Patents by Inventor Kevin L. Torgerson

Kevin L. Torgerson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20120067289
    Abstract: A milk pump that is connected to, but electrically isolated from dairy lines, pipes, and other electrically conductive components using insulators in the milk pump between a motor and a pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventors: Matthew J. Stuessel, Jeffrey S. Hanson, Kevin L. Torgerson, Duane F. Sellner
  • Patent number: 8117989
    Abstract: A milker unit liner dome having an inner surface and flow diverters joined to the inner surface to redirect teat dip from an inlet to provide more uniform coverage of dip on a teat. The liner dome can also include more than one flow diverter for redirecting teat dip flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: GEA Farm Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin L. Torgerson, Duane F. Sellner
  • Publication number: 20120017836
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for a dairy harvesting facility including valves and valve assemblies that prevent contaminants from reaching a central milk collection system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Kevin L. Torgerson, Duane F. Sellner
  • Patent number: 8033247
    Abstract: A system for cleaning a dairy animal milker unit and applying dip to a dairy animal, the system includes a main control, an air supply, a water supply, a backflush fluid supply, a dip supply, a stall control for receiving the air, water, backflush fluid and dip supplies, and a safety valve that is adjacent to a downstream portion of the milker unit to control backflush and dip fluids being fed to the milker unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: GEA Farm Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin L. Torgerson, Nathan Hedlund, Matthew J. Stuessel
  • Patent number: 8025029
    Abstract: A method for applying teat dip to a dairy animal and backflushing a milker unit using a safety valve. The method includes the steps of: closing the safety valve to seal off the milker unit from a dairy pipeline system, forcing teat dip through the safety valve and a dip channel to a teat dip applicator on a milker unit teat cup, forcing backflush fluid through the safety valve and the milker unit, forcing water through the safety valve and milker unit, forcing air through the safety valve and the milker unit, and opening the safety valve so that the milker unit is in fluid communication with the dairy pipeline system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: GEA Farm Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin L. Torgerson, Nathan Hedlund, Matthew J. Stuessel
  • Publication number: 20100218731
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for applying bovine foot and hoof treatment compositions having two or more specific and complimentary antimicrobial components in a hoof bath just prior to use to work more effectively. These antimicrobial components may include antimicrobial inorganic salts of certain heavy metals, cationic agents, peroxides, aldehydes, fatty acids, iodines or other suitable compounds effective in the killing of microorganisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventors: Kevin L. Torgerson, Robert L. Buck, Nathan Hedlund, Sue Mendell, Randal D. Stevenson, Charles D. Gradle, Alejandro O. Dee, Jeffrey S. Hanson, Glenn Gingrich
  • Publication number: 20100154900
    Abstract: A safety valve for use in a dairy backflushing and dipping system. The safety valve is situated on or near a milker unit to seal and protect downstream dairy milk lines from teat dip and cleaning fluids that are fed through the safety valve to upstream milker unit components. All of the fluids, including dip, cleansers, water, and air pass through and are controlled by the safety valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: GEA Farm Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin L. Torgerson, Nathan Hedlund, Matthew J. Stuessel
  • Publication number: 20100139574
    Abstract: A dipping device for a milking system, especially for an automatic milking system designed as a milking robot with teat cups to be placed onto the teats of an animal to be milked, which is designed for contacting the teats of the animal with at least one fluid or several fluids, and the device has several dipping valve arrangements so that the dipping agent introduction to each teat of the animal can be controlled separately.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Wolfgang Schulze Wilmert, Reinhard Frenser, Michael Austermann, Christelle Theis, Kevin L. Torgerson
  • Publication number: 20100139723
    Abstract: A system for cleaning a dairy animal milker unit and applying dip to a dairy animal, the system includes a main control, an air supply, a water supply, a backflush fluid supply, a dip supply, a stall control for receiving the air, water, backflush fluid and dip supplies, and a safety valve that is adjacent to a downstream portion of the milker unit to control backflush and dip fluids being fed to the milker unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: GEA Farm Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin L. Torgerson, Nathan Hedlund, Matthew J. Stuessel
  • Publication number: 20100132626
    Abstract: A method for applying teat dip to a dairy animal and backflushing a milker unit using a safety valve. The method includes the steps of: closing the safety valve to seal off the milker unit from a dairy pipeline system, forcing teat dip through the safety valve and a dip channel to a teat dip applicator on a milker unit teat cup, forcing backflush fluid through the safety valve and the milker unit, forcing water through the safety valve and milker unit, forcing air through the safety valve and the milker unit, and opening the safety valve so that the milker unit is in fluid communication with the dairy pipeline system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: GEA Farm Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin L. Torgerson, Nathan Hedlund, Matthew J. Stuessel
  • Patent number: 7707966
    Abstract: A teat dip applicator and method direct a teat dip to a teat cup liner head that defines a chamber and nozzle through which teat dip flows to coat an animal teat prior to and during detachment of a milker unit from a dairy animal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: GEA Farm Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin L. Torgerson, Duane F. Sellner
  • Patent number: 7661393
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for applying bovine foot and hoof treatment compositions having two or more specific and complimentary antimicrobial components in a hoof bath just prior to use to work more effectively. These antimicrobial components may include antimicrobial inorganic salts of certain heavy metals, cationic agents, peroxides, aldehydes, fatty acids, iodines or other suitable compounds effective in the killing of microorganisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: GEA Farm Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin L. Torgerson, Robert L. Buck, Nathan Hedlund, Sue Mendell, Randal D. Stevenson, Charles D. Gradle, Alejandro O. Dee, Jeffrey S. Hanson, Glenn Gingrich
  • Publication number: 20090320760
    Abstract: A milker unit liner dome having an inner surface and flow diverters joined to the inner surface to redirect teat dip from an inlet to provide more uniform coverage of dip on a teat. The liner dome can also include more than one flow diverter for redirecting teat dip flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Kevin L. Torgerson, Duane F. Sellner
  • Publication number: 20090283053
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for applying bovine foot and hoof treatment compositions having two or more specific and complimentary antimicrobial components in a hoof bath just prior to use to work more effectively. These antimicrobial components may include antimicrobial inorganic salts of certain heavy metals, cationic agents, peroxides, aldehydes, fatty acids, iodines or other suitable compounds effective in the killing of microorganisms. The invention also relates to a foot bath system for delivery, retention, and drainage of foot bath chemicals and waste material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: Kevin L. Torgerson, Robert L. Buck, Nathan Hedlund, Sue Mendell, Randal D. Stevenson, Charles D. Gradle, Alejandro O. Dee, Jeffrey S. Hanson, Glenn Gingrich
  • Publication number: 20090064937
    Abstract: Device for pneumatically milking a cow, comprising a number of milk extractors, each comprising a teat cup as well as milk line connected to the lower end of the teat cup, which line leads from the teat cup to a collection chamber for the milk from the teat cup, each milk extractor being provided with a supply for a cleansing medium, such as a disinfectant, to the teat cup, in particular to a teat present in the teat cup, the supply comprising a line having an end portion with discharge end, and each milk extractor being provided with means for closing off the passage of the milk extraction at or downstream of the discharge end of the line for cleansing medium, preferably at that level, when discharging the cleansing medium, the closing means comprising a reciprocating closing body that can be moved between a position leaving the passage of the milk extractor free and a position closing it off, the closing body being provided with a squirt line forming the end portion with discharge end of the line for supply
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: GEA WestfaliaSurge, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph A. Rottier, Kevin L. Torgerson
  • Publication number: 20090007849
    Abstract: A teat dip applicator and method direct a teat dip to a teat cup liner head that defines a chamber and nozzle through which teat dip flows to coat an animal teat prior to and during detachment of a milker unit from a dairy animal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: WestfaliaSurge, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin L. Torgerson, Duane F. Sellner
  • Publication number: 20080196674
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a kit for a bovine foot treatment bath for being attached to a foot bath. The kit includes: a chemical and water inlet and/or a downstream drain assembly for being attached to a foot bath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: WestfaliaSurge, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Buck, Kevin L. Torgerson
  • Patent number: 7401573
    Abstract: A teat dip applicator and method direct a teat dip to a teat cup liner head that defines a chamber and nozzle through which teat dip flows to coat an animal teat prior to and during detachment of a milker unit from a dairy animal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: WestfaliaSurge, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin L. Torgerson
  • Patent number: 7290497
    Abstract: Device for pneumatically milking a cow, comprising a number of milk extractors, each comprising a teat cup as well as milk line connected to the lower end of the teat cup, which line leads from the teat cup to a collection chamber for the milk from the teat cup, each milk extractor being provided with a supply for a cleansing medium, such as a disinfectant, to the teat cup, in particular to a teat present in the teat cup, the supply comprising a line having an end portion with discharge end, and each milk extractor being provided with means for closing off the passage of the milk extraction at or downstream of the discharge end of the line for cleansing medium, preferably at that level, when discharging the cleansing medium, the closing means comprising a reciprocating closing body that can be moved between a position leaving the passage of the milk extractor free and a position closing it off, the closing body being provided with a squirt line forming the end portion with discharge end of the line for supply
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: WestfaliaSurge, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph A. Rottier, Kevin L. Torgerson
  • Patent number: 5974345
    Abstract: A dairy chemical dispensing system for supplying an amount of at least one chemical to a utilization point in a dairy wash system, comprising: (a) an operator input controller for receiving operator input comprising input of a given amount of chemical to be supplied to the utilization point, and providing a signal corresponding to the operator input; and (b) a chemical dispenser in operative contact with the operator input controller, comprising a chemical source conduit, a pump connected to the chemical source conduit and to a chemical output conduit for supplying the chemical at a predetermined flow rate to the utilization point, a flow sensor connected to the output conduit for measuring an actual flow rate of the chemical through the output conduit, and a data processor electrically coupled to the pump and the flow sensor, where the data processor(1) receives the signal from the operator input controller, and based on that signal, determines a pump activation time necessary to supply the given amount of c
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Babson Bros. Co.
    Inventors: Robert L. Buck, Kevin L. Torgerson