Milking Valve Assembly With Block-Bleed-Block Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing milking systems face challenges in preventing milk contamination from cleaning agents, with methods like physical uncoupling being manual and complex, and systems like the Mix Proof Valve being costly and difficult to inspect.
Innovation Solution
A milking system with a valve mechanism comprising two valve housings and a displacement device that switches between a milking position for milk discharge and a cleaning position to prevent contamination, using a block-bleed-block system to ensure separation of milk and cleaning liquid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single valve is used to separate milk and cleaning liquid, then the system is simple, but the reliability of preventing contamination is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The single valve is divided into two separate valves (first valve and second valve) with distinct functions. The first valve controls milk flow while the second valve controls cleaning liquid flow. This segmentation allows independent control of milk and cleaning liquid pathways, improving contamination prevention reliability while maintaining reasonable system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
A displacement device acts as an intermediary mechanism between the two valves, physically moving them relative to each other. This intermediary device enables the valves to switch between working positions (both open for milk flow, both closed for cleaning liquid flow) without requiring complex coordination, thus improving reliability while keeping the overall system manageable in complexity.
2Reliability
If physical uncoupling of connection points is used, then contamination prevention is reliable, but the operation becomes manual and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The valve system transitions from static uncoupled connections to dynamic controlled connections. The displacement device enables the valves to dynamically switch between open and closed states based on operational requirements (milking vs. cleaning cycles). This dynamic control maintains reliable separation of milk and cleaning liquid pathways while enabling automatic operation through centralized control, significantly improving ease of operation compared to manual uncoupling.
Solution Approach 2:
The two valves work together as a unified system that handles both milking and cleaning operations. The first valve universally controls milk flow to the milk tank, while the second valve universally controls cleaning liquid flow to the cleaning outlet. This multi-functional valve system eliminates the need for separate manual uncoupling operations for different tasks, improving ease of operation while maintaining contamination prevention reliability.
3Reliability
If a block-bleed-block system with two valves is used, then contamination prevention reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The two valves and displacement device are merged into an integrated valve mechanism assembly. The first valve, second valve, and displacement device work as a coordinated unit with shared control logic. This merging reduces the need for separate control systems and minimizes the overall complexity of the valve mechanism while maintaining the block-bleed-block contamination prevention functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The displacement device serves as an intermediary that simplifies the coordination between the two valves. Instead of requiring complex independent control of both valves, the displacement device mechanically links their operations, ensuring they open and close in the correct sequence. This intermediary mechanism reduces control complexity while maintaining the reliability benefits of the two-valve block-bleed-block system.
Data Source
AI summary
A milking system for milking dairy animals includes a milking device, a milk line for transporting milk; a cleaning device for cleaning the milk line with a cleaning liquid; a first outlet for discharging the milk to a milk tank; a second outlet for discharging the cleaning liquid; a valve mechanism for controllably connecting the milk line to one of the first outlet and the second outlet; and a control unit for controlling the valve mechanism. The valve mechanism includes a first and a second valve, and a displacement device for displacing the first or the second valve housing between a cleaning position and a milking position.