GB2330147A

GB2330147A - Synthetic surfaces such as horse gallops

Info

Publication number: GB2330147A
Application number: GB9721643A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Andrew Collins
Original assignee: Martin Collins Enterprises Ltd
Current assignee: Martin Collins Enterprises Ltd
Priority date: 1997-10-10
Filing date: 1997-10-10
Publication date: 1999-04-14
Also published as: GB9721643D0

Abstract

A material for use as a coherent synthetic surface, eg for horse gallops, is prepared by mixing heated wax with a particulate filler, such as sand, and a resilient granular plastics component to form a substantially homogeneous mix. This is then applied to a prepared area of ground. The granular plastics material may be chopped elastic fibres.

Description

SYNTHETIC SURFACES The invention relates to a synthetic surface, more particularly a synthetic surface for recreational or exercise use by animals and humans, e.g. for equestrian use. Such a surface may be an arena, gallop or track, or the like.

It is known to make such a surface by mixing a particulate filler such as sand and a resilient granular filler component and applying the mix to the intended site. The filler may be granules of polyvinyl chloride, natural or synthetic rubbers; cork; or the like.

In one preferred composition the component is chopped fibre and cut elasticated fibre which is described and claimed in our patent application GB9522401.9, publication GB-A-2306494 (Agent's ref: P01335GB). Such a composition is suited for use as a gallop or the like. We have now discovered a still better composition for this purpose.

The present invention is based on the realisation that including a wax in the mix in a selected way will provide a surface having a more consistent composition.

According to the invention in one aspect there is provided a method of forming a coherent synthetic surface, comprising mixing a heated wax with a particulate filler and a resilient granular plastics component to form a substantially uniform mix, and then applying the mix to a substrate to form a surface.

Preferably the heated wax is force-mixed with the other components. Preferably the ingredients are mixed in a paddle mixer or the like. Alternatively the heated wax may be jet blasted into the other components.

The wax may be of any suitable natural or synthetic type. Most preferably the wax is a crude petroleum wax which contains a high proportion of liquid hydrocarbon and has been obtained by de-waxing a petroleum lubricating oil fraction. Such a wax is solid at ambient temperature and needs to be heated to say 1700 to make it sufficiently liquid for the purposes of this invention. Preferably the wax is a so called slack wax or the like.

The proportion of the wax in the mix may vary widely; in one preferred example the content is about 6% by weight.

The invention may be performed in many ways. In one method the formed mix is applied to a prepared ground area. In another way, rather like a retrofit, a wax-free composition is removed from a gallop or like site, mixed with the wax and then replaced on the site.

The invention also includes a technique for adding wax to a laid surface. In this method a tractor is provided with a rotovator at the front and back, and carries a container of the heated wax or follows a heated bitumen tanker. The tractor moves along the surface, and the rotovator raises the surface; the wax is sprayed onto or otherwise applied to that surface, and the following rotovator mixes the wax in, the movement of the rotovator blades and the forward motion of the tractor providing the mixing force. This technique may be used to add wax to an originally wax-free surface to rejuvenate it or to add wax to one from which wax has been leached out.

The composition preferably has the following proportions in percentages by weight: sand or like filler 70 to 98% chopped non-woven fibre 1 to 15%, especially 5 to 8% chopped elasticated fibre 0 to 5%, especially 0.5 to 2% binder 0 to 10%, especially 2 to 6% wax 0.5 to 8%, by weight The sand is preferably a fine, rounded silica sand as opposed to rounded particles, because such granules minimise the wearing effect on horses' hooves and reduce the natural sifting or packing down process associated with many sands, which process results in an undesirable desegregation of the mixture of the surface.

The surface of the invention is particularly advantageous for equestrian use. The surface has a uniform consistency. It has enhanced 'bounce' which improves riding performance and comfort. It has reduced water retention and improved durability and hence prolonged working life. For exarnple in dry weather there is little or no need to rewater the surface. It has compaction which avoids undue penetration and it does not harden; has reduced tendency to freeze in winter conditions and is no more expensive than previous synthetic surfaces for the same purpose.

The surface is suitable for laying indoors or outdoors. It may be mixed and laid by conventional means for synthetic, sand-based surfaces and, for example, may be laid to form a rolled compacted surface of a depth of from about 50 mm to about 500 mm, preferably from 100 mm to 175 mm. It is suitable for any desired size of exercise or training track, e.g. from a small indoors surface of a few hundred square metres to an outdoor surface measured in hectares. The composition of the surface may be constituted so as to replicate so-called 'good going' turf regardless of the weather conditions. A synthetic surface of the invention is seen to good effect as an equestrian surface or track or gallop. It may also be useful for human use, e.g. as a golf course, football pitch, rugby pitch, baseball diamond, runing track; edging to swimming pools; and the like.

In order that the invention may be well understood it will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following example: To a paddle mixer was added sand (91 parts) and chopped elasticated fibre (3 parts).

A reservoir of slack wax was heated to 180"C, and poured into barrels which were transported to the mixer and the wax added (6 parts). The mixer was kept running so that the wax was well blended in, while hot. The product was a substantially uniform mix of sand and fibre granules, coated with the wax. The composition was used to form a gallop, and it was noted that the granules tended to be fixed by the wax so that there was little or no segregation of the components of the mix or of the laid gallop.

The mix was waterproof.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A method of forming a coherent synthetic surface, comprising mixing heated wax with a particulate filler (such as sand) and a resilient granular plastics component to form a substantially uniform mix.
2. A method according to Claim 1, wherein the wax is force-mixed with the other components while still hot.
3. A method according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the ingredients are mixed in a paddle mixer or the like.
4. A method according to any preceding Claim, wherein the wax is a hydrocarbon wax which is heated to about 1 700C.
5. A method according to Claim 4, wherein the wax is a slack wax or the like.
6. A method according to any preceding Claim, wherein the wax is about 0.5 to 8 parts by weight of the mix, preferably about 6%.
7. A method according to any preceding Claim, wherein the formed mix is applied to a prepared ground area.
8. A method according to any of Claims 1 to 6, wherein a wax-free composition is removed from a gallop or like site, mixed with the wax and then replaced on the site.
9. A method according to Claim 8, comprising moving a tractor along the laid surface to rotovate it, adding the heated wax and then rotovating the waxed surface and relaying it.
10. A method according to Claim 9, wherein a supply of heated wax is mounted on a tractor having a rotovator means at the front and the back.
11. A method according to Claim 9, wherein the wax is in a heated tanker and the tractor follows the tanker to mix in heated wax applied from the tanker.