Rotary Milking Platform Carriage Roller Retention and Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rotary milking platforms experience roller deterioration due to substantial weight, leading to inconvenient repair work and economic losses from excessive downtime.
Innovation Solution
A rotary milking platform design featuring a circular upper beam supported by a ring of carriages that rotate on a stationary lower beam, with flanged rollers to prevent lateral movement and allow for easy disconnection and lateral swinging of carriages for maintenance and replacement, enabling efficient roller replacement without the need for bearings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single circular beam supported on rollers is used to support the deck, then the platform structure is simple, but the rollers deteriorate quickly due to substantial weight
Solution Approach 1:
The single circular beam is divided into multiple segments (first circular beam, second circular beam, third circular beam) that are interconnected through carriages. This segmentation distributes the substantial weight of the deck and cows across multiple rollers instead of concentrating it on a single beam, thereby reducing wear and deterioration on individual rollers while maintaining structural integrity.
2Ease of operation
If rollers are used to support the rotating platform, then the platform can rotate smoothly, but repair work becomes inconvenient when rollers deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The platform is segmented into modular components (beams, carriages, rollers) that can be independently accessed and replaced. The carriages can be disconnected from the ring and swung laterally to move rollers clear of the beams, enabling convenient replacement of deteriorated rollers without disrupting the entire platform structure or requiring complex disassembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The carriages are designed with dynamic movement capability, allowing them to be disconnected and swung laterally to access the rollers. This dynamic reconfiguration enables easy maintenance while the platform operates dynamically during milking cycles.
3Stability of the object's composition
If flanged rollers are used to prevent lateral movement of carriages, then the carriages are securely retained, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The flange feature is applied locally and selectively to specific rollers rather than all rollers throughout the system. This localized application provides the necessary lateral retention for carriages only where needed, while keeping the overall structure as simple as possible. The flanged rollers are strategically positioned to prevent carriage disengagement during platform operation.
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 design reduces downtime and maintenance costs by allowing for straightforward replacement of worn rollers, extending the lifespan of the platform and minimizing economic losses.
Implementation Method 1
each carriage has at least one carriage roller; each carriage roller is arranged to rotate on the lower beam
Data Source
AI summary
A rotary milking platform 1 has a deck 2, a circular upper beam 4 connected to and supporting the deck, a circular lower beam 6 and a series of carriages 5 connected end to end to form a ring between the beams. The platform is formed such that the upper beam 4 is arranged to rest and rotate on the ring of carriages 5 to rotate the deck 2. Each carriage has at least one carriage roller 10, and each roller 10 arranged to rotate on the lower beam 4. Each roller 10 also has a retention flange 11 at only one side. The flanges 11 of some of the rollers 10 are at or adjacent an inner side of the ring, and the flanges 11 of others of the rollers are at or adjacent an outer side of the ring. The rollers 10 of the ring are arranged such that at least one roller is oriented with its flange 11 on an opposite side to another of the flanged rollers immediately adjacent to it. The flanges prevent the carriages from moving off the lower beam 4 when the platform 1 is in use. Further, at least some of the carriages can be disconnected from the ring and swung laterally to be moved free of the beams 4, 6 for maintenance, repair or replacement.