Milking Conduit Flexible Wall Emptying Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing milking devices are complex and expensive, requiring pressurized air for conduit emptying and cleaning, which is inefficient and may contaminate the system.

Innovation Solution

A milking device with a conduit featuring a flexible wall that can close and empty the milk duct by pressing, using cooling water to deform and empty the duct, eliminating the need for pressurized air and allowing for efficient cooling and cleaning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If pressurized air is used to empty and clean the conduit, then the conduit can be emptied and cleaned, but the device becomes more complex and expensive, and there is a risk of contamination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconduit emptying and cleaning effectivenessVSAvoidmilking device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the emptying and cleaning function from the complex pressurized air system and integrates it into the existing cooling water circulation system. The cooling water supply is used to fill the secondary duct, which then presses against the flexible wall to empty the milk duct, eliminating the need for separate pressurized air equipment while maintaining effective emptying and cleaning capabilities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling water system is given multiple functions: it not only cools the milk in the conduit but also serves as the pressurizing medium to empty and clean the conduit. By using the same water supply for both cooling and emptying/cleaning operations, the device complexity is reduced and the system becomes more efficient

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If pressurized air is used to empty the conduit, then the conduit can be emptied, but clean pressurized air must be continuously supplied, increasing operational complexity and cost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconduit emptying completenessVSAvoidoperational simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling water system serves itself by using its own flow and pressure characteristics to perform the emptying function. The same water that circulates for cooling purposes is utilized to pressurize the secondary duct and empty the milk duct, eliminating the need for a separate pressurized air supply system and simplifying operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If a flexible wall is used to close and empty the milk duct by pressing, then the device is simplified and costs are reduced, but the mechanism requires precise deformation control

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemilking device complexityVSAvoidflexible wall deformation control
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a flexible wall (flexible membrane) that separates the primary milk duct from the secondary cooling water duct. This flexible membrane can deform under water pressure to close or empty the milk duct, providing a simple yet effective mechanism that reduces device complexity while maintaining sufficient control through the natural elasticity and flexibility of the material

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses hydraulic pressure from the cooling water supply to deform the flexible wall and empty the milk duct. By utilizing the existing water pressure system rather than requiring separate mechanical actuators or complex control mechanisms, the solution achieves precise deformation control through fluid pressure while keeping the overall device simple

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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

Simplifies the milking device, reduces costs by eliminating the need for pressurized air, ensures complete milk removal, and facilitates efficient cooling and cleaning without additional devices.

Implementation Method 1

The flexible wall may be configured such that it can close the milk duct along the entire length by pressing, or at least along a large part of the length of the conduit by filling the secondary duct so that the milk duct can be emptied by pressing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure-induced deformation: Deformation

Implementation Method 2

causing cooling water to flow through the secondary duct

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer through fluid convection: Convection

Implementation Method 3

The cooling device 50 comprises a cooling conduit 51 which is arranged around the conduit 20 as a spiral, through which a cooling medium, for example water, can be pumped to cool the milk flowing through the conduit 20

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP2498594B1Milking device and a method of transferring milk through a conduit
Publication Date: 2016.12.14 LELY PATENT NV
  • EP2498594B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2498594B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2498594B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3d

AI summary

The invention relates to a conduit (20) for transferring milk. The conduit (20) is provided with at least one flexible wall (23), which divides the conduit into at least one milk duct (21) and at least one secondary duct (22). The milk duct (21) and the at least one secondary duct (22) extend along a longitudinal axis of the conduit (20), it being possible for the at least one milk duct to be substantially emptied by pressing through filling the at least one secondary duct (22).