Teat cup liner

Abstract

The invention relates to a teat cup liner comprising massaging elements, at least some portions of which are designed as member massaging elements.

Description

[0001] teat cup liner

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention relates to a teatcup rubber according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0004] 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.

[0005] 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.

[0006] Patent EP 3 104 688 B1 discloses a teatcup liner in which the tube section is formed by a comparatively thick rear wall and a massage wall that is reinforced laterally by stabilizing strips. A thin-walled area is formed below this massage wall, which folds in during the massage cycle, thus covering the sloped end and interrupting the vacuum connection. With such a design, the main massage of the teat is provided by the massage wall, which is formed approximately halfway along the side.

[0007] The disadvantage of this approach is that the massage is not performed at the optimal intensity. However, efficient teat massage during milking is crucial for the cow's well-being and for maintaining good teat condition. Since almost all pathogens that can cause mastitis enter the udder cistern through a teat canal at the teat tip, it is essential that the teat canal is in a healthy, physiologically sound condition to ward off pathogens.

[0008] If the liner is too hard, with a thick wall and / or a high longitudinal tension, the massage will be transmitted effectively from the teat tip to the teat towards the teat base. However, this advantage comes at the cost of the teat tip and teat canal being subjected to severe mechanical stress due to the high forces. This can flatten the teat tip, resulting in two longitudinal deformations on the teat in the form of opposing bulges or folds (so-called "iron wrinkles"). If the liner is too soft and / or the longitudinal tension is lower, the high elasticity of the liner wall means that the massage effect is comparatively weak. In many cases, this massage effect is not sufficient to maintain the cow's willingness to let down milk, resulting in a reduced milking rate and a deterioration in the cow's well-being.

[0009] The documents DE 10 2011 001 788 A1 and DE 10 2004 010 375 A1 propose solutions in which two massage bars arranged diametrically opposite each other are formed on the hose part, which in particular improve the longitudinal rigidity of the massage area.

[0010] In practice, however, it has been shown that with conventional massage bars extending in the longitudinal direction of the tube part, a sufficient massage in the area of ​​the teat tip is not always guaranteed.

[0011] In contrast, the invention is based on the object of creating a teat rubber which ensures an efficient massage of the teat, even in the area of ​​the teat tip.

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

[0013] Advantageous further developments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

[0014] The teatcup liner according to the invention has a teatcup liner head and a tube part that forms a teat receiving space for a teat. Two massage bars are arranged diametrically on a tube part wall, extending approximately in the longitudinal direction of the tube part, by which the wall thickness of the tube part is increased in sections. According to the invention, the massage bars are not designed to be continuous in the longitudinal direction, but at least in sections as articulated massage bars with a plurality of spaced-apart joint structures extending approximately in the circumferential direction of the tube part.In other words, the massage bars are not solid throughout but are formed at least in sections by articulated sections, whereby this longitudinal link structure and the resulting optimized deformation possibility ensure a significantly better massage, especially in the area of ​​the teat tip, than with conventional solutions, whereby it is particularly advantageous that the massage takes place on both sides.

[0015] However, the applicant reserves the right to also make an independent patent claim for a teat rubber designed with only a single limb massage bar.

[0016] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, each joint structure of a massage bar with articulated members is formed by a joint recess that is continuous or, viewed in the circumferential direction of the massage bar, only partially formed, or by a plurality of recess sections arranged in a line-shaped manner in the manner of a perforation, which extend between two adjacent massage bar members and connect them to one another in an approximately articulated manner.

[0017] It is particularly preferred if the depth (T) of the joint structure in the radial direction is between 0.5 mm and 2.0 mm, preferably between 0.75 mm and 1.1 mm.

[0018] In one embodiment of the invention, the distance between adjacent joint structures, i.e., the length (as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the teat cup liner) of the massage bar elements, is significantly greater than the effective joint width of the joint structures, which determines the elasticity of the respective massage bar. Adaptation to an average teat geometry can be improved if the distance between adjacent joint structures and / or the depth of the joint structures are designed differently, so that the length of the massage bar elements changes toward the teat tip.

[0019] The massage effect can be further optimized if the circumferential width or height of the massage bar is varied along its length.

[0020] To stabilize the thinner side walls of the hose part adjacent to the massage bars, two reinforcing bars can be provided, with each reinforcing bar being arranged offset by approximately 90° to the massage bars, so that the reinforcing bars are also arranged diametrically.

[0021] The height and / or width of the reinforcement bars can be smaller than that of the massage bars. In principle, the length of the reinforcement bars can be approximately the same as the length of the massage bars.

[0022] In one embodiment of the invention, a rear massage bar, i.e., a massage bar located opposite the thin-walled area that folds in during the massage phase or at the angled end, is designed with a shorter effective length than a front massage bar, which is located approximately in the area or as an extension of the thin-walled area. In this case, a longitudinal section of each of the massage bars can be designed as a sectional massage bar.

[0023] Preferably, the rear massage bar extends approximately along half the circumference of the hose part, with a width of the front massage bar being smaller and being approximately between 8 mm and 20 mm.

[0024] Surprisingly, these dimensions significantly improve the bilateral massage effect compared to conventional solutions. A further advantage is that the inventive design of the back of the tube section ensures that the thin-walled area rests flat against the sloped end during the massage cycle when collapsing, thus ensuring a reliable seal against the vacuum. This bilateral massage also ensures optimal blood circulation in the teats, with the teat massage being characterized by the differential pressure, which is determined not least by the structure of the limb massage bars.

[0025] The massage effect can be further optimized if the wall thickness of the hose part is greater in the area of ​​the longitudinal or side edges of the massage bars than in an area lying between these longitudinal / side edges, whereby this difference in wall thickness is preferably determined by a flattening or other wall thickness reduction of the massage bars or by two longitudinal ribs formed in the longitudinal edge area.

[0026] In a variant of the invention, the wall thickness of the tube part in the area of ​​the rear limb massage along the two longitudinal edges is approximately 10% to 40% greater than the wall thickness of the tube part in the area between these longitudinal edges, with this wall thickness roughly corresponding to the wall thickness of the tube part in the area of ​​the side edges of the front limb massage. This further development supports the above-described precise collapse of the teat rubber during the massage cycle.

[0027] According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, an outer surface / cover surface of the front-side limb massage bar runs as a substantially flat surface approximately parallel to a tangent of the hose part.

[0028] In a particularly preferred embodiment, a venting nozzle is formed in the teatcup liner head. In one exemplary embodiment, at least one stationary or movable flow body of a flow-calming device is provided downstream of the teat-receiving chamber. This flow-calming device is designed, particularly during a suction cycle and during a massage cycle, particularly in the transition region between the massage cycle and the suction cycle, to at least reduce backwash effects and / or to even out the flow due to a flow around the flow body. Movement of the flow body in and against the milk flow direction can be limited by stop elements arranged in the region of the flow cross-section.

[0029] Advantageously, the teatcup rubber can be designed with a ventilation channel, wherein in the region of an end section of the ventilation channel pointing towards a head space of the teatcup rubber, a preferably annular transverse channel is formed which crosses this transverse channel and into which, according to a further development, a short channel can open which extends laterally offset from the end section of the ventilation channel from the transverse channel in the direction of the head space of the teatcup rubber.

[0030] Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to schematic drawings. They show:

[0031] Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section through a first embodiment of a teat rubber according to the invention with massage and reinforcing strips;

[0032] Figure 2 shows a radial section along the section line AA in Figure 1;

[0033] Figure 3 shows the teat rubber according to Figures 1 and 2 during the massage stroke;

[0034] Figure 4 shows an embodiment of a teatcup liner according to the invention with a slanted end; Figure 5 shows a three-dimensional representation of another embodiment of a teatcup liner according to the invention;

[0035] Figure 6 is a front view of the teatcup liner according to Figure 5;

[0036] Figure 7 is a rear view of the teatcup liner according to Figure 5;

[0037] Figure 8 is a side view of the teatcup liner according to Figure 5;

[0038] Figure 9 shows a longitudinal section through the teatcup liner according to Figures 5 to 8;

[0039] Figure 10 shows a section along the section line AA in Figure 6

[0040] Figure 11 a detail C in Figure 9,

[0041] Figure 12 shows an embodiment with a flow calming device and

[0042] Figure 13 shows another embodiment with ventilation and cross duct.

[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 the 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 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 underneath. The latter can be connected to the head space 16 via a ventilation channel 22. Specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, this ventilation channel 22 is formed by a groove in the teat liner wall 26 that preferably runs parallel to the longitudinal axis 24 of the teat cup 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 and is further developed with the embodiment according to Figure 13.

[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] Figure 2 shows a section along the radial section plane AA indicated in Figure 1, which thus runs vertically to the longitudinal axis 24 and to 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 20, is cut accordingly. As can be seen in particular from the section, the teat rubber wall 26 is designed with two massage strips 30, 32 and two reinforcing strips 34, 36, which protrude outwards in the radial direction from the circumference of the tube part 2. The two massage strips 30, 32 and the two reinforcing strips 34, 36 are each arranged diametrically, with the reinforcing strips 34, 36 being offset by approximately 90° to the massage strips 30, 32.

[0050] In the illustration according to Figure 1, the massage bar 30 located at the top in Figure 2 is not shown in dashed lines, as is actually required in a sectional view, but is shown with continuous lines for clarity.

[0051] Massage strips in the area of ​​the tube section surrounding the teat 14 are known from the prior art according to EP 3 104 688 B1 or DE 10 2011 001 788 A1. According to the invention, however, these massage strips 30, 32 are not designed throughout as a comparatively rigid reinforcing structure, but at least partially as a significantly more flexible articulated massage strip, which also ensures a massage in the area of ​​the teat tip.

[0052] In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, these massage bars 30, 32 are provided according to detail X with a plurality of joint structures, which in the embodiment shown are each designed as a joint recess 38 (see also Figure 3), by which the bending elasticity of the massage bars 30, 32 is significantly improved. Two adjacent

[0053] Articulated recesses 38 each delimit a massage bar member 40, so that two adjacent massage bar members 40 are each connected in an articulated manner by the area of ​​the massage bars 30, 32 formed by the articulating recess 38.

[0054] The depth T of the joint recess 38 shown in Figure 2 is at least half the height H of the massage bars 30, 32 projecting radially from the outer circumference of the tube part 2. In principle, this depth T can also be selected such that it is greater than the height H and thus extends into the teatcup liner wall 26. This tube part 2 is thus designed with a wall thickness that is increased in the area of ​​the massage bars 30, 32 and the reinforcing bars 34, 36 according to the height of these elements projecting from the outer circumference of the tube part 2. The joint recess 38 is designed with a profile that facilitates demolding during the manufacture of the teatcup liner 1 - a preferred variant will be discussed later with reference to Figure 11. At least the side walls 42 of the joint recess 38 are slightly tapered for this purpose, so that the profile of the joint recess 38 is approximately trapezoidal or rounded.

[0055] The joint recesses 38 do not necessarily have to be continuous - as in the illustrated embodiment - but can also be designed in the manner of a perforation with joint recess sections that are arranged one behind the other in a line.

[0056] The distance A between adjacent joint recesses 38, shown in detail X, is designed to be significantly larger than their joint width b. The distance A and thus the length of the massage bar elements 40 can be approximately 5 to 15 mm, while the width b of the joint recesses 38 can be between 1 and 5 mm. The width B of the massage bars 30, 32 or the massage bar elements 40 can be between 8 and 15 mm. Ultimately, these geometries are designed to ensure good massage transmission from the teat tip to the teat in the direction of the teat base. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the length L of the massage bars 30, 32 is selected to ensure massage of teats 14 with different teat lengths - accordingly, the massage bars 30, 32 extend from the teat liner head 4 into the area of ​​the interior 20 located below the teat 14.

[0057] As explained above, the two reinforcing strips 34, 36 are arranged offset by 90° to the massage strips 30, 32 and thus form a longitudinal reinforcement of the side walls 42, 44 of the teat rubber wall 26 that adjoin the sides of the massage strips 30, 32. The two reinforcing strips 34, 36 are arranged at the respective apex of these side walls 42, 44, with a width U that is significantly smaller than the width B of the massage strips 30, 32. The height h of the reinforcing strips 34, 36 corresponds approximately to the height H of the massage strips 30, 32; but it can of course also be selected differently. In the illustrated embodiment, the reinforcing strips 34, 36 extending approximately parallel to the massage strips 30, 32 are rounded, wherein the longitudinal extent L corresponds to that of the massage strips 30, 32.Instead of the rounded profile of the reinforcing strips 34, 36, other geometries can of course also be used - it is essential that these reinforcing strips 34, 36 are selected in such a way that they ensure the longitudinal rigidity of the side walls 42, 44 required during milking without negatively influencing the massage effect.

[0058] Figure 3 shows a variant of the teat cup liner 1 according to Figure 1 during the massage cycle. As explained above, the annular space 8 between the teat cup and the outer peripheral wall of the tube part 2 is subjected to atmospheric or overpressure, so that the area of ​​the teat cup liner 1 provided with the massage bars 30, 32 collapses and, accordingly, the articulated massage bars 30, 32 fit precisely against the outer circumference of the teat 14, so that the teat is massaged all the way to the teat tip. In the area below this teat tip, the two massage bars 30, 32 and the tube part 2 are further curved.

[0059] During this massage cycle, the reinforcing strips 34, 36 arranged at right angles to the two massage strips 30, 32 stabilize the side walls 42, 44 extending longitudinally adjacent to the massage strips 30, 32, which are designed with a significantly thinner wall thickness than the massage strips 30, 32. Accordingly, the inventive concept ensures a more intense massage on both sides, up to the teat tip, compared to the prior art, with the reinforcing strips 34, 36 stabilizing the collapse of the weaker side walls 42, 44.

[0060] In the embodiment according to Figure 3, the reinforcement strips 34, 36 are designed with a length LS that is slightly greater than the length L of the two massage strips 30, 32. Of course, both strips can also be designed with the same length L (see Figure 1).

[0061] In the embodiments described above, the vacuum is closed off by the collapsing massage bars 30, 32 or thin-walled regions 48 (not shown) which adjoin in the longitudinal direction and which come into contact with the massage cycle and thus block the connection to the vacuum.

[0062] Figure 4 shows, in a view rotated by 90° compared to the view in Figure 1, an embodiment in which the teatcup liner 1 is designed with a slanted end 46 which is covered by a thin-walled region 48 adjoining the massage bar 32 in the longitudinal direction during the massage cycle in order to interrupt the connection to the vacuum. The region of the teatcup liner wall 26 adjoining the other massage bar 30 in the longitudinal direction has a greater wall thickness than the thin-walled region 48, although this wall thickness is selected such that it allows the massage bars 30, 32 to arch in during the massage cycle. In the embodiment according to Figure 4, a milk hose 50 is attached in one piece to the clamping bead 10. Otherwise, the embodiment according to Figure 4 corresponds to those explained with reference to Figures 1 to 3, so that further explanations regarding the structure of the teatcup liner 1 are unnecessary.

[0063] In the illustrated embodiments, the air inlet nozzle 28 is positioned so that it is flushed with the cleaning fluid when cleaning the teatcup liner 1 using a rinsing cap. In principle, the air inlet nozzle 28 can also be positioned in the largest circumferential area of ​​the teatcup liner head 4, so that any contamination is wiped off when the rinsing cap is applied.

[0064] Figure 5 shows a three-dimensional representation of a preferred embodiment of a teatcup liner 1 according to the invention. In this embodiment, too, two massage bars 30, 32 are formed opposite one another. However, in contrast to the previously described embodiments, these bars are not designed as continuous, but only in sections as articulated massage bars and, as can also be seen from the illustration in Figure 5, are extended beyond these articulated massage bars. These regions are referred to below as articulated massage bar section 52 and articulated massage bar section 54, respectively. The specific structure of these bar sections is explained below with reference to Figures 6 to 11.

[0065] The basic structure of this exemplary embodiment of a teatcup liner 1 with a teatcup liner head 4, a hose section 2, a ring sleeve 6, and the short milk hose 50 corresponds to that of the previously described exemplary embodiments, so that explanations of the basic structure are unnecessary. As can be seen in particular from the illustration in Figure 5, in this exemplary embodiment too, the hose section 2 is slightly conical towards the milk hose 50, and the cross-section is somewhat ovalized. In this exemplary embodiment, the front-side articulated bar massage section 54 of the massage bar 32 is somewhat shorter than the articulated bar massage section 52 of the rear-side massage bar 30. According to the illustration in Figure 5, the latter extends essentially along the hose section 2, approximately from the head sleeve 6 of the teatcup liner head 4 to a rear wall 55, which, according to Figure 9 described below, encompasses the sloping end 46 not visible in Figure 5.The rear wall 55 is widened in the circumferential direction at the transition to the clamping bead 10 by a transition region 56, which ends in the clamping bead 10. Accordingly, the transition region 56 encompasses more than half the circumference of the hose part 2. The articulated massage bar section 52 thus extends only along a partial region L of the massage bar 30. The articulated massage bar section 54 of the front massage bar 32 is designed with a slightly shorter length I than the articulated massage bar section 52 of the rear massage bar 30. The front massage bar 32 is extended beyond the articulated massage bar section 54 to form a stabilizing wall 58, which somewhat stabilizes the front thin-wall region 48 and ends at a distance from the clamping bead 10 or ends in it.This stabilizing wall 58 optimizes the folding of the thin-wall region 48, so that a flat contact with the inclined end 46 (see Figure 9) is ensured.

[0066] Accordingly, the rear massage bar 30 ending at the rear wall 55 is designed with a shorter effective length than the front massage bar 32 extending into the thin-wall region 48, so that although a massage of the teat on both sides is ensured, the predominant part of the massage is carried out via the front massage bar 32.

[0067] The geometry of the front massage bar 32 is clearly visible in the front view of the teatcup liner 1 according to Figure 6. In the illustrated embodiment, the articulated massage bar section 54 is formed with a total of five joint recesses 38', which define four massage bar links 40 between them, wherein in the illustration according to Figure 6, only one joint recess 38' and one massage bar link 40' are provided with a reference symbol. As explained above, the hose part 2 is slightly tapered towards the clamping bead 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the articulated massage bar section 54 is also tapered, so that its width B in the area of ​​the teatcup liner head 4 is slightly larger than the width B' at the clamping bead-side end section. This tapering of the articulated massage bar section 54 is effected by a corresponding slight inclination of side edges 60, 62, thus facilitating demolding.A corresponding conification of the hose section 2 and the massage bars 30, 32 can also be provided in the previously described embodiments. As explained, the massage bar 32 is extended by the stabilizing wall 58 beyond the length I of the limb massage bar section 54, whereby the increase in the hose section wall thickness in this extended region is significantly smaller than in the section of the hose section wall thickness formed by the limb massage bar section 54. In other words, the radial elevation of the stabilizing wall 58 is smaller than that of the limb massage bar section 54. In the illustrated embodiment, the stabilizing wall 58 has a width P that is slightly smaller than the width B'.In the transition area to the clamping bead 10, the stabilizing wall 58 is again stepped back to a width Y, wherein in this area the wall thickness of the hose part 2 is less than in the area of ​​the stabilizing wall 58 marked by the P. This stepping back can also be omitted, so that the stabilizing wall 58 then extends with approximately the width P to the clamping bead 10. In principle, the stepped back part can also be omitted, so that the stabilizing wall 58 ends at a distance from the clamping bead 10.

[0068] The illustration in Figure 6 clearly shows the longitudinal edges 64, 66 of the rear massage bar 30, which delimit the peripheral area of ​​the rear massage bar 30 and lie approximately in the plane of the drawing, so that the rear massage bar 30 encompasses half the circumference of the hose part 2. The longitudinal edges 64, 66 merge into longitudinal edge sections 67 and 69, respectively, of the rear wall 55, which, as shown in Figure 6, converge in the form of a parabolic rounding, the apex of which borders the clamping bead 10. As can also be seen in Figure 6, the longitudinal edges 64, 66 run, at least in sections, approximately parallel to the side edges 60 and 62, respectively, of the massage bar 32.

[0069] Figure 7 shows the rear side of the teatcup liner 1 according to Figures 5 and 6 with the massage bar 30, which is designed as a articulated massage bar section 52 along the length L. This has six joint recesses 38 extending along the entire width of the massage bar 30, which define five massage bar links 40 between them. This length L is slightly greater than the length I of the articulated massage bar section 54 of the front massage bar 30. As explained, the rear massage bar 30 and the adjoining rear wall 55 encompass approximately half of the tube section circumference, while - as described with reference to Figure 6 - the transition region 56 surrounds more than half of the tube section circumference.

[0070] To simplify the manufacture of the teat rubber 1, the joint recesses 38 of the rear massage bar section 52 can also be designed such that they do not extend along the entire width of the massage bar section 52, which corresponds to half the circumference, but end at a distance from the longitudinal edges 64, 66 and thus have a smaller circumferential extent.

[0071] In the illustrated embodiment, the distance A, A' (see also Figure 9) between the joint recesses 38, 38' of the massage bars 30, 32 is the same. However, to optimize the folding of the teat rubber 1, the distances A, A' of the joint recesses 38, 39' of the articulated massage bar sections 52, 54 can also be designed differently.

[0072] The geometry of the articulated massage bar sections 52, 54 is clearly illustrated in Figure 8. This illustration shows that the two joint recesses 38, 38' of the articulated massage bar sections 52, 54, arranged adjacent to the teat rubber head 4, lie approximately in the same radial plane. However, since the articulated massage bar section 52 is designed with six joint recesses 38 and the articulated massage bar section 54 with five joint recesses 38', the articulated massage bar section 52 extends over a greater axial length L than the articulated massage bar section 54.

[0073] As can be seen in particular in the illustration according to Figure 8, the radial elevation of the massage bar 32 measured from the outer circumference of the tube part 2 is smaller in the region of the stabilizing wall 58 than in the region of the limb massage bar section 54, so that the stiffness of the tube part wall in the thin-wall region 48 is not excessively increased and thus the desired folding kinetics of the teat rubber 1 is ensured.

[0074] Figure 9 shows a longitudinal section along the section plane BB according to Figure 6, which extends longitudinally through the liner head 4 with the head sleeve 6, the hose part 2, the clamping bead 10 and the milk hose 50. This section plane accordingly also runs through the massage bars 30, 32, in particular through their articulated massage bar sections 52, 54. As explained above, the joint recesses 38, 38' arranged adjacent to the liner head 4 lie approximately in one plane (perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in Figure 9), wherein the distances A, A' to the adjacent joint recesses 38 and thus the longitudinal extent A, A' of the massage bar links 40, 40' are the same.Since, as mentioned, the rear limb massage bar section 52 is formed with six joint recesses 38 and the front limb massage bar section 54 is formed with five joint recesses 38', the longitudinal extent of the limb massage bar section 52 is somewhat larger than the longitudinal extent of the limb massage bar section 54.

[0075] This sectional view also clearly shows the slanted end 46, which is covered during the massage phase by the folding of the thin-walled region 48, thus interrupting the connection to the vacuum. This view also shows that the overall wall thickness of the hose section 2 in the area of ​​the massage bar 30 is only slightly increased by the stabilizing wall 58. This view also shows that the rear massage bar 30 extends only as far as the rear wall 55 surrounding the slanted end 46 and thus has a shorter effective length than the front massage bar 32, which extends into the thin-walled region 48.

[0076] In the area of ​​the hose part 2 encompassed by the clamping bead 10, a flow-calming device can be provided, which serves to calm the milk flow during the suction stroke and to prevent harmful backflow. Such a flow-calming device is described in a parallel application by the applicant, to which reference is made to avoid unnecessary repetition and whose disclosure is to be incorporated into that of the present application. The sectional view according to Figure 9 shows a centering strip 68 of the flow-calming device 78, through which a flow body intended for flow-calming is guided in the radial and axial directions. An exemplary embodiment of this flow-calming device 78 is explained below with reference to Figure 12.

[0077] Figure 10 shows a section along the section plane AA in Figure 6. This section thus runs through the hose part 2, which is tapered towards the milk hose 50. In the center, the inner circumferential wall of the hose part 2 is visible in the area of ​​the clamping bead 10 downstream of the inclined end 46 with three centering strips 68 distributed around the circumference, of which only one is provided with a reference symbol. As explained above, the rear-wall massage strip 30 extends approximately along half the circumference of the teatcup liner 1, while the front-side massage strip 32 is only designed with the width B / B', which forms only a comparatively small circumferential area of ​​the hose part 2. The massage strip members 40' visible in the section according to Figure 10 each have a flat cover surface 70, which extends approximately at a parallel distance to a tangent of the hose part 2 and by which the wall thickness of the respective massage strip member 40' is determined.Accordingly, the wall thickness W in the area of ​​the massage bar member 40' is greater than the wall thickness WS in the adjacent area of ​​the hose part 2. In one embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the wall thickness W is approximately 2.8 mm, which is somewhat larger than the dimension W due to the tangential design of the cover surface 70 in the area of ​​the two side edges 60, 62.

[0078] The outer cover surfaces 72 of the rear massage bar members 40 are rounded, with the radius of curvature being slightly larger than that of the tubular part in the corresponding area. These differences in the radius of curvature result in the wall thickness W in the area of ​​the longitudinal edges 64, 66 being greater than in the area WZ in between, which in turn is greater than the wall thickness WS of the tubular part 2 in this area. The wall thickness WZ in the area between the longitudinal edges 64, 66 corresponds approximately to the wall thickness W of the articulated massage bar section 52. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the teatcup rubber 1 is designed such that the wall thickness W is approximately 3.5 mm, while the wall thickness WZ corresponds to the wall thickness W and is thus approximately 2.8 mm.

[0079] Figure 11 shows detail B in Figure 9. This enlarged view shows the profile of the joint recesses 38 (38'), which is preferably identical for all limb massage bars 30, 32. This profile of the joint recess 38 is designed with a view to optimal demolding during the manufacture of the teat rubber 1. According to the sectional view in Figure 11, the profile has a concavely curved peripheral wall 74 with an approximately constant radius of curvature, which merges into an inclined surface 76 arranged approximately tangentially thereto, which facilitates demolding from the manufacturing tool. As stated, all joint recesses 38, 38' are preferably designed with approximately the same geometry.

[0080] According to Figure 12, in the area of ​​the interior 20, i.e. upstream of the clamping bead 10, the above-mentioned flow calming device 78 - also called FCS device - is arranged, which is designed, in particular during the suction stroke and also during the massage stroke and the transition between the suction and massage stroke, to calm the liquid flow and / or to prevent foaming of the milk and / or to prevent or at least greatly restrict backflow at the beginning of the suction phase, whereby the milking vacuum is not impaired.

[0081] In the embodiment shown in Figure 12, this is achieved by positioning a flow body 80 at a distance from the teat 14, around which the milk flows during the milking process. In the illustrated embodiment, the flow body 80 is designed as a sphere; other geometries optimized for flow that minimizes pressure loss can also be realized. In the illustrated embodiment, the flow body 80 is movably mounted within the area of ​​the hose part 2 marked A in Figure 1. In principle, a positionally fixed flow body 80 can also be used.

[0082] The movement of the flow body 80 is limited in the direction of the longitudinal axis 24 of the teat cup liner 1 by stop knobs 82, 84, which act as stop elements for the flow body 80, so to speak, so that it is only movable along the area A. The lateral guidance transverse to the longitudinal axis 24 is provided by the centering strips 68 already shown in Figure 9, which are also formed on the inner circumferential wall of the tube part 2. This area of ​​the flow calming device 78 thus forms a flow calming chamber.

[0083] Such a flow calming device 78 can be provided in all of the previously described embodiments.

[0084] In the exemplary embodiment of a teatcup liner 1 shown in Figure 13, as in the teatcup liners 1 according to Figures 1 and 3, a ventilation channel 22 in the form of a groove is provided, which can be shorter or longer than the teat 14 and which, in cooperation with the air inlet nozzle 28, optimizes vacuum relief during the massage cycle and milk transport during the suction phase. This ventilation channel 22 crosses an annular transverse channel 86, which is arranged below the head space 16 in the teat receiving space 18 of the tube part 2. This transverse channel 86 acts, in the broadest sense, like a depot for the ventilation medium (air), thus ensuring that ventilation during the massage phase and milk transport are carried out reliably, largely independently of the folding direction of the teatcup liner 1 and the position of the opening area of ​​the ventilation channel 22.Furthermore, a short channel 88 opens into this transverse channel 86, which extends approximately as far as the ventilation channel 22 into the head space 16 and does not extend beyond the transverse channel 86 in the direction of the interior space 20. It has been shown that this additional short channel 88 can compensate for a possible reduction in the air quantity caused by a stronger contact pressure of a teat 14 on the ventilation channel 22 and its resulting reduction in cross-section.

[0085] In one variant, the groove-shaped ventilation channel 22 is arranged laterally offset from the longitudinal axis of the massage bar 32.

[0086] Disclosed is a teat rubber with massage bars which are designed, at least in sections, as limb massage bars.

[0087] List of reference symbols:

[0088] 1 teat rubber

[0089] 2 hose part

[0090] 4 teat rubber head

[0091] 6 head sleeve

[0092] 8 Annular space

[0093] 10 clamping bead

[0094] 12 insertion opening

[0095] 14 teats

[0096] 16 headroom

[0097] 18 Teat receiving room

[0098] 20 Interior

[0099] 22 Ventilation duct / gutter

[0100] 24 Longitudinal axis

[0101] 26 Teat rubber wall

[0102] 28 Air intake nozzle

[0103] 30 massage bar

[0104] 32 massage bar

[0105] 34 Reinforcement strip

[0106] 36 reinforcement strip

[0107] 38 Joint recess

[0108] 40 massage bar link

[0109] 42 side wall

[0110] 44 side wall

[0111] 46 sloping end

[0112] 48 Thin-wall area

[0113] 50 milk hose

[0114] 52 limb massage bar section

[0115] 54 limb massage bar section

[0116] 55 Rear wall

[0117] 56 Transition area

[0118] 58 Stabilizing wall

[0119] 60 side edge

[0120] 62 Side edge Longitudinal edge

[0121] Longitudinal edge

[0122] Longitudinal edge section

[0123] Centering bar

[0124] Longitudinal edge section

[0125] Cover area

[0126] Cover area

[0127] peripheral wall

[0128] inclined surface

[0129] Flow calming device

[0130] Flow body

[0131] Stop knob / stop

[0132] Stop knob / stop

[0133] Cross channel

[0134] Short channel

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 22 July 2025 (22.07.2025) 1. A teatcup liner with a teatcup liner head (4) and a tube part (2) which forms a teat receiving space (18) for a teat (14), wherein two massage bars (30, 32) are arranged diametrically on a tube part wall, extending approximately in the longitudinal direction of the tube part (2) and projecting from the outer circumference, by means of which the wall thickness of the tube part (2) is increased in sections, characterized in that the massage bars (30, 32) are designed, at least in sections, as articulated massage bars with a plurality of spaced-apart joint structures extending approximately in the circumferential direction of the tube part (2), wherein a width of a rear massage bar (30) seen in the circumferential direction is greater than the width (B, B') of a front massage bar (32) arranged approximately diametrically thereto.

2. Teatcup rubber according to claim 1, wherein the joint structure is formed by a continuous joint recess (38, 38') extending only along a partial area of ​​the link massage bar or by a plurality of recess sections arranged linearly in the manner of a perforation, wherein adjacent joint structures each delimit a massage bar link (40, 40').

3. Teatcup rubber according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a depth (T) of the joint structure is between 0.5 mm and 2.0 mm, preferably between 0.75 mm and 1.1 mm.

4. Teatcup rubber according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a distance (A) between adjacent joint structures is substantially greater than a joint width (b) of the joint structure and / or wherein a distance (A) between adjacent joint structures and / or a depth (T) of the joint structures is designed differently in the longitudinal direction of the massage bars (30, 32). 28 AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19) 5. Teatcup rubber according to one of the preceding claims, wherein only one longitudinal section of the rear massage bar (30) and / or the front massage bar (32) is designed with a articulated massage bar section (52, 54).

6. Teatcup rubber according to claim 5, wherein the rear massage bar (30) extends approximately along half the circumference of the tube part (2) and the width (B, B') of the front massage bar (32) is between 8 mm and 20 mm.

7. Teatcup liner according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a joint width (b) of the joint structure is between 1 mm and 5 mm and / or a distance (A) between adjacent joint structures is approximately 5 mm to 15 mm.

8. Teatcup rubber according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a wall thickness (W, W) in the region of longitudinal or side edges (60, 62; 64, 66) of the articulated massage bar sections (50, 52) is greater than in the region between these longitudinal or side edges (60, 62; 64, 66), wherein this wall thickness difference is preferably determined by a flattening or other wall thickness reduction of the massage bars (30, 32) or by two longitudinal ribs formed in the longitudinal / side edge region.

9. Teatcup rubber according to claim 8, wherein the wall thickness (W) of the tube part (2) in the region of the rear massage bar (30) along the two longitudinal edges (64, 66) is approximately 10% to 40% greater than the wall thickness (WZ) of the tube part (2) in the region between the longitudinal edges (64, 66), wherein this wall thickness (WZ) preferably corresponds approximately to the wall thickness (W) of the tube part (2) in the region of the side edges (60, 62) of the front massage bar (32). 29 AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19) 10. Teatcup rubber according to claim 8 or 9, wherein a cover surface (70) of the front massage bar (32) extends as a substantially flat surface approximately parallel to a tangent of the tube part (2).

11. Teatcup rubber according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in the region of the massage bars (30, 32) on the hose part (2) two reinforcing bars (34, 36) are arranged offset in the circumferential direction by approximately 90° to the massage bars (30, 32), wherein preferably a height (h) and / or a width (U) of the reinforcing bars (34, 36) is less than that of the massage bars (30, 32) and / or the length (LS) of the reinforcing bars (34, 36) corresponds approximately to the length (L) of the massage bars (30, 32).

12. Teatcup liner according to one of the preceding claims with an air inlet nozzle (28) in the teatcup liner head (4).

13. Teatcup liner according to one of the preceding claims, wherein downstream of the teat receiving space (18) at least one stationary or movable flow body (80) of a flow calming device (78) is arranged, which is designed, in particular 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 (80) to at least reduce backwash effects and / or to even out the flow, wherein preferably a movement of the flow body (32) in and against the milk flow direction is limited in each case by stop elements arranged in the region of the flow cross-section.

14. Teatcup rubber according to one of the preceding claims, with a ventilation channel (22) for ventilating the interior (20), which has a, 30 AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19) preferably annular, transverse channel (86) into which preferably a short channel (88) opens, which extends from the transverse channel (86) in the direction of the head space (16) of the teat rubber (1). 31 AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19)

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