System for harvesting maple tree sap and apparatus used therein

A quick connect/disconnect assembly for use in connecting and disconnecting two members together, said assembly comprising in combination:

• (a) a first member defined by a horizontally disposed, circular-shaped, planar surface, a flange extending downwardly from said horizontally disposed, circular-shaped, planar surface a predetermined distance and defining an outwardly disposed tapered planar surface, a centrally disposed, elongated, circular-shaped member extending in vertical disposition upwardly from said horizontally disposed, circular-shaped, planar surface and being perpendicular thereto the end of which is defined by a plane parallel to said horizontally disposed planar surface, a pair of lugs being provided on said circular-shaped member at a location intermediate said end and said circular-shaped, planar surface and extending outwardly from said circular-shaped member equal distant and in diametric opposite directions in the same plane parallel to said circular-shaped, planar surface;
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• (b) a second member comprising an elongated circular-shaped body member defined by an outer circular-shaped peripheral surface terminating at one end thereof in a horizontally disposed, planar face, a centrally disposed, circular-shaped passageway being provided in said second member extending inwardly from said planar face therein and defining a first inner peripheral surface, said centrally disposed, circular-shaped passageway having a length complementary to the length of said circular-shaped, elongated member on said first member so as to accommodate the location of the said circular-shaped member therein when the said first and second members are in operative association with one another, a pair of elongated grooves being provided in and extending outwardly from said first inner peripheral surface in direct opposition to one another terminating in and defining a second inner peripheral surface, each of said grooves being defined by parallel, spaced-apart sides and an outer end in a plane perpendicular to said sides and located a predetermined distance inwardly from said horizontally disposed, planar surface and an inner end in a plane parallel to said outer end, an outwardly extending tapered surface connecting together said outer circular-shaped peripheral surface and the said second named inner peripheral surface, said tapered flange in the said first member mating with the tapered surface in the second member when said first and second members are in operative association with one another, a pair of diametrically opposed, horizontally disposed, grooves being provided in and extending outwardly from said first named inner peripheral surface of the passageway defined by horizontally disposed top and bottom surfaces terminating at said second named inner peripheral surface, each of said horizontally disposed grooves being further defined by first and second ends and being disposed in perpendicular relationship to and intersecting at one end thereof with the inner end of a respective elongated groove and being in such relationship thereto so as to be able to rotate said first member in a direction opposite to that of said second member whereby said lugs can travel into respective horizontally disposed grooves when the first and second members are located in operative relationship with one another whereby to provide the two members in locked engagement with one another or to disconnect the two members.

An end cap for use with a quick connect/disconnect assembly comprising a first and second member, said first member being defined by a horizontally disposed, circular-shaped, planar surface, a flange extending downwardly from said horizontally disposed, circular-shaped, planar surface a predetermined distance and defining an outwardly disposed tapered planar surface, a centrally disposed, elongated, circular-shaped member extending in vertical disposition upwardly rom said horizontally disposed, circular-shaped, planar surface and being perpendicular thereto the end of which is defined by a planar parallel to said horizontally disposed planar surface, an elongated passageway being provided in the circular-shaped member and extending inwardly from the horizontally disposed planar surface of the circular-shaped member, a pair of lugs being provided on said circular-shaped member at a location intermediate said end and said circular-shaped, planar surface and extending outwardly from said circular-shaped member equal distant and in diametric opposite directions in the same plane parallel to said circular-shaped, planar surface whereby the passageway in the circular-shaped member of the said first member can be sealed off when the first and second members are disconnected from one another, said end cap comprising an elongated circular-shaped body member defined by an outer circular-shaped peripheral surface terminating at one end thereof in a horizontally disposed, planar face, a centrally disposed, circular-shaped passageway being provided in said second member extending inwardly from said planar face therein and defining a first inner peripheral surface, said centrally disposed, circular-shaped passageway having a length complementary to the length of said circular-shaped, elongated member on the said first member so as to accommodate the location of the said circular-shaped member of the said first member therein when the said first member and end cap are in operative association with one another, a pair of elongated grooves being provided in and extending outwardly from said first inner peripheral surface in direct opposition to one another terminating in and defining a second inner peripheral surface, each of said grooves being defined by parallel, spaced-apart sides and an outer end perpendicular to said sides and located a predetermined distance inwardly from said horizontally disposed, planar surface and an inner end parallel to said outer end, an outwardly extending tapered surface connecting together said outer circular-shaped peripheral surface and the said second named inner peripheral surface, said tapered flange in the said first member mating with the second named tapered surface when said first member and end cap are in operative association with one another, a pair of diametrically opposed, horizontally disposed, grooves being provided in and extending inwardly from said first named inner peripheral surface of the passageway defined by horizontally disposed top and bottom surfaces terminating at said second named inner peripheral surface, each of said horizontally disposed grooves being further defined by first and second ends and being disposed in perpendicular relationship to and intersecting at one end thereof with the inner end of a respective elongated groove and being in such relationship thereto so as to be able to rotate said end cap in a direction opposite to that of said first member whereby said lugs can travel into respective horizontally disposed grooves when the end cap and said first member are located in operative relationship with one another whereby to provide the end cap in locked engagement with the said first member or to disconnect the end cap therefrom as desired.

A quick connect/disconnect assembly for connecting together the ends of two lengths of conduit in each of which is provided an axial passageway for the transportation of a fluid from one point to another, said assembly comprising in combination:

• (a) a male spike member comprising a body member defined by a first horizontally disposed, planar surface and a second horizontally disposed, planar surface parallel thereto, an elongated, centrally disposed, circular-shaped fitting being provided on the said first horizontally disposed, planar surface and extending outwardly therefrom a predetermined distance terminating in a circular-shaped opening defining a centrally disposed passageway in said elongated fitting, and a centrally disposed, elongated, circular-shaped member extending in vertical disposition outwardly from and perpendicular to said second horizontally disposed, planar surface and being perpendicular thereto the outer end of which is defined by a plane parallel to said second horizontally disposed planar surface, and which defines a central passageway connected to the said central passageway in the said elongated fitting, said circular-shaped member terminating at its inner end in a circular-shaped, planar surface parallel to the said second horizontally disposed, planar surface on the said body member and defining a circular-shaped perimeter of predetermined diameter, a flange extending downwardly from said perimeter and outwardly at a predetermined angle from the vertical whereby to provide an outwardly tapered sealing surface terminating at the said second horizontally disposed, planar surface of the said body member, a pair of lugs being provided on said circular-shaped member at a predetermined location intermediate the end thereof and said circular-shaped, horizontally disposed, planar surface and extending outwardly from said circular-shaped member equal distant and in diametric opposite directions in the same plane parallel to said circular-shaped, planar surface;
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• (b) a female spike member comprising an elongated body member defined by a horizontally disposed, planar top surface and a horizontally disposed, planar bottom surface parallel thereto, a centrally disposed, circular-shaped passageway being provided in said body member of the female spike member extending inwardly from said bottom planar face therein and defining a first inner peripheral surface, said centrally disposed, circular-shaped passageway having a length complementary to the length of said circular-shaped, elongated member so as to accommodate the location of the said circular-shaped member therein when the said male and female spike members are in operative association with one another, a pair of vertically disposed, elongated grooves being provided in and extending outwardly from said first inner peripheral surface in direct opposition to one another terminating in and defining a second inner peripheral surface, each of said elongated grooves being defined by parallel, spaced-apart sides and an outer end perpendicular to said sides and located a predetermined distance inwardly from said horizontally disposed, planar bottom surface and an inner end parallel to said outer end, an outwardly extending, circular-shaped, tapered surface extending downwardly from said second named inner peripheral surface and at a predetermined angle outwardly from the vertical, said tapered flange in the said male spike member mating with the second named tapered surface in the female spike member when said members are provided in operative association with one another, a pair of diametrically opposed, horizontally disposed, grooves being provided in and extending inwardly from said first named inner peripheral surface of the passageway defined by horizontally disposed top and bottom surfaces terminating at said second named inner peripheral surface, each of said horizontally disposed grooves being further defined by first and second ends and being disposed in perpendicular relationship to and intersecting at one end thereof with the inner end of a respective vertically disposed elongated groove and being in such relationship thereto so as to be able to rotate said first member in a direction opposite to that of said second member whereby said lugs can travel into respective horizontally disposed grooves when the first and second members are located in operative relationship with one another whereby to provide the two members in locked engagement with one another or to disconnect the two members, and a centrally disposed elongated fitting being provided on the body member of the female spike member and extending outwardly from the horizontally disposed planar top surface thereof and terminating in a circular-shaped opening defining a central passageway in said elongated fitting, said passageway communicating with the said passageway in the said body member of the male spike member and when the female spike member and male spike member are in operative association with one another with the passageway provided in said centrally disposed, circular-shaped member whereby a straight pass is provided for fluid flow.