Milking Liner Vent Line Design for Backflow Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing teat cups are complex to produce, not effective in preventing backflow, and have vents that are prone to clogging or difficult to attach, leading to increased mastitis risk in cows.
Innovation Solution
A liner with a cylindrical design featuring a mouthpiece vent, a vent line on the inner surface of the bore part, and a short milk tube vent, along with a milk claw with a claw vent, to effectively prevent backflow by maintaining proper vacuum pressure and ensuring air passage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a vent is provided at the mouthpiece part or short milk tube part to prevent backflow, then backflow prevention is improved, but the vent is prone to clogging by refuse
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a single-point vent to a linear vent channel extending along the inner surface of the bore part. This dimensional change from point to line provides multiple pathways for air flow, reducing the likelihood of complete clogging while maintaining backflow prevention functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The vent line acts as an intermediary structure between the mouthpiece vent and the thick-walled portion, providing a controlled pathway for air flow that can be integrated into the liner's structural design, thereby managing the trade-off between backflow prevention and clogging resistance.
2Reliability
If the liner structure is adjusted to collapse in an adjusted manner to prevent backflow, then backflow prevention is improved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the liner into functionally distinct segments: the mouthpiece part, the bore part with integrated vent line, and the thick-walled portion. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall structural coherence and manufacturability.
Solution Approach 2:
The vent line is merged into the inner surface of the bore part, integrating the air passage function directly into the structural component rather than adding separate elements. This reduces overall device complexity while achieving backflow prevention.
3Reliability
If a clip is attached to a portion of the liner to make it open gradually, then backflow prevention is improved, but the device becomes more complex and difficult to produce
Solution Approach 1:
The vent line is integrated directly into the liner's bore part structure, combining the air passage function with the existing structural component. This eliminates the need for separate clips or additional attachment elements, simplifying both the device structure and the manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The bore part serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, defines the air passage through the integrated vent line, and facilitates the gradual opening mechanism. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies production.
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
The solution significantly reduces backflow, maintaining proper vacuum pressure and enhancing the durability and cleanability of the teat cup components, thereby reducing the risk of mastitis in cows.
Implementation Method 1
a vent line which is provided on a portion of an inner surface of the bore part and extends linearly or curvedly from the mouthpiece vent to a lower end of the bore part
Implementation Method 2
a mouthpiece vent provided on the mouthpiece part... A prevalence of mastitis is said to be high during periods in which teat orifices are in an open state... Prevention of backflow of milk plays an important role in mastitis prevention
Implementation Method 3
The changes in the pressure cause the upper portion of the liner to elastically deform between an open state and a closed state, whereby milking is carried out while the teat is massaged
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Provided are a liner, a teat cup, and a milking device that can further reliably and effectively curb backflow of milk to reduce the risk of infection of mastitis. The present invention provides a liner 3 for a teat cup 1 of a milking device 10, the liner 3 having a cylindrical shape and including: a bore part 3b disposed in a cylindrical shell 2 such that a space is formed between an inner surface of the shell 2 and the bore part 3b, the bore part 3b being elastically deformable between an open state and a closed state; a mouthpiece part 3a disposed at one end of the bore part 3b and closing one end of the shell 2, the mouthpiece part 3a being configured to allow a teat 50 to be inserted therethrough and being provided with a vent 3aa; a short milk tube part 3d disposed at the other end of the bore part 3b and closing the other end of the shell 2, the short milk tube part 3d allowing milk sucked from the teat 50 by the bore part 3b to flow therethrough; and a vent line 3f provided as a groove on an inner surface of the liner 3, the vent line 3f extending on the bore part from the vent 3aa.