WO2015088430A1

WO2015088430A1 - A support arrangement for a rotary milking parlour

Info

Publication number: WO2015088430A1
Application number: PCT/SE2014/051473
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bengt EDSTRÖM; Otto Hellekant; Mikael STRÖM; Slawomir MIRSKI; Jan MROZEK; Pawel GRZYB; Tomasz ZAWISLANSKI; Pawel KONDRO; Radoslaw BENETKIEWICZ; Dawid CIERNIAK
Original assignee: Delaval Holding Ab
Priority date: 2013-12-11
Filing date: 2014-12-10
Publication date: 2015-06-18

Abstract

The invention relates to a support arrangement configured to support conduits (39, 40) at a level above a rotary milking platform. The support arrangement comprises a number of tubular units (26) of equal dimensions configured to be connected to each other with equal angles between the longitudinal axes (26a) of adjacent tubular units (26) such that they form an approximately circular closed tubular body (25) intended to accommodate conduits (39, 40). The support arrangement further comprises a number of vertical post units (27) configured to be mounted along a circular path on a rotary milking platform at a rectilinear distance from each other corresponding to the length of a tubular unit (26) in such a way that they support the tubular body (25) at a level above the platform. The number of tubular units (26) is the same as the number of vertical post units (27), and the support arrangement allows a firm connection of two adjacent tubular units (26) above each vertical post unit (27) with at least two alternative angles between the longitudinal axes (26a) of adjacent tubular units (26), so that the diameter of the approximately circular closed tubular body (25) can be varied depending on the number of tubular units (26) used.

Description

A support arrangement for a rotary milking parlour

THE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART The present invention relates to a support arrangement configured to support conduits at a level above a rotary milking platform.

Usually, rotary milking platforms comprise a swivel mounted in a centre position of the platform which transfers milk, vacuum, compressed air, electric power/signals and water to and from the platform, The vacuum, compressed air and electric power/signals are transferred from the swivel, via radial conduits, to conduits arranged in a circle at a level above the milking stalls on the rotary platform.

The conduits of vacuum, compressed air, and electric power/signals form a bundle of conduits supported by support members. Such a bundle of conduits many times has an irregular structure and it is difficult to identify the individual conduits during, service and repair work. Furthermore, the conduits are unprotected and they may be exposed to impurities, external violence, corrosion, etc. The circle of conduits are connected to other conduits leading the vacuum, compressed air and electrical power/signals downwards to associated miik components in the respective milking stalls on the platform.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a support arrangement configured to support conduits at a level above a rotary milking platform in a protected manner, at the same time as the support arrangement is easy to install and adapt to platforms of different sizes. These objects are achieved by the initially defined support arrangement, which is characterised in that it comprises a number of tubular units of equal dimensions configured to be connected to each other with equal angles between the longitudinal axes of adjacent tubular units such that they form an approximately circular closed tubular body intended to accommodate conduits, and a number of vertical post units configured to be mounted along a circular path on a rotary milking platform at a rectilinear distance from each other corresponding to the length of a tubular unit in such a way that they support the tubular body at a level above the platform, wherein the number of tubular units is the same as the number of vertical post units, and the support arrangement allows a firm connection of two adjacent tubular units with at least two alternative angles between the longitudinal axes of adjacent tubular units, so that the diameter of the approximately circular closed tubular body can be varied depending on the number of tubular units used.

A closed tubular body formed by a number of tubular units of the same dimensions and with the same angle between the longitudinal axes of adjacent tubular units obtains a shape corresponding to the outer contours of a an approximately circular regular convex polygon. By the use of a varying number of tubular units, it is possible to form such approximately circular closed tubular bodies of different diameters. If the number of tubular units is large, the approximately circular closed tubular body will be substantially circular. During all circumstances, the tubular body requires a specific angle between the longitudinal axes of all adjacent tubular units for forming an approximately circular closed tubular body. The required specific angle varies with the number of tubular units used, and it is possible to in a simple way adjust the angle between the longitudinal axes of adjacent tubular units to the required specific angle for tubular bodies of different diameters. The same number of vertical posts as tubular units are used for arranging the tubular body at a suitable level above the platform, in an assembled state, the tubular units form an approximately circular tubular body provided with a substantially closed inner space in which the conduits are accommodated in a protected manner at a suitable height above the platform. Due to the low number of components used, the support arrangement is easy to assemble and it can be manufactured at a low cost, especially since the tubular units can be manufactured in the form of module units. Furthermore, it is possible to assemble the support arrangement on site and in several different sizes.

According to an embodiment of the invention, each vertical post unit comprises a support member configured to support the end portions of two adjacent tubular units. The support member may be an integrated part of the vertical post unit or a separate component which is releasably attached on the vertical post unit. Preferably, such a support member comprises a suitably shaped support surface for the end portions of the tubular units.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the support member comprises a wall bridging the gap between the outer walls of two adjacent tubular units. The tubular body will inevitably have gaps of different sizes in the connection areas between the end portions of adjacent tubular units. The size of the gap depends on the angle between the tubular units. The largest gap arises at the radial outer side of the tubular body. The use of a support member with such a wail in this position substantially eliminates this gap. The support member may have a support surface for the end portions of the adjacent tubular units which covers the gap on the underside between the end portions of the tubular units. A separate plate member may be used to cover the gap between radial outer walls of two adjacent tubular units. The radial inner wall of the tubular body normally has very little gap between adjacent tubular units. According to an embodiment of the invention, the support members and the tubular units comprise correspondingly arranged mounting holes allowing a firm connection of the support members to the tubular units. In this case, the adjacent tubular units are connected to each other via the support member. The end portions of the tubular units are firmly connected to the support member in angles such that the longitudinal axes of the adjacent tubular units obtain the required specific angle between each other. Alternatively, the end portions of adjacent tubular units will be directly connected to each other without any intermediate component- According to an embodiment of the invention, for each correspondingly arranged pair of mounting holes, either or both of the support member mounting holes and the tubular unit mounting holes have an elongated shape. Such elongated holes allow a movement of the tubular units in relation the support member to the required specific angle, whereupon screws are screwed into the holes and the components are firmly connected to each other, instead of correspondingly arranged pairs of mounting holes, other means of allowing a firm connection may be used. For example, the support members (or the tubular units) may comprise integrated pins, which can be inserted into correspondingly arranged mounting holes on the tubular units (or support members). In this case, the mounting holes preferably have an elongated shape.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the vertical post units and the tubular units comprise engagement members configured to provide a temporary connection between the vertical post units and the tubular units. When the vertical post units have been attached on the platform , the tubular units are arranged on the vertical post units. During this assembly step, the individual tubular units are lifted up and placed on the post units before they are firmly connected to adjacent tubular units and to the post units. The engagement members are configured to provide a stable temporary connection between the vertical post units and the tubular unit such that the tubular unit will not fall down before it has been firmly connected by e.g. being screwed together. The engagement members may comprise a hook-shaped member of one of said components which is hooked into a recess of the other component. Furthermore, the engagement members may position the tubular unit and the vertical post units in a mutual position from which it is easy to establish a firm connection between said components. The engagement members may be comprised in the support members and the end portions of the tubular units.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the tubular units have an essentially rectangular cross section, with a larger width than height when they are in an assembled state. In this case, the tubular units comprise a horizontal upper wail, a horizontal lower wall and two vertical side wails. Such a tubular unit has an inner space where it is possible to arrange the conduits side by side on the lower horizontal wail . The tubular units may be manufactured from a metal material or another material with good strength properties. A tubular body including such tubular units supplies strength to the platform via the vertical post units. The largest strength to the platform is supplied when the tubular units have a large width. Thus, the presence of the support arrangement results in the advantage of a stiffening of the platform structure.

According to an embodiment of the invention, each tubular unit comprises an openable hatch , arranged at an upper side of the tubular unit. By means of this openable hatch , it is easy to introduce the conduits into the tubular units during the assembly process. Furthermore, the presence of an openable hatch makes it easy to obtain access to the conduits inside the tubular body during service or repair work. Since the opening of the hatch is directed upwards there is no risk that detached components will fall out via the opening by mistake during assembly, service or repair.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the openabie hatch comprises pivot members such that it is pivotaily arranged between an open position and a closed position. When the hatch is arranged on an upper side of a tubular unit it is kept in the closed position by gravity, which means that it does not need to have any latch mechanism. A suitable number of pivot members may be attached on one side of the hatch. Such pivot members may be releasably inserted into correspondingly arranged openings in a wall of the tubular unit, resulting in an easily detachable hatch. According to an embodiment of the invention, the tubular units comprise mounting members for positioning the conduits in intended mounting positions in the inner space of the tubular units. Thereby, it is possible to arrange the conduits in fixed suitable positions and at suitable distances from each other in the tubular units in order to further facilitate service and repair work.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the tubular units comprise pre-mounted conduit parts which are connected to each other by flexible tubular connection members. Certain kinds of conduits such as vacuum conduits and compressed air conduits have to be stiff in order to withstand the pressure difference between an inner pressure and an ambient pressure. It is therefore often complicated to assemble long such conduits in narrow curved spaces. In this case, the pre-mounted conduit parts may be straight. It is relatively easy to connect straight pre-mounted conduit parts to each other by means of a flexible tubular connection member during the assembly process of the arrangement. According to an embodiment of the invention, at least one of the tubular units comprises an opening through which at ieast one radial conduit coming from a swivel of the rotary milking platform can be connected to the conduits inside the tubular body. The tubular body needs to have at Ieast one such opening such that it is possible to supply, for example, vacuum, compressed air and electric power/signals to the conduits inside the tubular body. Each tubular unit may comprise an opening through which a conduit arranged between a milking component on the platform can be connected to the conduit inside the tubular body. In this case, it is possible to supply vacuum, compressed air and electric power/signals to milking components in the milking stalls on the platform in a simple manner. According to an embodiment of the invention , the number of post units and tubular units is selected to be the same as the number of milking stalls on the rotary milking platform on which the support arrangement is to be mounted. The milking stalls on a platform are all of the same size. It is suitable to arrange the post units in positions between two adjacent milking stalls such that they will not infringe on the space of the milking stall, whereupon the tubular units are arranged between adjacent post units in a position above the milking stalls. Thus, it is suitable to use the same number of post units and tubular units as the number of milking stalls on the platform . Alternatively, the vertical post units are not arranged between all adjacent milking stalls. They may be arranged between every other or every third adjacent milking stall . I n this case, each tubular unit has an extension above several milking stalls in an assembled state.

According to an embodiment of the invention , all vertical post units have identical design. Such vertical post units are modular units which can be manufactured in large quantities at a low cost. Consequently, the cost of such a moduiarised arrangement will be low. The invention a!so relates to a method for assembling a support arrangement supporting conduits at a level above a rotary milking platform, wherein the support arrangement comprises a number of tubular units of equal dimensions configured to be connected to each other with equai angles between the longitudinal axes of adjacent tubular units such that they form an approximately circular closed tubular body intended to accommodate conduits, and a number of vertical post units configured to support the tubular body at a ievel above a rotary milking platform, characterised by the steps of determining the diameter of the approximately circular closed tubular body to be assembled and based on this the number of tubular units to be used and the angle between the longitudinal axes of adjacent tubular units, mounting the same number of vertical post units along a circular path on the rotary milking platform at a rectilinear distance from each other corresponding to the length of a tubular unit, and arranging the tubular units on the vertical post units and providing a firm connection of two adjacent tubular units above each vertical post unit with the determined angle between the longitudinal axes of adjacent tubular units. Such an assembly process of the support arrangement is easy to perform on site and in a relatively short time.

BRIEF DESCRI PTION OF THE DRAWI NGS

The present invention is now to be explained more closely by means of preferred embodiments, which are disclosed as examples, and with reference to the attached drawings.

Fig 1 shows a rotary milking parlour with an arrangement according to the invention,

Fig 2 shows a view of the arrangement from the inside of the platform,

Fig 3 shows a post unit of the arrangement

Fig 4 shows a tubular unit of the arrangement. Fig 5 shows a support member of the arrangement,

Fig 6 shows a connection area between two tubular units, and

Fig 7 shows the arrangement of two conduits in a connection area between two tubular units.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Fig 1 shows a rotary milking parlour for milking of cows 1 , The milking parlour comprises an annular rotary milking platform 2 having an inner edge portion 2a and an outer edge portion 2b. The platform 2 rotates during operation around a vertical rotary axis. A plurality of rotatab!e fence members 4 are arranged on the upper surface of the platform 2. The rotatab!e fence members 4 are used for dividing the platform 2 into milking stalls 3 for receiving individual cows 1 in predetermined milking positions. By the use of rotatabie fence members 4, it is possible to position the cows 1 very close together on the platform 2. An outer fence arrangement 5 is mounted around a common part of the outer periphery of the platform 2. An inner fence arrangement 6 and a rumprail 7 are arranged on the platform 2 at its inner edge portion 2a. The object of the inner fence arrangement 8 is to prevent the cows from stepping out of the platform 2 and the object of the rumprail 7 is to position the rear part of the cows 1 in a predetermined milking position in the milking stalls 3. In the shown milking parlour, the cows 1 are arranged in a herringbone pattern with their heads at the outer edge portion 2b of the platform 2. A milking robot arm 9 is arranged on a floor surface 10 located at the inner edge portion 2a of the platform 2. Each milking stall 3 comprises milking components such as, for example, teat cups, a teat cup remover and different kinds of electric control units. Such milking components require supply of vacuum, compressed air and electrical power/signals. A control unit 12 is adapted to control a schematically shown drive mechanism 13 which drives the platform 2. The drive mechanism 13 may comprise an electric motor, an integrated reduction gear box and a drive wheel mounted in contact with a lower surface of the platform 1 . The drive mechanism 13 may be infinitely variable in speed in either a clockwise or a counter-clockwise direction. A position sensor 14 is adapted to sense the rotational position of the platform 2 and to send a signal to the control unit 12 about the actual position of the platform 2.

A swivel 20 is arranged at the vertical rotary axis of the platform 2. The object of the swivel 20 is to transport vacuum, compressed air, water and electrical power/signals to the platform and to transport milk and used washing water from the platform 2. The milk from the milking stalls 3 is collected in a non visible circular conduit arranged under the inner edge portion of the platform. The milk is sucked by a vacuum pressure to at least one milk container 21 before it is transported by a pump 22 via a radial milk line 23 to the swivel 20 and out to a non visible milk tank. The vacuum, compressed air, water and electrical power/signals are transported from sources outside the platform, via the swivel 20 and respective radial conduits 24, to conduits arranged inside a closed tubular body 25 of a support arrangement according to the invention. The closed tubular body 25 is arranged at a level above an area at the inner edge portion 2a above the platform 2. The closed tubular body 25 is formed by a number of tubular units 26 of equal dimensions. All tubular units 26 are connected to adjacent tubular units 26 at equal angles between the longitudinal axes of adjacent tubular units such that the closed tubular body 25 obtains a shape corresponding to the outer contours of an approximately circular regular convex polygon. If the number of tubular units 26 is large, the approximately circular closed tubular body 25 will be substantially circular. Fig . 2 shows a view from the inside of fhe annular platform 2 in Fig . 1. The fence arrangement 6 at the inner edge portion 2a of the annular platform 2 comprises horizontal elements 6a and vertical elements 6b. The fence arrangement 6 is supported on the platform by vertical post units 27 arranged at constant intervals on an upper surface of the platform 2 at its inner edge portion 2a. The support units 27 comprise support elements 28 by which they support the fence arrangement 6. The post units 27 are at a lower end connected to the platform 2 by means of a suitable attaching member 29 which in this case is a plate- shaped member and screws. Each of the vertical post units 27 comprise a support member 30 at an upper end . The support member 30 supports the end portions of two adjacent tubular units 26. Thus, the vertical post units 27 support both the fence arrangement 6 and the closed tubular body 25.

Fig . 3 shows one of the post units 27 in more detail . The support member 30 comprises a support plate 30a forming a substantially flat upper support surface to be in contact with a lower wall surface of the end portions of two adjacent tubular units 26. The support plate 30a is provided with a number of mounting holes 30b. The support member 30 also comprises a hook-shaped member 30c and an opening 30d to an inner space of the vertical post unit 27.

Fig . 4 shows one of the tubular units 26 more in detail. The tubular unit 26 comprises a longitudinal axis 26a. The tubular unit further comprises a substantially flat bottom wall 31 with a rectangular shape. A first vertical side wall 32 is connected to one long side of the bottom wall 31 and a second vertical side wall 33 is connected to the other long side of the bottom wall 31 . An openable hatch 34 forms an upper wall of the tubular unit 2.5. The tubular unit 26 has openings at its ends such that, when the hatch 34 is in a closed position , it has a tubular shape. The bottom wall 31 comprises an opening 31 a for one or several conduits to be connected to the conduits accommodated in the closed tubular body 25, The bottom wall 31 comprises a recess 31 b to be in contact with the post unit 27 in an assembled state. The bottom wall 31 further comprises elongated mounting holes 31 c at its respective end portions.

The first vertical side wall 32 comprises recesses 32a at its respective ends. The first vertical side wail 32 further comprises an upper vertical section 32b provided with mounting holes 32c at its end portions. The second vertical wall 33 comprises also an upper vertical section 33a. The upper section 33a is provided with elongated openings 33b and with elongated mounting holes 32c. The hatch 34 is provided with a number of pivot members 34a which may be flexible, e.g . manufactured of a rubber material. The hatch 34 is releasably connected to the second side wail 33. The releasab!e connection is performed by introduction of the pivot members 34a into the elongated openings 33b. In such a connected state, the pivot members 33b make the hatch 34 pivota!ly movable between an open and a closed position. Since the hatch 34 forms an upper wall of the tubular unit 26, it is forced to the closed position by gravity. If it is desired to remove the hatch 34 it is initially pivoted to a vertical open position whereupon it is moved in a releasing direction vertically upwards. Fig . 5 shows an alternative support member 35 mounted on the top of a vertical post unit 27. The alternative support member 35 comprises a support plate 35a to be in contact with an inner lower wall 31 of the respective end portions of two adjacent tubular units 26. The support plate 35a is provided with mounting holes 35b having substantially corresponding positions as the mounting holes 31 c of the end portions of the tubular units 26. The support member 35 further comprises a hook- shaped member 35c and an opening 35d to an inner space of the vertical post unit 27. The support member 35 further comprises a side wall 35e configured to bridge the gap between the radial outer vertical walls 33 of two adjacent tubular units 26 when they are assembled with an angle between their longitudinal axes 26a. The side wall 35e comprises an upper vertical section 35f provided with mounting holes 35g . A mounting member 35h for conduits is attached to an upper surface of the support plate 35a.

Fig . 6 shows a connection area between two end portions of two tubular units 26, and an intermediate support member 35 of the kind shown in Fig . 5. The end portions of the tubular units 26 have initially been temporarily connected to the support member 35 by means of the hook member 35c of the support member 35 and the recess 32a of the tubular units 26. Furthermore the vertical section 33a of the tubular unit 26 has been arranged on the vertical section 35f of the support member 26. The recesses 31 b of each tubular unit 26 are to be moved into contact with the periphery of the vertical post unit 27 in a position below the support member 27. The recesses 31 b of the tubular units 26 and the vertical post units 27 define a desired assembly position of the tubular units 26. By means of the hook member 35c, the end portions of the tubular units 26 are temporarily connected to the support member 35 in a stable pre-assembly position. Thus, there is no risk that the end portion of the tubular unit 26 becomes loose and falls down during the assembly process. Screw members 36 are attached to the correspondingly arranged mounting holes 35b of the support member 35 and the elongated mounting holes 31 c of the tubular unit 26. Since the tubular unit 26 has elongated mounting holes 31 c, it is possible to connect the tubular units 26 to the intermediate support member 35 in a specific angle out of a number of possible angles. The tubular unit 26 is to be connected to the support member 35 such that the angle between the longitudinal axes 26a of the tubular units 26 will be a required specific angle for forming a tubular body 25 of a predetermined diameter. In this case, the tubular units 26 are firmly connected to each other, via the support member 35, by means of the screw members 36. After that, conduits for vacuum, compressed air and electric power/signals are mounted inside the tubular body 25 by means of, for example, the mounting member 35h of the support member 35.

Finally, the hatches 34 are assembled on the upper sides of the tubular units 26 by means of the pivot members 34a and an upper cover plate 37 indicated by dotted lines. The cover plate 37 may be mounted in a position between the hatches 34 such that it bridges the gap between the end portions of the tubular units 26 on the upper side of the tubular body 25. Screw members 38 are used for firmly connecting the cover plate 37 to the vertical walls 32, 33 of the tubular unit 26 and the support member 35 by means of round elongated mounting holes 32c, 33c, 35g such that a firm connection is established between said components in a specified angle. The support plate 35a of the support member 35 bridges the gap between the end portions of the tubular units 26 on the lower side of the tubular body 25. The vertical wall portion 35e bridges the gap between the vertical walls 33 of the tubular units 26. The recesses 32a of the end portions of the adjacent tubular units 26 form an opening which can be used for connecting a conduit from a milking component on the platform to a conduit inside the tubular body 25.

Fig. 7 shows a corresponding connection area as in Fig. 6. In this case, conduit parts 39, 40 for e.g. vacuum and compressed air have been pre-mounted in the tubular units 26 by means of suitable mounting members 41 . The mounting members 41 hold the conduit parts 39, 40 in predetermined mounting positions in the respective tubular units 26. The pre-mounted conduit parts 39, 40 have a straight extension in the respective tubular units 26. When the tubular units 26 have been firmly connected to the support members 35 in the above described manner, the ends of the conduit parts 39, 40 are connected by a flexible tubular connection 39a, 40a. The flexible connections 39a, 40a are connected to the support member 35 by means of mounting members 35h,

The support arrangement may comprise a first module in the form of tubuiar units 26, and a second module in the form of vertical post units 27. The modules comprise correspondingly arranged holes of a shape such that a firm connection between two adjacent tubular units 26 can be established in one of at least two alternative angles by which it is possible to form a closed tubular body with the tubular units 26. An assembly process of the arrangement may include the step of determining the diameter of the tubular body 25 to be assembled and based on this the number of tubular units 26 to be used and the angle between the longitudinal axes 26a of adjacent tubular units 26. In case the arrangement is to be assembled on a platform 2 with sixteen milking stalls such in Fig . 1 , sixteen tubular units 27 are preferably used.

The following step is to mount the same number of vertical post units 27 along a circular path at the inner periphery of the platform 2 at a rectilinear distance from each other corresponding to the length of a tubular unit 26. The next step is to arrange the tubular units 26 in a pre-mounted state on the support members 30, 35 of the vertical post units 27 by means of, for example, the hook-shaped member 30c, 35c of the support member 30, 35. Finally, a firm connection is provided of two adjacent tubular units 26 above each vertical post unit 27 with the determined angle between the longitudinal axes 26a of adjacent tubuiar units 26 by means of tightening screws in the mounting holes 31 c, 33c, 35b, 35g.

The invention is not restricted to the described embodiment but may be varied freely within the scope of the claims. For example, instead of using support members 35, the shape of the tubular units 26 may instead be adapted to minimize the gap between the radial outer vertical walls 33 of two adjacent tubular units 26, by the outer vertical walls of the tubular units 26 being slightly longer than the inner vertical walls 32. The claimed support arrangement can be used in any kind of rotary milking parlour.

Claims

1 . A support arrangement configured to support conduits (39, 40) at a level above a rotary milking platform, characterised in that the support arrangement comprises a number of tubular units (26) of equal dimensions configured to be connected to each other with equal angles between the longitudinal axes (26a) of adjacent tubular units (26) such that they form an approximately circular closed tubular body (25) intended to accommodate conduits (39, 40), and a number of vertical post units (27) configured to be mounted along a circular path on a rotary milking platform at a rectilinear distance from each other corresponding to the length of a tubular unit (26) in such a way that they support the tubular body (25) at a level above the platform, wherein the number of tubular units (26) is the same as the number of vertical post units (27), and the support arrangement allows a firm connection of two adjacent tubular units (26) above each vertical post unit (27) with at least two alternative angles between the longitudinal axes (26a) of adjacent tubular units (26), so that the diameter of the approximately circular closed tubular body (25) can be varied depending on the number of tubular units (26) used.

2. A support arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein each vertical post unit (27) comprises a support member (30, 35) configured to support the end portions of the adjacent tubular units (26).

3. A support arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the support member (35) comprises a wall (35e) bridging the gap between radial outer walls (33) of two adjacent tubular units (26).

4. A support arrangement according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the support members (30, 35) and the tubular units (26) comprise correspondingly arranged mounting holes (30b, 31 c, 33c, 35b, 35g) allowing a firm connection between the support members (30 , 35) and the tubular units (26).

5. A support arrangement according to claim 4, wherein for each correspondingly arranged pair of mounting holes (30b, 31 c, 33c,

35b, 35g) either or both of the support member mounting holes (30b, 35b, 35g) and the tubular unit mounting holes (31 c, 33c) have an elongated shape, allowing the firm connection of two adjacent tubular units (26) with each support member (30, 35) in one of at least two alternative angles.

6. A support arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vertical post units (27) and the tubular units

(26) comprise engagement members (30c, 32a) configured to provide a temporary connection between the vertical post units

(27) and the tubular units (26).

7. A support arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tubular units (26) have an essentially rectangular cross section, with a larger width than height in an assembled state.

8. A support arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each tubular unit (26) comprises an openable hatch (34), arranged at an upper side of the tubular unit (26) when it is in an assembled state.

9. A support arrangement according to claim 8, wherein said openable hatch (34) comprises pivot members (34a) such that it is pivotaily arranged between an open position and a closed position.

10. A support arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tubular units (26) comprise mounting members (41 ) for positioning of the conduits (39, 40) in intended mounting positions in the inner space of the tubuiar units (26).

1 1 . A support arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tubular units (26) comprise pre- mounted conduit parts (39, 40) which are connected to each other by flexible tubular connection members (39a, 40a) when the tubular units (26) are in an assembled state.

12. A support arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the tubular units (26) comprises an opening (32a) through which at least one radial conduit (24) coming from a swivel of a rotary milking platform can be connected to the conduits (39, 40) inside the tubular body (25).

1 3. A support arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each tubular unit (26) comprises an opening (31 a) through which at least one vertical conduit coming from a milking component on a rotary milking platform can be connected to the conduits (39, 40) inside the tubular body (25).

14. A support arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the number of post units (27) is selected to be the same as the number of milking stalls (3) on the rotary milking platform on which the support arrangement is to be mounted.

1 5. A support arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein all post units (27) have identical design.

16. A method for assembling a support arrangement supporting conduits (39, 40) at a level above a rotary milking platform, wherein the support arrangement comprises a number of tubular units (26) of equal dimensions configured to be connected to each other with equal angles between the longitudinal axes (26a) of adjacent tubular units (26) such that they form an approximately circuiar closed tubular body (25) intended to accommodate conduits (39, 40), and a number of vertical post units (27) configured to support the tubular body (25) at a level above a rotary milking platform, characterised by the steps of

- determining the diameter of the approximately circular closed tubular body (25) to be assembied and based on this the number of tubular units (26) to be used and the angle between the longitudinal axes (26a) of adjacent tubular units (26),

- mounting the same number of vertical post units (27) along a circular path on the rotary milking platform at a rectilinear distance from each other corresponding to the length of a tubular unit (26), and

- arranging the tubular units (26) on the vertical post units (27) and providing a firm connection of two adjacent tubular units (26) above each vertical post unit (27) with the determined angle between the longitudinal axes (26a) of adjacent tubular units (26).