Abstract: A milking apparatus is described that includes a longitudinally extending liner made from a resiliently deformable material. The liner is mounted on a rigid support shell. The liner comprises an outer hood configured to lie over an outer surface of the rigid support shell, and an inner barrel configured to be disposed within the rigid support shell and to define an internal volume. The inner barrel extends in the longitudinal direction away from an opening at a first end of the liner, through which opening an animal teat is insertable into the internal volume. The inner barrel is connected to the outer hood at a plurality of longitudinally extending connection regions on an inner surface of the outer hood. These connections define boundary conditions that limit the deformation of the barrel that encloses the teat can be set by the configuration of the liner itself.

Abstract: A combination of a teat cup and a flexible milk tube is shown. The flexible milk tube has a main duct and a plurality of secondary ducts for discharging milk from the teat cup and for applying vacuum in the teat cup. The main duct is confined by a duct wall extending around the main duct. The secondary ducts are included in the duct wall of the main duct. By including the plurality of secondary ducts in the duct wall of the main duct the flexible milk tube as a whole has a smaller cross-section than that of the known milk tube. The plurality of secondary ducts no longer need separate duct walls forming separate tubes either connected or not with the flexible milk tube comprising the main duct. This results in space saving.

Abstract: An elongated teat cup liner (1) located inside said teat cup, which is having a proximal portion in communication to the milking vacuum system and the milk pail and a distal portion in communication with the animal teat; said teat cup liner comprising: a plurality of segments (1f-1h) barriered by a means of one or more rings (1a); and, a vacuum duct comprising a plurality of vacuum valves (3b-3d); each of said valve is in communication with one or more rings and is adapted to provide a reversible inflation/deflation of elastomeric rubber-like sleeve.