Milking Line Cleaning Slug Control Using Receiver Vibration Feedback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Milking arrangements face issues where slugs of cleaning liquid may become excessively long or short, or get eliminated before reaching the receiver, affecting cleaning efficacy due to changing conditions in the milk transport line, such as liquid amount and vacuum level.
Innovation Solution
A milking arrangement equipped with a vibration sensor on the receiver to measure the motion caused by the slug entry, a control system to determine slug characteristics, and additional sensors along the line to adjust vacuum and gas introduction for optimal slug formation, using a control system to regulate vacuum and gas based on sensor feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a slug of cleaning liquid is formed and forwarded through the milk transport line using a vacuum system and controllable injector, then the cleaning effect is improved, but the slug may become excessively long or too short, or be eliminated before reaching the receiver due to changing conditions in the milk transport line
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a vibration sensor arranged on the receiver to detect when a slug enters the receiver by measuring vibrations caused by the slug's impact. This detection signal is fed back to the control system, which then adjusts the operation of the controllable injector to regulate slug formation and length. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures consistent slug characteristics despite varying conditions in the milk transport line, resolving the contradiction between maintaining reliable cleaning effect and controlling slug length.
2Speed
If the vacuum system supplies vacuum to the milk transport line and cleaning liquid transport, then the slug is driven through the line, but the slug may lose or gain liquid during travel such that it becomes excessively long or too short at the receiver
Solution Approach 1:
The vibration sensor on the receiver provides real-time feedback about slug arrival and characteristics. The control system uses this information to adjust the vacuum system operation and injector timing, compensating for liquid loss or gain during slug travel. This dynamic adjustment maintains consistent slug length at the receiver despite variations in travel speed and liquid exchange during transport.
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
Ensures consistent slug formation and improved cleaning efficacy by accurately detecting slug entry and adjusting operational parameters to achieve desired slug characteristics, enhancing the cleaning process.
Implementation Method 1
a vibration sensor arranged on the receiver and configured to measure a motion of the receiver caused by a slug entering the receiver
Implementation Method 2
a controllable injector configured to introduce an amount of gas into the milk transport line thus producing a temporary pressure increase therein which causes a slug of a cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid source to be formed an forwarded through the milk transport line
Implementation Method 3
a vacuum system configured to supply a vacuum in the milk transport line via the receiver
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A milking arrangement comprising: a milk transport line (1), a plurality of milk stations (2) connected to the milk transport line (1), a receiver (3) connected to the milk transport line (1) and configured to receive milk transported from the milk stations (2) to the receiver (3) via the milk transport line (1), and a vacuum system (4) configured to supply a vacuum in the milk transport line (1) via the receiver (3), a cleaning liquid source (9) connected to the milk transport line (1), a controllable injector (10) configured to introduce an amount of gas into the milk transport line (1) thus producing a temporary pressure increase therein which causes a slug of a cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid source (9) to be formed and forwarded through the milk transport line (1), and a control system (19) configured to control the operation of the injector (10). An vibration sensor (27) is arranged on the receiver (3) and configured to measure a motion of the receiver (3) caused by a slug entering the receiver (3), and the control system (19) is configured to determine an entering of a slug into the receiver (3) on basis of the measurement of the vibration sensor (27).