Elastic Teat Cup Liner With Wave Structure for Vacuum Peak Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing teat cup inserts for dairy animals face challenges in accommodating a wide range of teat sizes, leading to issues such as premature detachment, incomplete milking, and adverse physiological effects due to negative pressure peaks, often requiring complex and costly solutions that increase maintenance and operational complexity.
Innovation Solution
A teat cup insert with a wave-like structure that allows for a single piece design, featuring varying wall thicknesses and deformability, ensuring reliable adhesion and adaptability to different teat sizes, reducing negative pressure peaks, and minimizing mechanical force on the teat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional teat cup insert with uniform wall thickness is used, then the manufacturing process is simple, but it cannot adapt to different teat sizes and causes premature detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the wall thickness of the teat cup insert at different locations. The insert has a first wall thickness in the head region and a second, greater wall thickness in the tube region, allowing each section to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall structural integrity and adaptability to different teat sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the teat cup insert deformable through the varied wall thickness design. The insert can dynamically adapt its shape and dimensions to match different teat sizes during the milking process, improving attachment reliability without requiring multiple fixed-size inserts.
2Reliability
If high negative pressure is applied to ensure tight adhesion, then the sealing is improved, but adverse physiological effects occur on the teat
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the wall thickness distribution and elastic properties of the teat cup insert. This allows the insert to maintain reliable adhesion through its deformable structure rather than relying solely on high negative pressure, thereby reducing adverse physiological effects on the teat while ensuring proper sealing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If complex solutions are used to accommodate different teat sizes, then the adaptability is improved, but maintenance and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by designing a single teat cup insert structure that can accommodate multiple teat sizes through its deformable, varied wall thickness design. This eliminates the need for multiple specialized inserts or complex adjustment mechanisms, simplifying both operation and maintenance while maintaining broad adaptability.
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 wave-like structure enhances teat cup attachment reliability, reduces negative pressure peaks, and improves milking efficiency across a wider range of teat sizes, minimizing operational effort and adverse effects on the animal.
Implementation Method 1
it adheres to the teat through static friction and the effect of the operating vacuum prevailing beneath the teat
Implementation Method 2
the effect of the operating vacuum prevailing beneath the teat, which is transmitted through the elastic teat cup insert
Implementation Method 3
a corresponding massaging effect on the teat is achieved by pressing the elastically deformed section of the tube area against the teat
Implementation Method 4
the corresponding section of the tube area 'unfolds' due to the inherent elasticity of the teat cup insert and releases the flow channel
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C~1D
Figure 1E~1F
AI summary
An elastic teat cup liner (100) or a rubber teat has a top region (120) which has an undulating structure (140) that surrounds the teat insertion opening (150). As a result, the deformation behaviour in the region of the teat insertion opening can be improved, so that a simpler attachment of the teat cup with higher adhesive force and less constriction can be achieved. Furthermore, the undulating structure can serve as a valve in order to reduce vacuum peaks during the milking process.