BE1028101B1 - Flooring for equestrian surface - Google Patents

Abstract

Floor covering for equestrian surfaces comprising: - sand (1); - natural rubber aggregates (2) enriched with textile fibers (3).

Description

Flooring for equestrian surface Field of the invention

[0001] | The invention relates to a floor covering for equestrian surfaces. Description of the prior art

[0002] Equestrian surfaces are used for walking, running and jumping horses in the context of their dressage, their training, their warm-up, their relaxation, their rest, their comfort and of course also in the context of sports competitions.

[0003] Such surfaces are for example present in equestrian clubs, stables, stud farms and can constitute equestrian rides, equestrian careers or even equestrian walking tracks.

[0004] State-of-the-art equestrian floor coverings are usually made of sand. One of the problems with such sand-based equestrian floor coverings is that they require regular watering in order to modulate their mechanical properties and to prevent the sand from being suspended in the air, which presents an annoying character for the horse and the rider.

[0005] With regard to the mechanical properties of the soil, coatings based solely on sand have more tendency to have a fleeting character, that is to d they tend to lose their uniformity under the influence of the impact of horse hooves. In fact, sand is lacking in the places most frequented by horses on the track and frequent harrowing is then necessary in order to restore the initial quality of the coating as much as possible.

[0006] Furthermore, even in the event of frequent harrowing, coatings based solely on sand have the disadvantage of being very sensitive to bad weather. Rain and frost can cause puddles and frozen areas on the track, which is obviously not optimal for the performance and safety of the horse and rider.

[0007] Document EP 1 486 612 describes an equestrian floor comprising chips of EPDM rubber in its upper part, mixed with sand. EPDM (Ethylene -

Propylene - Diene - Monomer or terpolymer - Ethylene - Propylene - Diene) is a petroleum product developed for the automotive sector with a view to producing parts subjected to atmospheric aggressions (rain, wind, ultraviolet rays, temperature variations, etc.). The chips are obtained by a cutting instrument from pre-existing one-piece rubber parts, to detach therefrom generally individual chaff shaped chips, ie chips having a dimension much smaller than the other two. Alternatively, the chips can have a general individual fiber shape, i.e. a shape in which one dimension is much larger than the other two. According to this prior art document, the sequins are suitable for all types of equestrian work and more particularly for floors used to give riding lessons to riders, but also for dressage and stunt training. The fibers are particularly suitable for soils requiring greater rigidity, such as those where show jumping is performed. In this case, they can be mixed with sand. Although the presence of these EPDM rubber chips improves the mechanical properties compared to a floor covering comprising only sand, it could be demonstrated that the sand mixed with this type of chips in the form of flakes or fibers retained an elusive character. Furthermore, it has been observed that such chips do not allow the phenomenon of the sand to be suspended in the air to be suppressed, probably due to a too low rate of retention of moisture in the soil.

[0008] Document US 2019/0040593 discloses a floor covering material which can be used in equestrian tracks and comprising rubber particles which can be extracted from recycling tires. The material may further include para-aramid or nylon fibers. It further comprises polymer particles and a mass of woven natural or synthetic material. The rubber particles are present at a concentration by weight of between 1% and 25%. The material can also be combined with sand for use in various applications including equestrian trails. The flooring material according to this document therefore has a complex composition with multiple constituents. It was also observed that this material did not offer optimal mechanical properties for applications in the equestrian field, and did not make it possible to eliminate the phenomenon of the sand being suspended in the air.

[0009] Document US 2008/0050516 discloses a particulate composition comprising sand and intended for use as a sports or leisure surface. This composition, which is quite complex since it comprises multiple components such as wax and various types of fiber, can also comprise by weight 1% to 15% of fibers, for example extracted from recycling tires. The fibers may furthermore consist of rubber attached to textile fibers such as nylon. In addition to its complex and costly nature, it could be observed that the material according to this document of the prior art did not offer optimal mechanical properties for applications in the equestrian field, and did not make it possible to eliminate the phenomenon of suspension. sand in the air.

Summary of the invention

[00010] An object of the invention is to provide a floor covering for an equestrian surface which is flexible, load-bearing, non-leaking, non-slippery and with excellent damping properties, without requiring frequent watering. The surface must therefore be suitable for any type of equestrian training while minimizing tendon, joint and fatigue injuries in the horse and while ensuring optimal safety for the rider in the event of a fall.

Another object of the invention is to provide a floor covering for an equestrian surface which is very little dusty, that is to say which does not release particles suspended in the air even in the lack of regular watering.

Another object of the invention is to provide a floor covering which promotes drainage, the percolation of water in the event of heavy rains and the absence of significant puddles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a floor covering for an equestrian surface which is passable at all times, that is to say which is not too adversely affected by bad weather such as precipitation and snow. moderate frost.

Another object of the invention is to provide a floor covering for an equestrian surface based on inert and environmentally friendly materials.

The present invention is defined in the appended independent claim.

Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

[00016] According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a floor covering for an equestrian surface comprising: - sand: - natural rubber aggregates enriched with textile fibers;

[00017] According to an advantageous embodiment, the aggregates have a particle size defined by a granular class d / D of 5/45. The granular class d / D therefore indicates the smallest representative diameter d and the largest representative diameter D of the aggregates expressed in millimeters.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the aggregates are completely free of metal particles

[00019] According to an advantageous embodiment, the textile fibers comprise fibers made from nylon.

[00020] According to an advantageous embodiment, the textile fibers have a mass fraction in the rubber aggregates of between 45 and 55%. This therefore means that the textile fibers constitute 45 to 55% of the mass of the aggregates.

[00021] According to an advantageous embodiment, the textile fibers comprise fibers made from aramid.

[00022] According to an advantageous embodiment, the rubber aggregates have a mass concentration in the coating of between 10 and 15 kg / m2.

[00023] According to an advantageous embodiment, the natural rubber aggregates are obtained from the recycling of aircraft tires treated successively in a rubber crusher and in a granulator. The granulator is advantageously equipped with fixed and mobile knives.

[00024] According to an advantageous embodiment, the flooring according to the invention is obtained by mixing a layer of 5 to 8 centimeters of said sand and a layer of 2 to 4 cm of said rubber aggregates.

[00025] According to a second aspect, the invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a floor covering for an equestrian surface as explained above comprising the steps of: 5 - Grinding aircraft tires in a crusher rubber so as to obtain crushed parts; - Treat the ground parts in a granulator so as to obtain aggregates; - Distribute the aggregates on an equestrian surface including sand; - Mechanically mix the aggregates with the sand; Brief description of the figures

These aspects of the invention and other complementary aspects will be explained in more detail by means of examples and with reference to the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a floor covering for equestrian surface according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a schematic sectional view of a floor covering for an equestrian surface according to the invention before the sand and rubber aggregates have been mixed: The figures are not drawn to scale. Detailed description of preferred embodiments

As illustrated in Figure 1, the invention therefore relates to a floor covering for an equestrian surface comprising: e sand 1; e natural rubber aggregates 2 enriched with textile fibers 3;

[00028] The aggregates 2 advantageously have a particle size defined by a d / D granular class of 5/45. The shape of the aggregates 2 is advantageously cuboid and the geometry of the aggregates 2 is therefore similar to that of gravel or chippings. Preferably, the aggregates 2 are completely free of metal particles.

[00029] The textile fibers are advantageously made of nylon and advantageously have a mass fraction in the rubber aggregates of between 45% and 55%. Alternatively, the textile fibers can also consist of aramid.

Advantageously, the rubber aggregates 2 in the flooring according to the invention have a concentration of 10 to 15 kg per m2 of coating.

As shown in Figure 2, a floor covering according to the invention can be obtained by initially superimposing a layer of 2 to 4 cm of rubber aggregates 2 (layer B) on a layer of 5 to 8 cm of sand 1 (layer A). The layers can then be mixed mechanically, for example using a harrow or by simple horse work, so as to obtain the coating shown in Figure 1.

In Figure 1, it can be seen that following the mechanical work of mixing the layers, the rubber aggregates 2 are naturally distributed so as to form a gradient of aggregate concentration through the thickness of the coating. Due to the elusive nature of the sand and the mechanical properties of the aggregates, the rubber aggregates in fact tend to rise to the surface of the coating so as to form a mulch with a higher concentration in the upper part of the coating. This characteristic of the coating according to the invention offers interesting physical properties, because the mulching of aggregates on the surface helps to retain the moisture absorbed by the sand. The coating according to the invention therefore requires much less watering than the coatings of the prior art in order to prevent the sand from being suspended in the air.

[00033] The rubber aggregates thus structure the track and make the working layer load-bearing and homogeneous, non-slippery and not deep. The surface is soft, elastic, with excellent cushioning capabilities. The surface is suitable for any type of training. The practice, even intensive, limits fatigue injuries, joint tendon pathologies and other locomotion disorders in horses. The watering needs are very limited or even zero and the soil is not dusty. The well-maintained track is passable at all times, due to the absence of puddles of water and therefore of frost, and improves the rider's safety, by absorbing any falls.

These excellent characteristics of the coating according to the invention are due to the mechanical behavior of natural rubber aggregates and also to the properties of their textile fibers. Textile fibers tend to capture ambient humidity by capillary action and subsequently restore it to the sand.

[00035] According to an advantageous embodiment, the aggregates of the flooring according to the invention are obtained from the recycling of aircraft tires treated successively in a rubber mill and in a granulator. The granulator is advantageously equipped with fixed and mobile knives. Used aircraft tires in fact constitute an important source of fiber-reinforced natural rubber free from metal particles and the floor covering according to the invention therefore offers an interesting recycling possibility for them.

The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a floor covering for an equestrian surface according to any one of the preceding claims comprising the steps of: - Grinding aircraft tires in a rubber crusher so to obtain ground parts; - Treat the ground parts in a granulator so as to obtain aggregates 2; - Distribute the aggregates 2 on an equestrian surface comprising sand; - Mechanically mix aggregates 2 with sand 1.

Claims (10)

Claims 1. Floor covering for equestrian surfaces comprising: - sand (1); - natural rubber aggregates (2) enriched with textile fibers (3); and characterized in that: the natural rubber aggregates (2) are obtained from the recycling of aircraft tires successively treated in a rubber mill and in a granulator. 2. Floor covering according to claim 1 wherein the aggregates (2) have a particle size defined by a granular class d / D of 5/45. 3. Floor covering according to claim 2 wherein the aggregates (2) are completely free of metal particles. 4. Flooring according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the textile fibers (3) comprise fibers made of nylon. 5. Floor covering according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the textile fibers (3) have a mass fraction in the rubber aggregates of between 45 and 55%. 6. Floor covering according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the textile fibers (3) comprise fibers made of aramid. 7. Floor covering according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said rubber aggregates (2) have a mass concentration in the coating of between 10 and 15 kg / m2. 8. Coating according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the granulator is equipped with fixed and mobile knives. 9. Floor covering according to any one of the preceding claims, being obtained by mixing a layer of 5 to 7 centimeters of said sand (1) and a layer of 2 to 4 cm of said rubber aggregates (2). 10. A method of manufacturing a floor covering for an equestrian surface according to any one of the preceding claims comprising the steps of: - Grinding aircraft tires in a rubber crusher so as to obtain crushed parts; - Treat the ground parts in a granulator so as to obtain aggregates (2); - Distribute the aggregates (2) on an equestrian surface comprising sand; - Mechanically mix the aggregates (2) with the sand (1).