Abstract: A method and an apparatus for metering a flow of a liquid, such as a milk flow in a milking system. The liquid is passed into a metering or measuring chamber from which it is discharged in portions having substantially the same mass or weight, and the total number of liquid portions discharged is counted whereafter the total mass or weight of the liquid flow may be calculated on the basis of that count.The discharge operation is controlled by a float member arranged within the metering chamber and containing a magnet which may actuate reed switches positioned at different levels along the metering chamber. Each liquid portion is discharged from the metering chamber by exposing the chamber to a gas pressure substantially exceeding the pressure at the discharge end of a metering chamber outlet. The metering chamber is preferably partly defined by a bell-shaped valve body controlling the metering chamber inlet and being movable to its closed position under the influence of said gas pressure.

Abstract: An identification system comprising a plurality of differently frequency coded markings including mechanical vibrating means, and a detector device for detecting the frequency or combination of frequencies of the vibrating means. The vibrating means of the various markings are preferably made from identical comb-like members having teeth which are vibratory with different natural frequencies and of the type used in small music boxes. The different frequency codes may then be obtained by removing teeth in different combinations from the members used in the various markings. The markings may, for example, be arranged on dairy cattle, and the identification system may then be used in connection with a milk sampling system.