Claw for a milking machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9861069-B2
Application number	US-201314647453-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 18, 2013
Priority date	Dec 19, 2012
Publication date	Jan 9, 2018
Grant date	Jan 9, 2018

Abstract

A claw (C) for a milking machine includes an enclosure having an upper part ( 1 ) and a lower part ( 2 ) and enclosing an inner space ( 3 ) for a milk flow during a milking operation. The lower part includes a bottom surface ( 4 ) facing the inner space. An outlet nipple ( 12 ), connected to a long milk conduit ( 13 ), extends outwardly from the upper part. A suction tube ( 20 ) connects the inner space to the outlet nipple, and includes a lower tube section close to the bottom surface. Three support legs extend from the lower tube section and abut the bottom surface, thereby forming a gap between the lower tube section and the bottom surface. Each support leg has an end point, which end points are located in a common lower plane. The common lower plane is inclined to the center axis.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A claw (C) for a milking machine, comprising:
an enclosure having an upper part ( 1 ) and a lower part ( 2 ) that together enclose an inner space ( 3 ) for a milk flow during a milking operation and includes a center axis (x) extending through the upper part ( 1 ) and the lower part ( 2 ), the center axis (x) defining a thickness direction of the enclosure,
wherein the lower part ( 2 ) comprises a bottom surface ( 4 ) facing the inner space ( 3 ) and the center axis (x) extends through the bottom surface ( 4 ), and
wherein the upper part comprises an upper wall ( 16 ) extending along a cone (k) that is rotary symmetric around the center axis (x);
an outlet nipple ( 12 ) extending outwardly from the upper part ( 1 ) and providing a milk discharge path from the inner space ( 3 ), the outlet nipple ( 12 ) configured for connection to a long milk conduit ( 13 ) for discharge of milk from the inner space ( 3 ); and
a suction tube ( 20 ) connecting the inner space ( 3 ) to the outlet nipple ( 12 ) and providing a path that conveys the milk from the inner space ( 3 ) to the outlet nipple ( 12 ),
wherein the suction tube ( 20 ) comprises a lower tube section ( 20 a ) positioned in proximity of the bottom surface ( 4 ), and at least three support legs ( 21 ) extending from the lower tube section ( 20 a ) and abutting the bottom surface ( 4 ),
wherein a gap is present between the lower tube section ( 20 a ) and the bottom surface ( 4 ),
wherein each of said at least three support legs ( 21 ) has an end point, each end point being located in a common lower plane (p′), and
wherein the common lower plane (p′) is inclined to the center axis (x) so that the center axis (x) is non-perpendicular to the common lower plane (p′).

2. The claw (C) according to claim 1 , wherein the suction tube ( 20 ) has an upper end defining an upper plane which is inclined to the common lower plane (p′).

3. The claw (C) according to claim 2 , wherein the suction tube comprises an upper tube section ( 20 c ) extending from the upper end to an intermediate tube section ( 20 b ), and wherein the intermediate tube section ( 20 b ) extends from the upper tube section ( 20 c ) to the lower tube section ( 20 a ).

4. The claw (C) according to claim 3 , wherein the intermediate tube section ( 20 b ) is cylindrical.

5. The claw (C) according to claim 3 , wherein the upper tube section ( 20 c ) is tapered from the upper end to the intermediate tube section ( 20 b ) thereby forming an internal space which is concavely shaped.

6. The claw (C) according to claim 5 , further comprising a closing valve ( 33 ) comprising a valve body ( 34 ) provided at the upper tube section ( 20 c ).

7. The claw (C) according to claim 6 , wherein the closing valve ( 33 ) comprises a physical stop member defining an open position, the physical stop member comprising at least three projections ( 36 ) projecting into the internal space of the upper tube section ( 20 c ).

8. The claw (C) according to claim 7 , wherein closing valve ( 33 ) further comprises a valve seat ( 37 ) defining a closed position, where the valve body ( 34 ) rests against the valve seat ( 37 ) in the closed position.

9. The claw (C) according to claim 6 , wherein the suction tube ( 20 ) comprises at least three projections ( 36 ) projecting into the internal space of the upper tube section ( 20 c ) and defining an end position for the valve body ( 34 ).

10. The claw (C) according to claim 1 , wherein the suction tube ( 20 ) is a separate part friction-fitted to the upper part ( 1 ).

11. The claw (C) according to claim 1 , wherein the gap has i) a first height at a first position along the lower tube section ( 20 a ) and ii) a second height at a second position along the lower tube section ( 20 a ), the second position being diametrically opposite to the first position, and the first height being greater than the second height.

12. The claw (C) according to claim 11 , wherein the suction tube ( 20 ) comprises only three support legs ( 21 ) and wherein at least one of the support legs ( 21 ) has a length that is different from a length of at least one of the other support legs ( 21 ).

13. The claw (C) according to claim 12 , wherein the lower tube section ( 20 a ) defines an annular end line, and the support legs ( 21 ) extend from the annular end line, and wherein the annular end line defines an end plane being inclined in relation to the center axis (x).

14. The claw (C) according to claim 1 , wherein the lower tube section ( 20 a ) defines an annular end line, and the support legs ( 21 ) extend from the annular end line, and wherein the annular end line defines an end plane being inclined in relation to the center axis (x).

15. The claw (C) according to claim 1 ,
wherein the lower part ( 2 ) is detachably connected to the upper part ( 1 ) along a connection plane (p),
wherein the upper part ( 1 ) further comprises an upper end ( 5 ) defining an upper end point ( 5 ′), and a lower annular end extending along a periphery of the claw (C) in the connection plane (p), and
wherein the connection plane (p) is inclined with respect to the center axis (x) such that the enclosure has a first thickness at a first peripheral position (p 1 ) and a second thickness at a second peripheral position (p 2 ) diametrically opposite to the first peripheral position (p 1 ), the first thickness being greater than the second thickness.

16. The claw (C) according to claim 1 , wherein the lower tube section ( 20 a ) further comprises a torus-shaped ring with a first radius (r) when seen in a cross-sectional plane including the center axis, wherein the tube at the lower tube section ( 20 a ) has an inner radius (R), and wherein a relation of the first radius to the inner radius (r/R) lies in a range 0.3 to 0.7.

17. The claw (C) according to claim 1 , wherein the lower part ( 2 ) further comprises a central depression ( 25 ) extending inwardly toward the upper part ( 1 ).

18. The claw (C) according to claim 1 ,
wherein the lower part ( 2 ) is detachably connected to the upper part ( 1 ) along a connection plane (p),
wherein the upper part ( 1 ) further comprises i) an upper end ( 5 ) defining an upper end point ( 5 ′), and a lower annular end extending along a periphery of the claw (C) in the connection plane (p), and ii) a side wall ( 17 ) extending from a lower part of the upper wall ( 16 ) to the lower annular end, the side wall ( 17 ) being outside the cone (k), and
wherein the connection plane (p) is inclined with respect to the center axis (x) such that i) the enclosure has a first thickness at a first peripheral position (p 1 ) and a second thickness at a second peripheral position (p 2 ) diametrically opposite to the first peripheral position (p 1 ), the first thickness being greater than the second thickness, and ii) the side wall ( 17 ) has a first wall height at the first peripheral position (p 1 ) and a second wall height at the second peripheral position (p 1 ), the first wall height being larger than the second wall height.

Assignees

• Delaval Holding Ab

Inventors

• La Torre Carlos
• Andersson Anna

Classifications

• A01J5/041 Primary

  Milk claw · CPC title