Multi-Path Milk Meter for Precise Flow Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing milk meters in milking machines lack precision and stability in measuring fluid flow rates, leading to inefficiencies in dairy farm management and animal care.
Innovation Solution
A milk meter with multiple flow paths and sensors, stratified flow generation, and integrated sensors for conductivity and pressure measurement, which enhances measurement accuracy and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single flow path is used in the milk meter, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision and reliability deteriorate due to potential blockages and restricted flow
Solution Approach 1:
The milk meter is divided into multiple parallel flow paths (typically three), each equipped with its own flow sensor. This segmentation allows the system to measure flow rates through multiple independent channels, improving measurement precision and providing redundancy in case one path becomes blocked, while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the total cross-section of flow paths is increased, then the vacuum stability improves, but the measurement resolution deteriorates due to larger flow volumes exceeding sensor optimal ranges
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the total flow into multiple parallel paths with smaller individual cross-sections, the system maintains good vacuum stability (as the total cross-section remains sufficient) while ensuring that each individual path carries a manageable flow volume that falls within the optimal measurement range of each sensor, thereby preserving measurement resolution.
3Measurement precision
If multiple flow paths with sensors are implemented, then the measurement resolution improves, but the device complexity increases due to multiple sensors and ducts
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple simple flow paths with individual sensors, where each path-sensor combination is independently simple. The modular nature of this segmentation allows for improved measurement resolution through multiple measurements while keeping each individual component simple and easy to implement.
4Measurement precision
If flow paths are made smaller to improve sensor measurement range, then the measurement precision improves, but the vacuum stability deteriorates due to increased flow resistance
Solution Approach 1:
By creating multiple parallel flow paths with smaller individual cross-sections optimized for sensor measurement ranges, the system achieves precise flow rate measurements in each path while the combined total cross-section of all paths maintains sufficient flow capacity to preserve vacuum stability in the overall system.
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
Improves measurement resolution and consistency, reduces vacuum drop, and optimizes milking processes by providing precise data for farm management and animal care.
Implementation Method 1
each flow sensor being operable to measure a flow rate of fluid through its respective flow path
Implementation Method 2
A milk meter according to any claim 1-6, wherein the milk meter comprises a conductivity sensor arranged to measure a conductivity of the fluid
Implementation Method 3
a pressure sensor arranged to measure a pressure of fluid within the milk meter
Implementation Method 4
A milk meter with multiple flow paths and sensors, stratified flow generation, and integrated sensors for conductivity and pressure measurement, which enhances measurement accuracy and stability
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments provide a milk meter (100) for measuring milk flow in a milking machine. In an embodiment the milk meter comprises a plurality of ducts (140a, 140b) forming a plurality of flow paths through the milk meter. Also, the milk meter comprises a plurality of flow sensors (142) positioned within the plurality of flow paths. Each flow sensor is operable to measure a flow rate of fluid through its respective flow path. Other types of milk meter are provided in other embodiments.