USRE22368E - Support foe milking machines - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 24, 1943.

H. B. BABSON ETAL SUPPORT FOR MLKING MACHINES Original Filed Oct. 8, 1934 2 SheetsfSheet 1 Aug. 24, 1943.

H. B. BASSON EI' AL `SUPPORT FOR MILKING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Oct. 8, 1934 Ramadan. 24, 1943 22,368 SUPPORT FOR MILK'ING MACHINES\` Henry B. Babson, Chicago, and Jacob J. Stamp$\ Bollywood, lll., asaignors to Babson Bros. Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Original No. 2,133,228, dated November 8, 1938, y

Serial No. 747,321, October 8, 1934.

Application i'or reissue June 5, 1943, Serial No. 489,804

' 9 0mm. (CL 31..-58)

Our invention relates in general to the milking of cows in sanitary fashion and has more particular reference to a support for milking apparatus.

An important object is to provide a. milking cage having improved means for supporting a mechanical milking apparatus in adjusted position with respect to an animal in the cage; a further object is to form the cage to facilitate adjustment of the milking apparatus on an animal therein.

Another important object is to provide milking stalls having an adjustable support comprising a support mounted on a side of the stall in position to swing beneath an animal in the cage, adjustable longitudinally o1' the stall, and adapted to support milking apparatus in adjusted position with respect to an animal in the stall, said support being adapted to swing the milking apparatus out of the stall. after the milking operation is completed, to permit unobstructed exit o1' the animal from the cage; a further object being to yieldingly bias the support to normally urge the apparatus away from the udder and toward the head of the animal during milking, including means to adjust the force of such bias.

Another object is to provide an adjustable support for milking apparatus, which support is adjustable horizontally and vertically with respect to an animal to be milked; and a further object is to afford a resilient and yielding support for milking apparatus beneath an animal ybeing milked.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent'from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a. preferred embodiment; of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a milking cage provided with a support embodying our present invention;

Figure 2 is a side view and Figure 3 a front view of adjustable support means for milking apparatus which may be used in conjunction with our improved milking cage shown in Figure 1; and

.Figures 4, and 6, respectively, are sectional views taken substantially along the lines 4-4 in Figure 2. 5--5 in Figure 4, and 6-6 in Figure 3.

To illustrate our invention we have shown on the drawings a milking cage or stall 33 of preferably rectangular arrangement, The stall may be formed of any suitable material and in any desired fashion. However. we prefer to construct Vand 4|.

the same of vmetal pipes. 'To this end, the stall 33'may comprise four corner uprights 35, 31, 33 The stall preferably comprises spaced apart side walls between which an animal to be milked may be trapped. To this end the stall has an entrance opening preferably arranged at one end of the stall as between the uprights 35 and 4|, an entrance gate 49 being provided at said entrance opening. The gate 49 may comprise a pipe bent to provide parallel arms, the ends of which, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, may be hinged to the upright 4|, vertical rods |09 being arranged between and connected to the arms of said pipe. The end of the stall opposite the entrance opening is preferably closed by a wall formed in the illustrated embodiment by the horizontal rails 5| and 53 between the uprights 31 and 39, vertical rods |09 being arranged be-4 tween the rails 5| and 53.

Stanchion means may also be provided in the stall adjacent the end thereof opposite from the entrance opening. In the illustrated embodiment the Stanchion comprises a vertical, xed post I I supported by connecting pipes H5 from an upright 11 forming a part of the side wall between the uprights 35 and 39. The stanchion also comprises a movable post H3 which is supported by means of the pipes H1 on a shftable frame 63, which frame preferably comprises a bent pipe forming spaced arms, the ends of which are connected on an-upright 59 forming a part Aoi? the side wall of the stall between the uprights 31 and 4I. Vertical rodsl |09 may be arranged between the spaced arms of the frame v63. Theirame 63 is preferably arranged to swing about the axis of the upright 59 and extends between said upright and the Vcorner post 31, thereby forming a gate normally closing the space'between the uprights 31 and 59, which opening affords an outlet through which an animal may exit from the stall. In addition to forming an exit gate, the frame 63 also supports the movable Stanchion elementv H3 so that when closed the neck of an animal in the stall may be received and trapped between the stationary and movable Stanchion elements |H and H3. Rails 1| and 13 are arranged between the uprights 4| and 59 to close the space therebetween and, if desired, vertical rods |09 may be arranged between the rails. Suitable means is preferably provided for holding the gates 49.and 63 in closed position when an lanimal is in the stall.

The tops of the posts 35, 39 and 11 are interconnected by a rail 41, while the tops of the posts 31,k 4| and 69 likewise are interconnected by means of a rail 4l. Rails 8| and 83 are arranged between the uprights 39 and 11 to close the intervening space, rods |09 being arranged between said rails, and the space between uprights 35 and 11 is closed by members 9| and |0| which are connected each at one end upon the rail 41 substantially midway between the uprights 85 and 11, the other ends of the members 9| and 9|0| being connected, respectively, `to the uprights 35 and 11. Rails 91 and |01 extend, respectively, between the central portions of the members 9| and |01 and the uprights 11 and 35. Rods |09 may be mounted between the rails 91 and |01 and the lower portions of the members 9| and |0| to close the intervening'spaces. The upper ends of the posts 31 and 39 are also connectedv by the rail 45, while the posts 35 and 4| are likewise interconnected and braced by the rail 46; The post 11 in like fashion is interconnected and braced upon the rail 48 bythe cross bar 85.

The milking cage 33 is adapted to permit an animal enclosed in the cage to be milked by any preferred milking method, although the cage is particularly well adapted for usewhere milking is accomplished by mechanical means. The horizontal portions of the members 9| and |0| are deformed at |59 to provide a space or opening substantially opposite the udder of the animal in the cage so that milking may, if desired, be accomplished by hand. The cage, however, is well adapted to facilitate the use of mechanical milking apparatus. which may be supported from the cage itself. To this end, we provide an adjustable mechanism for carrying the milking apparatus and have shown a preferred form of the adjustable support mechanism, in mounted position, in Figure 1 and, in detail, in Figures 2 through 6.

The support mechanism is carried on a preferably stationary mounting at the milking station, and, as shown in the drawings, the animal stanchioning means `or cage 33 may serve as the stationary mounting for the support mechanism. The support. mechanism aiords means for ad'- justing the position of the milking apparatus, carried-thereby, with respect tothe caged animal being milked so that the apparatus may be positioned to accommodate the physical characteristics of each animal as it enters the cage to be milked. Among cows. comprising a herd, there is considerable individual variation in the distance from shoulder to udder and in the elevation of the udder above the floor level. 'I'he support device of our present invention permits the mechanism to be quickly and easily adjusted 1ongitudinally of the animal to a position opposite the udder and also permits the rapid adiustment of the apparatus vertically to the correct milking position under the udder. The support further permits 'yielding movement of the supported apparatus sufficiently to permit the same to follow the limited movement of the animal permitted within the cage. The support further suspends the milking apparatus resiliently under the udder of the animal.

The support mechanism comprises a frame i6 I which is mounted at its upper and lower ends for sliding movement on guide rails iliiv and |65, which, in turn, are supported on the cage, the

upper rail |63 being attached at its opposite ends to the members 91 and |01 and the lower rail |65 being connected at its opposite ends with the members 9| and The frame |6| may thus be adjusted longitudinally of the cage. The frame |6| yprovides a guide channel for a rack bar |61 movable in the frame in a vertical direction. The frame also provides a journal having a shaft |69 carrying a pinion |1| in position to drivingly engage the rack bar. The shaft |69 is provided with a crank |13 having a handle |15 by which the same may be rotated by an attendant stationed on the floor 23 in order to turn the shaft and pinion |1| and h ence raise or lower the rack bar in the frame. The handle |15 is arranged to control a spring pressed detent |1.1 normally carried in position to engage stops |19, arranged circularly on a dial plate |8| carried on the frame IBI, to provide for locking the rack bar at a desired elevation in the frame. When retracted, by means of the handle |15, the detent |11 will clear the stops |19, thus permitting the crank |13 to be turned to adjust the elevation of the rack bar. The lower end of the rack bar is formed as a spindle |82 carrying an arm |84 in position to swing within the cage in position to support a mechanical milker in milking position beneath an animal entrapped in the cage. The arm |84 is preferably of resilient construction comprising, in the illustrated embodiment, a relatively flexible member mounted at one end in a sleeve |83 journalled on the spindle at the lower end of the rack bar |61. The other end of the flexible support member is formed with a hook |85, on which the milking apparatus may readily be suspended. The flexible support member |34 may be braced by an arm |86 which is fastened at one end on the sleeve |83, the other end of said bracing arm |86 underlying the member |84 at a point spaced, from the anchored end thereof. Spring means |81 is also preferably provided to yieldingly bias the support means in a desired direction. As may be best seen in Figures Zand 6, a collar |89 is rotatably mounted on the spindle |82 and adapted to be secured in a desired adjusted position by means of the thumb nut |9I; and the spring |81 has its central portion encircling the spindle, one end engaging the collar |69, and the other end lying `behind the support arm |84 to yieldingly bias theouter end thereof toward the forward or stanchion end of the stall with a force regulated by the angular position to which the collar is adjusted. Since suspended milkers are supported slightly below 'and to the front of a cows udder during milking, the forward bias of the spring and the downward force of the weight of the milker (and its contents, as milking progresses) operate on the resilient arm |84 to provide a yielding downward and forward pull on the udder during milking.

It will be apparent that the hooked end of the exible milking` machine support |84 may be positioned at a. desired elevation by adjusting the rack bar |61 by means of the crank |13 and also may be adjusted longitudinally of the cage, to accommodate the size and shape-of the animal to be milked, merely by sliding the frame |6| on the rods |63 and |65.

It is thought that the invention and numerous of its attendant advantages and inherent functions will be understood from the foregoing description and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit or scope of our invention, or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages, the form herein described being a, preferred embodiment for the purpose of illustrating our invention.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. Adjustable support means for milking apparatus comprising, a support element, resilient suspension means mounted t pivot on the support element about a substantially vertical axis, said suspension means having a portion extending out- Wardly from the support element `and formed to receive and carry the milking apparatus, and yielding means on said support element and operatively associated with said suspension means to urge the same normally in one direction on its pivot whereby to yieldingly bias the suspension member in a direction urging the milking apparatus forwardly of the animal being milked.

2. Adjustable support means for milking apparatus comprising, a support element, resilient suspension means mounted to pivot on the support element about a substantially vertical axis, said suspension means having a portion extending outwardly from the support element and formed to receive and carry the milking apparatus, and yielding means on said support element and operatively associated with said suspension means to urge the same normally in one direction on its pivot whereby to yieldingly bias the suspension member in a direction urging the milking apparatus forwardly of the animal being milked, and means to regulate the turning urge applied by said yielding means on sa-id suspension means.

3. Adjustable support means for milking apparatus comprising, a support element, vresilient suspension means mounted to pivot on the support element about a substantially vertical axis,

saidv suspension means comprising a resilient rod pivotally mounted, at one end, on and extending, at the other end, outwardly of said support element, said rod forming a hook to receive and carry the milking apparatus, and yielding means on said support element and operatively associated with said suspension means to urge the same normally in one direction on its pivot whereby to yieldingly bias the suspension member in a direction urging the milking apparatus forwardly of the animal being milked.

4. Adjustable support means for milking apparatus comprising, a support element, means to mount the support element for vertical adjustment at a milking station, resilient suspension means mounted to pivot on the support element about a substantially vertical axis, said suspension means having a portion extending outwardly from the support element and formed to receive and carry the milking apparatus, and yielding means on said support element and operatively associated with said suspension means to urge the same normally in one direction on its ,pivot whereby to yieldingly bias the suspension member in a direction urging the milking apparatus forwardly of the animal being milked.

5. Adjustable support means for milking apparatus comprising, a support element, means to mount the support element for horizontal movement at a milking station, resilient suspension means mounted to pivot on the support element about a substantially vertical axis, said suspension means having a portion extending outwardly from the support element and formed to receive and carry the milking apparatus, and yielding whereby to yieldingly bias the suspension mem` ber in a direction urging the milking apparatus forwardly oi' the animal being milked.

6. Adjustable support means for milking apparatus comprising, a support element, means to mount the support element for horizontal movement and also for vertical adjustment at a milking station, resilient suspension means mounted to pivot on the support element-about a substantially vertical axis, said suspension means having a portion extending outwardly from the support' element and formed to receive and carry the milking apparatus, and yielding means on said support element and operatively associated with said suspension means to urge the same normally in one direction on its pivot whereby to yieldingly.

bias the suspension member in a direction urging the milking apparatus forwardly of the animal being milked.

7. Adjustable support means for milking apparatus comprising, a support element, horizontally movable mounting means for carrying the support element at a milking station, means to vertically adjust the support element on the mounting means, resilient suspension means mounted to pivot on the support element about a substantially vertical axis, said suspension means having a portion extending outwardly from the support element and formed to receive and carry the milking apparatus, and yielding means on said support element and operatively associated with said suspension means to urge the same normally in one direction on its pivot whereby to yieldingly bias the suspension member in a direction urging the milking apparatus forwardly of the animal being milked.

8. Adjustable support means for milking apparatus comprising, a support element, resilient suspension means mounted to pivot on the support element about a substantially vertical axis, said suspension means having a portion extending outwardly from the support element and formed to receive and carry the milking apparatus, yielding means on said support element and operatively associated with said suspension means to urge the same normally in one direction on its pivot whereby to yieldingly bias the suspension member in a direction urging the milking apparatus forwardly oi' the animal being milked, and means for regulating the force urging the milking apparatus forwardly.

9. Adjustable support means for milking apparatus comprising, a support element, means to mount the support element for horizontal movement and also i'or vertical adjustment at a milking station, resilient suspension means mounted to pivot on the support element about a substantially vertical axis, said suspension means having a portion extending outwardly from the support element and formed to receive and carry the milking apparatus, yielding means on said support element and operatively associated with said suspension means to urge the same normally in one direction on its pivot whereby to yieldingly bias the suspension member in a direction urging the milking apparatus forwardly of the animal being milked, and means for regulating the force urging the milking apparatus forwardly.

HENRY B. BABSON. JACOB J. STAMPEN.

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