Dairy harvesting facility wash system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A dairy pipeline wash system comprising:
- a first chemical supply tank, a first pump, and a first flow meter;
a second chemical supply tank, a second pump, and a second flow meter;
a mixer vessel in fluid communication with the first pump and, the second pump;
a water supply in fluid communication with the mixer vessel;
a milk harvesting pipeline system in communication with an output of the mixer for receiving chemicals seriatim from the first chemical supply tank and the second chemical supply tank; and
a data processor for receiving input parameters from an operator interface and generating signals to activate any pump or combination of pumps to supply a predetermined amount of chemical to the mixer vessel for cleaning the milk harvesting pipeline system.
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Abstract
A dairy pipeline wash system for monitoring and controlling the wash cycle of a dairy harvesting facility including a user interactive data processor for receiving and storing wash parameters, monitoring wash conditions, comparing monitored wash conditions to wash parameters, and controlling wash conditions to comply with wash parameters. The dairy pipeline wash system may include a closed loop or fuzzy logic system to vary wash conditions as dairy pipeline conditions change.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A dairy pipeline wash system comprising:
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a first chemical supply tank, a first pump, and a first flow meter; a second chemical supply tank, a second pump, and a second flow meter; a mixer vessel in fluid communication with the first pump and, the second pump; a water supply in fluid communication with the mixer vessel; a milk harvesting pipeline system in communication with an output of the mixer for receiving chemicals seriatim from the first chemical supply tank and the second chemical supply tank; and a data processor for receiving input parameters from an operator interface and generating signals to activate any pump or combination of pumps to supply a predetermined amount of chemical to the mixer vessel for cleaning the milk harvesting pipeline system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A dairy pipeline wash system comprising:
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a first chemical supply tank, a first pump, and a first flow meter; a second chemical supply tank, a second pump, and a second flow meter; a mixer vessel in fluid communication with the first pump and, the second pump; a water supply in fluid communication with the mixer vessel; a milk harvesting pipeline system in communication with an output of the mixer for receiving chemicals seriatim from the first chemical supply tank and the second chemical supply tank; a data processor for receiving input parameters from an operator interface and generating signals to activate any pump or combination of pumps to supply a predetermined amount of chemical to the mixer vessel for cleaning the milk harvesting pipeline system; a data input terminal on the data processor for receiving signals from thermo-couples in thermal communication with a plurality of locations in the dairy pipeline; and a data output terminal on the data processor for transmitting signals to a water supply source to adjust the temperature of water from the water supply source.
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9. A dairy pipeline wash system comprising:
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a first chemical supply tank, a first pump, and a first flow meter; a second chemical supply tank, a second pump, and a second flow meter; a mixer vessel in fluid communication with the first pump and, the second pump; a water supply in fluid communication with the mixer vessel; a milk harvesting pipeline system in communication with an output of the mixer for receiving chemicals seriatim from the first chemical supply tank and the second chemical supply tank; a data processor for receiving input parameters from an operator interface and generating signals to activate any pump or combination of pumps to supply a predetermined amount of chemical to the mixer vessel for cleaning the milk harvesting pipeline system; a data input terminal on the data processor for receiving signals from a pipe proximity sensor on a pipe bracket; and a data output terminal on the data processor for transmitting a warning signal when the pipe position sensor signal indicates that a pipe is out of place.
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10. A dairy pipeline wash system comprising:
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a dairy pipeline system for conveying milk from a milking machine to a bulk storage tank; a plurality of pumps for conveying a mixture of cleaning chemicals and water through the dairy pipeline system; a plurality of sensors, each sensor positioned at a predetermined location in the dairy pipeline wash system to determine actual flow rates at a respective location; and a data processor in data receiving and transmission relationships with an operator interface, the pumps, and the sensors, the data processor for receiving and storing wash cycle parameters and operation sequencing and operating times, and for receiving data monitored by the sensors for comparing actual flow rates at the respective sensor locations to predetermined flow rates to generate a warning signal when actual flow rates are out of an acceptable range relative to the predetermined flow rates. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A dairy pipeline wash system comprising:
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a dairy pipeline system for conveying milk from a milking machine to a bulk storage tank; a plurality of pumps for conveying a mixture of cleaning chemicals and water through the dairy pipeline system; a plurality of sensors, each sensor positioned at a predetermined location in the dairy pipeline wash system to determine actual flow rates at a respective location; a data processor in data receiving and transmission relationships with an operator interface, the pumps, and the sensors, the data processor for receiving and storing wash cycle parameters and operation sequencing and operating times, and for receiving data monitored by the sensors for comparing actual flow rates at the respective sensor locations to predetermined flow rates to generate a warning signal when actual flow rates are out of an acceptable range relative to the predetermined flow rates; a plurality of valves having a milk position for controlling the flow of milk from the milking machine to the bulk storage tank during a milking cycle and a wash position for controlling the flow of cleaning chemicals and wash water during the wash cycle; a valve position indicator for generating a signal corresponding to the milk position and the wash position of each valve; and the data processor is programmed to receive the signal from the valve position indicator, and generate a warning signal in the event a valve is not in the wash position prior to initiating the wash cycle. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A dairy pipeline wash system comprising:
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a dairy pipeline system for conveying milk from a milking machine to a bulk storage tank; a plurality of pumps for conveying a mixture of cleaning chemicals and water through the dairy pipeline system; a plurality of sensors, each sensor positioned at a predetermined location in the dairy pipeline wash system to determine actual flow rates at a respective location; a data processor in data receiving and transmission relationships with an operator interface, the pumps, and the sensors, the data processor for receiving and storing wash cycle parameters and operation sequencing and operating times, and for receiving data monitored by the sensors for comparing actual flow rates at the respective sensor locations to predetermined flow rates to generate a warning signal when actual flow rates are out of an acceptable range relative to the predetermined flow rates; wherein the data processor is further programmed to activate a first pump to circulate wash water and cleaning chemicals through a dairy pipeline system; activate an air injector to enhance water velocity through the dairy pipeline system; drain the wash water from the dairy pipeline system; activate a second pump to circulate the wash water and a second cleaning chemical through the dairy pipeline system; activate an air injector to enhance water and second cleaning chemical velocity through the dairy pipeline system; and drain the wash water and second cleaning chemical from the dairy pipeline system. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. A dairy pipeline wash system comprising:
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a dairy pipeline system for conveying milk from a milking machine to a bulk storage tank; a plurality of pumps for conveying a mixture of cleaning chemicals and water through the dairy pipeline system; a plurality of sensors, each sensor positioned at a predetermined location in the dairy pipeline wash system to determine actual flow rates at a respective location; a data processor in data receiving and transmission relationships with an operator interface, the pumps, and the sensors, the data processor for receiving and storing wash cycle parameters and operation sequencing and operating times, and for receiving data monitored by the sensors for comparing actual flow rates at the respective sensor locations to predetermined flow rates to generate a warning signal when actual flow rates are out of an acceptable range relative to the predetermined flow rates, wherein the data processor simultaneously monitors flow rate sensors, thermo-couple sensors, chiller temperatures, and data input at the operator interface for controlling the dispensing of chemicals and the temperature of water being mixed with the wash chemicals in a closed loop relationship.
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28. A dairy pipeline wash system, comprising:
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an operator interface for inputting dairy pipeline wash parameters relating to the cleaning of a dairy pipeline between a milking machine and a milk storage tank; a plurality of sensors for monitoring dairy pipeline wash conditions and generating data corresponding to the monitored wash conditions; a data processor in data receiving relationship with the operator input to store the dairy pipeline wash parameters and in a data receiving relationship with the sensors for receiving wash condition data, the data processor being programmed to compare the wash parameters with the wash conditions and generate a warning signal when monitored wash conditions are outside of the stored wash parameters. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification