US Patent No: 8,191,507

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

Automatic monitoring of milking plant valve means

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ALSO PUBLISHED AS: 20100154715
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Abstract

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includes a milk line system (MLS), connectable to a collecting means, and is adapted to deliver milk that has been withdrawn from animals to a milk storage means (250). The milking plant also includes milk storage valve means (100; 235, 240), arranged between the milk line system (MLS) and the milk storage means (250). The valve means (240) are selectively adjustable to prevent fluid communication between the milk line system (MLS) and the milk storage means (250) during cleaning of the milk line system (MLS). Moreover, the valve means (100; 235, 240) are associated with a monitoring arrangement (275, EPS), which is adapted to determine an amount of leakage through the valve means (100; 235, 240) 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 (100; 235, 240) may be qualitatively evaluated.

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First Claim

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddressTotal Patents
DELAVAL HOLDING ABTUMBA220

International Classification(s)

  • [Classification Symbol]
  • [Patents Count]

Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Lidman, Magnus Ronninge, SE 14 29
Persson, Staffan Tumba, SE 10 26

Cited Art

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
DANFOSS A/S (1)
5,046,519 Method and apparatus for monitoring a fluid conduit system 14 1990
 
DELAVAL HOLDING AB (1)
6,852,172 Method and apparatus for cleaning of a milking plant 2 2002
 
LELY ENTERPRISES AG (1)
7,036,981 Device for monitoring a milk tank and an assembly of such a device with a milking robot and an automatic starting-up unit 6 2003
 
MONATEC PTY. LTD. (1)
7,313,497 Valve monitoring method and arrangement 3 2005
 
PALL CORPORATION (1)
4,205,702 Flow sensor responsive to fluid leakage flow within a range from above a predetermined minimum to below a predetermined maximum and nonresponsive to fluid leakage flows beyond said range 5 1979
 
PROLION B.V. (1)
6,308,655 Device and method for milking animals 16 1999
 
TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD. (1)
5,540,083 Leakage measuring apparatus 7 1994
 
WESTFALIA-SURGE, INC. (1)
6,089,242 Dairy harvesting facility wash system 30 1998

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