Maple syrup production spout assembly with backflow check valve
AssigneeUniversity of Vermont and State Agricultural College
InventorTimothy D. Perkins
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A maple syrup production spout assembly (10) with a backflow check valve (79) is disclosed. The spout assembly is designed for use with vacuum-based maple syrup productions systems (200) and is used to prevent the backflow of sap (270) into the maple tree (100) and thus prevent the drying out of the taphole (110) due to microbial contamination. Certain existing maple production spout assemblies can be retrofitted to form the backflow check valve spout assembly disclosed herein. Methods of using the spout assembly in maple syrup production are also disclosed.
Claims10
A maple syrup production system comprising a line system under a vacuum to convey sap from a maple tree;
- and a spout assembly for inserting into a taphole formed in the maple tree;
- comprising:
- an input section defining an input channel and adapted for insertion into the taphole so as to receive a flow of sap from the maple tree;
- an output section defining an output channel and configured to fluidly connect the output channel to the line system;
- and
- a main body section operably connected to the input and output sections and that defines an interior chamber to which the input and output channels are fluidly connected, wherein the interior chamber contains a backflow check valve that allows the flow of sap in a direction from the input channel to the output channel when the vacuum is applied to the output end, and that substantially prevents the flow of sap in a direction from the output channel to the input channel when the vacuum is interrupted.
A method of extracting sap from a maple tree, comprising:
- providing a maple syrup production system comprising a line system under a vacuum to convey sap from the maple tree, and a spout assembly having an input end and output end, a main body section having an interior chamber fluidly connected to the input and output ends via respective input and output channels and that contains a backflow check valve that only allows sap to flow through the chamber from the input end to the output end;
- forming a taphole in the maple tree;
- inserting the spout assembly input end into the taphole;
- applying the vacuum to the spout assembly output end, wherein the application of the vacuum is subject to interruption;
- and
- substantially preventing sap that has exited the tree from reentering the tree through the spout assembly via activation of the backflow check valve during said interruption.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.