Small Bernard Mechanical Releaser Question

[mapleack]

I'm working on hooking up a new Bernard Vertical mechanical releaser on one of our small woods. This releaser has no secondary connection between the manifold chamber and the dump chamber, so when it dumps, no vacuum will be being applied to the tubing system. Being that I dont have to worry about sucking sap into my pump, its on the other side of the hill 1,500' away, is there any reason I cant just "T" my vac line into the manifold chamber on the releaser? This way vac will always be on the tubing, when the releaser is done dumping, vac should equalize inside, allowing sap to run from the manfold chamber into the dump chamber. Am I correct that this should work?
Thanks!

[Jim Brown]

Andy; Does the unit not have a gravity vacuum valve inside the chamber near the top where the sap comes in?If so that will "Slam Shut" when the releaser dumps and the vacuum to the trees will be held with that valve.The sap will collect in the small chamber out side the unit until it dumps. then the vacuum will again increase inside the chamber and the small chamber and the large will be the same VERY shortly and sap will run into the main chamber again raising the float and the cycle will start over again.You will not loose the vacuum in the main lines or the laterals.

Hope this helps
Jim

[Jim Brown]

Andy also keep it level and keep and eye on the float.the singles have a habit of sticking open. Guys on here have had problems also and I will try one of their fixes this year. I put 1# of dry rice in the float and they claim it will not stick and more .We will see!

Jim

[mapleack]

Jim, yes it has the flapper that will slam shut on the manifold chamber, but my thought was by hooking vac supply to both, there wouldnt be any up and down of vac level in the mains because it would have uninterrupted supply even when dumping.

[michelle32]

I believe what you are describing is a wet\dry system just shortened up.

[Jim Brown]

Most wet/dry systems have the wet and dry line hooked side by side in the same manifold. That's how we have ours.The difference is up in the bush 500 feet were the two lines come together at the vacuum chamber.

Jim

[bobbyjake]

It sounds like you are trying to make sure you have constant vacuum and don't fluxuate during the "release" portion of the cycle. To do so, you are proposing to T into your vac line and run it not only to the standard hook-up, but run a second line over to the manifold portion of the releaser.

The short answer is, it won't work performed that simply. When the trap slams shut, the rerouted vacuum (to the manifold) will have a tendancy to hold it shut so it won't reopen once the releaser finishes dumping. The new constant vacuum releasers (CV - not to be confused with check valve) are set up so that as the unit dumps, the piston moved the vacuum up to the manifold and then when the unit completes the release, the vacuum is replaced back into the main chamber.

If your vacuum system is tight, you shouldn't loose more than a few inches (maybe only one) and only for 30 seconds or less.

[mapleack]

It sounds like you are trying to make sure you have constant vacuum and don't fluxuate during the "release" portion of the cycle. To do so, you are proposing to T into your vac line and run it not only to the standard hook-up, but run a second line over to the manifold portion of the releaser.

The short answer is, it won't work performed that simply. When the trap slams shut, the rerouted vacuum (to the manifold) will have a tendancy to hold it shut so it won't reopen once the releaser finishes dumping. The new constant vacuum releasers (CV - not to be confused with check valve) are set up so that as the unit dumps, the piston moved the vacuum up to the manifold and then when the unit completes the release, the vacuum is replaced back into the main chamber.

If your vacuum system is tight, you shouldn't loose more than a few inches (maybe only one) and only for 30 seconds or less.

Bobbyjake, this is exactly what I meant. My assumption was that after dumping the vac level would equalize between the two chambers allowing the flapper between the manifold chamber and the dump chamber to reopen. If this has a chance of working, I might plumb it that way and put a valve on the vac line into the manifold, so I can stand there and watch it dump. If it works, great! If not, I'll just close the valve and it should work as intended from the factory.