GB2288306A

GB2288306A - Modular sports field construction

Info

Publication number: GB2288306A
Application number: GB9420943A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Paterson Izatt; David Russell Izatt
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-11-04
Filing date: 1994-10-18
Publication date: 1995-10-18
Anticipated expiration: 2014-10-18
Also published as: JPH07150513A; GB2288306B; JP2631958B2; CA2102460A1; GB9420943D0

Description

2288306

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to planted surface conditioning systems and more particularly relates to a system for controlling drainage and/or irrigation to promote extensive root formation of the planted area.

X is BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sportsfields for external use have principally been constructed by grading the soil at the proposed site, tilling the surface, planting seed or turf sods to the playing area and letting nature control the surface. Most locations truck in better grades of top soil to improve conditions which never really improve the drainage characteristics. Such sportsfields are customarily crowned at the center field sloping to the sides as much as 24 inches to facilitate surface runoff

Many college and highsehool sportsfields become wet and muddy under rainy conditions as players and sports fans will readily attest.

One of the solutions to the problem has been plastic turf. This solution is costly but still remains very slippery under rainy conditions and causes major player injuries.

X 15 SU MA RY OF THE INVENTION One object of this invention is to provide a natural grass sportsfield which can be quickly drained to avoid wet and muddy playing conditions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a natural grass sportsfield with quick drainage, with substrata that can be controlled so that the effect of compaction is minimized and thereby retaining injury preventing resiliency.

A further object of the invention is to build such a system so that it may also be used for subsurface irrigation.

These objects are accomplished by constructing the turf substrata of substantially soil free materials which are installed as a compacted porous rootzone and which are not affected by further compaction.

The invention is built on a substantially level site on a firm subsoil.

The entire area is underlaid with a waterproof layer such as a plastic polythene sheet.

Drains are installed above the plastic sheeting and covered with sand fill over the entire area of the sportsfield.

Superimposed over the sandfill is a porous cardboard box with honeycomb compartments filled with a non compactible mixture of peat, perlite and calcined agreegate together with recycled organic material such as sawdust, rice hulls or paper pellets to form a rooting medium for supporting grass roots to a substantial turf grass surface.

i 1 i This highly permeable substrata then permits rainfall to be promptly directed down from the surface to be collected and controlled over the polythene sheeting impervious layer.

The densely constructed paper built in a vertical slot formation allows the surface rainfall water to be accepted quickly and transferred below to the honeycomb cardboard or plastic compartment filled with absorbent but porous material as indicated before.

This structure allows the grass roots in the growing mediumto penetrate the perforated structure thus allowing the root formation to grow through the vertical slots and into the supporting honeycomb structure.

The vertical slots (cardboard) cannot prevent the roots from growing through and transferring soilwater down and allowing a passage for air thus preventing a compaction factor at this level common to turf sportsfield surfaces.

The whole invention will be housed in a cardboard box (paper) which becomes porous by wetting. This box can be carried by hand or machine and laid down over the designated sportsfield area.

This lightweight method of construction eliminates heavy machinery which usually is required for construction work together with the trucking of materials.

is Q.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig.1 Indicates a sportsfield complete with drainage sub-irrigation and outlets complete with controls for conserving soilwater when required. Sections showing honeycombs of certain sizes to complete and cover the sportsfield.

Fig.2 Illustrates the method of control of honeycombs indicating drainage outlets.

Fig.3 Illustrates the cardboard box housing the honeycomb with vertical slots superimposed thereon superimposed on a drainage and irrigation system engulfed in sand medium showing irrigation flow conservation and drainage return.

Fig.4 Indicates the drainage pipe having a superimposed smaller pressure irrigation pipe directing irrigation water into a pipe with ports along its length with end caps forming ports dictating soilwater overflows into a solid drain pipe for gravity extraction.

Fig.5 Detail showing honeycomb structure with 2 inch apertures and 2 inch depth. Detail showing vertical slots in line 1/C thick with 1/32" apertures.

Fig.6 Describes the section of cardboar d slots superimposed over the honeycomb paper (cardboard) structure laid within a cardboard box. This box is shown laying over a drainage layer of perforated pipe and sandfill superimposed on a polythene sheet.

4_ 1 is DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A typical layout for a football-soccer size sportsfield indoor or outdoor where main collector drains 1 are interconnected with irrigation laterals 2 which are of porous material such as slitted pipes or ports. The collector mains are connected to a sump 3 which discharges and are connected to an outlet drain located at the bottom of the sump 4 discharge. Independent perimeter drains 6 should be installed to keep all surplus rainwater drained away from the sportsfield. The pre-made boxes are laid over the surface of the sportsfield area awaiting the final finish. A drainage pipe 3 equipped with a stopcock or valve 18 permits controlled gravity drainage. Moisture sensors 20 may be conventional. A solenoid valve normally closed is connected to the irrigation line and has one side connected with a conduit 21 leading to the pressurized water supply. The field subgrade is prepared for installation of this system by first preparing a level surface after excavating 12 inches below the final grade to the subsoil base 5 or tentatively superimposing on existing sportsfield surface. A waterproof barrier 7 such as a 6 mil plastic be installed and laid over a compacted subsoil.

11 The plastic sheets should be overlapped and stitched together and sealed to form a continuous watertight barrier 7. A uniform porous media 8 is then filled into the cardboard box housing the honeycomb 9. The vertical slot formation is superimposed over the honeycomb 10. The final grade level 11 is porous medium 12 preferably comprised of coarse to fine grain size sand. The rooting medium 13 for the seedbed for the turf to be grown comprised of substantially non-compactible materials composed of a mixture of peat, perlite and calcined aggregate mix spread over the vertical slots 14 and levelled to final grade. Granular fertilizer may also be incorporated into the final mix 15. This system will continuously drain away approximately 10 inches of rainfall per day or 24 hour period. Another advantage of this system is that an irrigation inlet 16 may be combined with it to supply subsurface irrigation to the turf in periods of inadequate rainfall. The above ground sprinklers may be used as a supplemental watering source as an adjunct to this system.

o 1 r 1 is A irrigation supply pipe of smaller aperture flowing under high pressure superimposed on each drainage pipe 2 having ports at specific drain pipes to discharge into the drain pipe when under pressure as irrigation water through a port 16. Each drain pipe has end caps where ports are located 17. These ports can be increased in aperture to suit area rainfall. Port 17 is interconnected to a solid pipe of various sizes 18 that conduct surplus soil water to a designated sump 4. Each drain pipe is covered by a fabric sock to ensure non silting of the drain 22. The irrigation flow is shown 16 with discharge 17 together with the distribution over impervious base 23. Distribution ports 19.

A detail of the cardboard or plastic constructed honeycomb of various sizes to suit area 24 and levels 24. Honeycombs can be of a size no greater than 2 inches square and 4 inches depth. The vertical slots constructed of cardboard with vertical honeycombs of 1/C width 26 and no greater than 2 inch depth 27 of various overall sizes to suit area.

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Claims

A drainage system for rapid drainage of the top surface of a sportsfield athletic playing field and for water conservation characterized by a waterproof plastic polythene barrier disposed above the existing subsoil.

A drainage pipe system disposed above said waterproof barrier.

A porous medium composed substantially of sand and porous medium.
2. A portable lightweight apparatus constructed with porous materials, soft when wet and stable when dry.

The apparatus constructed with cardboard or plastic hollow honeycombs of various thicknesses all combining to drain, irrigate and aerate substantially.

The honeycomb structure of a manufactured paper product houses and supports the grass root structure on pre fabricated units substantially completed within a workshop and transported to the site for laying ready for play.
3. The drainage pipe conduits being perforated and connected to a pressurized water supply will force the water through the pipes in a reverse flow thus allowing the water supply to disperse upward as a moisture content to the root structure, thus irrigating.
4. The honeycomb structure controls the vertical movement of the soil water upwards and downwards according to the action required, drainage or irrigation. The honeycomb structure confines the moisture movement and eliminates the horizontal movement of the soil water which is the major problem with conventional drainage.

i? is y- 1 9 x
5. The honeycomb structure of a manufactured paper product allows for a drainage/irrigation system of a prefabrication constructed off-site in various shapes and sizes to suit each area.
6. The lightweight prefabricated portable honeycomb system is a unique method of supporting natural grass (indoor) within a dome stadium where artificial conditions prevail.
7. The prefabricated portable honeycomb structure is a unique method of surface to subsoil aeration due to the hollow wall structure of the honeycomb.
8. The object of the invention is to overcome the difficulties to provide adequate drainage of surface and sub surface liquids and to dissipate or otherwise dispose of.
9. The object of the invention is to enhance the usefulness of various kinds of surface activity by reducing the amount of rainfall to which the surface is exposed thereby increasing the stability of the playing surface.
10. Due to the prefabricated and lightweight construction of the honeycomb box filled with lightweight growing medium each section can be laid by hand over a level and incline base thus eliminating heavy machines and trucks to form the sportsfield area.
11. Due to being portable each unit box can be lifted and transferred to a different location and re-established quickly, thus allowing instant sport activity.

9 1 1 i PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS - Additions - Hot and cold pumping units and later storage (28) of conventional design regulated by moisture sensor Water injection pipes (29) flow Water return pipes (30) X Overflow pipe to pumping unit and water storage (28) 2"dia. porous drainage pipe (31) housed within honeycomb material to extract surplus rainwater at a high level. Water directed into periferal drain (18) (3) Interval 3"dia. (32) overflow/drain pipe connected to drain (18) to extract surplus soil water and recycling of water - Structural box metal - wood - plastic - styrofoam composition (33) housing piping system and base filter material such as sand - peat - perlite - sawdust rice mix (34) supporting honeycomb box (8) Layout of 8' x 4' honeycomb boxes (35) covering quarter of the sportsfield area Layout of recycling pipes-(36) covering quarter of the sportsfield area Layout of high level drainage pipe (37) located within the honeycomb cardboard box Layout of main collector drains (1) and irrigation supply pipes (2) covering quarter of the sportsfield area (38) ADDITIONAL CLAIMS
12. The combination of piping and level allows the whole system to recycle cold water thus allowing the recycling of hot water throughout the designated areas - heating by conventional methods and solar heat transference to the sportsfield.
1.3. Due to the prefabricated portable feature the cardboard box can be substituted by a wood - plastic - metal box of lightweight material and can be used for supporting natural grass for indoor use, such as, a dome stadium using artificial light or transferred outdoors for natural sunlight.

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1 4 ADDITIONAL CLAIMS (cont!d) 14. Due to the formation of piping confined within a restricted area of fieldthe area can be effectively heated with hot water produced by electrical - steam or solar methods in a portable structure or insitu method.
15. Due to the layout of the piping the system will recycle soil water throughout the depth of the soil and return the water to it's point of collection, this water being rainwater or irrigation water in a cold state.
16. The addition of a form of heating, by electricity gas - steam or solar, the portable or permanent playing field will heat the soil water thus generating the growth of natural grass or vegetation and melt snow on the-surface or prevent frost accumulating on the natural grass playing field.

Page 5: Line 19 - 4 inch Line 20 - 4 inch Page 8: Line 12 - Sump 4 & 3 Line 19 - Area 25 Line 21 - greater than C and C depth 1 1