West Agro Inc.

Delaval, Inc.

Arthur Raymond Terwilleger

An improved nipple for feeding liquids to newborn and young bovine calves and other mammals. A horizontal flat portion of an upper end of the nipple has a downward curving periphery that merges into a vertical portion of a barrel at an exterior radius of 9 to 10 mm and an interior radius of 6.5 to 7.5 mm. The thickness of a wall of the upper end of the nipple is between 5 and 10% less than the thickness of the wall of the barrel. The flat portion of the upper end of the nipplehas a diameter in the range of 5 to 7 mm, which is about 20 to 25% of the inner diameter of the barrel. A bump-out may be formed on a base of the nipple to aid in removing and replacing the nipple on a bottle.

Nipple for feeding liquids to calves and other mammals

Animal feeding nipple

A milking claw having a barrel-type body and a pair of windows for enclosing a chamber therebetween includes a seal which prevents engagement between the windows and the body. The seal is preferably a rubber seal molded to the perimeter of the window. The seal includes a bead for receipt within an annular groove of the body, and a flange extending longitudinally therefrom. The window preferably includes a concave outer surface which is recessed relative to the longitudinally outwardly facing margin of the body. The outer surface of the window also preferably includes a relieved area centered thereon, permitting enhanced gripping of the claw. The relieved area may be provided by either a raised area molded into the window or a depression in the window.

Milking claw with concave window

A barrel claw of increased volumetric capacity without sacrificing ergonomics has a normally horizontally disposed, elongated hollow body having a generally cylindrical central portion and a pair of tapered, conical end portions on opposite sides of the central portion. Viewing windows at opposite ends of the body permit observation of the internal chamber from outside the body. Inlet openings from the teat cups are provided in the top wall section of the body in the tapered end portions thereof so that the inlets are properly angled toward the teats of the cow's udder during use of the claw. An integrated discharge spout and pulsation manifold unit is removably attached to the top of the body in any one of a number of rotative positions so as to most advantageously position the radially projecting spout of the unit relative to the observation windows and other equipment associated with the milking system. Alternative embodiments provide either rigid nipples on the claw body or a nipple-free construction in which teat cup liners are inserted directly into the inlet openings in the body and retained in place by such openings. Other variations include threaded and non-threaded means for securing the spout and manifold unit onto the claw body.

Growing community of inventors

Plattsburg, MO, United States of America

Arthur Raymond Terwilleger