Milking Device Vertical Milk Line Sensor Placement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing milking systems cannot reliably prevent cleaning fluid from entering the milk storage vessel, which is undesirable for milk quality.

Innovation Solution

A milking system with a monitoring system and control system that uses a sensor in a substantially vertical milk line portion to detect fluid transitions between milk and cleaning fluid, employing a sensor configured to measure fluid parameter values and generate a transition signal based on predefined criteria, and a valve system to prevent non-milk fluids from reaching the storage vessel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a sensor is placed in a horizontal milk line portion, then the monitoring of fluid transitions can take place, but air bubbles will flow slowly past the sensor and disrupt measurements for a considerable time, reducing measurement reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid transition detection accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the spatial parameter (orientation) of the milk line from horizontal to substantially vertical at the sensor location. This parameter change causes air bubbles to move rapidly past the sensor due to gravity, reducing the duration of measurement disruption from what would be a considerable time to merely seconds, thereby maintaining measurement reliability while enabling fluid transition detection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If cleaning fluid is used to clean the milking device and milk line system, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but there is a risk that cleaning fluid will enter the milk storage vessel, compromising milk quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidmilk quality contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback control system where a sensor continuously monitors the fluid in the milk line for transitions between milk and cleaning fluid. When a transition is detected (indicating cleaning fluid is approaching the storage vessel), the control system automatically activates a valve to close off the milk line, preventing cleaning fluid from entering the storage vessel and thus eliminating the harmful effect while maintaining cleaning effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a valve as an intermediary device between the milk line and the storage vessel. This valve acts as a protective mediator that can be closed to block the passage of cleaning fluid, thereby preventing contamination of the milk storage vessel while allowing the cleaning process to proceed effectively

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 solution enhances the reliability of detecting fluid transitions, reducing the risk of cleaning fluid entering the milk storage vessel and ensuring higher milk quality by minimizing the impact of air bubbles and other gases on measurements, thus improving the overall control and safety of the milking process.

Implementation Method 1

a sensor configured for measuring a fluid parameter value of a fluid in the milk line

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConductivity measurement: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

By monitoring a (suitable) fluid parameter value, a transition between two fluids can be established

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDensity difference detection: Density Gradient

Implementation Method 3

By placing the sensor in a substantially vertical line portion, any air bubbles will not flow slowly past this and hence disrupt a measurement for a considerable time, but shoot past at high speed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Implementation Method 4

a substantially vertical line portion... at such an angle, gas bubbles can shoot past with sufficient speed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravitational convection: Gravitational Convection (non heat)

Data Source

PatentUS10694713B2Milking device

Publication Date: 2020.06.30 LELY PATENT NV

AI summary

A milking system including: at least one milking device; a milk storage vessel storing milk obtained with the milking device; a milk line system with a milk line with a first end connected to the milking device and with a second end connected to the milk storage vessel; and a monitoring system including: a sensor configured to measure a fluid parameter value of a fluid in the milk line, and a control system actively connected to the sensor and configured to process the measured fluid parameter value and generate a transition signal on fulfilment of a predefined transition criterion. The milk line includes a substantially vertical line portion, and a proposed discharge direction of milk runs through the milk line from the milking device to the milk storage vessel and is raised through the line portion, wherein the sensor is placed in or on the substantially vertical line portion.