Assembly comprising a milking device and a measuring device for measuring a mass flow of milked milk
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2023805476
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-11-18
- Filing Date
- 2023-11-03
- Publication Date
- 2025-09-24
AI Technical Summary
Measuring the mass flow of milk during the milking process is challenging due to the transport of milk in plugs through a hose and the foaming nature of milk, which complicates determining the current milk flow and assessing animal performance.
The arrangement includes a milking device and a measuring device with a housing designed to slope monotonically towards the outlet, featuring a first and second section with a common bottom, and electrodes positioned in the second section made of non-conductive material, preventing foam accumulation from influencing the measurement, ensuring accurate mass flow measurement even at low milk flow rates.
This configuration enhances measurement accuracy and independence from foam interference, allowing for precise monitoring of milk flow, including udder quarter milk measurement, and reduces the risk of flow interruptions, providing reliable data for milking process control and animal performance assessment.
Smart Images
Figure 1.1
Abstract
Description
[0001] Arrangement comprising a milking device and a measuring device for measuring a mass flow of milked milk
[0002] The invention relates to an arrangement comprising a milking device and a measuring device for measuring a mass flow of milked milk.
[0003] The result of a milk measurement during a milking process represents a relevant parameter on a dairy farm. On the one hand, knowledge of the current milk flow is important for controlling the milking process, for example, to determine the transition from a stimulation phase to a main milking phase, or to determine the removal time, usually the end of the milking process, or to adjust other parameters during the milking process.
[0004] The milk yield measurement results are also important for assessing the performance of the individual animals being milked. The animals to be milked can be, for example, cows, sheep, goats, buffalo, llamas, camels, and dromedaries. This list of individual animal species is not exhaustive. Any reference to milking cows below is exemplary.
[0005] A fundamental problem with measuring milk yield during a milking process is that the milking process itself transports milk through a milk hose in slugs. This makes determining the actual milk flow difficult.
[0006] Another problem is that milk is a foaming liquid. Because of this, it is also referred to as a multiphase liquid, namely a liquid phase and a foam phase.
[0007] These fundamental problems have already been recognized. Numerous different methods, devices, and measuring instruments have been proposed for measuring the mass flow of milk produced.
[0008] WO 2006 / 037589 A1 discloses a measuring device for measuring the mass flow of milk produced. This measuring device is based on the fundamental idea that the foam portion is mixed with the liquid portion of the milk. To achieve this, the housing of the measuring device is designed such that the inlet leads essentially tangentially into the interior of the housing. An axis of a section of the housing is inclined by at least 30° to the vertical in front of the sensor for determining the mass flow. A section of the housing in front of the sensor is designed to be at least essentially rotationally symmetrical on the inside. The design of the housing achieves the mixing of the existing foam into the liquid phase of the milk. This creates a liquid, milk, that has essentially no standing foam located on the liquid surface.
[0009] Based on this, the present invention aims to further improve the measurement accuracy.
[0010] This object is achieved by an arrangement comprising a milking device and a measuring device for measuring a mass flow of milked milk with the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments and embodiments of the arrangement are the subject of the independent claims.
[0011] The arrangement according to the invention comprises a milking device and a measuring device for measuring a mass flow of milked milk. The measuring device has a housing with an inlet connected to the milking device, an outlet, and a channel connecting the inlet and the outlet. The channel has a first section, a transition region, and a second section towards the outlet. The first section, the transition region, and the second section have a common bottom that is designed to slope monotonically towards the outlet. This means that the inlet is at a higher level than the outlet relative to a vertical line. The channel can also have a section that runs essentially horizontally.
[0012] In the transition area, the flow cross-section from the first section to the second section is reduced.
[0013] The measuring device of the arrangement according to the invention comprises a first and a second electrode arranged at a distance from one another. At least one of the electrodes is arranged within the second section and, viewed in the direction of flow, after and at a distance from the transition region. This means that the at least one electrode is arranged within the second section after the transition region. It is arranged at a distance from the transition region. The second section has a region made of an electrically non-conductive material. The region is formed upstream of the at least one electrode, viewed in the direction of flow of the milk. This configuration prevents foam accumulating in the transition region from coming into contact with the at least one electrode arranged in the second section. This improves measurement accuracy.
[0014] The measuring device has a voltage source which is connected to the first electrode at two distances from each other.
[0015] Furthermore, the measuring device comprises a detection device electrically connected to the first and second electrodes. The detection device is suitable and intended to measure a voltage potential between the first electrode and the second electrode.
[0016] When milk containing a foam phase flows into the housing, the foam portion mixes with the liquid portion of the milk. The housing is structured accordingly.
[0017] To achieve greater measurement accuracy, and thus also greater safety and independence from mixing of the foam portion with the liquid portion of the milk, the housing and the measuring device are designed such that at least one of the electrodes is arranged within the second section and, viewed in the direction of flow, after and at a distance from the transition area. This reduces the influence of "standing" foam on the flowing milk in the area of the measuring device. This is particularly advantageous when the flowing milk quantity is small. A low milk flow can occur particularly at the beginning and / or end of a milking process.
[0018] This configuration of the arrangement according to the invention achieves greater accuracy in measuring the mass flow of milked milk. The arrangement according to the invention comprises a measuring device with a housing, wherein the housing has a first section, a transition region, and a second section, which share a common bottom that is designed to slope monotonically toward the outlet. This ensures that the milked milk flows through the housing without pressure. Pressure-free within the meaning of the invention means that the flow process occurs due to prevailing gravity.
[0019] The inventive design of the arrangement achieves high measurement accuracy even with low milk flow. This also provides the possibility, for example, of performing a milking measurement per udder quarter for a cow. Thus, the amount of milk milked from each udder quarter of a cow can be determined. This also has the advantage that, in a milking process where a milking device is provided that is suitable for operating each udder quarter individually, individual udder quarters are no longer milked if the milk yield decreases.
[0020] To reduce foam buildup, an advantageous embodiment of the invention proposes that the flow cross-section from the first section be continuously reduced toward the second section. This is intended to prevent flow disruption in the transition region. Foam that forms but does not drain from the housing can, if it completely fills the free volume above the liquid phase in the housing, exert a certain pressure on the liquid phase and thus accelerate the flow of the liquid phase. This leads to a change in the flow velocity, which can be avoided by the advantageous design of the housing.
[0021] The housing as such is preferably made entirely of an electrically non-conductive material. In particular, the housing can be made of a non-conductive plastic. It is proposed that the second section, i.e. the section in which the electrodes are located, be detachably connected to the other component(s) of the housing. The electrode is preferably an integral component of the second section. In particular, it is proposed that the electrode have an L-shaped or egg-shaped cross-section. If the electrode has an L-shaped section, one leg of the electrode is provided with openings so that, to produce the second section, the electrode can be inserted into a mold which is then filled with a plastic. The plastic penetrates the openings on the leg of the L-shaped electrode, so that a secure hold of the electrode is achieved.A similar procedure can be used for the production of the second section. Here, for an electrode with an egg-shaped cross-section, the two legs of the U-shaped electrode can have corresponding openings. It goes without saying that one end section of the electrode protrudes from the housing. This end section of the electrode provides a connection point.
[0022] To further increase the accuracy of milk quantity measurement, it is proposed that the distance between the electrodes increases in a height direction as seen from the ground, which corresponds to a V-shaped opening between the electrodes through which the milk flows.
[0023] Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are explained with reference to the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawing, without being limited to this specific exemplary embodiment. They show:
[0024] Fig. 1 : a housing with a measuring device for measuring the mass flow in perspective view,
[0025] Fig. 2: a sectional view along the line AA of Fig. 1,
[0026] Fig. 3: enlarged view in section along the line BB of Fig. 1,
[0027] Fig. 4: a first embodiment of an electrode,
[0028] Fig. 5: a second embodiment of an electrode and
[0029] Fig. 6: an electrical equivalent diagram of the measuring device.
[0030] The arrangement according to the invention comprises a milking device and a measuring device for measuring a mass flow of milked milk. The milking device is preferably a milking cluster. A milking cluster comprises the number of teat cups intended for an animal, which are directly or indirectly connected to a milk line for draining the milk that has been milked. Numerous embodiments of the milking device as such are known.
[0031] The measuring device for measuring a mass flow of milked milk comprises a housing 1, which is shown in perspective and schematically in Fig. 1. The housing has an inlet 2. The inlet 2 is connected to a milking device (not shown) via a milk hose (not shown). The inlet
[0032] 2 is arranged so that the milk flow is directed essentially tangentially into a housing part
[0033] 3 flows in.
[0034] In the illustrated embodiment, the housing part 3 has a substantially circular cross-section. The housing part 3 has a bypass nozzle 4. The bypass nozzle 4 is connected to a nozzle 5 via a line (not shown). The nozzle 5 is located in the region of an outlet 6. In the bypass line (not shown), a pressure equilibrium is established between the inlet 2 and the outlet 6. This keeps the measuring device pressure-free, so that the flow velocity of the milk is substantially independent of pressure differences. The milk flowing through the housing 1 flows due to gravity. The housing part 3 is designed such that it is inclined relative to a horizontal line. A housing part 7 is adjacent to the housing part 3. This housing part 7 can also be inclined relative to the horizontal.
[0035] A partition wall can also be provided within the housing 1, which is formed between the housing part 3 and the housing part 7 and extends from an upper region toward a lower region. The partition wall is intended to reduce the flow velocity of the milk. Furthermore, it is intended to improve the mixing of the foam that may be present on top of the liquid.
[0036] The housing 1 has a channel that fluidically connects the inlet 2 to the outlet 6. The channel is designed such that, viewed in the direction of milk flow from the inlet 2 to the outlet 6, it slopes monotonically. This means that the inlet 2 is at a higher level than the outlet 6 relative to a vertical line. The channel can also have a section that runs essentially horizontally.
[0037] Fig. 2 shows a sectional view along line AA in Fig. 1. The illustration in Fig. 2 shows a first electrode 11 and a second electrode 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 lie in a common imaginary plane. It can be seen from the illustration in Fig. 2 that the free flow cross-section 13 between the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 increases upwards from the base 10, so that the free flow cross-section between the two electrodes 11 and 12 can be described as V-shaped.
[0038] The channel comprises a first section and a second section 9. The second section 9, which follows the first section in the direction of milk flow, has a free flow cross-section that is smaller than the flow cross-section of the first section. A transition in which the flow cross-section is reduced from the first section to the second section is referred to as the transition region 8.
[0039] Fig. 3 shows an enlarged sectional view along the section line BB in Fig. 1. The transition region 8 can be seen from this view. In the transition region 8, the flow cross-section decreases from the first section to the second section 9. A reduction in the flow cross-section from the first section to the second section 9 in the transition region 8 preferably takes place gradually, as can be seen from Fig. 3. It is also possible for the cross-section to change suddenly in the transition region 8. The reference symbol S denotes the flow direction of the milk, whereby the first section preceding the transition region 8 is not shown in Fig. 3.
[0040] The second section 9 then opens into the outlet 6. The transition region 8 is preferably designed such that the flow of milk, i.e., the liquid phase of the milk as well as the foam, preferably does not interrupt it, so that the milk flows through the transition region 8 and into the second section 9. This preferred configuration serves to prevent a possible backflow of foam that may be present on the liquid phase of the milk.
[0041] The length of the second section 9 in the flow direction S is designated by reference symbol D. The electrodes, the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12, are arranged within the second section 9. Relative to a theoretical boundary between the transition region 8 and the second section 9, the electrodes 11, 12 are arranged behind and at a distance from this boundary. The distance is designated here by reference symbol E. The electrodes 11, 12 are arranged within the second section 9 and, viewed in the flow direction S, behind and at a distance from the transition region 8. A region 20 of the second section 9, which is in contact with the milk, is made of an electrically non-conductive material. The region 20 is formed between the transition region 8 and the electrodes 11, 12. In the preferred embodiment, the region has an extension E. This region forms electrical insulation.This measure ensures, in particular, that the influence of foam located in front of the second section 9 on the measurement result is at least reduced. The housing 1 is preferably made of an electrically non-conductive material, in particular plastic.
[0042] The electrodes 11, 12 are preferably an integral part of the second section 9.
[0043] Fig. 4 shows an L-shaped electrode 11. The electrode 11 can be a first or a second electrode in the measuring device. One leg 11 of the L-shaped electrode 11 has openings 15. Terminals 16 for connection to an electrical conductor are provided at the opposite ends of the leg 14. The housing and in particular the second section and optionally the second section and the transition region together form a structural unit made of a non-conductive plastic. Plastic can pass through the openings 15 during the manufacture of the second section, thus achieving a secure connection between the second section and the electrode 11. Fig. 5 shows a further variant of an electrode. The basic principle corresponds to the design according to Fig. 4, wherein in the embodiment according to Fig. 5 the electrode is essentially U-shaped.The legs 14.1, 14.2 are formed with corresponding openings 15 and the connections 16.
[0044] It is understood that it is not absolutely necessary for the electrode to have a terminal 16 at its respective end, viewed in the longitudinal direction. However, this has the advantage that the electrical circuit connected to the electrodes can be placed at different locations.
[0045] Fig. 6 shows a schematic electrical equivalent diagram of the measuring device according to the invention.
[0046] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, a voltage source 17 is connected to the first electrode 11. The first electrode 11 has electrical connection points 16.1, 16.2 that are spaced apart from one another. A voltage measuring device 18 is connected to the second electrode 12 and to the first electrode 11. The connections 16.2, 19 of the second electrode 12 are selected so that they are preferably at the same level. The voltage between the electrodes, the first electrode 1 and the second electrode 12, is measured by the voltage measuring device 18. The measured potential depends on the fill level of the milk between the two electrodes 11, 12. The electrodes 11, 12 extend to the bottom 10, so that the potential of the liquid phase of the milk is always measured there.
[0047] List of reference symbols
[0048] 1 housing
[0049] 2 Entrance
[0050] 3 Housing part
[0051] 4 bypass nozzles
[0052] 5 nozzles
[0053] 6 Outlet
[0054] 7 Housing part
[0055] 8 Transition area
[0056] 9 second section
[0057] 10 Floor
[0058] 11 first electrode
[0059] 12 second electrode
[0060] 13 Flow cross-section
[0061] 14, 14.1, 14.2 Legs
[0062] 15 Opening
[0063] 16.1, 16.2 Connection
[0064] 17 Voltage source
[0065] 18 Voltage measuring device 19 Connection
[0066] 20 area
Claims
Patent claims Arrangement comprising a milking device and a measuring device for measuring a mass flow of milked milk, wherein the measuring device comprises a housing (1) with an inlet (2) which is connected to the milking device, an outlet (6), and a channel connecting the inlet (2) and the outlet (6), wherein the channel has a first section, a transition region (8) and a second section (9) in the direction of the outlet (6), wherein the first section, the transition region (8) and the second section (9) have a common bottom (10) which is designed to be monotonously falling towards the outlet (6), wherein in the transition region (8) the flow cross-section of the first section is reduced towards the second section (9), and a measuring device which has a first (11) and a second (12) electrode arranged at a distance from one another, wherein at least one of the electrodes (11,12) within the second section (9) and, viewed in the direction of flow (S), after and spaced from the transition region (8), a voltage source (17) connected to two regions of the first electrode (11) that are spaced apart from one another, and a detection device (18) that is electrically connected to the first (11) and the second (12) electrode, wherein the detection device (18) is suitable and intended to measure a voltage potential between the first electrode (11) and the second electrode (12), 11 REVISED SHEET (RULE 91) ISA / EP wherein the second section (9) has a region (20) made of an electrically non-conductive material, wherein the region (20) is formed in front of the electrode (12) as viewed in the flow direction of the milk. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein in the transition region (8) the flow cross-section of the first section towards the second section (9) is continuously reduced. Arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the electrodes (11, 12) are an integral part of the second section (9). Arrangement according to claim 3, wherein at least one electrode (11) has an L-shaped cross-section. Arrangement according to claim 3 or 4, wherein at least one electrode (12) has a U-shaped cross-section. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the distance between the electrodes (11, 12) from the floor (10) increases in a height direction. REVISED SHEET (RULE 91) ISA / EP