Rotary Milking Parlour Modular Unit for Component Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rotary milking parlours face challenges in protecting milking components from dirt, cleaning water, and operator safety due to the dirty environment and powerful cow movements, which can damage equipment and pose risks to operators.
Innovation Solution
A modular unit with a front wall element attached to the platform's lower surface, covering the vertical opening under the platform, provides a protected mounting position for milking components and enhances operator safety by preventing contact with cows and exposure to dirt and water, featuring a plane outer surface for easy cleaning and low production costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If milking components are mounted on the rotary platform in the vicinity of milking stalls, then the components are accessible for milking operations, but the components are exposed to dirt, cleaning water, and contact with cows which can damage them
Solution Approach 1:
The milking components are nested inside a modular unit that is attached to the lower surface of the rotary platform. This nesting arrangement protects the components from dirt and cleaning water while maintaining accessibility for milking operations through the front wall element opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular unit acts as an intermediary structure between the milking components and the harmful environment (dirt, cleaning water, cows). It provides a protective barrier while still allowing the components to function and be accessed when needed.
2Productivity
If the platform rotates with constant low speed, then continuous flow of cows is maintained, but operators working on the floor surface are at risk of getting caught in rotating components
Solution Approach 1:
The modular unit serves as a protective intermediary barrier between the rotating platform components and operators working on the floor surface. It prevents operators from getting caught in rotating components while the platform continues to rotate at constant low speed for maintaining cow flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular unit extends vertically from the lower surface of the platform, creating a protective dimension that shields operators from the rotational hazard while allowing the platform to continue its horizontal rotation for milk production.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the front wall element covers the vertical opening completely, then protection from dirt and water is maximized, but access to milking components may be restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The front wall element is segmented with an opening that provides selective access. This segmentation allows the wall to protect from dirt and water while maintaining a controlled access point for milking components, balancing protection with operability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a rotary milking parlour arrangement comprising an annular platform (2) rotatably arranged around a rotary axis (2d), a plurality of milking stalls (3) arranged on the platform (2), a stationary floor surface (1 0) arranged at the side of an edge portion (2a) of the platform (2). The floor surface (1 0) is located at a lower level than the platform (2) such that a vertical opening is formed to a space (29) under the platform (2) between the edge portion (2a) of the platform (2) and the floor surface (10). The rotary milking parlour arrangement comprises a modular unit (25) comprising a front wall element (25a) closing a part of said vertical opening and that it is configured to be attached to a lower surface (2e) of the platform (2) and to house at least one milking component (27, 37, 39, 40) in the space (29) under the platform (2).