Abstract: A valve for use between a suction line and a casing. In one embodiment, the casing is a teat cup assembly. The valve or valve assembly comprises a valve housing connected to the outlet of a teat cup assembly. The housing includes a nipple formed in the bottom portion thereof for connection to a milk suction line. A ball member is mounted inside the valve housing and adapted to seat at the opening from the housing into the nipple when the interior of the housing is exposed to atmospheric pressure. The valve assembly further includes a plunger means slidably mounted in the wall of the valve housing, and the plunger means is adapted to slide inwardly into the valve housing when the pressure in the housing falls below atmospheric pressure. The inward movement of the plunger means is adapted to dislodge the ball member from its seated position at the nipple opening.

Abstract: A milking unit support and detacher mechanism for supporting a milking unit when the milking unit is attached to a cow for milking. The milking unit support and detacher mechanism includes a milking unit support arm having an end for supporting a milking unit and means for supporting the milking unit support arm for pivotal movement about a generally vertical axis wherein the arm is movable from a rearward position to a forward position. The supporting means includes a generally vertical shaft rotatable about the vertical axis and supporting the support arm. The vertical shaft is supported such that it is freely rotatable about the vertical axis except when the support arm is between the rearward position and the forward position. The supporting means further includes means for biasing the arm forwardly when the arm is in the rearward position and for biasing the arm rearwardly when the arm is in the forward position.