Delaval Holding Ab

Magnus Lidman

Staffan Persson

Anders Bj&ouml;rk

Lars Kall

Carolus Marinus Bernard Versteijnen

Mats Gustavsson

A method is provided for eliminating the risk of leakage from a first one to a second one of two fluid systems in an apparatus for handling a fluid for human consumption, with a shut-off device including a cavity and a respective valve element connecting the cavity to each of the two fluid systems, each valve means being capable of preventing any fluid communication from the cavity to the respective fluid system. When the valve element prevents any fluid communication from the cavity to the fluid systems, a fluid is supplied to the cavity and a pressure is provided in the cavity which is higher than one or each of the respective pressures in the two fluid systems, thereby eliminating the risk of leakage from a first one to a second one of two fluid systems in case of failure of the valve element.

Method and arrangement for eliminating the risk of leakage from a first one to a second one of two fluid systems

The invention relates to a solution for cleaning a milking plant, which includes a milk line system (MLS), connectable to a collecting means, and is adapted to deliver milk that has been withdrawn from animals to a milk storage means (). The milking plant also includes milk storage valve means (), arranged between the milk line system (MLS) and the milk storage means (). The valve means () are selectively adjustable to prevent fluid communication between the milk line system (MLS) and the milk storage means () during cleaning of the milk line system (MLS). Moreover, the valve means () are associated with a monitoring arrangement (, EPS), which is adapted to determine an amount of leakage through the valve means () during the cleaning of the milk line system (MLS), and produce a valve health status signal (Sv) reflecting the amount of leakage. Hence, the functionality status of the valve means () may be qualitatively evaluated.

Automatic monitoring of milking plant valve means

Example embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and arrangements for cooling milk in a milk storage tank of an automatic milking system comprising (i) measuring an amount of extracted milk by a milk flow meter; (ii) determining a cooling need for milk stored or to be stored in the milk storage tank based on the amount of milk; (iii) measuring a quantity indicative of a temperature of an inner surface area of a bottom portion of the milk storage tank; and cooling the bottom portion of the milk storage tank in consecutive periods, such that each period of cooling (&#x3c4;1, &#x3c4;3) is followed by a respective period of non-cooling (&#x3c4;2, &#x3c4;4), wherein the duration of each period of cooling and/or non-cooling is based on the measured quantity indicative of the inner surface area temperature, and the cooling need.

Cooling milk in an automatic milking system

A milking plant for milking animals, such as cows, wherein milk collecting means, prefeably in the form of teat cups, are attached to the teat of the animal whereafter milk is taken from the animal by use of vacuum. The milk is transported by a milk line system () to milks storage means comprising a cooling tank (). For cleaning purposes the milk line system from each milk collecting means can be shut off from the milk tank by valve means () in order for separate cleaning of the milk line system. The invention is characterized by preventing any possible leakage of detergent from a cleaning fluid to the milk that has been collected in the milk tank, by providing a pressure difference between the two fluids. The pressure difference between the fluids is preferably achieved by connecting the cleaning fluid to the vacuum supply () of the milking plant.

Method and apparatus for cleaning of a milking plant

A method and system for controlling the cooling of small milk quantities in a cooling tank ( ) having a bottom wall portion ( ) with a milk cooling surface ( &prime;) within the tank being part of a cooling circuit an agitator ( ) within the tank for stirring the milk therein. The gist of the invention is a) providing an element for measuring the milk quantity in the tank, and a temperature transducer ( ) for monitoring the milk temperature in the tank, b) providing, in the cooling circuit, an evaporator ( ) connected to the bottom wall portion of the tank, a compressor ( ), and a condenser ( ), c) controlling the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator by regulating the vaporizing pressure, so that the temperature of the milk cooling surface ( &prime;) is always higher than 0&deg; C. when the compressor ( ) is running, d) monitoring the milk quantity in the tank, and, when sufficient/insufficient for the agitator to work properly.

Method and system for controlled cooling of small milk quantities

A system for controlling the cooling of small milk quantities in a cooling tank ( ). An agitation pipe ( ) extended through a regular milk outlet ( ) in a first end wall ( ) of the tank is provided, having a nozzle end ( ) for introducing incoming/re-circulated milk onto a milk cooling surface ( ) at a predetermined position (dp). The position (dp) being situated ( ) between a first end wall ( ) and a central part of the tank ( ) and laterally displaced (b) relative to the perpendicular central axis of the tank. The nozzle end ( ) is directed towards a second end wall ( ) of the tank ( ). Agitation is performed by the agitation pipe ( ) upon demand or when the milk quantity is insufficient for a regular agitator element ( ) to work properly.

Growing community of inventors

Rönninge, Sweden

Magnus Lidman