Bulk milk tank milk-line connections for disabled dairyman

摘要

Dairymen have a high incidence of hip, back and knee issues. There are other disabilities such as the loss of a limb, disease that can make climbing or bending over challenging and sometimes painful. Milk line connections for putting milk into a bulktank have traditionally required a person to climb a ladder and make the connections above the tank while standing on the ladder or a narrow platform. This can be nearly impossible for someone with disabilities. Bulk tank bottom fill connections are increasingly popular so no climbing is necessary but this can also be challenging because one needs to stoop, kneel or squat to make the milk line connections to the bulk tank. This paper will look at possible methods to make the milk line connections without having to bend over or climb a ladder. Possible solutions include a scissors lift to raise the person to the platform for making a milk line connection at the top of the bulk tank or a device to make the connections on a bottom fill bulk tank system sothe dairyman doesn't have to bend over. One potential solution for the bottom fill connection is a connection at waist height for the milk line to wash line connection and a custom designed pliers to make the J-pipe connection to the bottom of the bulktank. Dexterity and space availability could influence which method might be suitable for any particular dairyman.