Cord-locking device and a milking unit removal device comprising such a cord-locking device

• US 6,363,585 B1
• Filed: 03/17/2000
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Delaval International AB
• Original Assignee: Delaval International AB
• Inventors: Johannesson, Leif Börje, Gustafson, Kenneth Percy Birger
• Primary Examiner(s): SANDY, ROBERT JOHN
• Application Number:
  US09/508,939
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 246/02, 241/226, 247/121, 247/122, 241/15.R, 241/15.K, 241/15.A, 241/15.M, 241/15.G, 241/27, 241/36.R, 241/36.K, 241/36.L, 241/34.R, 241/34.KB, 241/34.L, 119/14.08, 119/14.04, 403/369, 403/374
• US Class Current: 24/115.00K
• CPC Class Codes: A01J 5/017 Automatic attaching or detaching of clusters
• CPC Class Codes: F16G 11/101 deforming the cable by moving a part of the fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/39 Cord and rope holders
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3916 One-piece
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3991 Loop engaging

Abstract

A cord-locking device for releasably gripping a cord (4), which preferably may be used in a milking machine as a safety coupling. The cord comprises a grip member (12) arranged to receive the cord (4) and to hold releasably by a holding member (13). The grip member (12), held by the holding member (13), is arranged to lock fixedly the received cord (4) by clamping as a consequences of a pulling load applied to the cord (4). The grip (12), when released from said holding member (13), is arranged to enable the release of the received cord (4) from the grip member (12).

Claims

1. A cord-locking device for releasably gripping a cord, comprising:

a holding member; and

a grip member arranged to receive the cord and be held releasably by said holding member wherein the grip member, held by the holding member, is arranged to fixedly lock the received cord by clamping as a consequence of a first pulling load applied to the cord, wherein the grip member is arranged to be released from said holding member when the cord is subjected to a second pulling load which is greater than the first pulling load, and wherein the grip member, when released from said holding member, is arranged to enable the release of the received cord from the grip member.

2. A cord-locking device according to claim 1, wherein the grip member comprises a passage for receiving the cord.

3. A cord-locking device according to claim 2, wherein the grip member comprises a locking portion which is arranged to fixedly lock the cord in the passage as a consequence of the first pulling load being applied to the cord.

4. A cord-locking device according to claim 3, wherein said locking portion is resilient and displaceably provided in the grip member.

5. A cord-locking device according to claim 3, wherein the grip member comprises a recess in which the locking portion is arranged in such a manner that the recess and the locking portion form said passage.

6. A cord-locking device according to claim 4, wherein the grip member includes a recess and wherein the locking portion is arranged to be displaceable in such a manner that the cord is fixedly clamped between the locking portion and a part of the recess as a consequence of the first pulling load applied to the cord.

7. A cord-locking device according to claim 6, wherein the cord, received by the grip member, extends in said passage in a loop which at least partly encloses the locking portion.

8. A cord-locking device according to claim 7, wherein the recess has a common inlet and outlet portion for the passage for the cord.

9. A cord-locking device according to claim 3, wherein said locking portion comprises at least one edge for the locking cord.

10. A cord-locking device according to claim 9, wherein the grip member includes a recess and wherein the recess comprises at least one edge in the proximity of the edge of said locking portion.

11. A cord-locking device according to claim 2, wherein the grip member comprises at least two releasably connected parts, which parts are kept together by said holding member and form said passage in a connected state.

12. A cord-locking device according to claim 11, wherein said parts of the grip member are kept together by a flexible material section.

13. A cord-locking device according to claim 12, wherein the grip member is manufactured as a unit.

14. A cord-locking device according to claim 11, wherein the grip member is manufactured of a plastic material.

15. A cord-locking device according to claim 11, wherein said holding member comprises at least two clamping elements arranged to fixedly clamp, between each other, the grip member in a connected state.

16. A cord-locking device according to claim 15, wherein said clamping elements are arranged to be resilient.

17. A cord locking device according to claim 15, wherein the cord-locking device is adapted for use as a safety coupling for automatic removal of a milking member, wherein the cord, via a removing member, is arranged to be connected to a milking member of a milking machine.

18. In combination:

a milking member;

a removing member including an operating cylinder with a movable piston and a cord; and

a cord-locking device including a holding member and a grip member arranged to receive the cord and be held releasably by said holding member, wherein the grip member, held by;

the holding member, is arranged to fixedly lock the received cord by clamping as a consequence of a pulling load applied to the cord, and wherein the grip member is arranged to enable the release of the received cord from the grip member,

wherein one end of the cord is connected to said milking member and its other end is connected releasably to said cord-locking device, and the cord between its end points is displaceably provided by the movable piston of the operating cylinder.