Milking system with variable pressure source

Abstract

A milking system uses a variable pressure source and varies the pressure supplied to the pulsation chamber along a controllably variable pressure curve of selectable waveshape. Pulsation cycles are shortened by shortening the transition time between pressure levels providing on and off portions of the pulsation cycle. The pulsation chamber is sequenced through different pressure change rates, all during the transition. Pressure transition times during pulsation cycles are varied at the beginning, middle and end of a milking interval to provide a faster rate of liner opening movement and/or larger diameter liner opening at the beginning of the milking interval to provide deeper teat penetration into the liner, an intermediate rate of liner opening movement and/or intermediate diameter liner opening during the middle of the milking interval, and a slower rate of liner opening movement and/or smaller diameter liner opening at the end of the milking interval to limit loss of adhesion between a less than full teat and the interior of the liner. The repetition rate of the waveshape may be varied to provide a plurality of pulsation cycles of variable duration, further reducing milking time. The pressure is further varied during both on portions and off portions of the pulsation cycle at a higher frequency than the repetition frequency of the pulsation cycle to stimulate milk flow.