Positioner for milking apparatus

• US 6,382,130 B1
• Filed: 11/16/1999
• Issued: 05/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tim M. Rooney
• Original Assignee: Tim M. Rooney
• Inventors: Rooney, Tim M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nelson, Judith A.
• Application Number:
  US09/441,397
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: 119/14.01, 119/14.02, 119/14.03, 119/14.04, 119/14.1, 119/14.18, 119/14.54
• US Class Current: 119/14.04
• CPC Class Codes: A01J 5/00 Milking machines or devices A01J1/00, A01J3/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01J 5/017 Automatic attaching or detaching of clusters

Abstract

A milking siphon positioner for repositioning milking equipment within a milking parlor is shown and described. A swing arm is pivotally mounted within a bearing so that it may swing in a swing arc defined in a plane which is at least substantially vertical. A milking siphon suitable for attachment to an animal'"'"'s teats is carried on the swing arm so that it is repositioned by the swing arm; for example, the swing arm may reposition the milking siphon to milking platforms situated on opposite sides of milking parlors. The swing arm may be selectively affixed with respect to the bearing at selected angles within the swing arc, so that the swing arm (and milking siphon) can be locked into desired positions.

Claims

1. A milking siphon positioner comprising:

a. a bearing suspended above a floor;

b. a swing arm rotatably borne within the bearing to swing across a swing arc above the floor, the swing arc being defined within a plane which is at least substantially vertical, whereby the swing arm may swing beneath the bearing and between opposing sides of the bearing;

c. a milking siphon carried on the swing arm;

d. locking means associated with the swing arm for selectively affixing the swing arm with respect to the bearing, whereby the swing arm can be affixed in at least one selected angle in the swing arc.

2. The milking siphon positioner of claim 1 wherein the locking means comprises:

a. a locking wing extending from the bearing, the locking wing having one or more locking apertures therein;

b. a locking member connected to the swing arm, the locking member being movable into one of the locking apertures to engage the locking wing.

3. The milking siphon positioner of claim 2 wherein the locking member is spring-biased to engage one of the locking apertures once the locking member is adjacent to this locking aperture.

4. The milking siphon positioner of claim 2 wherein the locking wing is defined by a wing plate situated within a plane parallel to the plane of the swing arc.

5. The milking siphon positioner of claim 4 wherein the wing plate has a locking flange extending outwardly therefrom, the locking flange having the one or more locking apertures defined therein.

6. The milking siphon positioner of claim 5 wherein

the wing plate has a lower side from which the locking flange extends, and an opposing upper side;

the lower side at least partially defines an arcuate path.

7. The milking siphon positioner of claim 6 wherein the bearing is situated above the upper side of the wing plate.

8. The milking siphon positioner of claim 1 further comprising a linear actuator on the swing arm, the linear actuator bearing an extension arm which is extendible and retractable with respect to the swing arm, wherein the milking siphon is connected to the extension arm.

9. The milking siphon positioner of claim 8 wherein the linear actuator is connected to the swing arm by a bracket through which a milk hose extends, the milk hose being connected to the milking siphon.

10. The milking siphon positioner of claim 1 wherein the floor is situated between two opposing raised milking platforms whereon animals to be milked may be situated, and wherein the swing arc is at least partially defined between the milking platforms.

11. A milking siphon positioner comprising:

a. a locking wing having one or more locking apertures defined therein;

b. a bearing situated in a fixed position with respect to the locking wing;

c. a swing arm rotatably mounted within the bearing, the swing arm being rotatable within the bearing to swing in a swing arc defined in a plane which is at least substantially vertical and which is situated below a horizontal plane wherein the bearing is located;

d. a locking member borne on the swing arm, the locking member being movable to engage one of the locking apertures in the locking wing and thereby restrain the swing arm from rotating with respect to the bearing;

e. a milking siphon affixed to the swing arm.

12. The milking siphon positioner of claim 11 wherein

the locking wing has opposing upper and lower surfaces,

the upper surface has the bearing affixed thereon, and

the lower surface has the one or more locking apertures defined therein.

13. The milking siphon positioner of claim 12 wherein the lower surface includes a locking flange protruding therefrom, and wherein the locking apertures are defined in the locking flange.

14. A milking siphon positioner comprising:

a. a locking wing having an upper side and an opposing lower side;

b. a bearing affixed to the locking wing;

c. an elongated swing arm rotatably mounted within the bearing to swing in a swing arc traversing at least a portion of the lower side of the locking wing;

d. a locking member affixed to the swing arm, the locking member being selectively movable to engage the lower side of the locking wing;

e. a milking siphon borne on the swing arm.

15. The milking siphon positioner of claim 14 wherein the lower side of the locking wing includes a locking flange extending therefrom, the locking flange including at least one locking aperture defined therein into which the locking member may extend to thereby engage the locking flange.

16. The milking siphon positioner of claim 14 wherein the locking member is spring-biased to engage the lower side of the locking wing.

17. The milking siphon positioner of claim 16 wherein the locking member is elongated and extends at least substantially parallel to the swing arm between a first end and a second end, and wherein the locking member is slidable along the length of the swing arm to have its second end engage the lower side of the locking wing.

18. The milking siphon positioner of claim 16 wherein the bearing is situated on the upper side of the locking wing, and the lower side of the locking wing at least partially defines an arcuate path.

19. The milking siphon positioner of claim 14 further comprising a linear actuator on the swing arm, the linear actuator bearing an extension arm which is extendible and retractable with respect to the swing arm, wherein the milking siphon is connected to the extension arm.

20. The milking siphon positioner of claim 19 wherein the linear actuator is connected to the swing arm by a bracket through which a milk hose extends, the milk hose being connected to the milking siphon.