Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the operation of a pneumatically actuated device such as a milking machine has two chambers one of which has an adjustable throttle valve in a connection to a vacuum line. The other chamber has a connection to the atmosphere and another connection to the vacuum line. A valve controlled by the pressure in the first chamber controls alternatively the flow through the lines to the second chamber. A signal in a control device of the milking machine connects the vacuum line to the throttle valve connection for the evacuation of the first chamber.

Abstract: A flexible membrane wall divides a control valve housing into two chambers, one for a control fluid and one for a fluid to be processed, the latter chamber containing a valve seat coacting with a valve body secured to the central part of the membrane wall. This wall comprises two membrane members facing said chambers, respectively, and separated by a plurality of stiff supporting elements which are movable relative to each other. Each supporting element is pivotally connected at one end to the valve housing and at the other end to the valve body, whereby axial loads on the membrane members are transferred through the support elements to the housing and valve body.

Abstract: In a centrifuge having a rotor from which solid material is discharged intermittently through a peripheral discharge opening, leakage through the opening is detected by a device comprising vibration-sensing means positioned radially outside the opening so that liquid leaking therethrough strikes such means during operation of the centrifuge, the sensing means including means for emitting a signal in response to impact of liquid thereon.

Abstract: A teat cup liner is formed at the tube end with a series of external elongated projections of elastic material extending lengthwise of the liner and distributed evenly around the circumference of the tube end to provide it with a shock absorber.

Abstract: The centrifugal rotor contains a distributor forming a conical wall having openings through which the central inlet chamber is connected to the separating space, the inlet chamber also being connected through a presedimentation space to a peripheral sludge space by way of an annular slot located radially outward from said openings. An annular flexible valve for the slot has one side directed toward the presedimentation space and an opposite side directed toward the peripheral sludge space, the valve being operable to close said slot when subjected to substantially equal liquid pressures on said sides thereof and to open the slot upon creation of a substantial pressure difference on said sides in response to opening of outlets from the peripheral sludge space.

Abstract: A centrifuge rotor has a first part axially displaceable into and from abutment against a second part of the rotor during operation of the centrifuge, the rotor also having peripheral outlet openings for separated sludge which are formed by and between said rotor parts. One of the rotor parts has grooves forming said outlet openings when the two parts abut each other, said parts forming a continuous opening around the periphery of the rotor when the two parts are separated from each other.

Abstract: Each group of conical cyclone separators is arranged in an annular block with their longitudinal axes in a common plane, each side of each block having concentric sealing surfaces coacting with corresponding sealing surfaces of an adjacent similar block to seal against leakage from an inlet opening for supplying the separators. Preferably, the stack of blocks surrounds a central shaft for clamping the blocks together and forming a discharge path for the heavier constituent from the separators, the lighter constituent discharging from the separators at the outer periphery of the stack into a chamber surrounding the stack.

Abstract: The water phase from a corn steeping step is evaporated in a multistage evaporator to a steeping concentrate, the steeped corn being divided into an aqueous germ fraction, an aqueous fiber fraction and a gluten suspension which is partly dewatered to an aqueous gluten fraction. Said three fractions are dried to a low water content by heating while subjected to a direct air flow, causing steam-air flows from said fractions. In the drying of said fractions, the air flow is limited to make the enthalpy of the steam-air flows relatively high, and part of the steam-air flows, preferably combined, is fed to one stage of the evaporator, preferably the first stage to which the water phase from the steeping step is fed.

Abstract: A liquid and a carbon dioxide containing gas are brought into intimate contact with each other while flowing countercurrently through a column divided into three contact zones. The liquid flows through the first contact zone at a relatively low temperature t.sub.1 to take up carbon dioxide from the gas, then through the second contact zone for delivering carbon dioxide and oxygen to said gas at a higher temperature t.sub.2, and finally through the third contact zone to take up carbon dioxide at a lower temperature t.sub.3 with respect to the temperature t.sub.2.

Abstract: Teat cups are connected through a milk transport conduit to a receptacle communicating with a vacuum source, and a storage tank having a drain outlet is adapted to receive milk from the receptacle by way of a pump. A unit for controlling a cleaning procedure is connectable to the receptacle through the milk conduit. The pump can be connected selectively to either the control unit or a sprayer for cleaning liquid which opens into the storage tank; and the drain outlet of the tank can be connected selectively to either the receptacle or a discharge line.

Abstract: A stationary chamber having a perforated peripheral wall contains an axial rotor having rubber-like radial carrier blades which, as the rotor rotates, are indented at their outer edges by guide means having helical turns extending along said peripheral wall. A passage allows ambient gas to enter the chamber so that the rotor's action on a liquid-solids mixture entering a first part of the chamber maintains a free liquid surface therein. The carrier blades and rotor coact with the helical turns to carry a liquid-bearing cake of the solids through the free liquid surface and thence through a second part of the chamber to a solids outlet, during draining of liquid from the cake through the perforated peripheral wall.

Abstract: To separate animal raw material into fat and protein fractions, the material in finely divided form is circulated through a circuit which includes a heating zone where the material is continuously heated to a relatively low temperature of about 45.degree.-70.degree. C., and a stream of warm material from this circuit is then quickly heated to a higher temperature of about 85.degree.-100.degree. C. This quickly heated material is immediately subjected to centrifugal separation in one or more stages to provide the two fractions of fat and protein, respectively.

Abstract: A liquid milk product, such as milk or cream, is caused to flow along the surface of a filter at one side thereof from an inlet of the filter to an outlet thereof at a velocity of 0.5 to 20.0 m/sec., the main quantity of the filter pores each having a diameter of 0.2 to 10 .mu.m. At the same time, skim milk is passed through the filter to the other side thereof under a pressure drop of at least 0.2 kp/cm.sup.2 while discharging a cream-enriched product from said outlet, and the greater part of this cream-enriched product is returned from said outlet to the inlet of the filter.

Abstract: A rotatable shaft extends from the interior of a receptacle through a wall thereof forming a closed chamber surrounding the shaft; and a first sealing ring surrounding the shaft is operable to prevent flow into the chamber from the receptacle interior but to allow flow in the opposite direction, a second sealing ring surrounding the shaft to prevent flow from the chamber in the axial direction away from the receptacle interior. Valve means are operable selectively to connect the chamber to either a cleaning liquid supply source or a draining passage or to disconnect the chamber simultaneously from both said source and passage.

Abstract: Animal raw material is boiled at least mainly by indirect heating and then divided into stick water and solids, the solids being separately dried to form a first meat meal fraction. The stick water, preferably after separating a sludge component and a fat component therefrom, is concentrated by evaporation and then divided into a sludge phase and a fat phase, the sludge phase being dried to form a second meat meal fraction.

Abstract: A curd-cutting tool is rotatable about an axis within an immobile curdling container, driving means being provided for rotating this tool in one direction around said axis to cut the cheese curd; and means are operatively connected to the driving means for causing interruptions in the rotation of the tool in said one direction during the cutting operation.

Abstract: A spiral heat exchanger comprises a generally cylindrical spiral body having two parallel, spirally-shaped flow passages for heat exchanging media. An end wall is releasably connected to the spiral body at each end thereof, the spiral body and at least one end wall being movable along a track and independently rotatable around a vertical axis.

Abstract: A primary valve has an open position for effecting operation of a milking means remover upon completion of a milking operation. A secondary valve has a first position for causing a pneumatic actuator to maintain the primary valve closed in response to normal milk flow from the milking means and has a second position for causing the actuator to open the primary valve in response to substantial cessation of the milk flow. Means associated with the actuator are operable upon said opening of the primary valve to keep it open regardless of the position of the secondary valve.

Abstract: An immobile container for the cheese curd is in the form of a body of revolution having a substantially horizontal axis; and a tool which is rotated by a drive shaft about the container axis is arranged to cut and stir curd situated above as well as below the container axis. The tool preferably has several side-by-side sections extending from the drive shaft to the surrounding wall of the container and forming an angle with each other, each section having spaced cutting members and also having swingable flaps movable to and from positions in which they cover at least parts of the interspaces between the spaced cutting members.

Abstract: Each unit of a heat-sensitive product is contacted directly or indirectly with a cooling medium so that the unit acquires a condition in which a surface layer thereof has a lower temperature than its inner portions. The product unit is then heated, by electromagnetic energy of at least microwave frequency, from this condition to substantially the desired sterilizing or pasteurizing temperature in a medium having a temperature which will permit such heating. In this way, a substantially uniform heat treatment effect is obtained in the product units.