Abstract: A teat cup for hydraulic milking apparatus comprises a shell and a liner. The liner has a body part within the shell, a mouthpiece at one end of the body part which mouthpiece defines an opening for receiving a teat during milking, a short milk tube at the other end of the body part, for connection to a clawpiece, and an air passage extending through the body part from the inside to the outside thereof. The shell has a first inlet to which a vacuum pulse tube can be connected and in use pressurize the space between the shell and the liner body part, a second inlet to which an air admission tube can be connected and a passageway defined within the shell itself or within a part rigid therewith and communicating the second inlet to the air passage in the liner body part, whereby air may be admitted to the interior of the liner body part at will.

Abstract: Automatic milking apparatus for hydraulic milking, in which there is no air bleed at or upstream of the clawpiece during milking of a cow. Each teat cup has a liner, within the rigid teat cup shell, which has a passage through which air may be admitted to the liner body from an air admission tube, at will after milking and before removal of the teat cups from the cow. The air admission tube runs from the liner body passage, between the liner and shell, through the pulse tube and into the clawpiece, where air admission is manually controlled.

Abstract: Automatic milking apparatus for hydraulic milking, in which there is no air bleed at or upstream of the clawpiece during milking of a cow. Each teat cup has a liner within the rigid teat cup shell which has a passage through which air may be admitted to the liner body from an air admission tube, at will after milking and before removal of the teat cups from the cow. The air admission tube runs from the linear body passage, between the liner and shell, through the pulse tube and into the clawpiece, where air admission is manually controlled.

Abstract: The method of automatic milking comprising the step of drawing the milk from the teat past one or more non-return valves without the introduction of air into the milk flow upstream of the valve or valves. An automatic milking apparatus for carrying out the method comprises one or more one-way clawpieces and pneumatically-isolated teat liners.

Abstract: A method of automatic milking permitting continuous electrical monitoring of milk-related values, such as milk conductivity and milk temperature, for detecting diseased cows. The method uses a claw-piece with four short-milk tubes and teat cups, as is customary, but mixing of milk from different cow's quarters is prevented by valves within the claw-piece base. Within the base, the four channels from the four input nipples each contains milk from one cow's quarter solely. Groups of electrical sensors extend into each of the four channels for monitoring the milk-related values. The method relates in particular to hydraulic milking, when no air-bleed is provided upstream of the claw-piece. Suitable apparatus is described for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A teat spray system for installation in an automatic milking parlor for spraying the teats of cows. The system comprises a differential vacuum line switch, powered from the milking parlor vacuum line, and providing alternating vacuum pulses in a pair of vacuum lines; a liquid disinfectant pressure pump powered from the pair of vacuum lines; a pressure bottle for holding a volume of disinfectant under pressure and a spray line and spray head. The system is pressure self-limiting and has a pressure release valve operative when the milking parlor vacuum line is shut down.

Abstract: A vacuum line control valve having a single vacuum input port and a pair of output ports to which vacuum is supplied alternately, each output port being vented to atmosphere when not at vacuum pressure. A reciprocating valve control member is carried by a resilient diaphragm which separates two internal chambers. A first valve control setting corresponds to the initial, rest position of the diaphragm. Differential pressures in the chambers first displace the diaphragm to the second valve control setting and then return it to the first. Frequency of alternation is determined by a bleed aperture between one output port and one chamber.

Abstract: A method for early detection of mastitis in cows, effected during normal milking of cows in a milking parlor, by monitoring the milk taken from each cow for the presence of milk clots, comprises cutting the vacuum milk line to each milking station and inserting a filter-detector therein between the claw and the recorder jar. Each filter-detector comprises a flat-sided transparent casing with a lateral slot which receives a self-sealing slide carrying the filter element. The slide carrier preferably has an integral bypass aperture so that vacuum conditions at the claw end are retained even after the filter element has become blocked. The slide carrier is preferably constructed so that, when in position in the casing, a seepage passage remains between the slide and the casing inner wall, so that cleansing fluid can pass during normal in-place cleaning of the installation.