A maple sap line system and method for spin welding provides secure, unobstructed lines for collecting sap by creating a hermetically sealed connection between a lateral line and a mainline. A fitting connects the mainline to the lateral line. The fitting is spin welded to the mainline at a contact interface. The fitting comprises a protruding member that easily melts to create the frictional weld. The fitting has an elongated body comprising barbs that receive the lateral line. The fitting has a channel that enables fluid communication between the mainline and the lateral line. The flanges in the fitting register with a chuck to rotate the fitting against the main line at a high rpm. Molten debris formed in the channel is dislodged by drilling with a collared drill. The drilling provides fluid communication and creates a smooth inner surface in the mainline, and cuts off flanges from the fitting.

A maple sap line system and method for spin welding provides secure, unobstructed lines for collecting sap by creating a hermetically sealed connection between a lateral line and a mainline. A fitting connects the mainline to the lateral line. The fitting is spin welded to the mainline at a contact interface. The fitting comprises a protruding member that easily melts to create the frictional weld. The fitting has an elongated body comprising barbs that receive the lateral line. The fitting has a channel that enables fluid communication between the mainline and the lateral line. The flanges in the fitting register with a chuck to rotate the fitting against the main line at a high rpm. Molten debris formed in the channel is dislodged by drilling with a collared drill. The drilling provides fluid communication and creates a smooth inner surface in the mainline, and cuts off flanges from the fitting.

The invention relates to a method for collecting sap from a tree. The method comprises a collection stage and an analysis stage, in which the purity of the sap being collected is determined and, on the basis of the information obtained, the collection stage is terminated. With the aid of the method, sap is produced, in which additives are not used, and which is not heat-treated, and which has, however, good preservability at room temperature. The invention also relates to an apparatus for collecting sap from a tree.

The invention relates to a method for collecting sap from a tree. The method comprises a collection stage and an analysis stage, in which the purity of the sap being collected is determined and, on the basis of the information obtained, the collection stage is terminated. With the aid of the method, sap is produced, in which additives are not used, and which is not heat-treated, and which has, however, good preservability at room temperature. The invention also relates to an apparatus for collecting sap from a tree.

A sap collection assembly to collect sap from sap producing trees includes a cover superposed about a sapling or branch cut surface with one or more spacers used to maintain a gap between the cover and the cut surface. Elastomeric bands with an optional hose clamp are used to secure the cover to the sapling or branch to create an airtight seal between the cover and the cut surface. A bore hole is created in the sapling or tree branch has one end substantially central to the cut surface and a second end exiting a sidewall of the sapling or branch. Taps with optional tabs are secured to the sapling or branch to retrieve sap from the cut surface and bore. For angled bore holes, a modified tap includes a sapling nozzle angled relative to the tap body to accommodate an angled bore. Tubes secured to the taps and stretched to create a downward slope from the sapling or tree to a tube hub point or sap collection point provide a means to transfer sap from sapling or trees to a collection point for processing with or without vacuum assist.

A sap collection assembly to collect sap from sap producing trees includes a cover superposed about a sapling or branch cut surface with one or more spacers used to maintain a gap between the cover and the cut surface. Elastomeric bands with an optional hose clamp are used to secure the cover to the sapling or branch to create an airtight seal between the cover and the cut surface. A bore hole is created in the sapling or tree branch has one end substantially central to the cut surface and a second end exiting a sidewall of the sapling or branch. Taps with optional tabs are secured to the sapling or branch to retrieve sap from the cut surface and bore. For angled bore holes, a modified tap includes a sapling nozzle angled relative to the tap body to accommodate an angled bore. Tubes secured to the taps and stretched to create a downward slope from the sapling or tree to a tube hub point or sap collection point provide a means to transfer sap from sapling or trees to a collection point for processing with or without vacuum assist.

A maple sap line system and method for spin welding provides secure, unobstructed lines for collecting sap by creating a hermetically sealed connection between a lateral line and a mainline. A fitting connects the mainline to the lateral line. The fitting is spin welded to the mainline at a contact interface. The fitting comprises a protruding member that easily melts to create the frictional weld. The fitting has an elongated body comprising barbs that receive the lateral line. The fitting has a channel that enables fluid communication between the mainline and the lateral line. The flanges in the fitting register with a chuck to rotate the fitting against the main line at a high rpm. Molten debris formed in the channel is dislodged by drilling with a collared drill. The drilling provides fluid communication and creates a smooth inner surface in the mainline, and cuts off flanges from the fitting.

A maple sap line system and method for spin welding provides secure, unobstructed lines for collecting sap by creating a hermetically sealed connection between a lateral line and a mainline. A fitting connects the mainline to the lateral line. The fitting is spin welded to the mainline at a contact interface. The fitting comprises a protruding member that easily melts to create the frictional weld. The fitting has an elongated body comprising barbs that receive the lateral line. The fitting has a channel that enables fluid communication between the mainline and the lateral line. The flanges in the fitting register with a chuck to rotate the fitting against the main line at a high rpm. Molten debris formed in the channel is dislodged by drilling with a collared drill. The drilling provides fluid communication and creates a smooth inner surface in the mainline, and cuts off flanges from the fitting.

A connector for fluidly connecting a collector pipe and a feeder pipe is disclosed, with a retaining member defining a curved base defining a pair of platforms at opposite ends thereof and facing towards each other upon the connector being mounted on the collector pipe. The base is resiliently deformable such that in a non-deformed state, a radius of curvature of the base is smaller than an outer radius of the collector pipe and a distance between the platforms is smaller than a diameter of the collector pipe. The platforms is displaceable away from each other to vary the distance between them to mount the connector and to exert a clamping force on the collector pipe. The connector has a connecting member engaging the feeder pipe. A piping network is also disclosed.

A connector for fluidly connecting a collector pipe and a feeder pipe is disclosed, with a retaining member defining a curved base defining a pair of platforms at opposite ends thereof and facing towards each other upon the connector being mounted on the collector pipe. The base is resiliently deformable such that in a non-deformed state, a radius of curvature of the base is smaller than an outer radius of the collector pipe and a distance between the platforms is smaller than a diameter of the collector pipe. The platforms is displaceable away from each other to vary the distance between them to mount the connector and to exert a clamping force on the collector pipe. The connector has a connecting member engaging the feeder pipe. A piping network is also disclosed.