Variable Milk Pumping Level for Caking Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Milk tank systems face difficulties in cleaning, particularly due to caked milk fat in the first holder, which is exacerbated by the standard practice of pumping milk at a fixed level, leading to hardening deposits that complicate the cleaning process.
Innovation Solution
A milk tank system with a control system that switches the transport device's operating state based on a temporally changeable switching milk level, allowing for variable pumping initiation points to minimize caking and facilitate easier cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If pumping milk at a fixed level is used, then the pumping operation is simple and consistent, but caked milk fat hardens and accumulates on the holder wall, making cleaning difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the pumping initiation level variable rather than fixed. The control system adjusts the milk level at which pumping starts based on operational parameters, preventing milk fat from consistently caking at the same location on the holder wall. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by maintaining operational simplicity through automation while eliminating the cleaning difficulty caused by fixed-level pumping.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the pumping initiation milk level as a variable parameter. Instead of maintaining a constant pumping level, the system changes this parameter based on operational conditions, which prevents the consistent accumulation and hardening of milk fat deposits at a single location, thereby facilitating easier cleaning while maintaining pumping efficiency.
2Quantity of substance
If the first holder volume is increased to store milk from several milkings, then the buffer capacity is sufficient, but the cleaning process becomes more difficult due to larger surface area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the pumping initiation level variable, which prevents milk fat from caking at consistent locations even in large-volume holders. This dynamic approach ensures that cleaning remains feasible despite the increased holder volume and surface area, resolving the contradiction between storage capacity and cleaning ease.
3Device complexity
If pumping always starts at the same milk level, then the control system is simple, but an ever thicker layer of milk fat is deposited on the holder wall
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by making the pumping initiation level a variable parameter controlled by a control system. This prevents milk fat from consistently depositing at the same location on the holder wall, thereby reducing the accumulation of harmful deposits while maintaining relatively simple control through automated level monitoring and adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the pumping initiation milk level based on operational conditions. This variable parameter approach prevents consistent milk fat deposition patterns while keeping the control system manageable through automated monitoring and adjustment mechanisms.
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 system effectively reduces caking of milk fat by varying the pumping initiation point, making the cleaning process more efficient and ensuring better milk quality by preventing the formation of thick deposits on the holder's walls.
Implementation Method 1
a pump system (25) for pumping the milk (14) from the vessel (10) through the discharge (22)
Implementation Method 2
a layer of foam or milk fat, milk protein or similar always forms on the milk
Implementation Method 3
this caking and hardening of the milk fat will take place to a far lesser extent
Data Source
AI summary
A milk tank system includes a first holder configured for intermediate storage of milk from several milkings of a milking device, and not being a milk glass; a second holder for storage of milk from the first holder; a transport device for transporting milk including a milk line from the first holder to the second holder, via which milk line the second holder may be brought into fluidic connection with the first holder, and a shut-off for shutting off the fluidic connection, in particular from the first holder to the milk line, wherein the transport device has a first operating state which is configured for collecting milk in the first holder, and a second operating state which is configured for transferring the milk from the first holder to the second holder, wherein the milk tank system further includes a control system for switching the transport device from the first to the second operating state when the milk in the first holder reaches a switching milk level which changes over time. Because the pumping of the milk from the intermediate milk storage vessel does not always begin at the same or comparable maximum milk level, but preferably at an ever increasing level, potentially caking milk residue is always rinsed away on a subsequent filling.