Safety valve device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10426128-B2
Application number	US-201615387266-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 21, 2016
Priority date	Dec 20, 2013
Publication date	Oct 1, 2019
Grant date	Oct 1, 2019

Abstract

A safety valve device for a milking installation for milking milk-producing animals having a first valve with a first port and with a first port connector, a second valve with a second port and with a second port connector, a third valve with a third port and a third port connector, a drive, a common actuator, and at least one valve spring, and arranged so that the first port connector of the first valve is in fluid communication with the second port connector of the second valve, and the safety valve device can be moved between a first switching position, in which the first valve and the second valve are closed in order to block the first port and the second port and the third valve, is open a transition position, in which the first valve, the second valve and the third valve are closed, and a second switching position, in which the first valve and the second valve are open to connect the first port to the second port and the third valve is closed to block the third port.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A safety valve device for a milking installation for milking milk-producing animals, the safety valve comprising:
a valve housing defining a milk inlet port, a milk outlet port in fluid communication with the milk inlet port, and a ventilation port in fluid communication with the milk inlet port and the milk outlet port;
a first valve disposed in the milk inlet port for movement between an open position and a closed position;
a second valve disposed in the milk outlet port for movement between an open position and a closed position;
a third valve disposed in the ventilation port for movement between an open position and a closed position; and
a common actuator disposed at least partially in the valve housing that moves the safety valve device between: a first switching position, in which the first valve and the second valve are closed, and the third valve is open to open the ventilation port; a transition position, in which the first valve, the second valve, and the third valve are closed; and a second switching position, in which the first valve and the second valve are open to open a milk flow path from the milk inlet to the milk outlet and the third valve is closed to close the ventilation line and open the milk line.

2. The safety valve device of claim 1 , wherein the first valve, the second valve, and the third valve each include a valve element and a valve seat engaging the valve element when the valve is closed.

3. The safety valve device of claim 1 , and further comprising:
a common valve housing defining a plurality of valve seats, each valve seat corresponding to a respective valve, and
a plurality of valve elements, and each valve element engages a corresponding valve seat when the valve is closed.

4. The safety valve device of claim 3 , wherein the common valve housing has at least two housing parts connected to one another.

5. The safety valve device of claim 1 , wherein the common actuator moves through a stroke comprising: a first range to move the safety valve device from the first switching position into the transition position; and a second range to move the safety valve device from the transition position into the second switching position.

6. The safety valve device of claim 1 , wherein the common actuator moves through a stroke first range to close the third valve and keep the first valve and the second valve closed, and a second stroke range to open the first valve and the second valve and keep the third valve closed.

7. The safety valve device of claim 1 , wherein the common actuator comprises:
a first actuation portion operatively engaged with the first valve;
a second actuation portion operatively engaged with the second valve; and
a third actuation portion operatively engaged with the third valve.

8. The safety valve device of claim 1 , and further comprising:
a common valve housing in which the first valve, the second valve, and the third valve are at least partially disposed and wherein the common actuator is at least partially disposed outside of the common valve housing.

9. The safety valve device of claim 1 , and further comprising:
a frame; and
an actuator guide joined to the frame to guide the common actuator.

10. The safety valve device of claim 1 , and further comprising:
an actuator spring to bias the common actuator toward the ventilation position;
a first valve spring to bias the first valve toward a closed position;
a second valve spring to bias the second valve toward a closed position; and
a third valve spring to bias the third valve toward an open position.

11. The safety valve device of claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises:
a first actuation element having a first actuation portion operatively engaged with the first valve and a second actuation portion operatively engaged with the second valve, and
a second actuation element operatively engaged with the first actuation element, and having a third actuation portion operatively engaged with the third valve.

12. The safety valve device of claim 1 , and further comprising:
at least one sensor device for detecting a switching position of the safety valve device.

13. The safety valve device of claim 1 , and further comprising:
a guide element to guide the common actuator.

14. The safety valve device of claim 1 , and further comprising:
a frame;
a guide joined to the frame; and
a guide element joined to the guide, wherein the guide and guide element guide the common actuator.

15. The safety valve device of claim 1 , and further comprising:
a common valve spring operatively engaging the common actuator to bias the safety valve device toward the first switching position.

Assignees

• Gea Farm Technologies Gmbh

Inventors

• Balkenhol Reinhard
• Kallenbach Jake
• Stuessel Matthew J
• Torgerson Kevin L

Classifications

• A01J7/00 Primary

  Accessories for milking machines or devices · CPC title

• A01J5/04

  with pneumatic manipulation of teats · CPC title

• A01J5/044

  Milk lines or coupling devices for milk conduits · CPC title

• F16K11/04

  comprising only lift valves · CPC title

• Y10T137/87708

  With common valve operator · CPC title