Teat Rubber Retaining Edge Recesses for Shock Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing teat rubber liners are prone to damage from sudden forces and have complex assembly processes, which can lead to durability issues and increased effort during milking, especially when teats are close together.
Innovation Solution
The teat rubber features a retaining edge with multiple recesses on its inner lateral surface, which extend circumferentially and are spaced apart, providing cushioning and reducing material stress, thus improving puncture resistance and simplifying assembly by eliminating the need for a protective ring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a teat rubber liner is made of soft material like silicone, then it provides good comfort and flexibility, but it becomes vulnerable to damage from sudden forces and impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a protective ring made of impact-resistant material (such as polyethylene or polypropylene) that surrounds the teat rubber liner at the location where sleeve edges contact it. This ring acts as a cushioning element that absorbs sudden forces and impacts before they can damage the soft silicone material, thereby maintaining both flexibility and damage resistance
2Reliability
If a protective ring made of different material is added to protect the teat rubber, then damage resistance improves, but device complexity and assembly effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The protective ring is integrated directly into the sleeve structure, forming a unified component rather than a separate attachment. The sleeve is designed with an annular protrusion that incorporates the protective ring material, eliminating the need for separate assembly steps and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining protection functionality
3Strength
If the retaining edge is made thicker to prevent penetration, then puncture resistance improves, but the head of the teat rubber becomes larger which is problematic for animals with close teats
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining edge is constructed as a composite structure combining the soft teat rubber material with an embedded reinforcement element made of impact-resistant material. This composite design provides enhanced puncture resistance through the reinforcement layer while maintaining the original compact head dimensions, as the protection comes from material composition rather than increased thickness
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 recessed design enhances shock absorption, reduces internal stresses, and simplifies the manufacturing process, preventing damage from impacts and improving the overall durability and ease of assembly of the teat rubber liner.
Implementation Method 1
The air in the recesses forms a cushioning cushion so that impacts on the teat rubber are dampened
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a teat rubber for use on a milking cup that has a head part with an insertion opening for an animal's teat. Connected to the head part is a shank part. Arranged underneath the head part is a holding rim, which surrounds the shank part at a distance from it. The teat rubber according to the invention is distinguished by the fact that the holding rim has in its inner lateral surface at least one recess extending substantially in the circumferential direction of the holding rim, the recesses of the end face of the sleeve preferably being formed such that they are opposite one another.