Field of invention

The present invention relates to a 'coco sap chiller'- a device specially designed for the collection of fresh, hygienic and unfermented palm sap to maintain palatability.

Background of the invention and Prior art

Coconut sap (Kalparasa or neera) is one of the important drinks, is being traditionally tapped from coconut spadix and consumed largely by rural population. The fresh sap or Neera in Sanskrit means 'the Life essence of palm tree'. It is rich in carbohydrates, minerals, proteins, vitamins; antioxidants etc. and it can also be converted into delicious sugar. A major difference between the sap of coconut and other juices is in its collection; unlike in sugarcane or other fruits, where the cane or fruit is immediately crushed or macerated to extract the juice, in coconut it trickles drop by drop from the cut end of inflorescence over a period of time. As the sap flow is slow and is highly prone to fermentation, collection of fresh sap is a challenge in palms. The lengthy collection period coupled with unhygienic and unorganized way of its collection lead to the fermentation of sap both by enzymatic and microbial action. Therefore, intermediate storage or application of chemicals before collection is commonly used as otherwise it gets deteriorated and fermented.

Lime is commonly used as the fermentation inhibitor. Even with the application of lime the sap still gets fermented and unfit to be marketed as health drink. The fermented one is the toddy which has harsh odour and makes it unpalatable despite being nutritious. The lack of proper method of collection and proper inhibitors to prevent fermentation led to the advertent or inadvertent inclusion of both fermented (toddy) and unfermented (neera) sap under "toddy". Accordingly, the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965 (Act 21 of 1966) adapted from the Mysore Excise Act, 1901 (Act No. V of 1901), The Hyderabad Abkari Act, 1316(No. 1 of 1316 F) and the Madras Abkari Act, 1886 (Madras Act 1 of 1886) were enacted and coconut tree tapping is prohibited. Coconut is included as an excise tree (Section 11 A) and the unfermented juice of coconut tree from which toddy can be produced is interpreted as toddy. However, unfermented Sap (Neera) and Toddy are two different products, chemically and nutritionally and taste wise. The unfermented sap (Neera) is more nutritious health drink than any other juices. It is the phloem sap, rich in sugars, protein, minerals, antioxidants, vitamins, etc., utilized by the plant for the growth and development of tender or mature coconut.

Traditionally, the sap is collected in internally lime coated earthen pots or bamboo sacs. Though lime, preservatives or anti fermentation chemicals were used, however they were not successful to prevent the sap deterioration. Proper refrigeration is to be provided to keep the sap fresh. The earlier patent application 2425/CHE/2013 discloses a device consisting of a spadix adapter, connecting pipe, container and ice-box to collect clean and unfermented sap from coconut spadix. The ice-box used in the above said invention is a conventional box filled with ice cubes. In the conventional ice-box, a separate attachment from spadix to the container is required for carrying the sap which is kept in the ice box and increases the chances for contamination. There exists a dare need for hygienic and organized methods and devices for collection of fresh coconut sap.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention discloses a portable coco sap chiller (Kalparasa collection box) for collecting farm fresh, hygienic and unfermented coconut sap comprising of a spadix holder, a sap collection box container, a funnel, a hollow PVC pipe and a heat insulating jacket. One end of the hollow PVC pipe is expanded into a box shape to house the sap collection container bound by ice cubes and the other end is wide enough to insert and remove the container. The cut end of the spadix is inserted to the pipe through a spadix holder and the sap dripping from the cut surface of spadix trickles through the funnel to the sap collection container. The side walls of the PVC pipe from outside are covered with an insulating jacket excluding the portion of spadix holder.

Brief description of the drawings

Drawing 1 shows a schematic diagram of PVC pipe expanded into a box.

Drawing 2 shows a schematic diagram of end cap.

Drawing 3 shows an embodiment of high density moulded thermocol box.

Drawing 4 shows a schematic diagram of spadix holder.

Drawing 5 shows a front view of the coco sap chiller.

Drawing 6 shows a top view of the coco sap chiller.

Drawing 7 shows a side view of the coco sap chiller.

Drawing 8 shows an embodiment of ice spreading tool.

Figure 1 shows an arrangement of coco sap chiller mounted on the tree crown.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The invention herein discloses accordingly a portable coco sap chiller for collecting farm fresh, hygienic and unfermented coconut sap. The chiller comprises a spadix holder, a sap collection container, a funnel, a hollow PVC pipe and a heat insulating jacket. The object of the present invention is to provide a description of the device developed for preventing deterioration and preserving the flavor and aroma of coconut sap to overcome the existing difficulties surrounding its domestic consumption and marketing. The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be explained in detail.

Construction details of coco sap chiller List of Items required

1) High density thermocol box of 370 mm x 260 mm x 200 mm outside dimension and 330 mm x 220 mm x 145 mm inside dimension.

2) Pipe 110 mm Diameter, 6Kg/cm2 specification of 100 mm long.

3) Pipe 140 mm Diameter, 4Kg/cm2 specification of 1000 mm long.

4) End cap 140 mm Diameter. LW class

5) End cap 110 mm Diameter.

6) 1 mm plastic tube of 100 mm.

7) 2 mm thick acrylic sheet 215 mm x 135 mm.

8) Sunpack material 150 mm x 150 mm

9) Thermocol granules - to fill the space between pipe and box.

10) Rexine / plastic cover - to fasten spadix holder and portion of spadix.

11) Plastic container of 2 litre capacity to collect sap or kalparasa.

12) Plastic Funnel with Mesh / filter.

13) HDP pipe to make handles.

14) Ice / Gel ice to fill the gap between container and pipe.

15) Misc materials like glue, brown packing tape, plastic straps, clips etc.

Construction Details

Pipe fabrication is done as per drawing - 1. First 140 mm pipe of 380 mm length is taken and hole of 110 diameters is carved at a height of 265 mm from the bottom. The other end of the pipe is expanded with heat to a box shape of dimension 215 mm x 135 mm outside dimension (200 mm x 125 mm inside dimension) at box height of 175 mm. A 2 mm thick acrylic sheet of dimension 215 mm x 135 mm is glued to expanded end to seal the opening. A pipe of 1 mm diameter of approx 100 mm length is fitted to the base of the expanded box. A ring of 10 mm thickness is made from 140 mm pipe and is glued at a height of 190 mm from the pipe base. A 110 mm pipe is cut to approx 85 mm lengths and is glued in the hole made at the top. Refer drawing - 1. 140 mm end cap of 75mm length is filled upto 40 mm with thermocol and a sheet of sunpack material cut into circle shape is glued inside. Refer drawing - 2.

Spadix holder is made out of diameter 110 mm end cap. The closed end of cap is cut and a rexine / plastic cover is used with rope at other end to tie knot once it is fixed to spadix. Refer drawing - 4. A High density thermocol box of dimension 370 mm x 260 mm x 200 mm outside dimension (330 mm x 220 mm x 145 mm inside dimension) is taken and two holes are made in it as shown in drawing - 3. The entire fabricated setup excluding spadix holder is placed inside thermocol box, and the gap between pipes and box is filled with thermocol granules. A funnel with mesh / filter arrangement is placed above the ring. A plastic container of 2 litre capacity is placed below the funnel. Refer drawing - 5 & 6. The finished box is then wrapped completely with brown packing tape and the box is covered with waterproof material. Plastic straps and clips are used in order to securely close the box. Hdp tube is used to make 3 handles. The handle location is shown in drawing - 7.

Drawing - 5 shows working details of unfermented sap collection box. The space between sap collection container and pipe is filled with either normal ice or gel ice. A special tool made from 140 mm pipe is used to spread normal ice inside the pipe ref drawing - 9. In case of gel ice, packets of gel ice are placed between container and pipe. Diameter 140 mm end cap is closed and Spadix is inserted from the diameter 110.0 mm pipe and with the help of rexine cover the spadix is sealed to prevent the entry of ants, dust, dirt etc. The entire box setup is hung on top of tree for Sap (Kalparasa) collection.

Manner in which it is to be connected to the spadix in the palm crown

• Spadix to be tapped is tied with coir/plastic rope and a small portion is sliced off from the top.

• The spadix is gently stroked with a mallet in the morning and evening.

• Sap starts oozing out from the cut end, after a period of 8 to 10 days of stroking the spadix.

• At this stage, the unfermented sap collection box is prepared to connect to spadix. Two litre capacity food grade container or plastic pouch is placed below the funnel (drawing 5) and ice cubes are spread around the container using ice spreader (drawing 8). The spadix is inserted through the spadix holder such that the cut end is just above the centre of funnel as shown in drawing 5. The spadix is tightly fastened to spadix holder using rexin or plastic cover as shown in drawing 4.

• The sap that trickles from the cut surface falls on the funnel and collected in the container. Daily in the morning and evening the filled container is taken out, the box washed and reconnected as above. Each tree requires one box for the collection of sap. The whole set up is hanged in the tree crown using the handle.

• As this whole system is air tight, it will not attract insects, ants, and pollen and dust particles as in the traditional way of collection. Thus, by using this device the sap can be collected in a fresh and hygienic way.

Advantages of the Device

• Simple device to collect fresh, hygienic and unfermented coconut sap (kalparasa)

• Easy to fabricate with readily available raw materials.

• Cost of construction is very low and can be prepared from locally available material.

• The heat loss is reduced due to thermocol insulation.

• Use of Funnel helps in collection of unfermented sap irrespective of spadix position.

• Mesh / filter inside funnel prevent any contaminants from entering into container.

• Spadix holder prevents ant, insects, dust, and dirt particles from getting into box

• Gel ice packets can be used again and again.

• Filled container can be easily removed from box.

• It is light in weight and can be easily hanged in the tree crown using the handles provided.

• Waterproof material used to cover the box prevents any water / weather damage on the box.

• Water collected at the bottom of box gets automatically drained by 1mm pipe.

• There is no chance of contamination by insects, ants and dust particles. Moreover, unfermented sap collected in open vessels attracts lot of harmful insects as it contains volatile substances. Since, this device is airtight there is no emission of volatiles.

• The device is not only suitable for the collection of sap from coconut but can also be easily connected to other sap yielding plants.

It should be understood however that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. The following description are not to be construed as limiting the invention and numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention, as the basis for the claims and as a basis for teaching one skilled in the art about using the invention.

Claims

We Claim:

1) A portable coco sap chiller for collecting farm fresh, hygienic and unfermented coco sap, the chiller comprising:

(i.) a spadix holder

(ii.) a sap collection container;

(iii.) a funnel;

(iv.) a hollow PVC pipe;

(v.) a heat insulating jacket;

2) The chiller as claimed in claim 1, wherein spadix is tightly fastened to the spadix holder using rexin or plastic cover.

3) The chiller as claimed in claim 1 and 2, wherein coco sap from cut surface of the spadix drips to the sap collection container through the funnel with a mesh attached to it placed above the sap collection container.

4) The chiller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hollow PVC pipe at one end is expanded into a box shape to house the sap collection container bound by ice cubes.

5) The chiller as claimed in claims 1 and 4, wherein space between the sap collection container and the hollow PVC pipe is filled with ice cubes or gel ice packets.

6) The chiller as claimed in claim 1, wherein side walls of the hollow PVC pipe are covered with the heat insulating jacket made of high density thermocol box excluding the portion of the spadix holder.

7) The chiller as claimed in claim 1, wherein space between the hollow PVC pipe and the heat insulating jackets are filled with thermocol granules.

8) The chiller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chiller is wrapped by a waterproof material.

9) The chiller as claimed in claim 1, wherein handles are provided to hang the chiller on tree and to carry it.