Abstract: A teatcup liner comprises an upper mouthpiece, an intermediate barrel and a lower connecting tube. The upper mouthpiece further comprises a mouthpiece transition, a mouthpiece lip, and a groove formed in an outer surface of the upper mouthpiece. The intermediate barrel extends along an axial direction for receiving a teat inserted axially thereinto through said mouthpiece. An inner dimension of the upper mouthpiece defines a cavity bore and the groove is located substantially in line with the largest diameter of the cavity bore.

Abstract: A teatcup liner comprises an upper mouthpiece, an intermediate barrel and a lower connecting tube. The upper mouthpiece further comprises a mouthpiece transition, a mouthpiece lip, and a groove formed in an outer surface of the upper mouthpiece. The intermediate barrel extends along an axial direction for receiving a teat inserted axially thereinto through said mouthpiece. An inner dimension of the upper mouthpiece defines a cavity bore and the groove is located substantially in line with the largest diameter of the cavity bore.

Abstract: A teatcup liner comprises an upper mouthpiece, an intermediate barrel and a lower connecting tube. The upper mouthpiece further comprises a mouthpiece transition, a mouthpiece lip, and a groove formed in an outer surface of the upper mouthpiece. The intermediate barrel extends along an axial direction for receiving a teat inserted axially thereinto through said mouthpiece. An inner dimension of the upper mouthpiece defines a cavity bore and the groove is located substantially in line with the largest diameter of the cavity bore.

Abstract: A teatcup liner comprises an upper mouthpiece, an intermediate barrel and a lower connecting tube. The upper mouthpiece further comprises a mouthpiece transition, a mouthpiece lip, and a groove formed in an outer surface of the upper mouthpiece. The intermediate barrel extends along an axial direction for receiving a teat inserted axially thereinto through said mouthpiece. An inner dimension of the upper mouthpiece defines a cavity bore and the groove is located substantially in line with the largest diameter of the cavity bore.

Abstract: A teatcup liner comprises an upper mouthpiece, an intermediate barrel and a lower connecting tube. The upper mouthpiece further comprises a mouthpiece transition, a mouthpiece lip, and a groove on an outer surface of the upper mouthpiece to provide flexibility in the upper mouthpiece. The intermediate barrel extends along an axial direction for receiving a teat inserted axially thereinto through said mouthpiece.

Abstract: A teatcup liner comprises an upper mouthpiece, an intermediate barrel and a lower connecting tube. The upper mouthpiece further comprises a mouthpiece transition, a mouthpiece lip, and a groove on an outer surface of the upper mouthpiece to provide flexibility in the upper mouthpiece. The intermediate barrel extends along an axial direction for receiving a teat inserted axially thereinto through said mouthpiece.

Abstract: A teatcup liner comprises an upper mouthpiece, an intermediate barrel and a lower connecting tube. The upper mouthpiece further comprises a mouthpiece transition, a mouthpiece lip, and a groove on an outer surface of the upper mouthpiece to provide flexibility in the upper mouthpiece. The intermediate barrel extends along an axial direction for receiving a teat inserted axially thereinto through said mouthpiece.

Abstract: A teatcup liner comprises an upper mouthpiece, an intermediate barrel and a lower connecting tube. The upper mouthpiece further comprises a mouthpiece transition, a mouthpiece lip, and a groove on an outer surface of the upper mouthpiece to provide flexibility in the upper mouthpiece. The intermediate barrel extends along an axial direction for receiving a teat inserted axially thereinto through said mouthpiece.

Abstract: A teatcup liner series, having n liners L1 through Ln, enables selection of faster milking or less liner slip. A liner and/or the series is provided with variable groove width and/or material. A cost advantaged manufacturing method is provided.

Abstract: A teatcup liner and teatcup assembly are provided with controlled collapse constructions including ribs, notches, sleeves, and thickness variations.

Abstract: The lip of the upper mouthpiece of a teatcup liner is provided with controlled deflection for controlling slip along the teat of the mammal being milked. The deflection control is provided by various embossed patterns and/or inserts.

Abstract: A teatcup liner has an upper mouthpiece and a barrel depending downwardly from the upper mouthpiece, the barrel extending axially along an axis for receiving a teat inserted axially thereinto through the mouthpiece, the barrel being defined by a barrel wall having an inner surface defining a hollow interior in the barrel. An embossed pattern is provided along the inner surface of the barrel wall. A raised pattern provides faster milking, and reduces liner slip. A recessed pattern reduces liner slip.

Abstract: A teatcup liner series, having n liners L1 through Ln, has at least one selected parameter which varies liner to liner to provide selectable milking characteristics. The teatcup liner series is produced by a cost advantaged manufacturing method.

Abstract: A replaceable air filter system for milking machine pulsators has a base with an internal channel that communicates with the air inlet of a milking machine pulsator when the base is mounted on the pulsator. An air filter section is releasably mounted to the base and includes a case, air filter medium attached to the case, and a connector extending from the case which connects to an open bore of the base. The air filter section can be releasably secured to the base. The air filter medium may be formed of multi-fold filter material to provide a large area filter for the input air. When the filter medium is saturated or clogged, an operator can detach the air filter section from the base and replace it with a new air filter section quickly and conveniently.

Abstract: In a milking parlor having a milk line to which milking clusters are connected and a wash line to which clean-in-place washer units are connected, milk from the milk line is directed through a pipeline to a single receiver tank that is maintained under a vacuum draw during the milking operation. Milk from the receiver tank is periodically pumped to a bulk tank. During wash up, the receiver tank is filled with wash water, and wash water is then pumped from the receiver tank through the milk pipelines leading to the bulk tank and then back by return lines to the receiver tank, and wash water is also pumped from the receiver tank to the wash line. The wash water from the wash line passes through the washer units, which are now connected to the teat cups of the milking cluster, thence to the milk line, and back through the milk line and the milk pipeline back to the receiver tank.

Abstract: An elongated, flexible teat cup liner (10) of an improved design which can accommodate teats of varying lengths without fear of teat damage or inefficient machine milking. The liners (10) of the invention include an apertured mouthpiece (16) adjacent one end thereof, with an elongated, intermediate barrel (18) presenting an inwardly collapsible teat-receiving region (34) and a lowermost connecting tube (20) adapted for connection to a constant vacuum source, such as, e.g., a milk claw (54). The liners (10) of the present invention have a barrel wall (36) of gradually and progressively decreasing wall thickness for creating a differential resistance to inward collapse of the teat-receiving region of the barrel. The decrease in barrel wall (36) thickness assures a relatively high resistance to inward collapse at a first location adjacent the mouthpiece (16), and a gradual and progressive decrease in such resistance to inward collapse along an axial length of the teat receiving region (34) of the barrel (18).

Abstract: Elongated, flexible teat cup liners (10) of improved design are provided which can accommodate teats of varying lengths without fear of teat damage or inefficient machine milking. The liners (10) of the invention include an apertured mouthpiece (12) adjacent one end thereof, with an elongated, intermediate barrel (14) presenting an inwardly collapsible teat-receiving region and a lowermost connecting tube (16) adapted for connection to a constant vacuum source. The liners (10) of the invention also include structure (18) for creating a differential resistance to inward collapse of the teat-receiving region of barrel (14) along the length thereof. The structure (18) assures a relatively high resistance to inward collapse at a first location (34) adjacent mouthpiece (12), and a gradual and progressive decrease in such resistance to inward collapse along an axial length of the teat-receiving region of barrel (14).

Abstract: A transponder reader arm assembly is useful with feed cars for automatically feeding livestock in order to place a transponder reader in close proximity to a transponder worn by the livestock. The transponder reader arm assembly hereof includes a pivotally mounted arm connected to a mounting bracket at an inboard end and presenting an outwardly extending distal end having a transponder reader connected thereto. The transponder reader arm includes a biasing spring which serves to center the arm to an outwardly extending orientation. The transponder reader may be mounted directly to the distal end of a single arm or to a connecting linkage between a pair of parallel arms.

Abstract: A pulsation selector for milking machines is adjustable to enable alternate milking between the front and rear or between the right and left teats of the animal.