PULSE FLOW SENSING MEANS PARTICULARLY FOR MILKING PARLOURS

摘要

1469761 Milking machines M R LOLE 3 June 1974 [9 June 1973] 27651/73 Heading AIM [Also in Divisions G1 and G3] A pulse flow sensor comprises a member displaced by each flow pulse of liquid in a conduit, a capacitor receiving from the sensor a respective control signal for each pulse, and a resistor providing a leakage path for the capacitor. The sensor 31 may sense the milk flow in milking equipment and comprises, Fig. 2, a vessel 50 having an inlet 51 for pulsed milk flow and an outlet 53. The milk pulses are directed by baffle 52 against a vane 54 pivoted at 55 and connected to an exterior arm 56 moved by the vane between air supply and receiver nozzles 58, 59 of the sensor. As long as pulsed milk flow continues, the sensor thus transmits air pulses via diaphragm amplifier 21 and non-return valve 39 to a reservoir or capacitor 38 which provides a continuous signal via restriction 40 to a fluidic OR-NOR module 20. The latter normally supplies a continuous signal through line 23 to the secondary input of signal-shaper module 19. When milk flow ceases and the time delay provided by capacitor 38 and restriction 40 has elapsed, the signal transmitted via lines 25 and diaphragm amplifier 22 to pilot operated valve 13 is removed causing the latter to switch its output. As a result servometer 12 closes the vacuum supply clamp, servometer 11 opens an air clamp, and servometer 34 tensions a cord (88, Figs. 6, 7 not shown) to move the milking cluster away from the cow. In addition, the signal to pilot operated valve 28 bleeds away slowly through valve 16 allowing valve 28 to change over. Capacitor 29 thus supplies air for up to one minute, depending on the setting of restrictor 30, causing temporary switching of pilot operated valve 27. Servometer 10 thus opens the milk supply clamp to allow complete discharge of a milk receiving jar into a bulk storage vessel before the clamp again closes. The milk supply clamp can also be opened manually by valve 17. Flow sensor 31 can be switched off by manual valve 18 so that cluster removal is not automatic. The milking cycle can be started or stopped by buttons 14, 15 respectively. The latter and valve operating levers are mounted on a common control box (61, Figs. 3, 4 not shown) at each milking point. A modified flow sensor comprises a curved flexible tube through which the milk passes, the pulses tending to straighten the tube so as to deflect a pivoted lever which as before, interrupt air nozzles. In a modification the system is operated electrically, the pneumatic parts of flow sensor 31 being replaced by a magnet and reed switch or by a coil sensor. The resulting electrical pulses are stored in a capacitor and leaked away via a resistor when milk flow ceases, the clamps being solenoid operated.