Patent Application
20180153110
None
The present disclosure relates to the field of tapping devices as used in the harvest of sap from maple trees. Current systems for the collection of sap from maple trees include plastic taps connected to plastic tubing, or lines. The tap is pressed into a hole that is drilled into the tree trunk, with maple sap flowing through the inner diameter of the tap. The lines are routed to a collection tank, which typically receives multiple lines from different trees. The system of lines may be configured in a branch and trunk manner, with smaller lines from taps joining larger lines, with the larger lines routing to a tank.
A vacuum system may also be included, which creates negative pressure in the lines and may increase the flow of sap from a tree. Natural vacuum systems rely on the slope of the collection lines to creature negative pressure, while artificial vacuum systems employ a vacuum pump.
Taps are typically installed to maple trees during winter months, before sap begins flowing. The procedure typically involves boring a hole in the tree trunk, and inserting a tap into the hole. The tap may need to be driven into the hole with a mallet. A collection line is then attached to the tap. At the end of the sugaring season, each tap is typically removed from the tree. Taps are typically molded from plastics such as nylon or polycarbonate.
The build-up of bacteria inside the tap is a significant problem, as bacteria build-up greatly reduces sap flow rates, as confirmed by a number of scientifically-rigorous studies. One study showed that 40.2% of sap yields can be explained by spout/adaptor age, with an average loss of 7.3 gallons per tap. Reusing taps causes a significant reduction in sap yields. The same study showed that aged lines have much less of an effect on saps yields than do aged taps. Taps that include a check valve also showed significant reduction in sap yields from year-to-year, with additional studies showing similar results.
One practice is to clean the inside of each tap, for example with a brush and cleaning fluid, prior to installing the tap in a tree. In addition to being laborious, cleaning has also been found to be at least somewhat ineffective at removing bacteria build-up inside a tap. Disposing of a tap after a single season of use avoids the problem of bacteria build-up, but is of course both wasteful and costly.
Additionally, there is evidence that a smaller inner diameter for a tap or tubing may increase sap yields, by improving the natural vacuum effect of the system. Additionally, there is evidence that the tap material that sap flows through has an effect on sap yields. That is, tap materials with different coefficients of friction and other properties may produce different sap yields.
Disclosed is a device for maple sap harvesting, which includes an assembly of a tubular sleeve which is removably mounted inside a tubular section of a tap. The tubular sleeve may be molded from a food-grade, anti-bacterial material. The tubular sleeve is inserted into the tap before the tap is driven into a maple tree. At the end of the season, when the tap is removed, the sleeve may be discarded. The next season, a new sleeve is placed in the tap, with no residual bacterial contamination from the previous season of use.
As shown in
In all cases, sleeve 3 preferably includes flange 10. In
Known prior art shows arrangements of taps and lines, but lack a sleeve such as sleeve 3. Sleeve 3 provides numerous benefits, as will be explained. Each year, new holes are drilled in the tree, and the spout is then driven into the tree. The entire extension and spout is removed from the tree at the end of each sap season. The pieces are then either discarded, or the tap's sap passageway is cleaned to remove bacteria build-up that accumulates during the sap flow process. Therefore, one benefit of the present system is that the small, inexpensive sleeve may be discarded, but the entire tap may be re-used.
The clearance between the tap and the hole in a tree is tight enough such that the spout and/or extension must be driven into the tree, typically with a mallet. Thus, the spout/extension material must be strong enough to withstand hammering without being damaged. This limits the choice of plastic materials that may be used for a tap and/or spout. Typically, taps are made of nylon or polycarbonate to maintain sufficient strength. With the present system, sleeve 3 is not limited to materials that must withstand the force of be hammered into a tree. Thus, sleeve may be made of types of plastic which may be softer and smoother than that of the spout/extension, but that have desirable traits such as a greater resistance to bacteria growth, and/or a more “slippery” surface. Such traits reduce bacteria growth during the sap flowing season, and thus may increase sap yields. Examples of suitable materials for sleeve 3 include but are not limited to high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Further, anti-bacterial additives may be includes in the HDPE material.
The inner diameter of sleeve 3 is smaller than that of the inner diameter of a typical tap. Therefore, sleeve 3's smaller diameter may increase sap yields, by improving the natural vacuum effect of the system.
The dimensions of the sleeve system as shown by 3 may be configured to a new, dedicated tap, or may be configured to be compatible with any existing taps.
Although the present system has been described with respect to one or more embodiments, it will be understood that other embodiments of the present system may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present system. Hence, the present system is deemed limited only by claims and the reasonable interpretation thereof.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/263,918, filed Dec. 7, 2015
