Teat Cleaning Cup Seal With Integrated Liquid Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing teat cleaning cups are complex to manufacture and assemble due to multiple parts, leading to high costs and difficulty in washing and maintenance, and they do not efficiently clean dirty teats, especially for free-range animals that may come into contact with muddy or manured surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A teat cleaning cup design featuring a seal that distributes cleaning liquid from a valve into channels within the cup, eliminating the need for conduits and simplifying assembly and disassembly, achieved through two-step injection moulding that fuses the exterior and interior parts, reducing the number of components and enhancing cleaning efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple parts are used in the teat cleaning cup design, then the cleaning function can be achieved, but the device complexity increases and assembly/disassembly becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate components (inner tube with nozzle holes, outer plastic sleeve, Y-shaped channels) into an integrated teat cleaning cup structure. The seal element integrates both sealing and liquid distribution functions, eliminating the need for separate conduits. This merging reduces the number of parts while maintaining the cleaning function.
2Reliability
If multiple parts are used in the teat cleaning cup design, then the cleaning function can be achieved, but the manufacturing and service costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate components (inner tube with nozzle holes, outer plastic sleeve, Y-shaped channels) into an integrated teat cleaning cup structure. The seal element integrates both sealing and liquid distribution functions, eliminating the need for separate conduits. This merging reduces the number of parts while maintaining the cleaning function.
3Reliability
If multiple parts are used in the teat cleaning cup design, then the cleaning function can be achieved, but the washing and maintenance difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the liquid distribution function from separate conduits and integrates it into the seal element itself. The seal includes channels that distribute cleaning liquid directly, eliminating the need for separate Y-shaped channels and conduits that would be difficult to wash and maintain. The integrated design allows for easier cleaning of all liquid-flow paths.
4Device complexity
If a seal with integrated liquid distribution is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the sealing reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The seal element is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides sealing between the teat cleaner and lower part, distributes cleaning liquid through integrated channels, and eliminates the need for separate conduits. This multi-functional design reduces device complexity while maintaining reliability through the unified structure.
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 simplified design reduces manufacturing and service costs, improves assembly and disassembly, and enhances cleaning efficiency by ensuring all parts of the teat are effectively cleaned with reduced pressure loss and bacterial entry points.
Implementation Method 1
The seal is also configured to distribute liquid from the cleaning liquid valve of the lower part into a set of channels in the teat cleaner
Implementation Method 2
by making the teat cleaner by injection moulding and thereby fuse the exterior part with the inner body
Data Source
AI summary
A teat cleaning cup (130) for cleaning a teat (120) includes a teat cleaner (300) having an inner body (270) forming a central cavity (280) for enclosing the teat (120), the inner body (270) including an inner surface (271), an outer surface (272), and a set of apertures (275) extending from the outer surface (272) to the inner surface (271); an exterior part (220) enclosing the inner body (270); a set of channels (291, 292), which set of channels (291, 292) connects to the set of apertures (275); a lower part (230) removably attached to the teat cleaner (300), which lower part (230) includes at least one cleaning liquid valve (240, 260), and a drain (250); and a seal (235) configured to distribute liquid from the cleaning liquid valve (240, 260) into the set of channels (291, 292).