DE102024001131B4 - Teat liner - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are a teat cup and a flow calming device suitable for such a teat cup, designed to calm the milk flow within the teat cup and reduce backflow.

Description

The invention relates to a teat cup with a flow calming device.

Gentle teat treatment is crucial in machine milking and is ensured, for example, by the use of milking systems that incorporate vacuum relief during the massage phase, similar to natural calf suckling. This vacuum relief demonstrably improves teat condition. Such a milking system is used, for example, in the... EP 1 119 235 B1 revealed.

These milking systems use teat cup liners that have a cup head with an adjoining tube section to hold the teat. A vacuum port, formed, for example, by an angled end, opens into an interior enclosed by the tube section, where the milking vacuum is applied. Such a teat cup liner is clamped into a milking cup, with an annular space bounded by the tube section that can be pressurized with atmospheric pressure, overpressure, or vacuum via a pulsator control. In this way, the massage stroke can be controlled by adjusting the pressure differential between the interior of the tube section and the outer annular space. If the vacuum port is designed as an angled end, the tube section has a thin-walled area adjacent to it, which folds inward during the massage phase and seals the angled end against the vacuum.

In the DE 10 2006 026 271 A1 A teat cup liner is described in which an air inlet nozzle is formed in the teat cup head, through which the inner chamber of the head is ventilated to the atmosphere. The resulting permanent air inlet ensures that an excessive vacuum cannot form in the teat cup head.

Under unfavorable operating conditions, particularly during the massage stroke and the opening movement of the teat cup liner, milk can flow in the opposite direction to the vacuum-induced flow. This causes milk to splash against the teat, washing around the teat opening. This is especially problematic because such backflow towards the teat can introduce pathogens, creating a significant risk of infection. This can also infect other quarters of the udder or, if the milking unit is changed, other animals. This is particularly common with higher milking rates in any milking system and is further exacerbated by alternating stroke milking and vacuum relief systems. The vacuum build-up after each relief and the simultaneous opening of the teat cup liner intensifies this effect, as this vacuum build-up acts like a vacuum pump, further increasing the backflow.

To prevent such backflow, for example, the printed materials DE 10 2006 026 271 A1 , DE 10 2006 040 079 A1 and EP 1 219 166 A2 It was proposed to connect the interior of the teat cup, located below the teat intake area, to the atmosphere via a channel in the teat cup wall. This intentional "leakage" is designed to cause the liquid column below the teat to detach during milk flow, thus reducing backflow. However, in practice, it has been shown that even with such channels, backflow cannot be reliably prevented.

From the document DE 36 24 478 A1 Solutions are known in which a check valve is integrated into the milk hose to prevent such backflow (also called backspray), thus preventing backflow. However, a disadvantage of such concepts is that, for example, when cleaning the milking unit, the teat liner is subjected to backflow against the usual direction of milk flow (backflush), so the check valve then has to be blocked in a complex manner to allow the backflush. Furthermore, the document DS Croy, LM Rode, RC Philippe and K.-J. Cheng; 1990; Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 73:1232 - 1238 A study was presented which concluded that the risk of mastitis infection cannot be reduced with such a check valve.

The printed matter US 4 090 471 A Disclosing a teat liner with a stationary spiral flow body designed to prevent backflow.

In contrast, the invention is based on the objective of creating a teat liner that can reduce reflux and the associated risk of infection.

This problem is solved by a teat rubber with the features of claim 1.

Advantageous further developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

This teat liner has, in a manner known per se, a teat liner head and a tube part that forms a teat receiving chamber for a teat. According to the invention, at least one movable or stationary flow element of a flow stabilization device is arranged downstream of the teat intake chamber. This device is designed, in particular during a suckling stroke and optionally also during a massage stroke and in the transition zone between these phases, to at least reduce backflow effects and/or to homogenize or calm the flow due to the flow around the flow element. This can also be accompanied by a reduction in turbulence, so that the turbulent backspray effects observed in conventional milking units can be significantly reduced or completely avoided. The flow stabilization according to the invention, by means of the flow element around which the milk flows, can also reliably prevent or at least reduce the foaming of the milk frequently observed in conventional systems and the associated mechanical stress, which leads to the rupture of the fat globules on the milk surface and thus to the formation of free fatty acids. According to the invention, the flow body is approximately spherical or elliptical/streamlined, wherein flow-induced axial and/or radial movement is limited by stop/guide elements of the flow stabilization device. According to the invention, the teat rubber is designed with an angled end, wherein the flow stabilization device is arranged with the flow body approximately in the area between the angled end and a clamping bead.

In other words, in the design according to the invention, a flow body is introduced into the milk flow path, which is surrounded by the milk during the intended use of the teat liner and, as a result of this flow, the milk flow is homogenized and thus backflow is prevented or at least greatly reduced.

In a particularly simple embodiment of the invention, the movement of the flow body in and against the direction of milk flow is limited by a pin arranged in the area of the flow cross-section or by stop nubs or other stop elements.

The positioning of the flow body is further simplified if its radial position is limited by preferably more than two guide elements distributed around the circumference, which are formed, for example, by guide strips provided integrally on the teat rubber or on the flow calming device.

In principle, it is also possible to arrange two such flow calming devices or two flow bodies one behind the other in the direction of flow.

The advantageous effects of the invention (calming of the flow, reduction of backflow, reduction of foaming) can be further improved if the flow element is positioned in a radial extension of the flow calming device, wherein the dimensions, in particular the diameter of the flow element, are equal to or greater than the clear width of the sections of the flow channel opening into the radial extension. The effective flow cross-section of the flow calming device is preferably designed to be at least approximately as large as the flow cross-section of the adjacent sections of the flow channel. In other words, the flow cross-section in the region of the flow calming device is at least as large as the effective flow cross-section upstream and downstream of the flow calming device, so that the milk flow is not, or only minimally, restricted or subjected to turbulence.

In a particularly versatile embodiment, the flow body is arranged in a, preferably multi-part, housing of the flow calming device, which is detachably attached to or integrated into a flow path of the teat rubber.

As indicated above, the flow calming device can also be designed with two flow bodies, preferably arranged one behind the other in the direction of flow, which in turn are mounted in a stationary or movable manner.

The teat rubber can be designed with an air inlet nozzle.

• 1 einen Längsschnitt eines nicht zur Erfindung gehörenden Zitzengummis, der mit einer erfindungsgemäßen Strömungsberuhigungs-Einrichtung ausgeführt ist;
• 2 einen Radialschnitt entlang der Linie A-A in 1;
• 3 einen Längsschnitt eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines erfindungsgemäßen Zitzengummis;
• 4 eine Detaildarstellung des Zitzengummis gemäß 3;
• 5 einen Radialschnitt entlang der Linie B-B in 4;
• 6 ein drittes Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Zitzengummis;
• 7 eine Detaildarstellung des Zitzengummis gemäß 6;
• 8 einen Radialschnitt entlang der Schnittlinie C-C in 7;
• 9 einen nicht zur Erfindung gehörenden Zitzengummi;
• 10 eine Detaildarstellung des Zitzengummis gemäß 9 und
• 11 eine weitere Variante einer Strömungsberuhigungs-Einrichtung.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to schematic drawings. These show:

• 1 a longitudinal section of a teat rubber not belonging to the invention, which is equipped with a flow calming device according to the invention;
• 2 a radial section along line AA in 1 ;
• 3 a longitudinal section of an embodiment of a teat liner according to the invention;
• 4 a detailed representation of the teat rubber according to 3 ;
• 5 a radial section along line BB in 4 ;
• 6 a third embodiment of a teat liner according to the invention;
• 7 a detailed representation of the teat rubber according to 6 ;
• 8 a radial section along the section line CC in 7 ;
• 9 a teat rubber not belonging to the invention;
• 10 a detailed representation of the teat rubber according to 9 and
• 11 another variant of a flow calming device.

In 1 Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section through a teat cup liner 1 of a milking unit, which is clamped into a milking cup (not shown). Regarding the basic design of such a milking unit, reference is made to the prior art described above. In such a so-called two-chamber milking cup, a milking vacuum is applied to the teat during the suckling stroke, allowing milk to flow from the teat through the teat cup liner 1 and a milk tube to a collecting piece. During the massage stroke, the teat cup liner 1 is folded (collapsed) by the introduction of atmospheric pressure or overpressure into the aforementioned annular space between its outer circumference and an inner wall of the milking cup, thus massaging the blood back from the teat tip to the teat base.

The in 1 The depicted teat rubber 1 has a hose part 2 which is connected to its 1 The upper end section transitions into a teat rubber head 4. This has a head sleeve 6 which extends downwards from this end section of the hose part 2 away from the teat rubber head 4 (view according to). 1 ) extends so that an annular space 8 is formed, into which the upper end section of the milking cup (not shown) is inserted. A lower end section of this milking cup rests on a clamping ridge 10 of the teat liner 1, which projects radially forward from the lower end section of the hose part 2, so that the teat liner 1 is clamped into the milking cup.

The teat cup liner 4 has an insertion opening 12 into which a teat 14, indicated by dashed lines, is inserted when the milking unit is attached. The teat cup liner 4, which is radially wider than the hose section 2, forms a headspace 16 that partially surrounds the teat 14 in a ring-like fashion.

When a teat 14 is inserted, the hose section 2 forms a teat receiving chamber 18 encompassing the teat 14 and an interior space 20 below it. The latter can be connected to the headspace 16 via a channel 22. Specifically, in the illustrated teat liner 1, this channel 22 is formed by a channel in the teat liner wall 26, preferably running parallel to the longitudinal axis 24 of the teat liner 1, and extends from the interior space 20 into the headspace 16, which widens away from the hose section 2. However, such a channel 22 is an optional feature.

Regarding teat liner 1 according to 1 An air inlet nozzle 28 is provided in the teat cup 4, through which the headspace 16 is ventilated to the atmosphere. This ventilation ensures that an excessive vacuum cannot form in the teat cup 4. Further details of such air inlet nozzles 28 are described in the prior art, in particular in the DE 10 2006 040 079 A1 , explained.

Not shown are thin-walled areas of the teat rubber wall 26 in the region of the tube section 2, which allow the tube section 2 to collapse during the massage stroke and the sealing to the vacuum. Massage ridges (not shown) may be provided on the teat rubber wall 26 in the region of the teat receiving chamber 18, which support the massage effect up to the tip of the teat 14.

At the in 1 In the depicted teat liner 1, a flow calming device 30 - also called FCS device - is arranged in the area of the interior 20, i.e. upstream of the clamping ridge 10, which is designed, in particular during the suckling cycle, to calm the liquid flow and/or to prevent foaming of the milk and/or to prevent or at least severely restrict backflow at the beginning of the suckling phase, without affecting the milking vacuum.

This is done with teat liner 1 according to 1 This is achieved by positioning a flow element 32 at a distance from the teat 14, around which the milk flows during the milking process. In the illustrated teat liner 1, the flow element 32 is designed as a sphere; however, other geometries can of course also be implemented, optimized with regard to flow around it that minimizes pressure loss.

In the illustrated teat rubber 1, the flow body 32 is movable within the 1 stored in the area marked A of hose section 2. In principle, however, A positionally fixed flow body 32 can also be used.

In this teat rubber 1, the movement of the flow element 32 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 24 is limited by stop nubs 34, 36, which act as stop elements for the flow element 32, so that it is only movable along area A. Lateral guidance transverse to the longitudinal axis 24 is achieved by centering strips 38, which are also formed on the inner circumferential wall of the hose section 2. This area of the flow calming device 30 thus forms a flow calming chamber.

Further details of this flow body guidance are 2 removable.

This shows a section along the in 1 The indicated radial section plane AA runs perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 24 and the drawing plane. This section extends through the hose section 2, so that the teat rubber wall 26 of the hose section 2, which surrounds the interior 20, is cut accordingly.

Accordingly, three downstream stop studs 36a, 36b, 36c are provided on the inner circumferential wall 30 of the teat rubber wall 26, which are arranged, for example, offset by 120° on a partial circle corresponding to the diameter of the inner circumferential wall 40. The apexes 42 of the stop studs 36a, 36b, 36c lie on a 2 The partial circle, indicated by dashed lines, has a diameter D smaller than the diameter S of the flow body 32, so that its axial movement is limited by running up against the stop lugs 36a, 36b, 36c. The upstream stop lugs 34 (34a, 34b, 34c) are designed accordingly.

Furthermore, the cut in 2 Removable, the flow body 32 is guided laterally by three centering strips 38a, 38b, 38c, which are also offset from each other by 120° and which are located at the teat rubber 1 according to the 1 and 2 The centering ribs 38 extend between the stop lugs 34a, 36a; 34b, 36b; 34c, 36c, which are arranged one above the other in the direction of flow, so that the pressure loss through the elements projecting from the inner circumferential wall is minimized. The apex 44 of the centering ribs 38 lie on a pitch circle d, the diameter of which is larger than the effective diameter S (see 1 ) of the fluid body 32. The dimensions S, D, d can be chosen such that the fluid body 32 is guided laterally with a clearance fit or with a comparatively large clearance, so that the flow around the fluid body 32 is not impeded.

This design offers a significant advantage over the previously described prior art with check valves: in the event of backflush or other systems, blocking of the check valve is not required. Surprisingly, it was found that with such a flow calming device 30, the liquid flow is significantly calmed compared to conventional solutions, and backflow, especially at the beginning of the suction cycle, is greatly reduced without affecting the milking vacuum.

3 Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a teat liner 1 according to the invention, in which an inclined end 46 is provided in the interior 20 upstream of the clamping bead 10. This inclined end is covered during the massage stroke by a thin-walled section 48 of the teat liner wall 26 to interrupt the vacuum connection. This embodiment also shows the two massage ribs 49, 51, which assist the massage of the teat 14 during the massage stroke. As mentioned, these massage ribs 49, 51 can be designed as joint massage ribs to improve elasticity.

In this variant as well, a channel 22 is provided at least along the teat receiving chamber 18, which opens into the head chamber 16. An air inlet nozzle 28 can again be provided on the teat liner head 4 – this is shown in the illustration according to 3 not visible.

According to the invention, downstream of the inclined termination 46 in the area of the clamping bead 10, a flow calming device 30 is provided, by which the milk flow is calmed and backflow is prevented.

4 shows a detailed representation of teat rubber 1 according to 3 in the area of the sloping termination 46 and 5 a radial section along the section line BB in 4 Accordingly, in this embodiment as well, the flow calming device 30 is designed with a spherical flow body 32, the axial movement of which – as in the embodiment according to the 1 and 2 - are limited by stop studs 34, 36 and their radial movement by centering ribs 38. According to the radial section in 5 The positioning of the stop nubs 34a, 34b, 34c and the centering strips 38a, 38b, 38c is carried out in the same way as for the teat liner according to the 1 and 2 , so that further explanations are unnecessary.

Regarding teat liner 1 according to the 3 and 4 The connection of the teat rubber 1 takes place with a collecting piece via one opposite the teat rubber 1 according to the 1 and 2 one-piece with the teat rubber 1 formed longer milk tube 50.

The 6 and 7 show a variant of the embodiment according to the 3 and 4 , wherein the flow calming device 30 is designed with a radial extension 52 encompassing the flow body 32, which ensures improved all-round flow around the flow body 32. In the illustrated embodiment, this radial extension 52 is again formed in the region of the clamping bead 10 downstream of the inclined end 46.

In this embodiment, the circumferential wall of the radial extension 52 and the outer circumference of the flow body 32 form an approximately annular flow cross-section, the diameter ratios preferably being designed such that the effective flow cross-section within the radial extension 52 is larger than or at least equal to the flow cross-section in the adjacent areas. Accordingly, the approximately spherical radial extension 52 is designed so that the flow body 32 can be circumscribed with minimal pressure loss, thereby homogenizing the flow and preventing the formation of turbulence. Furthermore, the ingress of air and the associated foaming are prevented.

Further details of this embodiment are shown in the detailed illustration in 7 explained.

In the illustrated embodiment, the diameter S of the flow body 32 is slightly larger than the inner diameter J of the milk hose 50 and the inner diameter Q of the flow channel 54 extending between the angled end 46 and the flow calming device 30. The diameter R of the radial extension 52 is significantly larger than the diameter S of the flow body 32 and the diameters Q and J of the adjacent flow channel sections.

To prevent the flow body 32 from obstructing the connection between the radial extension 52 and the adjacent flow sections (milk channel 50, flow channel 54) by contacting the opening areas 56, 58 of the radial extension 52 during flow, stop lugs 34, 36 are again provided in this area, wherein – as in the previously described embodiments – according to the 8 The radial section shown along the section line CC again has three stop studs 34a, 34b, 34c and 36a, 36b, 36c (only the latter in 8 (shown) are provided. Instead of the stop studs 34, 36, stop pins can also be used (see 9 , 10 ) or the like to limit the axial movement of the flow body 32.

In the embodiments described above, the teat liner 1 must be manufactured with the functional elements of the flow-stabilizing device 30 integrally formed on the teat liner wall 26, unlike conventional solutions. This necessitates a separate tool for producing this teat liner 1. Retrofitting existing teat liners is only possible with a comparatively high level of effort, requiring the use of insert parts instead of the stop nubs 34, 36 and centering strips 38 integrally formed with the teat liner 1. This, in turn, involves considerable assembly effort.

In the 9 , 10 until 11 Variants not belonging to the invention are shown, which enable a simple retrofit of a teat rubber with a flow calming device 30.

9 shows a teat rubber whose basic structure is roughly the same as that of 6 This corresponds to the previous version. However, in this variant, the milk hose 50 provided on the teat liner 1 is comparatively short and connected to the flow calming device 30, which is designed like a sight glass. The downstream section of this flow calming device 30 is then connected – as with a sight glass – to a long milk hose 60 leading to the collector.

10 The flow calming device 30, designed as a compact assembly, is shown according to 9 In detail. Accordingly, this device—similar to a sight glass—is designed with an inlet nozzle 62 and an outlet nozzle 64, between which a housing 66 accommodating the flow element 32 is arranged. The latter can be made in multiple parts to simplify manufacturing, with a positive-locking connection being achieved by gluing/welding or the like after production by injection molding or the like. The inlet nozzle 62, the outlet nozzle 64, and the housing 66 are traversed by a channel 68, the diameter K of which corresponds approximately to the diameter Q of the short milk hose 50 or the diameter J of the long milk hose 60.

In this flow calming device 30, the effective diameter S of the flow body 32 is also smaller than the diameter J of the milk hose 50 or the diameter Q of the between the inclined termination 46 and the FCS device 30 of the channel 68.

As with the previously described flow calming device 30, this geometry ensures an almost lossless flow around the movable flow body 32 and a corresponding flow calming.

At the flow calming device 30 according to the 9 and 10 The axial movement is limited by two stop pins 70, 72, which are each inserted into the housing 66 approximately along a diagonal in the radial direction and thus extend transversely through the channel 68 and thus prevent the flow body 32 from reaching the nozzles 62, 64.

Of course, instead of such stop pins 70, 72, stop lugs as in the previously described embodiments can also be provided on the inner circumferential wall of the channel 68. In the flow calming devices 30 according to the 9 and 10 The channel 68 has a continuous, constant diameter K. Radial guidance is provided by centering strips 38 – preferably three distributed around the circumference – which are mounted on the inner circumferential wall of the channel 68 in the area of the housing 66. These centering strips 38 can also be designed, for example, as pins that are positioned parallel to the longitudinal axis 74, for example, passing through the end flanges 76, 78 of the housing 66.

11 shows a variant in which the housing – similar to the embodiment according to the 6 , 7 and 8 - is designed with a radial extension 52, the geometry of which essentially corresponds to that of the previously described flow calming device 30. That is, the diameter S of the flow body 32 is slightly larger than the diameter K of the nozzles 62, 64 adjacent to the radial extension 52 of the housing 66, wherein the inner diameter R of the radial extension 52, which limits the flow cross-section, and the diameter S of the flow body 32 are again designed such that the flow around it is enabled with minimal pressure loss. In these flow calming devices 30 as well, the axial movement of the flow body 32 is limited either by stop lugs 34, 36 or by stop pins 70, 72 (similar to the flow calming devices 30 according to the 9 , 10 ) limited, so that the flow body 32 cannot obstruct the opening area 56, 58 at the transition to the inlet nozzle 62 or the outlet nozzle 64. Radial guidance can again be achieved via guide strips 38, which are inserted into the housing 66 parallel to the longitudinal axis 74 or are integrally arranged on the inner circumferential wall of the housing 66 or the radial extension 52 in order to center the flow body 32 with respect to the longitudinal axis 74. In this flow calming device 30 as well, the geometries are designed such that the flow cross-section in the area of the radial extension 52 is at least as large as the flow cross-section of the adjacent areas, i.e., in the inlet nozzle 62 and the outlet nozzle 64. In the illustrated flow calming device 30, a parting line 80 of the two-part housing 66 runs centrally through the radial extension 52.

In all previously described embodiments, the flow calming device 30 is designed with a single flow element 32. In principle, it can also be designed with two or more flow elements, which are positioned one behind the other in the flow direction or next to each other with respect to the flow direction.

Revealbart is a teat liner with a flow calming device designed to calm the milk flow within the teat liner and reduce backflow.

Reference symbol list:

1

Teat liner

2

hose section

4

Teat rubber head

6

Head sleeve

8

annular space

10

tension bead

12

insertion opening

14

teat

16

headspace

18

Teat intake room

20

interior

22

gutter

24

Longitudinal axis

26

Teat rubber wall

28

Air intake nozzle

30

Flow calming device/FCS device

32

Flow bodies

34

Stop stud

36

Stop stud

38

Centering strip

40

inner perimeter wall

42

crown

44

crown

46

angled finish

48

Thin-wall area

49

massage bar

50

milk hose

51

massage bar

52

Radial expansion

54

Flow channel

56

estuary

58

estuary

60

long milk hose

62

Inlet nozzle

64

Drainage spout

66

Housing

68

channel

70

Stop pin

72

Stop pin

74

Longitudinal axis

76

Headband

78

Headband

80

Separation plane

Claims (6)

Teat cup with a teat cup head (4) and a hose section (2) forming a teat receiving chamber (18) for a teat (14), wherein at least one movable flow element (32) of a flow stabilizing device (30) is arranged downstream of the teat receiving chamber (18), wherein the flow stabilizing device (30) is designed, in particular during a suckling cycle and in the transition area between a massage cycle and the suckling cycle, to at least reduce backwashing effects and/or to homogenize the flow due to flow around the flow element (32), wherein the movement of the flow element (32) in and against the direction of milk flow is limited in each case by a pin (70, 72) arranged in the area of the flow cross-section or by stop nubs (34, 36) or other stop elements, wherein the teat cup (1) is designed with an angled end (46) and the flow stabilizing device (30) with the The flow body (32) is arranged approximately in the area between the inclined end (46) and a tension bead (10). teat liner after Patent claim 1 , wherein the flow body (32) is approximately spherical or elliptical in shape, wherein a flow-induced axial and/or radial movement is limited by stop/guide elements of the flow calming device (30). teat liner after Patent claim 1 or 2 , wherein a radial position of the flow body (32) is limited, preferably more than two, guide elements distributed around the circumference, are formed by centering strips (38) preferably provided in one piece on the teat rubber (1) or on the flow calming device (30). Teat rubber according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the flow body (32) is positioned in a radial extension (52) of the flow calming device (30), wherein its dimensions, in particular a diameter (S) of the flow body (32), are equal to or greater than the clear width of sections of the flow channel (54) opening into the radial extension (52), and wherein preferably the effective flow cross-section of the flow calming device (30) is at least approximately as large as the flow cross-section of the adjacent sections of the flow channel (54). Teat rubber according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the flow body (32) is arranged in a, preferably multi-part, housing (66) of the flow calming device (30), which is detachably attached to or integrated into a flow path of the teat rubber (1). Teat rubber according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the flow calming device (30) is formed with two flow bodies (32), preferably arranged one behind the other in the direction of flow.