mounted in a fixed position, where their bottom piece is in a horizontal plane. The reason for this is in particular that the milk flows out from the bottom of the indicator - either in the center of it or in the periphery - and that the bottom or part of it forms a delimited chamber, from which the milk can only flow away through a smaller opening corresponding to a milk flow of approx. 200 g / min., While a larger milk flow will leave the chamber via the overflow and thereby leave the indicator through the larger outflow opening together with the air volume coming from the milking set. A slight inclination of the bottom piece in said chamber will either mean that the milk cannot leave the chamber, due to a part of the bottom piece being located below the outlet, or that the milk leaves the chamber too quickly, and that the chamber is not completely filled, as one contact means is raised relative to the overflow, so that the milk flows out through the larger outflow opening, without coming into contact with one contact means. In both cases there is a strong variation in the registration of the milk flow and a consequent uncertainty as to when the indicator signals that the milking set is being removed from the cow's udder.

Disse uheldige virkninger af fejlstillinger ved de ovenfor 30 nævnte indikatorer kan i det tilfælde, hvor det drejer sig om brugen af indikatorer i transportable aftagere i almindelige båsestalde, hvor malkesættet flyttes fra malkeplads til malkeplads, kun forhindres ved, at der ved hver malkeplads monteres et beslag, der kan holde indikatoren i korrekt stil-35 ling. Dette kræver imidlertid en kostbar montering og gør 147721 3 samtidigt malkearbejdet unødigt besværligt.These adverse effects of misalignment of the above-mentioned indicators can, in the case of the use of indicators in transportable buyers in ordinary stalls, where the milking set is moved from milking parlor to milking parlor, only be prevented by fitting at each milking parlor a brackets that can hold the indicator in the correct position. However, this requires an expensive assembly and at the same time makes the milking work unnecessarily cumbersome.

Mælkeindikatoren ifølge opfindelsen er ejendommelig ved, at det første kontaktorgan har form af en kop eller skål med en bueformet bund og en heri tildannet udstrømningsåbning for 5 mælken, at det andet kontaktorgan er anbragt i bunden af skålen, men isoleret for direkte elektrisk forbindelse med denne, og at det kop- eller skålformede kontaktorgan er frit placeret inden i gennemstrømningsbeholderen under dennes indstrømningsåbning.The milk indicator according to the invention is characterized in that the first contact means is in the form of a cup or bowl with an arcuate bottom and an outflow opening for the milk formed therein, that the second contact means is arranged in the bottom of the bowl, but insulated for direct electrical connection therewith. , and that the cup- or cup-shaped contact means is freely located inside the flow-through container below its inflow opening.

10 Herved opnås en mælkeindikator, som ikke kræver nogen større nøjagtighed med hensyn til korrekt stilling, hvilket især skyldes, at mælken strømmer direkte fra gennemstrømningsbeholderens indstrømningsåbning ned i den kopformede anden elektrode, og at denne anden elektrode har en bueformet bund, så at kun en 15 meget skæv placering af indikatoren vil medføre, at det andet kontaktorgan ikke kommer i berøring med mælken. Det at det kopformede kontaktorgan er frit placeret inden i gennemstrømningsbeholderen sikrer også, at hele den øvre kant på det kopformede kontaktorgan kan fungere som overløb ved større gen-20 nemstrømning,/og vil sammen med en passende stor arealmæssig lys ning imellem det kopformede kontaktorgan og den nederste del af gennemstrømningsbeholderen samtidigt hindre, at selv ret betydelige luftindslip i mælkestrømmen ikke får følelig indflydelse på mælken i følerkammeret, dvs. det kammer, der 25 dannes af det kopformede kontaktorgan, og hvori affølingen af mælkestrømmen foregår.This results in a milk indicator which does not require any greater accuracy with respect to the correct position, which is mainly due to the fact that the milk flows directly from the inflow opening of the flow container down into the cup-shaped second electrode and that this second electrode has an arcuate bottom so that only a 15 very skewed positioning of the indicator will cause the second contact means not to come into contact with the milk. The fact that the cup-shaped contact member is freely located inside the flow-through container also ensures that the entire upper edge of the cup-shaped contact member can function as an overflow at greater flow, / and will together with a suitably large area light between the cup-shaped contact member and the lower part of the flow-container at the same time prevents even quite significant air inlets in the milk flow from having a sensible influence on the milk in the sensor chamber, ie. the chamber formed by the cup-shaped contact means, in which the sensing of the milk flow takes place.

Særligt hensigtsmæssigt kan ifølge opfindelsen det andet kontaktorgan være centralt placeret i mælkeudstrømningsåbningen i bunden af det første kontaktorgan.Particularly suitably, according to the invention, the second contact means can be centrally located in the milk outflow opening at the bottom of the first contact means.

30 Endvidere kan ifølge opfindelsen det andet kontaktorgan være således tildannet, at det rager et stykke ind i det kopformede første kontaktorgan, og at den uisolerede del af det andet kontaktorgan befinder sig ved den inderste ende 4 147721 af den indadragende del. Herved opnås en særligt sikkert virkende indikator, som undgår en fejlagtig registrering af tilstedeværelsen af mælk som følge af blot noget i følerkammeret tilbageværende skum, hvilket især skyldes, at kun den inder-5 ste ende af den indadragende del af det andet kontaktorgan er uisoleret, hvorved arealet af den del af det andet kontaktor-_ gan, der er i elektrisk forbindelse med skummet, bliver forholdsvis lille.Furthermore, according to the invention, the second contact means can be shaped such that it projects a bit into the cup-shaped first contact means, and that the uninsulated part of the second contact means is located at the innermost end of the inwardly projecting part. This provides a particularly safe-acting indicator which avoids an erroneous detection of the presence of milk due to only some foam remaining in the sensor chamber, which is mainly due to the fact that only the inner end of the inwardly projecting part of the second contact means is uninsulated. whereby the area of the part of the second contactor which is in electrical connection with the foam becomes relatively small.

Særligt hensigtsmæssigt kan i denne forbindelse ifølge opfin-10 delsen det andet kontaktorgan være tildannet af en ca. 3 mm tyk tråd med en omgivende muffeformet isolering, som blotlægger ca. 0,5 mm af den inderste ende af tråden.Particularly expediently in this connection, according to the invention, the second contact means can be formed by an approx. 3 mm thick wire with a surrounding sleeve-shaped insulation, which exposes approx. 0.5 mm of the inner end of the thread.

En særlig enkel, men effektivt virkende konstruktion, kan ifølge opfindelsen være ejendommelig ved, at det kopformede 15 kontaktorgan har rørformet side og halvkugleformet bund, og at den indre uisolerede ende af det andet kontaktorgan befinder sig i centrum af den halvkugleformede bunds krumningsradius . Herved opnås, at selv en ret stor hældning af indikatoren ikke får mærkbar indflydelse på mælkens udløb fra 20 følerkammeret, hvorved indikatoren bevarer sin sikre og ensartede registrering af mælkestrømmen.According to the invention, a particularly simple but effective construction can be characterized in that the cup-shaped contact member has a tubular side and a hemispherical bottom, and that the inner uninsulated end of the second contact member is located in the center of the radius of curvature of the hemispherical bottom. Hereby it is achieved that even a rather large inclination of the indicator does not have a noticeable influence on the outlet of the milk from the sensor chamber, whereby the indicator maintains its safe and uniform registration of the milk flow.

I en mælkeindikator, hvor der i forbindelsen imellem mælke-transportledningen og malkeorganets forgreningsrør, er indskudt en vakuumdrevet ventil, som styres af magnetventilen 25 og er indrettet til at lukke for vakuum fra mælketransport-ledningen til fordelerstykket, kan ifølge opfindelsen endvidere ventilen være indrettet til samvirken med gennemstrøm-ningdbeholderens indstrømningsåbning og have et ventillegeme, som bæres og opereres af en stempelstang, som strækker sig 30 ud igennem indstrømningsåbningen, og det kopformede første kontaktorgan være således placeret under indstrømningsåbningen, at ventillegemet i åbentstående stilling rager helt eller delvis ned i det første kontaktorgans indre. Herved opnås en konstruktion, som har vist sig også under hældning 5 14772 1 at lede selv små mælkemængder direkte ned i følerkammeret som følge af, at mælken har tendens til at strømme langs stempelstangen og rundt omkring ventillegemet og derfra direkte ned i føLer kamme ret fra dettes ned imod følerkammeret vendende side.In a milk indicator, where in the connection between the milk transport line and the branch pipe of the milking means, a vacuum-driven valve is inserted, which is controlled by the solenoid valve 25 and is arranged to close for vacuum from the milk transport line to the distributor piece, according to the invention cooperating with the inflow opening of the flow-through container and having a valve body carried and operated by a piston rod extending 30 through the inflow opening, and the cup-shaped first contact means being located below the inflow opening so that the valve body in open position partially protrudes first contact organ interior. This results in a construction which has also been found during inclination to direct even small amounts of milk directly down into the sensor chamber due to the fact that the milk tends to flow along the piston rod and around the valve body and from there directly down into the sensor chamber straight from its down towards the sensor chamber facing side.

5 Samtidigt virker ventillegemet som en effektiv hindring imod, at indstrømmende luft blæses ned i følerkammeret og fejlagtigt blotlægger det andet kontaktorgan og dermed aktiverer magnetventilen til at fjerne malkeorganet før tiden.At the same time, the valve body acts as an effective obstacle to inflowing air into the sensor chamber and erroneously exposing the second contact means, thereby activating the solenoid valve to remove the milking means prematurely.

Opfindelsen forklares nedenfor under henvisning til tegning-10 en, hvor fig. 1 viser skematisk et malkeanlæg med en mælkeindikator ifølge opfindelsen i funktion, fig. 2 en foretrukken udførelsesform for en mælkeindikator ifølge opfindelsen, set i snit, og 15 fig. 3 en anden udførelsesform for mælkeindikatoren ifølge opfindelsen, set i snit.The invention is explained below with reference to the drawing, in which fig. 1 schematically shows a milking system with a milk indicator according to the invention in operation, fig. 2 is a sectional view of a preferred embodiment of a milk indicator according to the invention, and FIG. 3 is another sectional view of another embodiment of the milk indicator according to the invention.

Det i fig. 1 viste malkeanlæg omfatter en mælkeindikator, som er vist skematisk og forsynet med det generelle henvisningstal 1. Denne malkeindikator har en indstrømningsstuds, 20 som via en ledning 3 står i forbindelse med et forgreningsrør 4 i et malkeorgan, hvis pattekopper 5, 6, som antydet, er anbragt på yveret 7 på en ko. Mælkeindikatoren har endvidere en udstrømningsstuds 8, som via en ledning 9 er forbundet med en mælketransportledning 10 til bortledning af 25 den fra malkeorganet via forgreningsrøret 4, ledningen 3, mælkeindikatoren 1 og ledningen 9 strømmende mælk.The device shown in FIG. 1 comprises a milking indicator, which is shown schematically and provided with the general reference numeral 1. This milking indicator has an inflow connection, 20 which via a line 3 communicates with a branch pipe 4 in a milking member, the teat cups 5, 6, as indicated , is placed on the udder 7 of a cow. The milk indicator further has an outflow spout 8, which is connected via a line 9 to a milk transport line 10 for discharging the milk flowing from the milking means via the branch pipe 4, the line 3, the milk indicator 1 and the line 9.

Mælkeindikatoren 1 indgår i et elektrisk kredsløb (ikke vist), som er indrettet til at aktivere en magnetventil 11, der på ikke nærmere vist måde står i forbindelse med malkeanlæggets 30 vakuumsystem. Magnetventilen 11 står endvidere via en ledning 12 i forbindelse med en aftagercylinder 13, som har et 6 147721 stempel 14, der via en snor 15 er forbundet med forgreningsrøret 4. Magnetventilen 11 står endvidere via en ledning 16 i forbindelse med en nedenfor nærmere beskrevet i indikatoren 1 værende, vakuumdrevet ventil til aflukning af vakuuitiforbindelsen 5 til forgreningsrøret 4. Anlægget fungerer på den måde, at så længe der strømmer mælk igennem indikatoren, fastholdes den elektriske forbindelse til magnetventilen 11, således at denne ikke går i funktion, dvs. ikke tilsætter vakuum til aftager cylinderen 13 og den vakuumdrevne ventil i indikatoren.The milk indicator 1 is part of an electrical circuit (not shown), which is arranged to activate a solenoid valve 11, which in a manner not shown in more detail is connected to the vacuum system of the milking plant 30. The solenoid valve 11 is further connected via a line 12 to a take-off cylinder 13 which has a piston 14 which is connected via a cord 15 to the manifold 4. The solenoid valve 11 is further connected via a line 16 to a manifold described in more detail below. the indicator 1 being a vacuum-driven valve for closing the vacuum connection 5 to the manifold 4. The system operates in such a way that as long as milk flows through the indicator, the electrical connection to the solenoid valve 11 is maintained so that it does not operate, ie. does not add vacuum to the take-off cylinder 13 and the vacuum driven valve in the indicator.

10 Når mælkestrømmen igennem indikatoren ophører, afbrydes den elektriske strøm, og magnetventilen åbner da for vakuum til henholdsvis aftagercylinderen 13 og den vakuumdrevne ventil inden i indikatoren. Det til aftrækkercylinderen tilsatte vakuum bevirker, at stemplet 14 bevæger sig opad og via sno-15 ren 15 fjerner malkeorganet 5, 6 fra yveret, kort tid efter, at den vakuumdrevne ventil inden i indikatoren har afbrudt vakuumforbindelsen til forgreningsrøret 4 og der igennem et lille permanent luftindtag, der findes på forgreningsrøret, er indstrømmet tilstrækkelig luftmængde til, at vakuumet heri 20 vil være udlignet, så at pattekopperne langsomt slipper yveret, når aftagercylinderen fjerner malkeorganet.When the milk flow through the indicator ceases, the electric current is interrupted and the solenoid valve then opens for vacuum to the take-off cylinder 13 and the vacuum-driven valve inside the indicator, respectively. The vacuum added to the trigger cylinder causes the piston 14 to move upwards and via the cord 15 removes the milking means 5, 6 from the udder, shortly after the vacuum-driven valve inside the indicator has disconnected the vacuum connection to the manifold 4 and there through a small permanent air intake located on the manifold is inflowed with sufficient airflow that the vacuum therein will be equalized so that the teat cups slowly release the udder as the take-off cylinder removes the milking means.

Den i fig. 2 viste udførelsesform for mælkeindikatoren 1 omfatter en gennemstrømningsbeholder 17 med en indstrømningsåbning 18 tildannet i tilslutning til indstrømningsstudsen 2 25 og en udstrømningsåbning 19 tildannet i tilslutning til udstrømningsstudsen 8. Centralt inden i gennemstrømningsbeholderen 17 og aksialt under indstrømningsåbningen 18, er der ved hjælp af en bolt 20 og en møtrik 27 monteret et kop- eller skålformet, første kontaktorgan 21 af et passende elek-30 trisk ledende materiale. Dette kontaktorgans 21 indre udgør indikatorens følerkanmer 22. Bolten 20 strækker sig som vist ud igennem beholderens 17 væg og åbner herved mulighed for elektrisk tilslutning af det første kontaktorgan 21 med det nævnte elektriske kredsløb, hvori magnetventilen 11 indgår.The device shown in FIG. 2 comprises a flow container 17 with an inflow opening 18 formed in connection with the inflow spout 25 and an outflow opening 19 formed in connection with the outflow spout 8. Centrally inside the flow container 17 and axially below the inflow 20 and a nut 27 mounted a cup- or cup-shaped, first contact member 21 of a suitable electrically conductive material. The interior of this contact member 21 constitutes the sensor chambers 22 of the indicator. As shown, the bolt 20 extends through the wall of the container 17 and thereby opens up the possibility of electrical connection of the first contact member 21 with said electrical circuit, in which the solenoid valve 11 is included.

35 Det første kontaktorgan 21 har en rørformet væg 23 og en 7 147721 halvkugleforxuet bund 24. Centralt i bunden 24 er der tildannet en udstrømningsåbning 25 fra følerkammeret 22 og centralt inden i denne og koaksialt med det kopformede første kontaktorgan 21 er der anbragt et andet kontaktorgan 26. Udstrømnings-5 åbningen 25 fra følerkammeret 22 og det andet kontaktorgan 26 er således dimensioneret, at der er en passende rundtgåen-de spalte omkring det andet kontaktorgan 26.The first contact means 21 has a tubular wall 23 and a hemispherical bottom 24. Centrally in the bottom 24 an outflow opening 25 is formed from the sensor chamber 22 and centrally inside it and coaxially with the cup-shaped first contact means 21 a second contact means is arranged The outflow opening 25 from the sensor chamber 22 and the second contact member 26 is dimensioned such that there is a suitable circumferential gap around the second contact member 26.

Det andet kontaktorgan 26 er fremstillet af en tråd 30 af et passende elektrisk ledende materiale og fortrinsvis med en 10 diameter på ca. 3 mm. Denne tråd 30 er omgivet af en isolerende muffe 31, som bortset fra et mindre stykke på fortrinsvis ca. 1/2 mm ved den i følerkammeret værende inderste ende daskker hele tråden i dennes længderetning. Tråden 30 har endvidere en sådan længde, at den uisolerede indre ende befinder sig 15 ved centrummet for den halvkugleformede bunds krumningsradius.The second contact member 26 is made of a wire 30 of a suitable electrically conductive material and preferably with a diameter of approx. 3 mm. This wire 30 is surrounded by an insulating sleeve 31, which apart from a smaller piece of preferably approx. 1/2 mm at the innermost end of the sensor chamber covers the entire wire in its longitudinal direction. The wire 30 further has such a length that the uninsulated inner end is located 15 at the center of the radius of curvature of the hemispherical bottom.

Det andet kontaktorgans 26 elektrisk ledende tråd 30 er forbundet eller tildannet ud i ét med et gevindskåret stangstykke 32, der strækker sig ud igennem et hul i bunden af gennemstrømningsbeholderen 17. Ved hjælp af dette stangstykke 32 20 og en møtrik 33 er det andet kontaktorgan skruet fast til gennemstrømningsbeholderens 17 bundvæg på en sådan måde, at den isolerende muffe 31 ligger an imod bundvæggens inderside. En udadragende ende af det gevindskårne stangstykke 32 tjener til den elektriske tilslutning af det andet kontaktorgan 26 med 25 det nævnte elektriske kredsløb.The electrically conductive wire 30 of the second contact member 26 is connected or formed integrally with a threaded rod piece 32 extending through a hole in the bottom of the flow-through container 17. By means of this rod piece 32 and a nut 33 the second contact member is screwed fixed to the bottom wall of the flow-through container 17 in such a way that the insulating sleeve 31 abuts the inside of the bottom wall. A projecting end of the threaded rod piece 32 serves for the electrical connection of the second contact means 26 with said electrical circuit.

Gennemstrømningsbeholderens 17 indstrømningsåbning 18 indgår, som det fremgår af fig. 2, endvidere i den oven for nævnte vakuumdrevne ventil på en sådan måde, at dens indvendige rundt-gående kant eller rand 34 danner ventilens ventilsæde, medens 30 ventillegemet består af et på en stempelstang 35 på passende måde fastgjort gummiring 36. Denne gummiring 36 er således dimensioneret, at den både kan passere helt eller delvist ned i det kopformede kontaktorgans 21 øvre ende, når ventilen er åben, og ligge tætsluttende an imod ventilsædet 34, når ven- 8 147721 tilen er lukket. Stempelstangen 35 strækker sig som vist i fig. 2 op igennem indstrømningsåbningen 18 og er ved den øvre ende tilsluttet en på gennemstrømningsbeholderens 17 øvre ende monteret cylinder 37, hvori stempelstangen er ophængt 5 i membraner 38 og 39. Stempelstangens bevægelse styres af vakuum, der via en studs 40 tilføres cylinderens 37 øvre rum 41 via den i fig. 1 viste ledning 16 og derved ved hjælp af magnetventilen 11.The inflow opening 18 of the flow-through container 17 is included, as can be seen from fig. 2, further in the above-mentioned vacuum-driven valve in such a way that its inner circumferential edge or rim 34 forms the valve seat of the valve, while the valve body consists of a rubber ring 36 suitably fastened to a piston rod 35. This rubber ring 36 is dimensioned so that it can both pass completely or partially into the upper end of the cup-shaped contact member 21 when the valve is open, and abut tightly against the valve seat 34 when the valve is closed. The piston rod 35 extends as shown in fig. 2 up through the inflow opening 18 and is connected at the upper end to a cylinder 37 mounted on the upper end of the flow container 17, in which the piston rod is suspended 5 in membranes 38 and 39. The movement of the piston rod is controlled by vacuum which is supplied via a nozzle 40 to the upper chamber 41 via the one in fig. 1 and thereby by means of the solenoid valve 11.

Når malkeanlægget er i funktion, strømmer der mælk igennem 10 gennemstrømningsbeholderen 17 fra indstrømningsstudsen 2 og igennem indstrømningsåbningen 18. En del af mælken strømmer igennem følefkaraæret 22 og ud igennem dettes udstrømnings åbning 25 og derfra ud igennem gennemstrømningsbeholderens 17 udstrømningsåbning 19, medens en resterende del af mælken 15 strømmer ud over den øvre kant af det kopformede kontaktorgan, der virker som overløb^ og derfra uden om følerkamneret og ud af udstrømningsåbningen 19. Inden i følerkammeret sikrer tilstedeværelsen af mælk, at der kan gå en strøm fra det ene kontaktorgan til det andet, hvorved strømmen i det kredsløb, 20 der styrer magnetventilen 11, som ovenfor nævnt, opretholdes, hvorved ligeledes, som ovenfor nævnt, magnetventilen holdes lukket. Når koen er færdigmalket og mælkeniveauet inden i følerkammeret 22 er sunket ned linder den øvre ende af det andet kontaktorgans isolerende muffe 31, dvs. ned under det 25 såkaldte brydepunkt 42, afbrydes strømmen, hvorved magnetventilen som nævnt åbner og aktiverer både ventillegemet 36 til lukning eller afspærring af indstrømningsåbningen 18 og aftagercylinderen 13 til aftagning af malkeorganet fra koens yver. Følerkammeret kan være tildannet i en passende lille 30 dimension, så at selv små mængder af mælk kan opretholde strømmen i det elektriske kredsløb og derved sikre, at magnetventilen først åbner, når yveret er fuldstændigt færdigmalket. Størrelsen af den uisolerede del af det andet kontaktorgan over bryderpunktet 42, er med de angivne dimen-35 sioner dog så lille, at eventuelt tilbageværende skum i følerkammeret 22 ikke kan opretholde strømmen og derved fejl- 147721 9 agtigt holde magnetventilen 11 lukket.When the milking system is in operation, milk flows through the flow container 17 from the inflow spout 2 and through the inflow opening 18. A part of the milk flows through the sensing vessel 22 and out through its outflow opening 25 and from there out through the outflow opening 19 of the flow container 17, while a remaining part the milk 15 flows over the upper edge of the cup-shaped contact means acting as an overflow ^ and from there around the sensor chamber and out of the outflow opening 19. Inside the sensor chamber the presence of milk ensures that a flow can flow from one contact means to the other , whereby the current in the circuit 20 controlling the solenoid valve 11, as mentioned above, is maintained, whereby also, as mentioned above, the solenoid valve is kept closed. When the cow has finished milking and the milk level inside the sensor chamber 22 has sunk down, the upper end of the insulating sleeve 31 of the second contact member, i.e. below the so-called breaking point 42, the flow is interrupted, whereby the solenoid valve, as mentioned, opens and activates both the valve body 36 for closing or closing the inflow opening 18 and the removal cylinder 13 for removing the milking means from the udder of the cow. The sensor chamber can be formed in a suitably small dimension so that even small amounts of milk can maintain the flow in the electrical circuit and thereby ensure that the solenoid valve only opens when the udder is completely milked. However, with the stated dimensions, the size of the uninsulated part of the second contact means above the switching point 42 is so small that any foam remaining in the sensor chamber 22 cannot maintain the flow and thereby incorrectly keep the solenoid valve 11 closed.

Tilstedeværelsen af stempelstangen 35 og ventillegemet 36 ved indstrømningsåbningen 18 medfører, at den indstrømmende mælk har tendens til at løbe langs stempelstangen 35 og ud 5 over ventillegemet 36 og direkte ned i følerkammeret, hvorved øges sikkerheden for, at der til enhver tid strømmer mælk ned i følerkammeret, uafhængigt af, om indikatoren er anbragt i en skrå stilling. Samtidigt sikrer, som nævnt, ventillegemet 36, at selv ret betydelige luftindslip i mælkestrømmen ikke 10 får følelig indflydelse på mælken i følerkammeret og derved risikerer, at blæse mælkeniveauet ned under bryderpunktet og fejlagtigt aktivere magnetventilen.The presence of the piston rod 35 and the valve body 36 at the inflow opening 18 means that the inflowing milk tends to flow along the piston rod 35 and beyond the valve body 36 and directly down into the sensor chamber, thereby increasing the certainty that milk flows into the the sensor chamber, regardless of whether the indicator is in an inclined position. At the same time, as mentioned, the valve body 36 ensures that even quite significant air inlets in the milk flow do not have a sensible influence on the milk in the sensor chamber and thereby risk blowing the milk level below the switching point and incorrectly activating the solenoid valve.

Den i fig. 3 viste anden udførelsesform for mælkeindikatoren er fuldstændig magen til den i fig. 2 viste mælkeindikator, 15 bortset fra at udstrømningsåbningen 42 fra følerkammeret 22 er anbragt ved siden af det andet kontaktorgan 26 i bunden af det første kontaktorgan 21. Som det fremgår af tegningen er udstrømningsåbningen 42 anbragt til højre, hvilket skyldes, at indikatoren ofte på grund af de tilstedeværende led-20 ninger vil have tendens til at hælde over imod venstre på tegningen. Denne udførelsesform er iøvrigt også lettere at rengøre.The device shown in FIG. 3, the second embodiment of the milk indicator is completely similar to the one shown in fig. 2, except that the outflow opening 42 from the sensor chamber 22 is located next to the second contact means 26 in the bottom of the first contact means 21. As can be seen from the drawing, the outflow opening 42 is located on the right, which is due to the indicator often of the lines present will tend to tilt towards the left in the drawing. Incidentally, this embodiment is also easier to clean.

I begge de nævnte udførelsesformer vil det af den uisolerede del af det andet kontaktorgan befinde sig omkring centrum af 25 det første kontaktorgans nedre halvkugleformede bund bevirke, at selv en ret stor hældning af indikatoren ikke får mærkbar indflydelse på mælkens udløb fra følerkammeret og indikatorens registrering af mælkestrømmen, hvorved denne registrering bliver yderst sikker og ensartet.In both of the mentioned embodiments, the fact that the uninsulated part of the second contact means is located around the center of the lower hemispherical bottom of the first contact member means that even a rather large inclination of the indicator does not appreciably affect the milk outlet from the sensor chamber and the indicator the milk flow, making this registration extremely safe and uniform.

Claims

147721 Patent Claim.

Milk indicator for initiating automatic removal of a milking device of a milking parlor from the udder (7) via a solenoid valve connected to the vacuum system of the milking parlor, which indicator (1) comprises a flow container 5 (17) with a first and a second contact means (21, 26), each of which is electrically connected to the solenoid valve (11) and which is positioned so that the presence of milk between these contact means ensures the maintenance of an electric current in the circuit controlling the solenoid valve (11), characterized in -10, that the first contact means (21) is in the form of a cup or bowl with an arcuate bottom (24) and an outflow opening (25, 42) formed therein for the milk, that the second contact means (26) is arranged in the bottom (24) of the bowl (21), but insulated for direct electrical connection therewith, and 15 that the cup or cup-shaped contact member (21) is freely located inside the flow-through container (17) below its inflow opening (18).

Milk indicator according to claim 1, characterized in that the second contact means (26) is centrally located in the outflow opening (25) at the bottom of the first contact means (21).

Milk indicator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second contact means (26) is shaped such that it projects a bit into the cup-shaped first contact means (21) and that the uninsulated part of the second contact means body is located at the innermost end of the inwardly projecting portion.

Milk indicator according to claim 3, characterized in that the second contact means (26) is formed by a 3 mm thick wire (30) with a surrounding sleeve-shaped insulation 30 (31), which exposes approx. 0.5 mm of the inner end of the thread.