Alfa Laval Inc.

Clayton B Neff

Mofazzal H Chowdhury

Per-Erik Schultz

For washing a milker unit, the teat cups are inserted in respective flexible receivers which seal around the enlarged end portions of the teat cups and communicate with a distributor having an inlet connected to a vacuum line for washing liquid. During washing, a high vacuum in the milk pipe line raises a valve in the distributor, while closing a drain opening therefrom, and draws washing liquid through the distributor, the receivers, the teat cups therein, the milk claw connected to the teat cups, and then into the milk pipe line for washing the latter. After washing, atmospheric pressure prevailing in the milker unit and distributor allows the valve to drop to a position where excess washing liquid can drain through said opening. For milking, the teat cups are applied to the cow after removing them from the receivers, which are then stored by simply pushing them upwardly onto respective holders where they are automatically closed against entrance of dirt. During milking, the vacuum in the washing liquid line holds the valve against a seat to close the distributor inlet and prevent atmospheric air from entering the vacuum system. To remove the stored washing unit for a washing operation, the receivers are simply pulled down to release them from their holders.

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Shawnee, KS, United States of America

Clayton B Neff