US 12,411,119 B2
In-line sensor, milking cluster and associated methods
Liam George Kampshof, Tauranga (NZ); and Gary Edwin Campbell, Tauranga (NZ)
Assigned to BOVONIC LIMITED, Tauranga (NZ)
Appl. No. 18/839,714
Filed by BOVONIC LIMITED, Tauranga (NZ)
PCT Filed Feb. 17, 2023, PCT No. PCT/NZ2023/050018
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Aug. 19, 2024,
PCT Pub. No. WO2023/158323, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 24, 2023.
Claims priority of application No. 2022900361 (AU), filed on Feb. 18, 2022; and application No. 2022902243 (AU), filed on Aug. 10, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2025/0116644 A1, Apr. 10, 2025
Int. Cl. A01J 5/013 (2006.01); A01J 11/02 (2006.01); G01N 1/20 (2006.01); G01N 33/04 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 33/04 (2013.01) [A01J 5/0136 (2013.01); A01J 11/02 (2013.01); G01N 1/2035 (2013.01); G01N 2001/2064 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An in-line sensor configured to measure a sensed property of milk collected from a lactating animal, the in-line sensor comprising:
an elongated housing with an inlet configured to receive a pulsed milk flow from a milking cup and an outlet configured to discharge the pulsed milk flow from the elongated housing to a claw, the elongated housing being continuous and straight and which directs the pulsed milk flow from the inlet to the outlet, the inlet, in use, being positioned generally above the outlet to allow gravity to assist with said pulsed milk flow through the elongated housing; and
a liquid diverter inside the elongated housing, the liquid diverter configured to split the pulsed milk flow through the elongated housing into a primary flow of milk through the elongated housing and a secondary flow of milk through the liquid diverter, the liquid diverter configured to capture less than 40% by volume of a total pulsed milk flow through the in-line sensor as the secondary flow into the liquid diverter, a majority of the total pulsed milk flow through the in-line sensor moving as an unimpeded primary flow of milk through the elongated housing and wherein the liquid diverter is configured to capture and measure characteristics of a foremilk portion of each pulse of the pulsed milk flow passing through the in-line sensor;
wherein the liquid diverter comprises:
a liquid receiver inlet that receives the secondary flow of milk therein;
a sensor measuring a property of the secondary flow of milk received in the liquid receiver inlet;
a flow restrictor outlet configured to restrict a flow rate of the secondary flow of milk from the liquid diverter;
wherein the liquid diverter is configured to:
in use, be aligned so that the liquid receiver inlet is positioned generally above the flow restrictor outlet;
retain said secondary flow of milk about the sensor between pulses of the pulsed milk flow to the in-line sensor; and
when the pulsed milk flow ceases through the in-line sensor, said secondary flow of milk retained about the sensor, self-empties and drains fully via gravity from the liquid diverter via the flow restrictor outlet; and,
wherein the liquid diverter is offset to one side of the elongated housing so as to be offset relative to said primary flow of said pulsed milk flow through the elongated housing.