Teat cup liner and flow settling device

Abstract

The invention discloses a teat cup liner and a flow settling device which is suitable for such a teat cup liner, the flow settling device being designed to settle the flow of milk within the teat cup liner and to reduce return flows.

Description

[0001] Teat squeezing and

[0002] Flow calming device

[0003] Description

[0004] The invention relates to a teatcup liner according to the preamble of claim 1 and a flow calming device for such a teatcup liner.

[0005] In mechanical milking, gentle teat treatment is crucial and is ensured, for example, by the use of milking systems that release the vacuum during the massage cycle, also known as the massage phase, as is the case with natural calf suckling. This vacuum relief has a demonstrably positive effect on teat condition. One such milking system is disclosed, for example, in EP 1 119 235 B1.

[0006] These milking systems use liners that have a liner head with an adjoining hose section for holding the teat. A vacuum connection, formed for example by a slanted end, opens into an interior space surrounded by the hose section, to which the milking vacuum is applied. Such a liner is clamped in a teat cup, with an annular space defined by the hose section being pressurized with atmosphere, overpressure, or even vacuum via a pulsator control. In this way, the massage cycle can be controlled by controlling the pressure difference between the interior of the hose section and the outer annular space. If the vacuum connection is designed as a slanted end, the hose section is designed as a thin-walled area in a section adjacent to it, which folds in during the massage phase and seals off the slanted end from the vacuum.DE 10 2006 026 271 A1 and the associated supplementary applications describe teatcup liners in which an air inlet nozzle is formed in the teatcup liner head, through which the interior of the head is ventilated to the atmosphere. The resulting permanent air inlet ensures that an excessive vacuum cannot develop in the teatcup liner head.

[0007] Under unfavorable operating conditions, especially during the massage cycle, when the teat liner opens, milk flow can occur in the opposite direction to the vacuum-controlled flow direction, causing the milk to splash against the teat and thus irrigate the teat opening. This is particularly unfavorable because such a backflow toward the teat can allow pathogens to enter the teat, thus creating a significant risk of infection. This can also infect other quarters of the udder or other animals when changing the milking cluster.This is particularly the case with higher minute milkings in any milking system and is further favored with alternating cycle milking and the vacuum relief method, whereby this effect is intensified by the vacuum build-up after each relief and the associated simultaneous opening of the teat cup liner, since this vacuum build-up acts like a type of vacuum pump and increases the backflow.

[0008] To prevent such backflow, publications DE 10 2006 026 271, DE 10 2006 040 079 A1, and EP 1 219 166 A2, for example, propose connecting the interior of the teat liner located below the teat receiving space to the atmosphere via a channel in the teat liner wall. This deliberate "leakage" ensures that the liquid column below the teat is detached during milk flow, thus reducing backflow. However, in practice, it has been shown that even with such channels, backflow cannot be reliably prevented.

[0009] Document DE 36 24 478 A discloses solutions in which a check valve is integrated into the milk hose to prevent such backflow (also called backspray). A disadvantage of such concepts, however, is that, for example, when cleaning the milking cluster, the teat cup liner is flowed through in the opposite direction to the usual milk flow (backflush), so that the check valve must then be blocked in a complex manner to allow the backflush. Furthermore, a study was presented in the document DS Croy, LM Rode, RC Philippe and K.-J. Cheng; 1990; Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 73:1232 - 1238 which concluded that such a check valve does not reduce the risk of mastitis infection.

[0010] The document US 4 090 471 A discloses a teatcup rubber with a stationary spiral-shaped flow body which is arranged in a milk hose to prevent backflow.

[0011] In contrast, the invention is based on the object of creating a teat rubber by means of which backflow and the associated risk of infection can be reduced.

[0012] This object is achieved by a teat rubber having the features of patent claim 1.

[0013] Part of the solution according to the invention is also a flow calming device, also called FCS device, with which a teat rubber according to the invention can be designed.

[0014] Advantageous further developments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

[0015] This teatcup liner has, in a conventional manner, a teatcup liner head and a hose section that forms a teat receiving space for a teat. According to the invention, at least one movable or stationary flow body of a flow calming device is arranged downstream of the teat receiving space. This is designed according to the invention, particularly during a suction cycle and optionally also during a massage cycle and in the transition region between these phases, to at least reduce backflow effects and / or to even out or calm the flow due to a flow around the flow body. This can also be accompanied by a reduction in turbulence, so that the turbulent backspray effects observed in conventional milking clusters can be significantly reduced or completely avoided.By calming the flow according to the invention by means of the flow body around which the milk flows, the foaming of the milk and the associated mechanical stress, which is frequently observed in conventional systems and which leads to the breaking up of the fat globules on the milk surface and thus to the formation of free fatty acids, can be reliably prevented or at least reduced.

[0016] Preferably, the flow body is approximately spherical or elliptical / streamlined, wherein in the case of a movable flow body, a flow-related axial and / or radial movement can be limited by stop Z-guide elements of the flow calming device.

[0017] In other words, in the design according to the invention, a flow body is introduced into the milk flow path, around which the milk flows during the intended use of the teat cup liner and, due to this flow, the milk flow is evened out and thus backflow is prevented or at least greatly reduced.

[0018] In a particularly simply constructed embodiment of the invention, the movement of the flow body in and against the milk flow direction is limited by a pin arranged in the area of ​​the flow cross-section or by stop knobs or other stop elements.

[0019] The positioning of the flow body is further simplified if its radial position is limited by preferably more than two guide elements distributed around the circumference, which are formed, for example, by guide strips provided in one piece on the teat rubber or on the flow calming device.

[0020] In one embodiment of the invention, the teat rubber is designed in a manner known per se with an inclined end, wherein the flow calming device with the flow body is arranged approximately in the area between an inclined end and a clamping bead.

[0021] In an alternative solution, the flow calming device with the flow body can also be positioned in a milk hose like a sight glass.

[0022] In principle, it is also possible to arrange two such flow calming devices or two flow bodies one behind the other in the direction of flow.

[0023] The advantageous effects of the invention (calming the flow, reducing backflow, reducing foam formation) can be further improved if the flow body is positioned in a radial extension of the flow-calming device, wherein dimensions, in particular a diameter of the flow body, are equal to or greater than the clear width of the sections of the flow channel that open into the radial extension. An effective flow cross-section of the flow-calming device is preferably designed to be at least approximately as large as the flow cross-section of the adjacent sections of the flow channel.In other words, the flow cross-section in the area of ​​the flow-calming device is at least as large as the effective flow cross-section upstream and downstream of the flow-calming device, so that the milk flow is not, or only slightly, throttled or subjected to turbulence. In a particularly versatile embodiment, the flow body is arranged in a preferably multi-part housing of the flow-calming device, which is detachably attached to or integrated into a short milk hose or other flow path of the teatcup liner.

[0024] As indicated above, the flow calming device can also be designed with two flow bodies, preferably one behind the other in the direction of flow, which in turn are mounted stationary or movable.

[0025] The flow calming device according to the invention is particularly suitable for a conventional teatcup liner, so that conventional teatcup liners can be retrofitted with a flow calming device to prevent backspray.

[0026] The flow-stabilizing device preferably has a multi-part housing on which an inlet and an outlet connection are formed, between which a preferably radially expanded flow-stabilizing chamber for a stationary or movable flow body is provided. In the latter alternative, for example, stop and / or guide elements are provided in the flow-stabilizing chamber to limit the radial and / or axial position of the flow body.

[0027] Preferably, the dimensions, in particular a diameter of the flow body, are selected to be equal to or larger than the clear width of the inlet and outlet nozzles opening into the radial extension.

[0028] In one variant of the invention, the flow cross-section in the flow-calming chamber is designed to be at least approximately as large as the flow cross-section of the adjacent sections of the flow channel, in particular the flow cross-section of the inlet and outlet nozzles. The flow-calming device can—as mentioned above—be designed in the manner of a sight glass with a housing that is at least partially transparent. Preferably, the flow body is designed as an indicator for contamination, so that possible contamination can be easily identified by the milker based on the discoloration of the flow body.

[0029] In one embodiment, a housing of the flow-calming device is designed with two shell-like housing parts, on whose inner circumferential walls, preferably at least three, radially projecting guide segments are formed. These guide the flow body (32) in the radial direction and also act as stop elements.

[0030] The teat cup liner can be designed with an air inlet nozzle.

[0031] Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to schematic drawings. They show:

[0032] Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section of a first embodiment of a teatcup rubber according to the invention, which is designed with a flow calming device according to the invention;

[0033] Figure 2 shows a radial section along the line AA in Figure 1;

[0034] Figure 3 shows a longitudinal section of a further embodiment of a teatcup rubber according to the invention;

[0035] Figure 4 shows a detailed view of the teatcup liner according to Figure 3; Figure 5 shows a radial section along the line BB in Figure 4;

[0036] Figure 6 shows a third embodiment of a teatcup rubber according to the invention;

[0037] Figure 7 shows a detailed view of the teat rubber according to Figure 6;

[0038] Figure 8 shows a radial section along the section line CC in Figure 7;

[0039] Figure 9 shows a fourth embodiment of a teatcup rubber according to the invention;

[0040] Figure 10 is a detailed view of a flow calming device of the teatcup rubber according to Figure 9;

[0041] Figure 11 shows a variant of a flow calming device with a two-part housing and

[0042] Figure 12 shows a detailed representation of another embodiment of a flow calming device with a two-part housing and guide segments integrated therein.

[0043] Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section through a liner 1 of a milking cluster, which is clamped into a teat cup (not shown). With regard to the basic structure of such a milking cluster, reference is made to the prior art described above. In such a so-called two-chamber teat cup, a milking vacuum is applied to the teat during the suction stroke, so that milk can flow from the teat through the liner 1 and a milk hose to a claw. During the massage stroke, the liner 1 is folded in (collapsed) by admitting atmosphere or overpressure into the aforementioned annular space between the outer circumference of the liner 1 and an inner circumferential wall of the teat cup, so that the blood is massaged back from the teat tip to the teat base.

[0044] The exemplary embodiment of the teatcup liner 1 shown in Figure 1 has a hose part 2 which, with its end section located at the top in Figure 1, merges into a teatcup liner head 4. This head has a head sleeve 6 which extends downwards away from the teatcup liner head 4 at a distance from this end section of the hose part 2 (view according to Figure 1), so that an annular space 8 is formed into which the upper end section of the teatcup (not shown) is inserted. A lower end section of this teatcup sits on a clamping bead 10 of the teatcup liner 1 which is designed to project in the radial direction at the lower end section of the hose part 2, so that the teatcup liner 1 is clamped into the teatcup.

[0045] An insertion opening 12 is formed on the teat cup head 4, into which a teat 14 (indicated by dashed lines) is inserted when the milking cluster is attached. The teat cup head 4, which is radially expanded relative to the tube part 2, forms a head space 16 that surrounds the teat 14 in sections in a ring-shaped manner.

[0046] When the teat 14 is inserted, the tube part 2 forms a teat receiving space 18 that surrounds the teat 14 and an interior space 20 located thereunder. The latter can be connected to the head space 16 via a ventilation channel 22 indicated by dashed lines. Specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, the ventilation channel 22 is formed by a groove in the teat liner wall 26 that preferably runs approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis 24 of the teat liner 1 and extends from the interior space 20 into the head space 16 that widens away from the tube part 2. Such a ventilation channel 22 is an optional feature.

[0047] In the embodiment according to Figure 1, an air inlet nozzle 28 is provided in the teatcup head 4, through which the head space 16 is ventilated to the atmosphere. This ventilation ensures that no excessive vacuum can develop in the teatcup head 4. Further details of such air inlet nozzles 28 are described in the prior art, in particular

[0048] DE 10 2006 040 079 A1 , explained.

[0049] Not shown are thin-walled areas of the teat rubber wall 26 in the area of ​​the tube part 2, which enable the tube part 2 to collapse during the massage cycle and the vacuum to be created. Massage bars (not shown) can be provided on the teat rubber wall 26 in the area of ​​the teat receiving space 18, which support the massage effect up to the tip of the teat 14. Such massage bars are disclosed, for example, in the parallel application, which is incorporated into the disclosure of the present application.

[0050] According to Figure 1, in the area of ​​the interior 20, ie upstream of the clamping bead 10, a flow calming device 30 - also called FCS device - is arranged, which is designed, in particular during the suction cycle, to calm the liquid flow and / or to prevent foaming of the milk and / or to prevent or at least greatly limit backflow at the beginning of the suction phase, whereby the milking vacuum is not impaired.

[0051] In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, this is achieved by positioning a flow body 32 at a distance from the teat 14, around which the milk flows during the milking process. In the illustrated embodiment, the flow body 32 is designed as a sphere; however, other geometries optimized for a flow that minimizes pressure loss can of course also be implemented.

[0052] In the illustrated embodiment, the flow body 32 is movably mounted within the area of ​​the hose part 2 marked A in Figure 1. In principle, however, a position-fixed flow body 32 can also be used. In this embodiment, the movement of the flow body 32 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 24 of the teatcup liner 1 is limited by stop knobs 34, 36, which act as stop elements for the flow body 32, so to speak, so that the latter is only movable along the area A. The lateral guidance transverse to the longitudinal axis 24 is provided by centering strips 38, which are also formed on the inner circumferential wall of the hose part 2. This area of ​​the flow calming device 30 thus forms a flow calming chamber.

[0053] Further details of this flow body guidance can be found in Figure 2.

[0054] This shows a section along the radial section plane AA indicated in Figure 1, which thus runs vertically to the longitudinal axis 24 and the plane of the drawing. This section extends through the tube part 2, so that the teat rubber wall 26 of the tube part 2, which encompasses the interior space 20, is cut accordingly.

[0055] Accordingly, three downstream stop knobs 36a, 36b, 36c are provided on the inner peripheral wall 30 of the teat rubber wall 26, which are arranged, for example, offset by 120° on a pitch circle corresponding to the diameter of the inner peripheral wall 40. The vertices 42 of the stop knobs 36a, 36b, 36c lie on a pitch circle indicated by dashed lines in Figure 2, whose diameter D is smaller than the diameter S of the flow body 32, so that its axial movement is limited by running into the stop knobs 36a, 36b, 36c. The upstream stop knobs 34 (34a, 34b, 34c) are designed accordingly.

[0056] As can also be seen from the section in Figure 2, the lateral guidance of the flow body 32 is achieved by three centering strips 38a, 38b, 38c, which are also offset from one another by 120° and which, in the embodiment according to Figures 1 and 2, extend between stop knobs 34a, 36a; 34b, 36b; 34c, 36c, each one lying one above the other in the direction of flow, so that the pressure loss through the elements projecting from the inner circumferential wall is minimized. The vertices 44 of the centering strips 38 lie on a pitch circle d, the diameter of which is larger than the effective diameter S (see Figure 1) of the flow body 32. The dimensions S, D, d can be selected such that the flow body 32 is guided laterally with a clearance fit or with a comparatively large clearance, so that the flow around the flow body 32 is not impeded.

[0057] Such a design has the significant advantage over the previously described prior art with check valves that it eliminates the need to block the check valve in backflush or other systems. Surprisingly, it has been shown that with such a flow-calming device 30, the liquid flow is significantly calmed compared to conventional solutions and the backflow, especially at the beginning of the suction stroke, is greatly reduced without compromising the milking vacuum.

[0058] Figure 3 shows an embodiment of a teatcup liner 1 in which a slanted closure 46 is provided in the area of ​​the interior 20 upstream of the clamping bead 10. This slanted closure is covered by a thin-walled region 48 of the teatcup liner wall 26 during the massage stroke to interrupt the connection to the vacuum. This embodiment also shows the two massage bars 49, 51, which support the massage of the teat 14 during the massage stroke. As mentioned, these massage bars 49, 51 can be designed as articulated massage bars to improve elasticity.

[0059] In this variant, too, a ventilation channel 22 is provided at least along the teat receiving space 18, which opens into the head space 16. An air inlet nozzle 28 can also be provided on the teat rubber head 4—this is not visible in the illustration according to Figure 3.

[0060] According to the invention, a flow calming device 30 is provided downstream of the inclined closure 46 in the region of the clamping bead 10, by means of which the milk flow is calmed and backflow is prevented. Figure 4 shows a detailed illustration of the teatcup liner 1 according to Figure 3 in the region of the inclined closure 46, and Figure 5 shows a radial section along the section line BB in Figure 4. Accordingly, in this embodiment, the flow calming device 30 is also designed with a spherical flow body 32, the axial movement of which - as in the embodiment according to Figures 1 and 2 - is limited by stop knobs 34, 36 and the radial movement of which is limited by centering strips 38. According to the radial section in Figure 5, the positioning of the stop knobs 34a, 34b, 34c and the centering strips 38a, 38b, 38c is carried out in the same way as in the embodiment according to Figures 1 and 2, so that further explanations are unnecessary.

[0061] In the teatcup liner 1 according to Figures 3 and 4, the teatcup liner 1 is connected to a collecting piece via a longer milk hose 50 which, compared to the embodiment according to Figures 1 and 2, is formed in one piece with the teatcup liner 1.

[0062] Figures 6 and 7 show a variant of the embodiment according to Figures 3 and 4, wherein the flow-calming device 30 is formed with a radial extension 52 surrounding the flow body 32, which ensures improved all-round flow around the flow body 32. In the illustrated embodiment, this radial extension 52 is again formed in the region of the clamping bead 10 downstream of the inclined closure 46.

[0063] In this exemplary embodiment, the circumferential wall of the radial extension 52 and the outer circumference of the flow body 32 form an approximately annular flow cross-section, wherein the diameter ratios are preferably designed such that the effective flow cross-section within the radial extension 52 is larger than or at least equal to the flow cross-section in the adjacent regions. Accordingly, the approximately spherical radial extension 52 is designed such that the flow can flow around the flow body 32 with minimal pressure loss, thereby smoothing the flow and preventing the occurrence of turbulence. Furthermore, the ingress of air and the associated foaming are prevented.

[0064] Further details of this embodiment are explained using the detailed illustration in Figure 7.

[0065] In the illustrated embodiment, the diameter S of the flow body 32 is slightly larger than the inner diameter J of the milk hose 50 and the inner diameter Q of the flow channel 54 extending between the inclined closure 46 and the flow calming device 30. The diameter R of the radial extension 52 is substantially larger than the diameter S of the flow body 32 and the diameters Q, J of the adjacent flow channel sections.

[0066] To prevent the flow body 32 from closing the connection between the radial extension 52 and the adjacent flow sections (milk channel 50, flow channel 54) during the flow through by contacting the opening regions 56, 58 of the radial extension 52, stop knobs 34, 36 are again provided in this region, wherein - as in the previously described embodiments - according to the radial section shown in Figure 8 along the section line CC, three stop knobs 34a, 34b, 34c and 36a, 36b, 36c (only the latter shown in Figure 8) are again provided. Instead of the stop knobs 34, 36, stop pins (see Figures 9, 10) or the like can also limit the axial movement of the flow body 32.

[0067] In the previously described embodiments, the teatcup liner 1 must be designed with the functional elements of the flow calming device 30 formed integrally on the teatcup liner wall 26, unlike conventional solutions, so that a separate tool is required to manufacture this teatcup liner 1. Retrofitting existing teatcup liners is only possible with comparatively high expenditure, whereby insert parts must be used instead of the stop nubs 34, 36 and centering strips 38 formed integrally with the teatcup liner 1, which in turn involves considerable assembly effort.

[0068] Figures 9 to 11 show exemplary embodiments in which a simple retrofitting of a teat rubber with a flow calming device 30 according to the invention is possible.

[0069] Figure 9 shows a teatcup liner whose basic structure corresponds approximately to that of Figure 6. In this variant, however, the milk hose 50 provided on the teatcup liner 1 is comparatively short and connected to the flow-calming device 30 designed like a sight glass. The downstream area of ​​this flow-calming device 30 is then attached—as in a sight glass—to a long milk hose 60 leading to the claw.

[0070] Figure 10 shows the flow calming device 30 according to Figure 9, designed as a compact assembly, in detail. Accordingly, this device is designed—similar to a sight glass—with an inlet nozzle 62 and an outlet nozzle 64, between which a housing 66 accommodating the flow body 32 is arranged. The latter can be designed in several parts to simplify production, with a positive connection being made by gluing / welding or the like after production by injection molding or the like. The inlet nozzle 62, the outlet nozzle 64, and the housing 66 are penetrated by a channel 68, the diameter K of which corresponds approximately to the diameter Q of the short milk hose 50 or the diameter J of the long milk hose 60.

[0071] In this embodiment, too, the effective diameter S of the flow body 32 is smaller than the diameter J of the milk hose 50 or the diameter Q of the channel 68 formed between the inclined closure 46 and the FCS device 30. As in the previously described embodiments, this geometry ensures a virtually loss-free flow around the movable flow body 32 and a concomitant flow calming.

[0072] In the flow calming device 30 according to Figures 9 and 10, the axial movement is limited by two stop pins 70, 72, which are each inserted into the housing 66 approximately along a diagonal in the radial direction and thus extend transversely through the channel 68 and thus prevent the flow body 32 from accessing the nozzles 62, 64.

[0073] Instead of such stop pins 70, 72, stop knobs can also be provided on the inner circumferential wall of the channel 68, as in the previously described embodiments. In the embodiment according to Figures 9 and 10, the channel 68 is designed continuously with a constant diameter K. Guidance in the radial direction is again provided by centering strips 38 - preferably three distributed around the circumference - which are mounted on the inner circumferential wall of the channel 68 in the region of the housing 66. These centering strips 38 can also be designed, for example, as pins that can be positioned parallel to the longitudinal axis 74, for example, penetrating the end collars 76, 78 of the housing 66.

[0074] Figure 11 shows a variant in which the housing—similar to the embodiment according to Figures 6, 7, and 8—is designed with a radial extension 52 whose geometry essentially corresponds to that of the previously described embodiments. This means that the diameter S of the flow body 32 is somewhat larger than the diameter K of the nozzles 62, 64 adjacent to the radial extension 52 of the housing 66, wherein the inner diameter R of the radial extension 52, which defines the flow cross-section, and the diameter S of the flow body 32 are in turn designed to enable flow around it with minimal pressure loss. In this embodiment too, the axial movement of the flow body 32 is limited either by stop knobs 34, 36 or by stop pins 70, 72 (similar to the embodiment according to Figures 9, 10), so that the flow body 32 does not reach the mouth area 56, 58 in the transition to the inlet nozzle 62 orto the outlet nozzle 64. The guidance in the radial direction can in turn be effected via guide strips 38 which are inserted into the housing 66 parallel to the longitudinal axis 74 or are arranged integrally on the inner circumferential wall of the housing 66 or the radial extension 52 in order to center the flow body 32 with respect to the longitudinal axis 74. In this exemplary embodiment, too, the geometries are designed such that the flow cross-section in the region of the radial extension 52 is at least as large as the flow cross-section of the adjacent regions, ie in the inlet nozzle 62 and in the outlet nozzle 64. In the exemplary embodiment shown, a parting plane 80 of the two-part housing 66 runs centrally through the radial extension 52.

[0075] As explained above, the housing 66, which is designed like a sight glass, can have two housing parts forming the radial extension 52, on which the nozzles 62 and 64 are then arranged. These housing parts are then preferably materially connected to one another after the flow body 32 has been inserted. Figure 12 shows an exemplary embodiment of such a housing part 82, which is supplemented by a substantially identical housing part to form the housing 66. The drain nozzle 64, to which the milk hose 50 is attached, is formed on the housing part 82 shown. The housing part 82 has a housing shell 84, which forms approximately half of a hollow sphere and, when assembled, encompasses approximately half of the flow body 32. To guide it and to limit the axial mobility, four guide segments 88a, 88b, 88c and 88d protrude from the inner peripheral wall 86 of the housing shell 84 in the radial direction.Their flanks 90 facing the flow body 32 are rounded according to the contour of the flow body 32 in such a way that they guide it laterally, similar to the centering strips 32, and at the same time also fulfill the function of the stop elements, e.g., the stop pins 70, 72, so that the structure of the housing 66 is simplified compared to the previously described embodiments. In the illustrated embodiment, this is achieved by the height of the guide segments 88, viewed in the radial direction, increasing from the height h in the region of the parting plane 80 to the height H in the direction of the nozzle 64. In the illustrated embodiment, four guide segments 88a, 88b, 88c, 88d are provided, but three or more guide segments can also be implemented. In principle, it is also possible to design the housing 66 to be elongated, so that the housing parts are not hemispherical but rather hollow-cylindrical with rounded end faces or the like.can be executed.

[0076] After the housing parts 84 have been glued together, the respective guide segments complement each other to form guide ribs that enclose the flow body along its circumference in the longitudinal direction.

[0077] In all of the previously described embodiments, the flow-calming device 30 is designed with a single flow body 32. In principle, it can also be designed with two or more flow bodies positioned one behind the other in the flow direction or next to each other with respect to the flow direction. As explained above, the flow body 32 can also be fixed in the flow cross-section, thus ensuring a constant flow around the flow body, while at the same time eliminating the need for guide elements to position the flow body 32.

[0078] Disclosed are a teatcup liner and a flow calming device suitable for such a teatcup liner, which is designed to calm the milk flow within the teatcup liner and to reduce backflow.

[0079] Reference symbol list:

[0080] 1 teat rubber

[0081] 2 hose part

[0082] 4 teat rubber head

[0083] 6 head sleeve

[0084] 8 Annular space

[0085] 10 clamping bead

[0086] 12 insertion opening

[0087] 14 teats

[0088] 16 headroom

[0089] 18 Teat receiving room

[0090] 20 Interior

[0091] 22 Ventilation duct

[0092] 24 Longitudinal axis

[0093] 26 Teat rubber wall

[0094] 28 Air intake nozzle

[0095] 30 Flow calming device / FCS device

[0096] 32 flow bodies

[0097] 34 stop knobs

[0098] 36 stop knobs

[0099] 38 hundredweight bar

[0100] 40 inner peripheral wall

[0101] 42 vertices

[0102] 44 vertices

[0103] 46 sloping end

[0104] 48 Thin-wall area

[0105] 49 Massage bar

[0106] 50 milk hose

[0107] 51 massage bar

[0108] 52 Radial extension

[0109] 54 flow channel

[0110] 56 Mouth area

[0111] 58 Mouth area

[0112] 60 long milk hose inlet nozzle

[0113] drain nozzle

[0114] Housing

[0115] channel

[0116] stop pin

[0117] stop pin

[0118] Longitudinal axis

[0119] Headband

[0120] Headband

[0121] Parting line

[0122] Housing part

[0123] Housing shell

[0124] Inner peripheral wall a, 88b, 88c, 88d guide segment

[0125] flank

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 22 July 2025 (22.05.2025) 1. A teatcup liner with a teatcup liner head (4) and a hose part (2) which forms a teat receiving space (18) for a teat (14), wherein at least one movable flow body (32) of a flow calming device (30) is arranged downstream of the teat receiving space (18), which flow calming device is designed to at least reduce backwash effects and / or to even out the flow during a suction cycle and during a massage cycle, in particular in the transition region between the massage cycle and the suction cycle, due to a flow around the flow body (32), wherein the movement of the flow body (32) in and against the milk flow direction is limited in each case by a pin (70, 72) arranged in the region of the flow cross-section or by stop knobs (34, 36) or other stop elements.

2. Teatcup rubber according to claim 1, wherein the flow body (32) is approximately spherical or elliptical, wherein a flow-induced axial and / or radial movement is limited by stop Z-guide elements of the flow calming device (30).

3. Teatcup rubber according to one of the preceding claims, wherein preferably more than two guide elements distributed around the circumference and limiting a radial position of the flow body (32) are formed by centering strips (38) provided, preferably in one piece, on the teatcup rubber (1) or on the flow calming device (30).

4. Teatcup rubber according to one of the preceding claims, wherein it is designed with an inclined end (46) and the flow calming device (30) with the flow body (32) is arranged approximately in the area between the inclined end (46) and a clamping bead (10). 24 AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19) 5. Teatcup rubber according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the flow calming device (30) with the flow body (32) is positioned in a milk hose (50, 60) in the manner of a sight glass.

6. Teatcup liner according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the flow body (32) is positioned in a radial extension (52) of the flow calming device (30), wherein its dimensions, in particular a diameter (S) of the flow body (32), are equal to or greater than the clear width of sections of the flow channel (54) opening into the radial extension (52), and wherein preferably an effective flow cross-section of the flow calming device (30) is at least approximately as large as the flow cross-section of the adjacent sections of the flow channel (54).

7. Teatcup rubber according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the flow body (32) is arranged in a preferably multi-part housing (66) of the flow calming device (30), which is detachably attached to a milk hose (50, 60) or another flow path of the teatcup rubber (1) or is integrated into it.

8. Teatcup rubber according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the flow calming device (30) is formed with two flow bodies (32), preferably arranged one behind the other in the flow direction.

9. Flow calming device, in particular for a teat rubber (1) according to one of the preceding claims, with a preferably multi-part housing (66) on which an inlet and an outlet connection (62, 64) are formed, between which a, preferably radially expanded, flow calming space for a movable flow body (32) 25 AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19) is provided, wherein stop and / or guide elements are provided in the flow calming space to limit the radial and / or axial position of the flow body (32).

10. Flow calming device according to claim 9, wherein dimensions, in particular a diameter (S), of the flow body (32) are equal to or greater than the clear width of the sections of the flow channel (54) opening into the radial extension (52).

11. Flow calming device according to claim 9 or 10, wherein an effective flow cross-section of the flow calming chamber is at least approximately as large as the flow cross-section of the adjacent sections of the flow channel (54).

12. Flow calming device according to claim 11, wherein the housing (66) is at least partially transparent and wherein preferably the flow body (32) is designed as an indicator for impurities.

13. Flow calming device according to one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the housing (66) is formed by two shell-like housing parts (82), on the inner peripheral wall (86) of which at least three radially projecting guide segments (88a, 88b, 88c, 88d) are formed, which guide the flow body (32) in the radial direction and act as stop elements. 26 AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19)

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