Milking Claw Valve Segmentation for Iodine Contamination Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
In milking claw devices, the valve in the upper part of the milking claw housing may fail to close fully, causing iodine-containing air to flow unintentionally during rinsing and subsequent milkings, contaminating large quantities of milk.
Innovation Solution
A second valve is introduced to close off the third passage, allowing cleansing agent-containing fluid to deflect through a passage ending in the atmosphere, preventing it from flowing through teat cups or milk lines, and a pin mechanism with a bevelled end is used to ensure airtight closure, with the option of a diagonally sloping side wall for easier maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single valve is used to control the discharge of cleansing agent, then the device structure is simple, but the valve may fail to close fully causing iodine contamination of milk
Solution Approach 1:
The single valve control system is segmented into two separate valves: a first valve (58) controlling discharge to teat cups and a second valve (84) controlling the alternative passage to atmosphere. This segmentation ensures that if one valve fails to close properly, the other valve can prevent contamination by redirecting the fluid flow through the alternative passage (92).
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates a backup protection mechanism in advance by providing an alternative passage (92) that leads to atmosphere and a second valve (84) biased to remain open. This prior cushioning ensures that even if the first valve fails to close fully, iodine cannot contaminate the milk lines because the fluid will escape through the alternative passage instead.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the valve remains open to allow cleansing agent flow, then continuous disinfection is maintained, but large quantities of milk become contaminated with iodine
Solution Approach 1:
The alternative passage (92) acts as an intermediary pathway that intercepts iodine-containing fluid before it can enter the milk lines. The second valve (84) controls this intermediary passage, allowing it to remain open as a safety mechanism that protects the milk lines even when the first valve fails, thus preventing iodine contamination without requiring complex automatic control systems.
3Reliability
If the third passage is always open for fail-safe operation, then iodine contamination is prevented, but cleansing agent is wasted during normal operation
Solution Approach 1:
The second valve (84) is designed to be dynamically controllable, allowing it to be closed during normal operation to prevent iodine waste, and opened when needed for fail-safe protection. The valve can be actuated by pressurized fluid through a fourth passage or manually operated, enabling flexible control that balances contamination prevention with substance conservation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational state of the second valve (84) based on operational requirements: closed during normal milking operations to prevent waste, and opened when contamination risk is detected or during cleaning cycles. This parameter change allows the system to adapt between efficiency and safety modes.
Data Source
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AI summary
Milking claw device for a milking device, provided with a milking claw housing (2) having a milk collection chamber and a number of connections (5a - d) for milk supply lines originating from teat cups and a connection (21) for a milk discharge line, wherein the milking claw housing has been provided with first connections (53a - d) for lines for supplying cleansing agent with pressurised fluid to the teat cups or milk lines connected thereto, with a second connection (55) for supplying cleansing agent with pressurized fluid to the first connections, as well as a passage system between the first and the second connections, comprising a first passage from the second connection, that branches into second passages to the second connections, wherein the passage system has been provided with at least one third passage, which forms a branch to a location of collection or discharge (92) wherein the passage system comprises a first valve (8) between the first and the second connections, for in closed position preventing that the cleansing agent with pressurised fluid is led through, wherein the third passage is situated downstream from the first valve.