Name : Mr. R Muruga Selvan
District & State : Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu
Category : Engineering
Award : Consolation
Award Function : 1st National Grassroots Innovation Awards
Award Year : 2001
Innovation Description
Mr. Muruga Selvan is 27 years old B.Sc., B.Ed. now working as a temporary teacher in a High school. During summer vacation when he has been running a tea stall he got the idea of tapping toddy from palmyrah trees. He shared his idea with his younger brother and there after started working in that idea.
Spathe cutting instrument:
This is a device used for cutting of spathe of palmirah (Borassus flabelliformis) tree, which secretes sweet juice from which black sugar is made.
The instrument has a long rod having a knife. The rod is connected with an electric motor through wheels having teeth. The motor is connected with a timer circuit through which 12V DC current is passed. A small plastic box is attached around each spathe. Another plastic box is attached at the bottom of the tree. The boxes are joined with a PVC pipe.
The DC current is passed through the circuit. The timer circuit allows the current to pass to the motor 3 times a day. Thus the rod rotates and the knife cuts a small portion of the spathe. Due to this more juice comes out from the spathe & plastic box. When the upper box is filled it is diverted to the bottom plastic box through the PVC pipe without climbing the tree.
The cost of assembling the instrument is around Rs. 100.00 Government grants are also given. It is a low cost instrument, can be easily installed, and has no maintenance. Moreover, more juice is collected in less time.
http://nif.org.in/innovation/Spathe_-cutting_-instrument/148