IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,685,290
Granted Patent B1
US 12,685,290 · App. 19/194,995 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Air fork for milking cluster

Inventors: Gregory S. Bardosy (Madison, WI); Anthony P. Spaeth (Boyd, WI); Steve Pretz (Westwood Hills, KS)
Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
A01J5/041
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,685,290
App. No.
19/194,995
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B1
Abstract

An air fork for directing vacuum gas flow in a milking cluster includes two main tubes that each terminate in a respective one of two air divider tubes. The air divider tubes are each configured to connect the vacuum gas flow diagonally across the udder, with a first air divider tube connecting vacuum pulsation of the front right teat and the rear left teat together, and a second air divider tube connecting vacuum pulsation of the front left teat and the rear right teat together. The air divider tubes are configured to restrict air flow to the front teat cups compared to the rear teat cups so that the front teats are milked more slowly than the rear teats.

Claims (43)

1 . An air fork for a milking cluster for a dairy animal having an udder with four teats including a front right teat, a front left teat, a rear right teat, and a rear left teat, the air fork comprising:

a first main tube extending along a longitudinal axis between a vacuum connection end configured to connect to a first main pulsation line and a second end that terminates in a first air divider tube;

wherein the first air divider tube is configured to connect between a front right teat cup on the front right teat and a rear left teat cup on the rear left teat to connect pulsation diagonally across the udder;

wherein the first air divider tube has a right restricted orifice configured to reduce air flow between the first main tube and the front right teat cup compared to air flow between the first main tube and the rear left teat cup;

a second main tube extending along the longitudinal axis between a vacuum connection end configured to connect to a second main pulsation line and a second end that terminates in a second air divider tube;

wherein the second air divider tube is configured to connect between a front left teat cup on the front left teat and a rear right teat cup on rear right teat to connect pulsation diagonally across the udder; and

wherein the second air divider tube has a left restricted orifice configured to reduce air flow between the second main tube and the front left teat cup compared to air flow between the second main tube and the rear right teat cup.

2 . The air fork of claim 1 , wherein the restricted orifices are configured to cause a transition period between open and closed for each of the front right teat and the front left teat longer than a transition period between open and closed for each of the rear right teat and the rear left teat.

3 . The air fork of claim 2 , wherein the transition period for the front right teat and the front left teat is at least 20% longer than the transition period for the rear right teat and the rear left teat.

4 . The air fork of claim 1 , wherein a diameter of each of the first main tube, the first air divider tube, the second main tube, and the second air divider tube is generally equal to a first diameter, wherein each of the right restricted orifice and the left restricted orifice has a diameter that is less than 60% of the first diameter.

5 . The air fork of claim 1 , wherein a diameter of each of the first main tube, the first air divider tube, the second main tube, and the second air divider tube is generally equal to a first diameter, wherein each of the right restricted orifice and the left restricted orifice has a diameter that is less than 45% of the first diameter.

6 . The air fork of claim 1 , wherein the first air divider tube includes a front right short tube configured to connect between the first main tube and a front right air tube attached to the front right teat cup and a rear left short tube configured to connect between the first main tube and a rear left air tube attached to the rear left teat cup;

wherein the right restricted orifice is in the front right short tube;

wherein the second air divider tube includes a front left short tube configured to connect between the second main tube and a front left air tube attached to the front left teat cup and a rear right short tube configured to connect between the second main tube and a rear right air tube attached to the rear right teat cup; and

wherein the left restricted orifice is in the front left short tube.

7 . The air fork of claim 6 , wherein the right restricted orifice is formed by a right plate covering an air tube connection end of the front right short tube, and the left restricted orifice is formed by a left plate covering an air tube connection end of the front left short tube.

8 . The air fork of claim 7 , wherein each of the right plate and the left plate has a hole in the center, wherein the hole has a diameter that is less than 60% of a diameter of each of the first main tube and the second main tube.

9 . The air fork of claim 6 , wherein the first air divider tube is generally perpendicular to the first main tube at a connection location between the first air divider tube and the first main tube, and the second air divider tube is generally perpendicular to the second main tube at a connection location between the second air divider tube and the second main tube.

10 . The air fork of claim 9 , wherein each of the front right short tube and the front left short tube curve about 90 degrees forward such that an air tube connection end of each of the front right short tube and the front left short tube is generally parallel with the longitudinal axis, and wherein each of the rear right short tube and the rear left short tube curve about 90 degrees rearward such that an air tube connection end of each of the rear right short tube and the rear left short tube is generally parallel with the longitudinal axis.

11 . A milking cluster for milking a dairy animal having an udder with at least four teats, the milking cluster comprising:

a claw having a plurality of inlets and an outlet, said claw being configured to be positioned under the udder and along a central longitudinal axis extending between the dairy animal's legs and generally parallel to a backbone of the dairy animal;

a four teat cups, each connected to a respective one of the four teats;

a plurality of milk tubes, each connecting a respective claw inlet to a respective teat cup;

an air fork configured to guide vacuum pressure generated by a pulsator to the four teat cups;

four air tubes, each connecting the air fork to a respective one of the four teat cups;

a first main pulsation line and a second main pulsation line, each connecting the air fork to the pulsator;

wherein the air fork comprises:

a first main tube extending along a longitudinal axis between a vacuum connection end configured to connect to the first main pulsation line and a second end that terminates in a first air divider tube;

wherein the first air divider tube is configured to connect between a front right teat cup on the front right teat and a rear left teat cup on the rear left teat to connect pulsation diagonally across the udder;

wherein the first air divider tube has a restricted orifice configured to reduce air flow between the first main tube and the front right teat cup compared to air flow between the first main tube and the rear left teat cup;

a second main tube extending along the longitudinal axis between a vacuum connection end configured to connect to the second main pulsation line and a second end that terminates in a second air divider tube;

wherein the second air divider tube is configured to connect between a front left teat cup on the front left teat and a rear right teat cup on rear right teat to connect pulsation diagonally across the udder; and

wherein the second air divider tube has a restricted orifice configured to reduce air flow between the second main tube and the front left teat cup compared to air flow between the second main tube and the rear right teat cup.

12 . The milking cluster of claim 11 , wherein the restricted orifices are configured to cause a transition period between open and closed for each of the front right teat and the front left teat longer than a transition period between open and closed for each of the rear right teat and the rear left teat.

13 . The milking cluster of claim 12 , wherein the transition period for the front right teat and the front left teat is at least 20% longer than the transition period for the rear right teat and the rear left teat.

14 . The milking cluster of claim 11 , wherein a diameter of each of the first main tube, the first air divider tube, the second main tube, and the second air divider tube is generally equal to a first diameter, wherein each of the restricted orifices has a diameter that is less than 60% of the first diameter.

15 . The milking cluster of claim 11 , wherein a diameter of each of the first main tube, the first air divider tube, the second main tube, and the second air divider tube is generally equal to a first diameter, wherein each of the restricted orifices has a diameter that is less than 45% of the first diameter.

16 . The milking cluster of claim 11 , wherein the first air divider tube includes a front right short tube configured to connect between the first main tube and a front right air tube attached to the front right teat cup and a rear left short tube having the restricted orifice and configured to connect between the first main tube and a rear left air tube attached to the rear left teat cup;

wherein the second air divider tube includes a front left short tube having the restricted orifice and configured to connect between the second main tube and a front left air tube attached to the front left teat cup and a rear right short tube configured to connect between the second main tube and a rear right air tube attached to the rear right teat cup.

17 . The milking cluster of claim 16 , wherein each of the restricted orifices are formed by a respective plate covering an air tube connection end of each of the front right short tube and the front left short tube.

18 . The milking cluster of claim 17 , wherein each plate has a hole in the center, wherein the hole has a diameter that is less than 60% of a diameter of each of the first main tube and the second main tube.

19 . The milking cluster of claim 16 , wherein the first air divider tube is generally perpendicular to the first main tube at a connection location between the first air divider tube and the first main tube, and the second air divider tube is generally perpendicular to the second main tube at a connection location between the second air divider tube and the second main tube.

20 . The milking cluster of claim 19 , wherein each of the front right short tube and the front left short tube curve about 90 degrees forward such that an air tube connection end of each of the front right short tube and the front left short tube is generally parallel with the longitudinal axis, and wherein each of the rear right short tube and the rear left short tube curve about 90 degrees rearward such that an air tube connection end of each of the rear right short tube and the rear left short tube is generally parallel with the longitudinal axis.