Milking Claw Quick-Connect Assembly for Easier Tube Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The connection of milking tubes and air tubes to the milking claw in existing milking machines is difficult and requires manual manipulation by farmers, making the process cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of telescopic teat cups with elastic rings and quick connection members, allowing for easy connection and sealing of milking tubes and air tubes to the milking claw through a two-step process involving stretching and rotation of the telescopic members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual connection of milk tubes and air tubes to milking claw is used, then connection is possible, but the process is difficult and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is divided into separate modular components: quick connection members on the milking claw and corresponding quick connection members on the milking tubes. This segmentation allows each component to be independently manufactured and connected through a simple quick-connect mechanism, eliminating the complex manual manipulation required in prior art systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The quick connection members are pre-configured on the milking claw and milking tubes during manufacturing. This preliminary preparation of connection interfaces eliminates the need for complex manual assembly operations during actual use, as the pre-configured quick-connect members simply need to be engaged by inserting the milking tube into the milking claw.
2Ease of operation
If telescopic teat cups with elastic rings are used, then connection and sealing are simplified, but device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The teat cup incorporates telescopic members that can dynamically adjust their position and length. This dynamic structure allows the teat cup to accommodate different tube diameters and provide the necessary stretching action for sealing, while the elastic ring dynamically adapts to the connection state. The dynamic characteristics enable simple connection operations despite the inherent structural complexity of the telescopic mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic ring changes its physical parameters (elasticity, tension) during the connection process. When the telescopic member is inserted, the elastic ring deforms and adjusts its elastic properties to provide sealing force. This parameter change allows the same structural element to perform multiple functions (sealing, stretching, securing) without requiring additional complex components.
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
Facilitates quick and efficient connection of milking tubes and air tubes to the milking claw, reducing manual effort and simplifying the milking process.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic ring (46) being fixed to one of the rigid telescopic members, and surrounding a portion of the first rigid telescopic member (42A) and a portion of the second rigid telescopic member (42B), thereby sealing the rigid telescopic members one to the other
Implementation Method 2
sliding the rigid telescopic members away from one another stretches the milking tube (12B1) to a stretched state
Implementation Method 3
Vacuum pump 68A of FIG. 1 then presses air 21A into teat cup 14A, thus to space 40 between teat cup14A and central portion 13B of milk tube 12A
Data Source
AI summary
A milking machine, including a milking claw for each animal, the milking claw including an air inlet for being connected to a vacuum pump, and a milk outlet, a plurality of milking assemblies, each for being connected to one udder of the animal, each of the milking assemblies including a) a first end for being connected to the animal udder for pumping milk from the udder, and b) a quick connection member, and a connection assembly being connectable to the milking claw, the connection assembly including a plurality of quick connection members, each for connecting to one of the quick connection members of the milking assemblies, thereby allowing quick connection between each of the milking assemblies to the milking claw.