Milk Filter Cartridge Hole Zoning for Bubble-Free Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing milking devices face challenges in optimally cleaning the milk filter, particularly the top part, leading to clogging and reduced milk quality, which can result in device standstill.
Innovation Solution
The milk filter is designed with a top group of filter holes having a larger diameter than the bottom group, allowing for improved cleaning fluid flow and air bubble discharge, enhancing the cleaning effectiveness by using a counter-flow method.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If uniform small filter holes are used throughout the filter body, then filtration precision is improved, but cleaning effectiveness deteriorates due to insufficient cleaning fluid flow and air bubble entrapment
Solution Approach 1:
The filter body is designed with two distinct zones: an upper zone with larger diameter holes for effective cleaning fluid flow and air bubble discharge, and a lower zone with smaller diameter holes for precise milk filtration. This local differentiation allows each zone to optimize its function - the upper holes provide sufficient flow velocity for cleaning while the lower holes maintain filtration precision.
2Ease of operation
If cleaning fluid flow rate is increased to improve cleaning, then air bubbles are trapped more effectively, but filtration precision may be compromised by larger hole sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The filter body is segmented into two functional zones with different hole characteristics. The upper zone contains larger holes optimized for cleaning fluid flow and air bubble discharge, while the lower zone contains smaller holes optimized for milk filtration precision. This segmentation allows both cleaning effectiveness and filtration precision to be optimized simultaneously in their respective zones.
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
This design ensures thorough cleaning of the milk filter, preventing clogging and maintaining milk quality by effectively removing contaminants and air bubbles, thus reducing maintenance frequency and device downtime.
Implementation Method 1
the cleaning device is configured to clean the milk filter by passing cleaning fluid through the milk filter
Implementation Method 2
a subgroup of the holes of said first group has a larger minimum diameter than D g , allowing for improved cleaning fluid flow and air bubble discharge
Implementation Method 3
a circumferential filter body with plurality of filter holes, which divides the filter volume into a central inner filter volume connected to one of the milk inlet and the milk outlet
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~4
AI summary
A milking device has milking means, a controller, a milk line for transporting the milk from the milking means to a milk tank, a milk filter for filtering the milk passing through the milk line, and a cleaning device for cleaning the milk filter with cleaning fluid. The milk filter comprises a housing which surrounds a filter volume and has a milk inlet and a milk outlet, and a circumferential filter body in the filter volume. The filter body comprises filter holes and divides the filter volume into a central inner filter volume and a surrounding outer filter volume. The milk filter is configured to be flushed during use from the milk inlet to the milk outlet by the milk to be filtered. The cleaning device is configured to clean the milk filter by conducting cleaning fluid through the milk filter. The filter holes during use comprise top holes and bottom holes. The diameter of the top holes is greater than that of the bottom holes, which improves the cleaning of the filter and suppresses the formation of air bubbles.