Vented Liner Insert Design for Milking Plants
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vented liners for milking plants face issues with the small steel insert becoming blocked due to dirt and frequently being expelled during automatic detachment, leading to potential contamination and loss of the insert.
Innovation Solution
A vented liner design featuring a pierced insert made of food-grade plastics with a cylindrical shaft and a hexagonal insert head, equipped with a fine helical thread and self-cleaning through-hole, and stress relief indentations to prevent unscrewing, ensuring secure attachment and easy cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a small steel insert with a gauged hole is press-fitted into the head of the vented liner, then air flow is controlled and milk discharge is accelerated, but the insert becomes blocked by dirt and is frequently expelled during automatic detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The insert is divided into two functional parts: a shaft with a gauged hole for air flow control and a hexagonal head for secure attachment. This segmentation allows the air flow function to be optimized while the head provides a mechanical interface for reliable retention during automatic detachment operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The fine helical thread is pre-formed on the shaft of the insert, enabling it to engage with the head before final assembly. This preliminary threading action ensures that the insert is securely attached prior to use, preventing expulsion during automatic detachment while maintaining the controlled air flow function.
2Ease of operation
If the steel insert has a smooth edge, then insertion is easy, but the insert is frequently expelled from its seat during automatic detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The insert features an asymmetric design with a hexagonal head that provides multiple flat surfaces. This asymmetry creates a non-circular engagement interface that prevents rotational expulsion during automatic detachment, while the shaft portion maintains a smooth edge for easy insertion into the head.
3Productivity
If the hole in the steel insert is very small in diameter, then air flow is controlled for fast milk discharge, but the hole becomes blocked by dirt
Solution Approach 1:
The gauged hole in the shaft is designed with specific dimensional parameters that optimize air flow for fast milk discharge. The hexagonal head provides a larger surface area that prevents dirt accumulation, and the fine helical thread creates a self-cleaning effect that reduces blockage while maintaining the small hole diameter needed for controlled air flow.
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 design prevents the insert from being expelled and reduces the risk of contamination by maintaining a clear air flow path and secure attachment, enhancing the reliability and hygiene of the milking process.
Implementation Method 1
equipped with a fine helical thread and self-cleaning through-hole
Implementation Method 2
a hexagonal insert head, equipped with a fine helical thread
Implementation Method 3
stress relief indentations to prevent unscrewing
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
Vented liner (10) for milking plants comprising a head (14) incorporating an orifice (19) constituting the mouthpiece for the teat (18) of the animal being milked, a body (15) comprising the central portion of the vented liner (10) in which the teat (18) is housed during milking, a milk tube (16) comprising the portion of vented liner (10) located opposite the head (14), an insert (20) which can be inserted within the head (14) of the vented liner (10), the said insert (20) comprising a shaft (23), a head of the insert (22) connected to the shaft (23) and a through-hole (26) made longitudinally in the shaft (23) and passing through the head of the insert (22) and the shaft (23) to allow a controlled constant inflow of air into the head (14) of the vented liner (10), a thread (24) capable of being screwed onto the head (14) of the vented liner (10) penetrating the rubber of which the liner is made being provided in the shaft (23), and/or the through-hole (26) comprising an upper portion (28) of constant diameter provided alongside the head of insert (22) and a lower divergent portion (29) provided in the shaft (23) in order to make the through-hole (26) self-cleaning.