Abstract: There is provided an apparatus and method for monitoring pulsation of a milking system in a dairy facility. The milking system includes vacuum hoses that extend from a vacuum source to a milking claw. The pressure in each vacuum hose is changed by a pulsator, with the vacuum hoses being out of phase with one another. The pressure sensors are coupled to the respective vacuum hoses, which sensors monitor the pressure pulsations to ensure that the pulsator is operating satisfactorily. The pressure sensors are coupled to the vacuum hoses by way of passageways or hoses. A bypass is provided between the passageways so as to provide air circulation in the otherwise dead air space in these passageways. The bypass is small so as to not interfere with the pressure measurements by the sensors and is located in close proximity to the pressure sensors so as to minimize the amount of dead air space.

Abstract: A pulsator provides alternating vacuum pressure and atmospheric pressure to an elastomeric liner in a sleeve of a milking claw in a dairy barn. The purpose of pulsation is to alternate the cow teat between a milking phase and a rest phase. The invention monitors the operation of the pulsator to determine if the pulsator is operating satisfactorily. The invention records data during a calibration mode from the pulsator in normal operation. The data that is recorded is the duration of the milking phase and the rest phase and the associated pressures. During pulsator operation, the invention measures the pulsation between atmospheric and vacuum pressures provided to the milking claw and compares this measured data to the recorded calibration data. If the pulsator is not found to be operating within predetermined tolerances, then an indication of a pulsator malfunction is provided, typically in the form of a light located in the milking pen.