INSULATED MILK CANS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19720, 20 August 1927, Page 18

INSULATED MILK CANS.

CHECK ON TEMPERATURES. TESTS IN AUSTRALIA. One of the difficulties which beset the average dairy farmer is to get his cream to the factory, especially during the hot summer months, without its deteriorating in transit, says the Melbourne Age. There is little doubt that if this risk dould be eliminated a good deal of money \fhich is now lost to the producers would be saved, and a larger percentage of higher-grade butter could be manufactured. For these reasons an insulated milk can, which was exhibited at the Flemington -show grounds during the butter factory managers' conference last week, attracted considerable interest because of the possibilities which it is considered to indicate.

The can has a capacity of five gallons, though it can be made larger. Between the outer iron covering and the inner receptacle there is an insulation of half an-inch of cork. This also applies to the lid and bottom, and to prevent dust and other elements from getting into the can the lid is clamped on to a rubber band and can be locked. There is a small vent in the top to permit the escape of gases from the milk." There is no neck to the top of the can, and when made on a large scale it is intended that the interior shall be seamless. These features should facilitate cleansing. It is claimed that the can will stand a good deal more rough handling than the ordinary cans, and that, after a long period of service the inner casing can be renewed at a small cost. Insulated cans weigh about 41b. more than those at present in use, and computed only on experience of one demonstration can it is expected that they will cost about 10s more. Compensation for this is claimed by the fact that the cream or milk will be prevented from deteriorating during transit over any distance. It is said that ii the cream is high grade when placed in the can on the farm it will remain so until it reaches the factory. This possibility has impressed many who saw it. As a test, it is proposed to send a can of milk or cream from Perth to Melbourne by train as well as an ordinary can of milk or cream as a check. The experiment, including a test at Adelaide, will be supervised by Government officials.

Mr. P. G. Hampshire, superintendent of dairying in Western Australia, subjected the can filled with milk to the severe test of standing it on a cement floor exposed to the rays of the sun.' An ordinary or control can was also used. When stood out at 9 a.m. the temperature of the milk in the insulated can was 62deg., in the control can 61deg., and the sun's rays 73deg. "At noon the tempera tures were:—Sun, 85deg. ; top of control can, 76deg.; bottom, 68deg. ; top of insulated can, 72deg.; centre, 69deg. ; bottom, 66 deg. The temperature of the sun rose to 92deg., from 1.50 to 3 p.m., and dropped to 90deg. at 5 p.m. The milk in the top of- the control can at that hour was lOOdeg., and in the bottom. 89deg. In the insulated can the milk was 80deg. top, 76deg two inches from top, and 68deg. bottom. In a second test, when the temperature of the sun rose from 92deg. at 10 a.m. to 114deg at 2 p.m.. and lOfxlcg. at 430 p.m. the milk in the insulated can rose from 50deg to 77deg. at the top, 68deg. middle, and §4deg, bottom. The mi'ik in the control j-n rose from 52dog. t<i 97deg top and |Bdeg bottom. These tests impressed yie. health authorities in Perth, as well is butter facto; v managers- in Western Australia. No arrangements Pavo so 'tar - been made to manufacture the insulated can in the Eastern States.