A arrangement for milking animals includes a milking station, a transport conduit, a main milk tank storing milk from the milking station, a connection conduit extending from the transport conduit to the main milk tank, a cleaning liquid arrangement, and a valve arrangement. From the milking station a connection pipe leads to the transport conduit at a connection point. The cleaning liquid arrangement is connected to the transport conduit via the valve arrangement. The valve arrangement is positionable in at least a first position and a second position. In the first position the transport conduit forms a loop such that two flow paths from the connection point to the connection conduit are provided by the transport conduit, and in the second position the loop is interrupted such that one flow path only from the connection point to the connection conduit is provided by the transport conduit.

A claw for a milking machine includes an enclosure having an upper part and a lower part and enclosing an inner space for a milk flow during a milking operation. A center axis extends through the enclosure and through the upper lower parts. The upper part includes an upper end defining an upper end point, and a lower annular end extending along a periphery of the claw in a connection plane. The lower part is detachably connected to the upper part along the connection plane, and rotary symmetric with respect to an axis of rotation being perpendicular to the connection plane. The connection plane is inclined with respect to the center axis so that the enclosure has a first height at a first peripheral position greater than and a second height at a second peripheral position diametrically opposite to the first peripheral position.

The invention is directed to a milk conduit, a milk conduit device, a milk-receiving member and a milking member, wherein a milk conduit includes a first end portion for connection to a milk-receiving member, the first end portion including an inner sleeve section made of a first material and an outer sleeve section joined to the inner sleeve section and made of a second material, which is more rigid than the first material, and the outer sleeve section includes an outer peripheral surface and at least one projection extending outwardly from the outer peripheral surface, the projection having a peripheral extension of less than 180?, and engaged by a coupling member on the milk-receiving member.

A protective device for a milking cup including a milking cup part enclosing a portion of the milking cup at a location of a connection, the milking cup part including a wall. The milking cup part includes an opening in the wall for passing through at least one of a milk discharge line and pulsating line, and a single-part or multipart line part connectable to form a circumferential wall for enclosing at least a part of the at least one of the milk discharge line and the pulsating line. The line part is connected to the milking cup part around the opening in the wall, wherein the line part, from the milking cup part, successively encloses first, second, and third parts, wherein at least the third part is dimensionally stable and the second part is, for example, at least ten times more flexible than the third part.

A milking arrangement includes robot milking stations connected to a milk conduit with an outlet end. A connection conduit connected to the outlet end includes an outlet member. A cleaning device for cleaning the milk conduit includes a cleaning conduit having a first connection member. A milk tank includes a second connection member. The outlet member is movable between and connectable to the first connection member in a primary state, and to the second connection member in a secondary state. A controller communicates with the milking stations, the cleaning device and a user interface. When determined to change the state, measures for preparing the arrangement for the change are automatically performed. Thereafter, the user interface indicates to an operator that the arrangement is ready for the change.

A quick-coupling device for a milking module of a milking system for milking dairy animals that forms a releasable and re-establishable connection between the milking module and a milk pipe and includes a valve mechanism for opening and closing a feeding port and a discharge port using a number of articulated clamps.

A method for operating a valve, comprises directing fluid flow through a housing of the valve, wherein the fluid flows into the housing through a housing inlet and flows out of the housing through a housing outlet. The method continues by directing a first electric current into a solenoid coupled to the housing to generate a first magnetic field, wherein the first magnetic field exerts a force upon a plunger positioned inside the housing and causes the plunger to magnetically connect to a magnet. The method continues by directing a second electrical current into the solenoid to generate a second magnetic field, wherein the second magnetic field exerts a force upon the plunger causing the plunger to disconnect from the magnet and engage with the housing outlet. Fluid flows into the inlet through a milking hose, and fluid flows out of the outlet into a milking pipeline.

A valve apparatus comprises a housing, a solenoid operable to receive electrical current flow, and an enclosure, the enclosure housing the solenoid, a magnet coupled to the enclosure, a plunger comprising a stopper and a conductive portion, and a spring coupled to the plunger. When the solenoid receives a first current, the solenoid applies a first magnetic force onto the plunger causing the stopper to disengage from the housing outlet, the conductive portion of the plunger magnetically connects with the magnet, and the stopper remains disengaged from the housing outlet after the first period of time expires. When the conductive portion is magnetically connected to the magnet and the solenoid receives a second current, the solenoid applies a second magnetic force onto the plunger causing the conductive portion of the plunger to disconnect from the magnet so that the stopper engages with the housing outlet.

An air vent plug assembly and milker unit short milk tube having an air vent plug assembly to improve milk flow characteristics through the short milk tube. The short milk tube includes a wall with an upstream end and a downstream end and defining a milk passage bore extending between the upstream end and the downstream end. The wall defines a vent plug mounting hole. A vent plug extends through the vent plug mounting hole and includes a cap, a shaft joined to the cap, and a barbed end joined to the shaft, the vent plug defining a vent passage to at least partially vent the milk passage bore. A flow dimple is defined in the barbed end and disposed in the milk passage bore.

A safety valve device for a milking installation for milking milk-producing animals having a first valve with a first port and with a first port connector, a second valve with a second port and with a second port connector, a third valve with a third port and a third port connector, a drive, a common actuator, and at least one valve spring, and arranged so that the first port connector of the first valve is in fluid communication with the second port connector of the second valve, and the safety valve device can be moved between a first switching position, in which the first valve and the second valve are closed in order to block the first port and the second port and the third valve, is open a transition position, in which the first valve, the second valve and the third valve are closed, and a second switching position, in which the first valve and the second valve are open to connect the first port to the second port and the third valve is closed to block the third port.