Mobile milk unit and system

• US 4,034,711 A
• Filed: 07/31/1975
• Issued: 07/12/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bender Machine Works Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bender Machine Works Incorporated
• Inventors: Schmid, Rolyn A., Bender, Lloyd F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitrelli, John F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Skiff, Peter K.
• Application Number:
  US05/600,813
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 119/14.11, 119/14.14, 119/14.05, 119/14.46, 119/14.07, 119/14.28, 119/14.39, 119/14.4, 119/14.41, 119/14.43, 119/14.08
• US Class Current: 119/14.11
• CPC Class Codes: A01J 5/003 Movable milking machines
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2202/026 Milkchurns

Abstract

A mobile, complete milking unit for milking cows and transferring the milk to a storage tank, the unit having all the milk handling components mounted thereon as an integral, portable unit. The unit can be moved about in the milking area whether it is in the barn, in the barn yard, or in the field.

Claims

1. A mobile milking unit having components energizable from an electrical power source and for supplying milk to a bulk storage tank remote from said unit comprising:

a mobile frame, a single milk receiver, a vacuum pump connected to said receiver for subjecting said receiver to vacuum, a first motor for driving said vacuum pump, means for connecting said first motor to said power source, a plurality of teat claw assemblies, a plurality of adjustably movable swing arms on said frame for supporting said plurality of teat claw assemblies, a plurality of milk conduits, each milk conduit connected for conveying milk from a teat claw assembly to said receiver in response to said vacuum in said receiver, a shut-off valve for each milk conduit for shutting off vacuum to a teat claw assembly not in use, an electrically operated pulsator energizable from said power source and operatively connected to said claw assemblies for selectively connecting said teat claw assemblies to said vacuum pump and to atmosphere to thereby alternately subject said claw assemblies to vacuum or atmosphere, electrically operated milk level sensing means connected to said receiver and energizable from said power source for providing electric signals indicative of milk level, a milk pump connected to said receiver for pumping milk from said receiver to said bulk storage tank, a second motor for driving said milk pump, an electrical contactor energizable from said power source for connecting said second motor to said power source, electrically operated milk level control means energizable from said power source and connected to said electrical contactor and to said milk level sensing means periodically for operating said milk pump to periodically empty said receiver into said bulk storage tank when milk in said receiver reaches a predetermined level as sensed by said milk level sensing means, and electrically operable pulsator timer means energizable from said power source and connected to said pulsator for cyclically energizing said pulsator from said source of power to effect timed control of the pulsations of said pulsator.

2. The unit set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said milk level control means comprises a relay for operating said contactor, a controlled rectifier for operating said relay, and electric control means for sensing said signals and for operating said controlled rectifier in response thereto.

3. The unit set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said pulsator comprises a solenoid operated valve and said pulsator timer means comprises a solid state multivibrator to establish an on-off duty cycle at a predetermined frequency, a solid state switch cyclically operated by said multivibrator to effect operation of said solenoid operated valve in said pulsator, and a light actuated control rectifier to isolate said multivibrator from said solid state switch to prevent undesirable frequency changes.

4. A mobile milking unit having components energizable from an electrical power source and for supplying milk to a bulk storage tank remote from said unit comprising:

a mobile frame, a single milk receiver, a vacuum pump connected to said receiver for subjecting said receiver to vacuum, a first motor for driving said vacuum pump and connected to said power source, a plurality of teat claw assemblies, a plurality of adjustably movable swing arms on said frame for supporting said plurality of teat claw assemblies, a plurality of milk conduits, each milk conduit connected for conveying milk from one said teat claw assembly to said receiver due to said vacuum in said receiver, a shut-off valve for each milk conduit for shutting off vacuum to a teat claw assembly not in use, a solenoid operated pulsator valve energizable from said power source and operatively connected to said claw assemblies for selectively connecting said teat claw assemblies to said vacuum pump and atmosphere to thereby alternately subject said claw assemblies to vacuum or atmosphere, electrically operated milk level sensing means in said receiver and energizable from said power source for providing electric signals indicative of milk level, a milk pump connected to and for pumping milk from said receiver to said bulk storage tank, a second motor energizable from said power source for driving said milk pump, an electrical contactor for connecting said second motor to said source of power, electrically operated milk level control means energizable from said power source and connected to said contactor and to said milk level sensing means periodically for operating said milk pump to periodically empty said receiver into said bulk storage tank when milk in said receiver reaches a predetermined level as sensed by said milk level sensing means, said milk level control means comprising a relay for operating said contactor, a controlled rectifier for operating said relay, and electric control means for sensing sais signals and for operating said controlled rectifier in response thereto, and electrically operated pulsator timer means connected to said solenoid operated pulsator valve for cyclically energizing said pulsator from said power source to effect timed control of the pulsations of said pulsator valve, said pulsator timer means comprising a solid state multivibrator to establish an on-off duty cycle at a predetermined frequency, and a solid state switch cyclically operated by said multivibrator to effect operation of said solenoid operated pulsator, and a light actuated control rectifier to isolate said multivibrator from said solid state switch to prevent undesirable frequency changes.