Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/380,054, filed on October 18, 2023, now pending, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Field of the Disclosure

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to maple syrup production, and in particular relates to a maple syrup spout configured to remain securely in position in a taphole.

Background of the Disclosure

[0003] Maple syrup production involves drilling holes into (i.e., “tapping”) the xylem of maple tree stems, collecting the sap that exudes from the wound, and then reducing or “sugaring” down the sap, for example, using reverse osmosis and evaporators to form the final syrup.

Details of maple syrup production are described in the publication entitled “North American Maple Syrup Producers Manual” (third edition, 2022), produced by The University of Vermont in cooperation with the North American Maple Syrup Council, and edited by Perkins, Heiligmann, Koelling, and van den Berg, which is incorporated by reference herein by way of background information.

[0004] The traditional way of collecting maple sap uses buckets at the tap source. The sap is then collected in a tank and then transported to the “sugarhouse” for processing. Over the years, a variety of specialized hardware has been developed for this task, including both sap spouts and specialized sap collection buckets or bags. For many years, however, the basic techniques of maple syrup and sugar production remained essentially unchanged.

[0005] More recently, modern syrup producers have replaced the traditional bucket collection system with a tubing system that includes special spouts (usually 5/16" or 7/16" diameter) and plastic tubing “droplines” (usually 3/16” or 5/16" diameter and about 18" to 36" in length) connected to the various spouts. The droplines are then connected to lateral lines (also usually formed from 3/16” or 5/16" diameter plastic tubing) that run between different maple trees. The lateral lines are in turn connected to one or more “mainlines” (usually ³ A" to 2" diameter) that run to the sugar house. Such systems may be gravity fed, utilize a vacuum pump, use natural vacuum, or a combination of these techniques to move the sap to a central collection point (e.g., a storage tank).

[0006] The maple spout is the interface between the sap collection system (i.e., the bucket, bag, or line system) and the tree. Freeze-thaw action sometimes dislodges the spout from the taphole of the tree, and current spouts may push out during freezes. Installing spouts deeper into the tree can prevent this, but doing so reduces sap yield by restricting sap movement from vessels within the wood towards the taphole (radially towards the taphole). There is long-felt a need for a spout that will remain in position during freezes without reducing sap yield.

Brief Summary of the Disclosure

[0007] In an aspect, the present disclosure may be embodied as a spout for inserting into a taphole formed in a tree. The spout has an input section adapted for insertion into the taphole. The input section has an outer surface extending from an insertion end to an external end. In some embodiments, the input section is tapered so as to be narrower at the insertion end than at the external end.

[0008] Two or more circumferential barbs are disposed on the outer surface of the input section. At least one circumferential barb of the two or more circumferential barbs is configured to engage with a bark of the tree. The input section includes an input channel to receive a flow of sap from the tree. For example, at least one circumferential barb of the two or more circumferential barbs has a height which is different from a height of the other circumferential barbs. In another example, each circumferential barb of the two or more circumferential barbs has a height different from a height of the other circumferential barbs. For example, in some embodiments, the height of the circumferential barb nearest the external end of the input section is greater than the height of the circumferential barb nearest the insertion end of the input section. In some embodiments, each circumferential barb of the two or more circumferential barbs is configured to engage with the bark of the tree. In some embodiments, at least one circumferential barb of the two or more circumferential barbs is configured to engage sapwood of the tree.

[0009] The spout includes an output section coupled to the external end of the input section. The output section defines an output channel in fluid communication with the input channel. The output section is configured to be connected to a line system. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the output channel is at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the input channel. In some embodiments, the output channel is curved.

[0010] In another aspect, the present disclosure may be embodied as a maple syrup production system. The maple syrup production system includes a spout according to any of the embodiments disclosed herein. An input section of the spout is at least partially inserted into a taphole of a tree such that at least one circumferential barb of two or more circumferential barbs engages with the bark of the tree. It will be apparent to one having skill in the art that the maple syrup production system may have multiple spouts which may be connected to multiple trees.

[0011] The maple syrup production system includes a line system operably connected to the output section of the spout. In some embodiments, the line system may be a gravity system. In some embodiments, the line system may be a vacuum system. For example, the maple syrup production system may further include a vacuum pump connected to the line system. The vacuum pump may be configured to create a vacuum differential between the line system and the taphole to urge sap to flow from the taphole to the line system by way of the spout.

[0012] In another aspect, the present disclosure may be embodied as a method of extracting sap from a tree. The method includes providing a spout having an input section and an output section, wherein the input section is adapted for insertion into a taphole of a tree and includes an outer surface extending from an insertion end to an external end, wherein two or more circumferential barbs are disposed on the outer surface and at least one of the two or more circumferential barbs is configured to engage with a bark of the tree, wherein the input section includes an input channel to receive a flow of sap from the tree; and wherein the output section is connected to the external end of the input section and includes an output channel in fluid communication with the input channel. The method further includes forming a taphole in the tree. The input section of the spout is inserted into the taphole such that at least one circumferential barb of the two or more circumferential barbs engages the bark of the tree. In some embodiments, the method includes connecting a line system to the output section of the spout. In some embodiments, the method includes applying a vacuum to the line system. Description of the Drawings

[0013] For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the disclosure, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side view of a spout according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 2 is an end view of the spout of Figure 1, as viewed from the end which inserts into the taphole;

Figure 3 is an orthogonal view of the spout of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is another orthogonal view of the spout of Figures 1-3;

Figure 5 is an illustration showing a cross-section of a portion of a maple spout according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the spout includes circumferential barbs only at locations which interface with the bark of the tree;

Figure 6 is an illustration showing a cross-section of a portion of a maple spout according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the spout includes circumferential barbs at locations which interface with the bark of the tree and the sapwood of the tree;

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional diagram of a portion of a spout according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, and showing example dimensions; and

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional diagram of a portion of a spout according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the insertion end of the spout is shortened;

Figure 9 is a diagram depicting a portion of a maple syrup production system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

Figure 10 is a chart depicting a method according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description of the Disclosure

[0014] Embodiments of the present disclosure help improve the holding power of the spout in the tree and may help increase sap yield. Traditional maple spouts need to seat within the taphole deep enough to prevent being pushed out by frost-heaving or forces acting on the spout by the tubing system (e.g., by objects falling on the tubing line, etc.) However, this means that some amount of wood near the outside (closest to the bark) is sealed off from the channel of the spout to some degree. This wood near the bark (sapwood) is the young wood of the tree and is the most hydraulically conductive. The young sapwood also contains the most sugar. The presently disclosed spout design utilizes a series of stepped barbs (smaller on the inside, becoming progressively larger to the outside) to hold the spout in the tree firmer, and can thus be shorter than previous spout designs. In this way, the spout channel is available to more of the sapwood. Testing has shown improvements in sap yield from 11-23%.

[0015] With reference to Figures 1-4, the present disclosure may be embodied as a spout 10 for insertion into a taphole formed in a tree. The spout 10 includes an input section 20 and an output section 30. The input section 20 has an insertion end 22 and an external end 24. The insertion end of the input section is configured to be inserted into a taphole of a tree and the external end of the input section remains generally external to the tree (i.e., generally closer to the external surface of the tree than the insertion end). For example, in some embodiments, the input section may have a circular or generally circular cross-section. The input section has an outer surface 23 extending from the insertion end 22 to the external end 24. The input section 20 includes an input channel 26 to receive a flow of sap from the tree. For example, the input channel may be formed along a longitudinal axis of the input section from the insertion end to the external end. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the input section is tapered. In this way, the input section is narrower at the insertion end than at the external end (e.g., the outer surface defines a diameter at the insertion end which is less than a diameter of the outer surface at the external end, the outer surface defines a diameter at the insertion end which is less than a diameter of the outer surface at a location spaced apart from the external end, etc.) For example, the embodiment of an input section shown in Figure 7 has an insertion end with a diameter of 0.31” which increases to a diameter of 0.35” at a location which is 0.70” from the insertion end along a longitudinal length of the input section. In other configurations, the input section is not tapered (see Figure 1).

[0016] The input section 20 includes at least two circumferential barbs 28 disposed on the outer surface 25. For example, the embodiment of a spout 10 shown in Figures 1-4 includes six circumferential barbs 28 spaced apart along the longitudinal length of the input section. At least one circumferential barb of the two or more circumferential barbs 28 is configured to engage with the bark of the tree. By engages with the bark, it is intended that when the spout is considered in place within the tree, a barb remains in the bark of the tree (similarly, a barb engages with sapwood where it remains in the sapwood once the spout is in its intended position in the taphole — e.g., fully inserted, inserted at a desired depth, etc.) For example, Figure 5 is a diagram of an input section 50 shown relative to layers of a tree — i.e., the sapwood and the bark, separated by the cambium. Input section 50 includes input channel 56 and circumferential barbs 58 which are configured to engage with the bark of the tree. Figure 6 is a diagram of another input section 60 shown relative to the layers of a tree. Input section 60 includes input channel 66, circumferential barbs 68a configured to engage with the bark, and circumferential barbs 68b configured to engage with the sapwood of the tree.

[0017] In some embodiments, the circumferential barbs have a varying heights. For example, in some embodiments, at least one of the two or more circumferential barbs has a height different from a height of the other circumferential barbs. In some embodiments, each of the two or more circumferential barbs has a height different from a height of the other circumferential barbs. In some embodiments, the height of the circumferential barb nearest the external end of the input section is greater than the height of the circumferential barb nearest the insertion end of the input section.

[0018] The spout 10 further includes an output section 30 coupled to the external end 24 of the input section 20. The output section 30 has an output channel 32. In some embodiments, such as, for example, the embodiment depicted in Figures 1-4, the output channel 32 is curved. The output channel 32 is in fluid communication with the input channel 26 of the input section 20. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the output channel is at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the input section. In other words, at least a portion of a flow path formed by the output channel is at an angle with respect to a flow path of the input section. The output section 30 may be configured to be connected to a line system.

[0019] Figure 7 shows another example of a spout 70 according to the present disclosure. Note that all dimensions in the figures are exemplary, intended only to illustrate a non-limiting embodiment of the disclosure. Spout 70 is depicted with a tapered input section 72. The input section 72 has circumferential barbs 78a configured to engage with the bark, and circumferential barbs 78b configured to engage with the sapwood of the tree. Figure 8 depicts another embodiment of a spout 80 having a tapered input section 82 and circumferential barbs 88a and 88b. The input section 82 of Figure 8 may be trimmed at an insertion end 84 such that the resulting input section 82 is shorter than the input section 72 of Figure 7. In this way, sap may also be collected from younger sapwood (i.e., radially closer to the taphole). For example, Figure 8 shows an example where 0.11” may be trimmed from the input section. Other embodiments may have shorter or longer input sections. The input sections may be trimmed or may be originally fabricated to be a shorter length than more traditional spouts.

[0020] With reference to Figure 9, in another aspect, the present disclosure may be embodied as a maple syrup production system 100 having a spout 100 such as that described above. The input section of the spout 110 may be at least partially inserted into a taphole of a tree 190 so as to engage at least one circumferential barb of the two or more circumferential barbs with a bark of the tree. The production system 100 may further include a line system 120 operably connected to the output section of the spout 110. The line system may have, for example, drop line(s) 122, lateral line(s) 124 and/or main line(s) 126. The line system may be a gravity system. The line system may be a vacuum system. For example, in some embodiments, a vacuum pump 128 is connected to the line system to create a vacuum pressure differential between the line system and the taphole. Such a differential causes sap to flow from the taphole, through the spout, and through the line system to, for example, a storage tank.

[0021] With reference to Figure 10, in another aspect, the present disclosure may be embodied as a method 200 of extracting sap from a tree, such as, for example, a maple tree. The method 200 includes providing 203 a spout such as that disclosed herein. For example, the spout may have an input section and an output section. The input section is adapted for insertion into a taphole and includes an outer surface extending from an insertion end to an external end. Two or more circumferential barbs are disposed on the outer surface, and at least one of the two or more circumferential barbs is configured to engage with a bark of the tree. The input section includes an input channel to receive a flow of sap from the tree. The output section is connected to the external end of the input section and includes an output channel in fluid communication with the input channel. The method 200 further includes forming 206 a taphole in the tree. The input section of the spout is inserted 209 into the taphole such that at least one circumferential barb of the two or more circumferential barbs is engaged by the bark of the tree. In some embodiments, a line system is connected 212 to the output section of the spout. The line system may be a gravitybased system, a vacuum system, etc. In some embodiments, the method 200 may include applying 215 a vacuum to the line system.

[0022] Although the present disclosure has been described with respect to one or more particular embodiments, it will be understood that other embodiments of the present disclosure may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.