Abstract: There is provided a milking cluster (102) for milking an animal, the milking cluster comprising a plurality of teat cups (1) connected to a clawpiece (106). The clawpiece comprises a plurality of milk inlets that are connected to the plurality of teat cups via respective short milk tubes (11). A milk flow passageway begins at the barrel of the teat cup and ends at the clawbowl of the clawpiece, and a valve system is present within each milk flow passageway. The valve system comprises a first pressure-actuated valve through which milk flowing along the milk flow passageway must pass.

Abstract: There is provided a milking cluster (102) for milking an animal, the milking cluster comprising a plurality of teat cups (1) connected to a clawpiece (106). The clawpiece comprises a plurality of milk inlets that are connected to the plurality of teat cups via respective short milk tubes (11). A milk flow passageway begins at the barrel of the teat cup and ends at the clawbowl of the clawpiece, and a valve system is present within each milk flow passageway. The valve system comprises a first pressure-actuated valve through which milk flowing along the milk flow passageway must pass.

Abstract: There is provided a teat cup (1) comprising a flexible liner (3) for engaging about a teat of an animal to be milked. The liner has a head portion (7) at one end of the liner and a milk discharge passageway (12) at another end of the liner. The head portion is provided with a mouth (9) through which the teat is engageable with the liner, and an injector (18) for injecting fluid into the head portion of the liner. The injector comprises a gravity biased diverter that controls, based on an orientation of the teat cup, an injection direction (FLT, FLF) in which the fluid is injected into the head portion. There is further provided a method for milking an animal using the teat cup.

Abstract: There is provided a teat cup (1) comprising a flexible liner (3) for engaging about a teat of an animal to be milked. The liner has a head portion (7) at one end of the liner and a milk discharge passageway (12) at another end of the liner. The head portion is provided with a mouth (9) through which the teat is engageable with the liner, and an injector (18) for injecting fluid into the head portion of the liner. The injector comprises a gravity biased diverter that controls, based on an orientation of the teat cup, an injection direction (FLT, FLF) in which the fluid is injected into the head portion. There is further provided a method for milking an animal using the teat cup.

Abstract: There is provided a distributor device (22) for distributing treatment fluid to the teat cups of a milking cluster. The distributor device has at least one distributer inlet (18) for treatment fluid, at least one distributor outlet (20) for connection to a teat cup, and a safety valve The safety valve is selectively operable to permit flow between the at least one inlet (18) and the at least one outlet (20) and, in a rest position, to shut off flow between the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet and vent the at least one inlet to atmosphere.

Abstract: There is provided a distributor device (22) for distributing treatment fluid to the teat cups of a milking cluster. The distributor device has at least one distributer inlet (18) for treatment fluid, at least one distributor outlet (20) for connection to a teat cup, and a safety valve The safety valve is selectively operable to permit flow between the at least one inlet (18) and the at least one outlet (20) and, in a rest position, to shut off flow between the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet and vent the at least one inlet to atmosphere.

Abstract: In a milking cluster of teat cups, each teat cup has a port in the form of a nozzle disposed in the head portion of the flexible liner of the teat cup. The milking cluster includes a distributor having a fluid inlet and outlets connected to the nozzles of the cups. The distributor inlet is connected to a delivery line for supplying sanitizing treatment fluid, which is utilized to treat the teats and teat cups in a cleansing cycle following the milking cycle, by a second valve operable to maintain the delivery line primed with treatment fluid preparatory to initiation of the cleansing cycle. A safety valve is disposed at the distributor inlet, the safety valve being operable during a milking cycle to open a drain port through which treatment fluid may flow to waste.

Abstract: A teat cup has a nozzle in a head portion of a flexible liner of the teat cup for delivering fluid internally of the teat cup. The nozzle is directed so as to discharge fluid towards the discharge end of the teat cup. When milking is terminated, treatment fluid is injected through the nozzle into the head portion of the liner just prior to and/or as the teat cup is being withdrawn from the teat and, the teat cup wipes the fluid down the teat so as substantially to coat the teat. When the teat cup falls into an inverted rest position, after take-off, the interior of the liner may be flushed and dried with disinfectant, water and compressed air discharged upwardly into the liner by the nozzle. The discharge end of the teat cup may be fitted with a shut-off valve which can be actuated to prevent ingress of treatment and cleansing fluids into the milk tubes during the treatment and cleansing cycle.

Abstract: In a milking cluster of teat cups, each teat cup has a port in the form of a nozzle disposed in the head portion of the flexible liner of the teat cup. The milking cluster includes a distributor having a fluid inlet and outlets connected to the nozzles of the cups. The distributor inlet is connected to a delivery line for supplying sanitising treatment fluid, which is utilised to treat the teats and teat cups in a cleansing cycle following the milking cycle, by a second valve operable to maintain the delivery line primed with treatment fluid preparatory to initiation of the cleansing cycle. A safety valve is disposed at the distributor inlet, the safety valve being operable during a milking cycle to open a drain port through which treatment fluid may flow to waste.

Abstract: In a milking cluster of teat cups, each teat cup has a port in the form of a nozzle disposed in the head portion of the flexible liner (3) of the teat cup. The milking cluster includes a distributor having a fluid inlet aid outlets connected to the nozzles of the cups. The distributor inlet is connected to a supply of filtered air under atmospheric pressure by a first valve which is operable to admit air to the distributor in order to regulate the level of vacuum present in the teat cup liners during a milking cycle. It is connected to a delivery line for supplying sanitising fluid, which is utilised to treat the teats and teat cups in a cleansing cycle following the milking cycle, by a second valve operable to maintain the delivery line primed with sanitising fluid preparatory to initiation of the cleansing cycle.

Abstract: A teat cup comprises a flexible liner (3) for engaging about a teat of an animal to be milked, the liner having a head portion (7), at one end (6), provided with a mouth (9) through which the teat is engageable with the liner, and a milk discharge passageway (12) at the opposite end (5). A nozzle (24) is arranged to discharge fluid into the head portion of the liner, and a fluid delivery tube (21) is connected to the nozzle via a check valve (17) which allows fluid delivery to the nozzle and alleviates the risk of dirt or disinfectant lodging in the nozzle or delivery tube when the teat cup is treated on a jetter at the finish of a milking period.

Abstract: A teat cup has a nozzle in a head portion of a flexible liner of the teat cup for delivering fluid internally of the teat cup. The nozzle is directed so as to discharge fluid towards the discharge end of the teat cup. When milking is terminated, treatment fluid is injected through the nozzle into the head portion of the liner just prior to and/or as the teat cup is being withdrawn from the teat and, the teat cup wipes the fluid down the teat so as substantially to coat the teat. When the teat cup falls into an inverted rest position, after take-off, the interior of the liner may be flushed and dried with disinfectant, water and compressed air discharged upwardly into the liner by the nozzle. The discharge end of the teat cup may be fitted with a shut-off valve which can be actuated to prevent ingress of treatment and cleansing fluids into the milk tubes during the treatment and cleansing cycle.

Abstract: A teat cup has a nozzle in a head portion of a flexible liner of the teat cup for delivering fluid internally of the teat cup. The nozzle is directed so as to discharge fluid towards the discharge end of the teat cup. When milking is terminated, treatment fluid is injected through the nozzle into the head portion of the liner just prior to and/or as the teat cup is being withdrawn from the teat and, the teat cup wipes the fluid down the teat so as substantially to coat the teat. When the teat cup falls into an inverted rest position, after take-off, the interior of the liner may be flushed and dried with disinfectant, water and compressed air discharged upwardly into the liner by the nozzle. The discharge end of the teat cup may be fitted with a shut-off valve which can be actuated to prevent ingress of treatment and cleansing fluids into the milk tubes during the treatment and cleansing cycle.

Abstract: In apparatus and methods for applying treatment and cleaning fluid to cows teats and the teat cups of milking equipment, post-milking, each teat cup (1) has a nozzle (13) in the head portion (6) of the flexible liner (3) of the teat cup for delivering fluid internally of the teat cup. The nozzle is directed so as to discharge fluid towards the discharge end (4) of the teat cup. When milking is terminated, treatment fluid is injected through the nozzle (13) into the head portion of the liner (3) just prior to and/or as the teat cup is being withdrawn from the teat and, as a result, the teat cup wipes the injected fluid down the teat so as substantially to coat the teat with the treatment fluid. When the teat cup (1) falls into an inverted rest position, after take-off, the interior of the liner (3) may be flushed and dried with disinfectant, water and compressed air discharged upwardly into the liner by the nozzle (13). Flushing fluid can then drain downwardly from the liner and through its mouth (7).

Abstract: In apparatus and methods for applying treatment and cleaning fluid to cows teats and the teat cups of milking equipment, post-milking, each teat cup (1) has a nozzle (13) in the head portion (6) of the flexible liner (3) of the teat cup for delivering fluid internally of the teat cup. The nozzle is directed so as to discharge fluid towards the discharge end (4) of the teat cup. When milking is terminated, treatment fluid is injected through the nozzle (13) into the head portion of the liner (3) just prior to and/or as the teat cup is being withdrawn from the teat and, as a result, the teat cup wipes the injected fluid down the teat so as substantially to coat the teat with the treatment fluid. When the teat cup (1) falls into an inverted rest position, after take-off, the interior of the liner (3) may be flushed and dried with disinfectant, water and compressed air discharged upwardly into the liner by the nozzle (13). Flushing fluid can then drain downwardly from the liner and through its mouth (7).

Abstract: In apparatus and methods for applying treatment and cleaning fluid to cows teats and the teat cups of milking equipment, post-milking, each teat cup (1) has a nozzle (13) in the head portion (6) of the flexible liner (3) of the teat cup for delivering fluid internally of the teat cup. The nozzle is directed so as to discharge fluid towards the discharge end (4) of the teat cup. When milking is terminated, treatment fluid is injected through the nozzle (13) into the head portion of the liner (3) just prior to and/or as the teat cup is being withdrawn from the teat and, as a result, the teat cup wipes the injected fluid down the teat so as substantially to coat the teat with the treatment fluid. When the teat cup (1) falls into an inverted rest position, after take-off, the interior of the liner (3) may be flushed and dried with disinfectant, water and compressed air discharged upwardly into the liner by the nozzle (13). Flushing fluid can then drain downwardly from the liner and through its mouth (7).

Abstract: A teat cup comprises a flexible liner (3) for engaging about a teat of an animal to be milked, the liner having a head portion (7), at one end (6), provided with a mouth (9) through which the teat is engageable with the liner, and a milk discharge passageway (12) at the opposite end (5). A nozzle (24) is arranged to discharge fluid into the head portion of the liner, and a fluid delivery tube (21) is connected to the nozzle via a check valve (17) which allows fluid delivery to the nozzle and alleviates the risk of dirt or disinfectant lodging in the nozzle or delivery tube when the teat cup is treated on a jetter at the finish of a milking period.