Abstract: A system for removing sap from a plurality of trees includes a main tube supported at least in part by a plurality of drain tubes without the use of a spinal support. The main tube as supported can negotiate a path between a plurality of trees. The drain tubes are adapted to be supported at the trees. The drain tubes are in fluid communication with the main tube for removing sap through a drain tube into the main tube.

Abstract: A system for removing sap from a plurality of trees includes a main tube supported at least in part by a plurality of drain tubes without the use of a spinal support. The main tube as supported can negotiate a path between a plurality of trees. The drain tubes are adapted to be supported at the trees. The drain tubes are in fluid communication with the main tube for removing sap through a drain tube into the main tube.

Abstract: A two-vessel liquid separation apparatus includes a pump and its motor submersed in a one vessel and a reverse osmosis membrane in the other vessel. The vessels are separated by a contiguous dividing wall. The membrane and the pump are in fluid communication with one another through the dividing wall so as to allow liquid to pass from one vessel to the other in accordance with a given geometry. The pump receives liquid from the membrane containing vessel through holes in the dividing wall, the pump creating a highly turbulent flow caused by a cyclonic and co-axial effect, directly at the lower end of the membrane; the connexion of the pump outlet at the dividing wall is very close to the membrane thus providing an optimal efficiency of turbulence and flow at critical locations of bacteria collection.

Abstract: A device for protecting the connection of a tubular conduit to a main tube of a maple sap collecting system wherein sap collected from maple trees are directed under vacuum to a pumping station of a sap processing center. The device comprises a band having a first end adapted to be mounted to the main tube and an opposite end adapted to be mounted externally onto the tubular conduit at a given distance from the main tube. This distance is greater than the distance between the first and opposite ends of the band so that accidental impact on the tubular conduit resulting from falling objects and tension applied to the attachment of the conduit to the main tube are taken by the band to thereby protect the connection of the tubular conduit to the adapter.

Abstract: An evaporator includes a maple sap evaporating pan in fluid communication with a maple syrup forming pan, a fire box in gas communication with gas circulating adjuncts, a flue stack and chimney and an auxiliary reservoir for pre-heating the sap prior to entering the maple sap evaporating pan. The auxiliary reservoir consists of a housing defined in the flue stack with an inlet for receiving cold sap. A series of horizontally spaced open end vertical tubes extends through the housing, each tube including a lower inlet receiving from the adjuncts flue gases that circulate through and heat the tubes and an upper outlet allowing the gases to exit through the chimney. Hence, cold sap received in the auxiliary reservoir is first heated by contact with the hot tubes.

Abstract: The disclosure herein describes a device for use in a sap collecting system which is formed of a body of fluid impermeable composition that has a passageway for allowing sap to circulate therethrough; the composition consists of a plastics material and of a plurality of randomly distributed non corrosive hard granules. The granules have a hardness to repress rodent animals to pierce the plastics material and are so distributed in the plastic material that at least one granule will be contacted when the body is gnawed by a rodent animal.

Abstract: The disclosure herein describes a device for use in conducting sap collected from maple trees to a sap-processing unit, particularly during sunny days; it comprises a tubular member in which sap is contained and conveyed to the sap-processing unit and a parasol mounted exteriorly of the tubular member for preventing high angled sun rays to be absorbed in the tubular member and to affect the sap flowing during the day but allowing low angled sun rays to be absorbed in part of the tubular member to allow frozen sap to defreeze and flow in the morning. The parasol consists of a semi-cylindrical elongated member mounted over the tubular member and is spaced therefore so as to define an air chamber between the tubular member and the semi-cylindrical member.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a tray which includes: a flat frame having a plurality of compartments, each having an opened bottom but in which may be seated a plant-growing cartridge; and retractable supports movable between a stored position, wherein they lie in the longitudinal plane of the frame, and an upstanding position, wherein they lie in a plane describing an angle of more than 90.degree. with that of the stored position, thereby leaving a space beneath the frame to allow air circulation beneath the cartridges and to plants therein.

Abstract: A container lid for packaging principally air contaminative products comprises a generally circular body with a main central portion and a downwardly extending peripheral lip portion adapted to snap over and engagedly receive the top rim portion of a container in sealed relationship; the underface of the main central portion terminates at the periphery thereof with an upstanding side wall contiguous with the lip portion; the side wall has an upper peripheral portion inwardly spaced from and defining with the lip portion a receiving portion for the rim portion of the container and a lower peripheral portion provided with a series of radially inward and circumferentially spaced air and fluid outlet cavities extending to the underface of the main central portion so that air and fluid expulsion from the container may be allowed even after the lower peripheral portion of the side wall has contacted the rim portion of the container; as the container lid is further pressed down into the container, the upper peripher