Milking Teat Cup Nozzle for Post-Milking Hygiene
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for disinfecting and washing animal teats and teat cups after milking are labor-intensive, variable in quality, and pose health risks due to vapor or spray mist, with existing automatic systems providing inconsistent results.
Innovation Solution
A teat cup design with a nozzle that discharges treatment fluid into the head portion of the liner, allowing the fluid to coat the teat as the cup is withdrawn, and a method for flushing and drying the teat cup after milking, which includes injecting fluid upwardly into the liner when the teat cup is in its inverted rest position, reducing vapor emission and enhancing hygiene.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If manual dipping or spraying of disinfectant and conditioning fluid is used on teats and teat cups, then the treatment can be applied, but the process is labor intensive and the quality of washing is variable
Solution Approach 1:
The teat cup liner performs self-service by coating itself with treatment fluid during the withdrawal process. The nozzle discharges fluid into the head portion of the liner, and as the liner is withdrawn from the teat, the fluid is distributed along the teat surface by the liner's own movement, eliminating the need for separate manual or mechanical spraying systems
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment function is merged with the existing teat cup withdrawal operation. The nozzle means is integrated into the teat cup assembly, combining the disinfection/treatment function with the already-present mechanical withdrawal mechanism, thereby automating treatment without adding significant system complexity
2Object-affected harmful factors
If manual or mechanical spraying of disinfectant is used, then teats and teat cups can be treated, but vapor or spray mist may pose a health risk
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful spray mist is extracted from the environment by directing the treatment fluid discharge into the enclosed head portion of the teat cup liner. The fluid is contained within the liner structure during discharge, preventing it from becoming airborne vapor or mist that could pose health risks to operators
Solution Approach 2:
The teat cup liner acts as an intermediary medium between the treatment fluid and the environment. Instead of spraying fluid directly onto the teat where it would vaporize or create mist, the nozzle discharges fluid into the liner's head portion, which then distributes the fluid along the teat surface in a controlled manner, mediating the interaction between treatment fluid and teat
3Reliability
If existing automatic systems are used for spraying disinfectant and washing fluid, then the process is automated, but the quality of washing is variable
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment fluid is applied locally at the head portion of the teat cup liner where it is needed most. The nozzle means is positioned to discharge fluid directly into the liner's head portion, ensuring concentrated treatment at the critical interface between the liner and teat, rather than using variable spray patterns that may miss targets or oversaturate areas
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 automates the treatment process, reduces labor costs, minimizes fluid waste, and enhances teat and teat cup hygiene by ensuring the teat is coated immediately post-milking, while containing vaporized liquid within the liner, thus reducing health risks and environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
nozzle means for discharging fluid into the liner
Implementation Method 2
a vacuum is applied to the teat cups, via the long milk tube, the clawpiece and the short milk tubes
Implementation Method 3
flex the liner and stimulate discharge of milk from the engaged teat
Implementation Method 4
This vacuum also leaks between the barrel of the liner and the engaged teat and is applied to a void formed about the teat in the head of the liner in order to capture the cup on the teat
Implementation Method 5
each teat cup has a nozzle arranged to inject sanitising fluid into the lower part of the barrel of the teat cup liner
Implementation Method 6
Each teat cup has a tube for supplying cleansing fluid to the interior of the teat cup liner connected to the short milk tube at a point near the liner. This supply tube is arranged to inject a stream of cleansing fluid into the liner
Implementation Method 7
The teat cup may alternately be flushed several times with cleansing fluid and compressed air for blowing clean and drying the teat cup
Data Source
AI summary
In apparatus and methods for applying treatment and cleaning fluid to cows teats and the teat cups of milking equipment, post-milking, each teat cup (1) has a nozzle (13) in the head portion (6) of the flexible liner (3) of the teat cup for delivering fluid internally of the teat cup. The nozzle is directed so as to discharge fluid towards the discharge end (4) of the teat cup. When milking is terminated, treatment fluid is injected through the nozzle (13) into the head portion of the liner (3) just prior to and/or as the teat cup is being withdrawn from the teat and, as a result, the teat cup wipes the injected fluid down the teat so as substantially to coat the teat with the treatment fluid. When the teat cup (1) falls into an inverted rest position, after take-off, the interior of the liner (3) may be flushed and dried with disinfectant, water and compressed air discharged upwardly into the liner by the nozzle (13). Flushing fluid can then drain downwardly from the liner and through its mouth (7). The discharge end (4) of the teat cup may be fitted with a shut-off valve (20) which can be actuated to prevent ingress of treatment and cleansing fluids into the milk tubes during the treatment and cleansing cycle.