Microprocessor-Controlled Milk Wagon for Calves

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mobile milk containers for calves lack advanced temperature control and efficient pasteurization mechanisms, leading to suboptimal milk temperature management and hygiene issues, especially during feeding.

Innovation Solution

Integration of a microprocessor-controlled system with a temperature sensor, heating device, timer, and level gauge to maintain milk at desired feeding temperatures, along with a cooling coil for rapid temperature adjustment, ensuring pasteurization and hygiene standards are met, and a user-friendly interface for easy operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a temperature sensor and heating device are integrated with a microprocessor for automatic temperature control, then the temperature management of milk is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemilk temperature controlVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses a microprocessor to automatically control the heating device based on temperature sensor feedback, enabling the milk container to self-regulate temperature without manual intervention. The microprocessor monitors temperature continuously and activates the heating device only when needed, creating a self-service temperature management system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The temperature sensor provides continuous feedback to the microprocessor about the actual milk temperature, which then adjusts the heating device accordingly. This closed-loop feedback system ensures the milk maintains the desired temperature range automatically, resolving the contradiction between improved temperature control and increased device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If a timer and quantity transmitter are added to control pasteurization timing and heating duration, then the pasteurization effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepasteurization reliabilityVSAvoidcontrol mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The timer allows users to pre-set the pasteurization duration and timing before the actual heating process begins. The quantity transmitter pre-determines the appropriate heating duration based on milk volume. These preliminary settings ensure reliable pasteurization without requiring complex real-time adjustments during the heating process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual timing and quantity estimation with electronic timer and quantity transmitter components controlled by a microprocessor. This substitution of mechanical/manual controls with electronic systems improves pasteurization reliability while keeping the added complexity manageable through integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a cooling coil with controllable valve is integrated for rapid cooling after pasteurization, then the hygiene quality is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegerm formation controlVSAvoidcooling system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling coil enables rapid cooling of pasteurized milk by forcing cold water through the coil, quickly bringing the milk temperature down to feeding temperature. This rapid cooling minimizes the time milk spends in the temperature range where germ formation occurs, effectively addressing hygiene concerns without requiring complex refrigeration systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling coil system uses cold water as an intermediary medium to transfer heat away from the milk. Instead of directly refrigerating the milk, the system circulates cold water through the coil, which absorbs heat from the milk and carries it away, providing efficient cooling with simpler infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Measurement precision

If a level gauge is integrated to measure milk quantity and provide feedback to the microprocessor, then the feeding precision is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemilk quantity measurementVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The level gauge provides continuous feedback to the microprocessor about the milk quantity in the container. This information is used to automatically adjust heating duration, pasteurization timing, and feeding amounts. The feedback loop ensures precise measurement and control of milk quantity without requiring manual measurement, improving feeding precision while managing complexity through automated processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system ensures milk is pasteurized and maintained at optimal feeding temperatures, simplifying operation and maintaining hygiene by automating temperature control and quantity management, providing optimal feeding conditions for calves.

Implementation Method 1

the heating device (30) heats the milk present in the tank (1) to a first increased temperature, in particular to a pasteurization temperature

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

a cooling coil is arranged in the tank and the tank has two connections, one of which has a controllable valve and can be connected to a water connection and the other to a water outlet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRapid cooling: Cooling

Data Source

PatentEP2893803B2Transportable milk container for livestock breeding, in particular for calves
Publication Date: 2020.07.08 HOLM HANS JOACHIM
  • EP2893803B2 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2893803B2 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

A mobile milk wagon for raising livestock, in particular calves, comprising a chassis on which a milk container (1) is arranged, which can be closed at the top by a lid, a heating device (30) for heating the milk in the milk container (1), a temperature sensor (22) that measures the temperature of the milk, a pump whose suction side is connected to the milk container (1) near the bottom and whose discharge side is connected to a pipe for the purpose of extracting the milk, and a control device on the outside of the milk container (1) for controlling the heating device (30) and an electric motor for the pump, characterized in that the control device has a microprocessor (20) to which the temperature sensor (22) and the heating device (30) are connected, and a timer (26) is finally connected to the microprocessor (22) in such a way thatthat the heating device (30) heats the milk from a predetermined first time to a predetermined pasteurization temperature and maintains this pasteurization temperature for a predetermined time, and that the milk has a predetermined feeding temperature at a second, later time.