Bulk Milk Collection Now in Notts and Kent
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FOLLOWING the adoption of the vacuum system for bulk milk tankers, the next step is the development of an accurate flow-meter for measuring the throughput' of milk. A meter will greatly reduce the cost of the insulated farm holding tanks because it will eliminate the need for accurate calibration and it will be equally useful when the tank is being emptied at the dairy. The main problem is to devise a flowmeter that measures the amount of liquid, as distinct from the froth."
. These observations were made by J. E. H. Brooks, regional manager of the Milk Marketing Board, Oadby, Leicester, at a Press conference at Southwell, Notts, last week to mark the introduction of the first ex-farm bulk tank collection scheme in Nottinghamshire.
Twenty-one producers are participating in the scheme, and about 3,500 gal. of T.T. milk are collected daily in two 1,750 gal, two-compartment road tankers operated by the Milk and General Haulage Co., Ltd., Nottingham, for deliveries to Northern Dairies, Ltd„ Nottingham. Another seven producers will join in shortly. This is the third bulk-milk collection scheme to be introduced in the East Midland Region of the M.M.B. Pending the delivery of a second tanker, a vehicle is being loaned to the Milk and General Haulage company by the M.M.B. The tank is produced by Thompson Bros. (Bilston), Ltd.
The equipment is mounted on an Albion Clydesdale chassis equipped with a Leyland 0.400 diesel engine and sixspeed gearbox. Built of stainless steel,
the tank is insulated with of Polyzote material and is clad with aluminium.. The tank is secured to cradles with stainless-steel straps. Behind the cab, an electrically driven Reavell exhauster is used to produce a vacuum of up to 18 in.
of mercury, operation of the exhauster being automatically controlled to cut in at a vacuum of 16 in. of mercury.
The armoured hose is carried in aluminium trays, which are boxed in at the ends for cleanliness. Of the twin-compartment circular type, the tank could be used for the carriage of two grades of milk. This is made possible by the vacuum system, which exhausts milk from the pipelines when the contents of a holding tank have been " pumped " into the vehicle tank.
It was claimed by Mr. Brooks that one tanker can do the work of four flat-platform churn lorries.
An M.M.B. tanker is operating in Surrey, fitted with a turbine-type meter having an electronic counter and airdetecting probe. A second tanker will be equipped with a meter linked to a printout ticket system.
The first scheme for the bulk collection of milk from farms in Kent also commenced last week. Initially 20 producers will take part with a gallonage of about 2,500 daily, rising ultimately to about 7.500. The milk will be delivered to Bourne and Hilliers Creameries, Ltd., Rochester, by two 1,750-gallon road tankers of the latest vacuum type operated by the Board's own transport depot at Tunbridge Wells.
This is the ninth bulk milk collection scheme to be introduced in the Milk Marketing Board's South Eastern Region. In the other eight schemes, about 31.000 gallons of milk are being collected daily from 190 refrigerated farm tanks.
Meanwhile the third Warwickshire collection scheme started last Tuesday, with eight farms producing 1,200 gallons daily to start with, and five more to join soon. A vacuum tanker operated by C. Blake and Son of Loxley will deliver the milk to Stratford Dairies, Ltd., at Stratford-on-Avon.