Sap collecting arrangement

A sap collecting arrangement (100) for directing sap coming from a tapped hole (110) of a tree (112) into an open free end of a flexible tubing (106) operable under vacuum conditions, the flexible tubing (106) having an unexpanded inner diameter and an unexpanded outer diameter, the arrangement (100) including:

• a sap collecting device (102) having an inner sap channel (120) extending between an inlet and an outlet, the sap collecting device (102) including a tubing fixation portion (140) defining a part of the inner sap channel (120) and over which the free end of the flexible tubing (106) can be removably inserted with a frictional engagement, the tubing fixation portion (140) including an inner peripheral wall surface (142), an outer peripheral wall surface (144) having a circular cross section, and an opened tip (146), the outer peripheral wall surface (144) having at least a section with a diameter larger than the unexpanded inner diameter of the flexible tubing (106);
• and
• a slide clamp (104) having a monolithic construction, the slide clamp (104) including:
• an annular sleeve portion (180) having an inner peripheral wall surface (190) with a circular cross section, the sleeve portion (180) being slidingly insertable over the unexpanded outer diameter of the flexible tubing (106) and being removably positionable proximate the free end of the flexible tubing (106), when the free end of the flexible tubing (106) is inserted over the tubing fixation portion (140), to constrict the free end of the flexible tubing (106) in a withdrawal-resisting frictional engagement with the tubing fixation portion (140);
• and
• a plug portion (182) having an outer peripheral wall surface (206) with a circular cross section, the outer peripheral wall surface (206) of the plug portion (182) having at least a section with a diameter larger than the unexpanded inner diameter of the flexible tubing (106) and on which the free end of the flexible tubing (106) is removably insertable with a frictional engagement to prevent air and contaminants from entering.