Milking Carousel Support Carriage for Low-Wear Segment Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current milking carousel assembly processes are labor-intensive and costly, with existing designs experiencing directional dependency and wear issues in articulated connections, leading to increased assembly complexity and operational loads.
Innovation Solution
A milking carousel with a rotatable platform featuring a circular carriage formed by rigidly connected circular segments, equipped with rollers aligned at a 90-degree angle to the axis of rotation and test sections for curvature verification, simplifying assembly and reducing wear by ensuring concentric and precise alignment of the support and guide tracks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If articulated links are used to form the support carriage, then the carriage can be assembled from straight segments, but the connections experience wear and directional dependency during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The support carriage is designed with circular segments instead of straight articulated links. The circular shape eliminates the need for articulated connections between segments, thereby eliminating wear at connection points. The circular geometry naturally guides the carriage along the circular track while maintaining uniform load distribution during rotation.
2Productivity
If conventional assembly processes are used for the milking carousel, then the platform can be assembled, but the assembly effort and costs are high
Solution Approach 1:
The support carriage is segmented into multiple circular arc-shaped segments that can be independently manufactured and then assembled. Each segment is designed to fit precisely with adjacent segments, forming a complete circular carriage. This segmentation allows for simplified manufacturing of individual segments while maintaining the overall circular geometry, reducing both assembly effort and costs.
3Ease of manufacture
If the support carriage is formed by circular segments, then assembly effort is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The circular segments are designed with standardized parameters including radius, arc length, and connection interface dimensions. By establishing precise parameter specifications for each segment, the manufacturing process can achieve consistent precision through standardized production methods. The uniform parameters across all segments simplify both manufacturing and assembly processes.
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 reduces assembly effort and costs, enhances operational stability by eliminating directional dependency, and minimizes roller wear through precise alignment and reduced tangential forces, while allowing for easier retrofitting and tolerance compensation.
Implementation Method 1
a support carriage with rollers (7) arranged between the guideway (2) and the support track (3)
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a milking carousel comprising a platform (11) that can be rotated about an axis of rotation (1) and has a plurality of milking stations, a circular, stationary support path (3), a circular guide path (2) connected to the platform, wherein the support path and the guide path are arranged concentrically to and above one another, and a supporting carriage (6) having rollers (7), which are arranged between the support path and the guide path, wherein the supporting carriage is formed by a multiplicity of annular segments (10).