CONDUIT AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME

Abstract

A conduit having a flexible tubular body having a first end connectable to a manifold or claw 14 and a free end connectable to a teatcup. Disposed partway along its length are disposed two integrally formed ribs capable of moving about an elbow joint. Each rib consists of two arms connected by an elbow joint about which the arms may move relative to one another. The arms of each rib are substantially planar and meet at a pivot point or elbow to form a substantially inverted V-shape when viewed along its the horizontal axis. The ribs encourage downward movement 5 in the vertical plane about its lateral axis at and away from the apex of each of the inverted V-shaped ribs whilst also resisting lateral movement or even upward movement.

Claims

1. A conduit comprising: a flexible tubular body having a first end capable of connecting to a manifold and a free end, the body having a biasing component, disposed between the first end and the free end, to determine a fold point and a direction of displacement of the free end of the body relative to the first end.

2. The conduit of claim 1 wherein the biasing component comprises at least one biasing arm extending along a longitudinal axis of the conduit.

3. The conduit of claim 2 wherein the biasing component is hinged at the fold point.

4. The conduit of claim 3 wherein the biasing component comprises two longitudinally extending ribs connected at an elbow.

5. The conduit of claim 4 wherein the biasing component biases movement of the free end of the conduit to bias movement in a vertical plane about a lateral axis of the conduit.

6. The conduit of claim 5 wherein the biasing component biases movement downwardly away from an apex formed by the elbow.

7. The conduit of claim 6 wherein the biasing component resists at least one of torsional or lateral movement of the free end of the body at the fold point.

8. The conduit claim 1, wherein the biasing component is integrally formed with the body.

9. The conduit of claim 1 further comprising a stop to determine extent to which the body may fold at the fold point.

10. The conduit of claim 1, wherein the body is connected to the manifold.

11. The conduit of claim 1, wherein one end of the body is connectable with the manifold.

12. The conduit of claim 11 wherein orientation of the end connectable to the manifold with respect to the manifold is fixed while the other end of the body is free.

13. The conduit of claim 1, wherein the free end of the body is connectable to a teatcup.

14. A short milk tube to provide a milk and air conduit between a teatcup and a manifold, the short milk tube comprising: a flexible tubular body having a first end to attach to the manifold, the first end having a connecting component to determine orientation in which the body connects to the manifold, and a free end to attach to the teatcup; and a biasing component to determine a fold point of the body and to determine a direction of displacement of the free end of the body.

15. The short milk tube of claim 14, wherein the body is an extension of a teatcup liner, or is a separate component, connected to the teatcup liner.

16. The short milk tube of claim 14, wherein the body has the first end capable of connecting to the manifold in a predetermined orientation.

17. The short milk tube of claim 14, wherein the first end comprises at least one of a locating strip or a tab, the first end having a specific shape which is to be inserted in one orientation into an orifice on the manifold.

18. A device comprising: a manifold; a plurality of conduits coupled to the manifold, each of the plurality of conduits comprising a flexible tubular body having a folded and an unfolded configuration; and a biasing component to determine a fold point of the body at which point the conduit is foldable.

19. The device of claim 18, further comprising a plurality of short milk tubes, each of the plurality of short milk tubes comprising each of the plurality of conduits.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein the body has a first end connectable to the manifold in a determined orientation.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, in which:

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a system known in the art;

[0034] FIG. 2 shows a short pulse tube and a short milk tube in accordance with the present invention;

[0035] FIGS. 3a to b show a conduit in accordance with the present invention;

[0036] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view along the line A-A of a conduit in accordance with the present invention;

[0037] FIG. 5 shows a conduit in accordance with the present invention in a folded configuration; and

[0038] FIG. 6 shows the cross section of a conduit in accordance with the present invention at a first end.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] As shown in FIG. 1, there is a system 10 having a cluster which attaches to the animal and which consists of a plurality of teatcup assemblies 12, a claw 14, a long milk tube 16 and long pulse tube(s) 18.

[0040] Each teatcup assembly 12 has a shell 20, a rubber liner 22 and a short milk tube 24 and short pulse tube 26.

[0041] Teatcup shells 20 may be made of stainless steel, plastics or a combination thereof. The liner 22 is a flexible sleeve, made of rubber, synthetic rubber, silicone, plastics and/or thermoplastic elastomers and having a mouthpiece 28. The liner sleeve may be round in cross section, or may incorporate two or more angles and when assembled in the shell 20 under tension, forms a space 30 (pulsation chamber) between the liner and shell. This pulsation chamber 30 is connected to the pulsator (not shown) through a nipple 34 on the side of the shell 20 via the claw 14. The teatcup assemblies 12 are connected by short milk 24 and short pulse tubes 26 to the claw 14, which is connected to the milking and pulsation vacuum (not shown) by a long milk tube 16 and long pulse tube(s) 18. The claw 14 has a small air admission hole (not shown), which admits air into the claw 14 to create pressure differential required to carry the milk away. The present invention has all of these features with the exception on the short milk tube which is replaced with a tube as set out in any one of the remaining figures.

[0042] In an embodiment, the short pulse tube 26′ and the short milk tube 24′ may be moulded or extruded as a single piece twin bore component (as shown in FIG. 2).

[0043] The liner may, in an embodiment, have a cross section that incorporates two or more angles (see FIG. 6). The liner 100 has a through going bore defined by an inner surface 102, the conduit having substantially square section having an outer surface 104, an upper wall 106, a lower wall 108 and two side walls 110, 112. Located at two diametrically opposed corners on the inner face 102 are locating members 114, 116 consisting of two ridges 118, 120 and one trough 122 which extend along the liner's length.

[0044] FIG. 3 shows a conduit 100 having a flexible tubular body 102 having a first end 106 connectable to a manifold or claw 14 and a free end 104 connectable to a teatcup. Disposed partway along its length are disposed two integrally formed ribs 108 capable of moving about an elbow joint 110. Each rib consists of two arms 112,114 connected by an elbow joint 110 about which the arms may move relative to one another. The arms of each rib are substantially planar and meet at a pivot point or elbow to form a substantially inverted V-shape when viewed along its the horizontal axis. The ribs encourage downward movement in the vertical plane about its lateral axis at and away from the apex of each of the inverted V-shaped ribs whilst also resisting lateral movement or even upward movement.

[0045] The internal bore 120 (see FIG. 4) of the flexible tubular body is maintained along its entire length and there is a slight wastage 116 of the external diameter of the body at the fold point 122 where the ribs are disposed and the crease 124 formed in the side wall. At either side of the wasted portion of the tubular body is a thickening 118 of the sidewall. The thickening of the sidewall is intended to act as a stop when in the folded configuration and when they abut one another, as shown in FIG. 5. This prevents the folded section of the tube from being overstretched which will prolong the life of the conduit. The crease formed when in the folded configuration may lead to failure of the conduit over prolonged use and the presence of the stop effectively formed by the thickenings of the sidewalls when they come into contact with one another prevents free end from folding further leading to increased wear at the crease.

[0046] Thus the teatcup will tend to repeatedly fall in same predetermined direction when the cluster is withdrawn from udder and/or park position associated with the cleaning/disinfecting device, commonly known as a jetter. Thus there is no need for mechanical help/supporting device, other than the natural weight of the operational head saving time and cost associated with the system and method known to the art.

[0047] The form of the tube is designed in such a manner as to avoid over bending.

[0048] The tube may comprise means for determining the orientation of its mounting to a manifold. The means for determining the orientation may comprise a locating strip and/or tab either on the liner or on the entry nipple to the manifold, and/or in the form of the end of the conduit being moulded in a specific shape which can only be inserted in one precise orientation into an orifice on the manifold.