WO2008046912A1

WO2008046912A1 - Cushioned layer under an artificial lawn and method for laying a cushioned layer

Info

Publication number: WO2008046912A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/061215
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Frank; Wilhelm Ginster; Rudolf Kautz; Frank Pilz
Original assignee: Trocellen Gmbh
Priority date: 2006-10-20
Filing date: 2007-10-19
Publication date: 2008-04-24
Also published as: DK2084329T3; EP2084329B2; ES2733476T3; DK2084329T4; EP2084329B1; PT2084329T; PL2084329T5; TR201909752T4; ES2733476T5; PL2084329T3; EP2084329A1

Abstract

During the laying of cushioned layers in the form of strips under sports floors, such as an artificial lawn, the problem of temperature-dependent undulation or curling of the strips often arises. The invention thus provides a sports floor, in particular an artificial lawn, comprising a playable upper layer and a cushioned layer which comprises at least one foam layer having slits that completely penetrate the foam layer. In particular, the cushioned layer comprises slits which are embodied in two directions extending perpendicularly in relation to each other, said slits enclosing an angle of 30 to 70°, in particular 40 to 50°, with the longitudinal and transversal extension of the strip. Alternatively, the slits are arranged so that they are offset from one another in a parallel manner, the cushioned layer on at least one side being cushioned with a nonwoven, woven or meshed fabric.

Description

description

Cushioning layer under artificial turf and method for laying a cushioning layer

Technical field The invention relates to a sports floor, in particular an artificial turf, with a playable upper layer and a cushion layer, wherein the cushion layer comprises at least one foam layer.

Artificial turf on z. There are football fields in different versions with regard to the grass yarn, the tufting type, the pile heights and densities. The artificial turf can be filled with quartz sand, rubber granules, EPDM granules, combined layers or other fillings. The filling heights depend on the density of the lawn yarns and pile heights.

Typically, an elastic layer is installed under the synthetic turf, which may consist of cross-linked PE foam, PU composite foam, a rubber granule mat, applied on-site layers of a mixture of recycled rubber sand resin or EPDM sand resin.

State of the art

WO 2006/007862 A1 discloses an embodiment of a sports floor with an elastic layer, in which a sheet of crosslinked polyethylene foam with thermally formed nubs is installed under the layers of the sports floor.

Webs of foams such as PE, PP, PS or PVC in the usual widths of 1.5 to 2 m and thicknesses of 4 to 20 mm are rolled in the first step of laying in the longitudinal direction over the playing width. The web edges are sewn together, glued or welded. After two to three laid sheets of elastic layer is for weighting with the laying of artificial turf started, which are also aligned over the field width.

The laying of the elastic layer during temperature changes can be problematic. If a web laid at relatively low daytime temperatures, it is initially smooth and tight on the support layer of z. As asphalt, concrete or Erdplanum on. If the artificial turf runs over the elastic layer are laid in this state, the tracks will continue to lie smoothly.

Occur temperature changes z. B. after loosening of the clouds by sunlight, it may be due to the relatively high thermal expansion coefficients of foams to expansions of the webs in length and width, resulting in wave formation and web distortions. If the laying of artificial turf is continued in this condition, permanent unevenness in the surface may occur. Another problem arises due to the wind susceptibility of undulating and non-flat lying webs.

From EP 0 292 865 B1, a multilayer cushion layer is known to remedy this problem, in which the cushion layer has been laminated on the upper side with a metal foil which reflects the sunlight and thereby largely avoids the increase in temperature. This padding layer under artificial turf has proven itself with regard to avoiding the formation of sunlight when exposed to sunlight, but the reflection of the sunlight during laying leads to acceptance problems, since these reflections can be extremely disturbing during installation.

Unevenness can also occur under already laid lawn areas due to expansion of the foam webs. The latter problem is turned off in artificial turf fillings by the bulk density of sand or granules.

For unfilled artificial turf with significantly lower dead weight, the problem remains. task

Object of the present invention is therefore to provide a cushion layer under a sports floor with a recordable upper class, especially under an artificial turf, the problems and at the same time a wave formation / bulge in sunlight or already laid lawns by expansions of the foam webs avoids.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, it is proposed that the cushioning layer has slots which completely penetrate the cushioning layer. These slits in the cushion layer cause the extensibility in the longitudinal and transverse directions of the cushion layer webs is significantly increased, so that the webs are stretched during laying even at relatively low tensile stress to the extent that they even with considerable warming, z. B. by sunlight, no more wave formation.

The type and length of the slots is basically unproblematic, but slot patterns are preferred in which the individual slots extend in two different directions, these two directions being at an angle of 30 to 90 °, preferably at an angle of 90 ° to each other.

Alternatively, the slots may also be curved or otherwise non-linear, and it is preferred that when the slots are distributed, there is an expansion in both

Longitudinal and in the transverse direction is possible.

As far as the slots - as preferred - extend substantially in two mutually perpendicular directions and these directions are directed at an angle of approximately 45 ° to the longitudinal extent of the web, a particularly advantageous effect is achieved: when elongated in longitudinal extension by applying a corresponding tensile force the laying of the webs are automatically stretched simultaneously in the transverse direction, so that a particularly simple installation of adjacent webs can be done. Particularly preferably, an elongation of the cushion layer in the longitudinal direction of about 0.5 to 10%, in particular 1.5 to 6%, caused by the laying of the cushion layer during installation with appropriate tensile force and optionally fixed at the end. As far as the padding layer has slots in only one direction, the elongation can be selected higher, in particular up to 300%.

After laying two or more side by side extending webs these are connected to each other according to a preferred embodiment of the invention by welding the abutting longitudinal edges. It is not critical if the slots of the individual webs extend into this edge region. It is generally sufficient if two webs adjoining each other with their side edges are only welded together at points. As an alternative to welding, bonding or suturing of the abutting webs can also be carried out.

The cushion layer according to the invention is preferably made of a crosslinked polyolefin foam having a density of 25 to 180 kg / m ³ , in particular from 27 to 100 kg / m ³ . The thickness is preferably 5 to 20 mm, in particular 8 to 18 mm.

Depending on requirements, instead of a single-layered, homogeneous foam web, it is also possible to use a multilayered, in particular composed of different densities, cushion layer. For example, the padding layer could consist of a cover layer of a density of 120 kg / m ³ and a

Underlayer be combined with a density of 30 kg / m ³ , wherein the individual layers are preferably joined together by flame laminating.

The slotting z. B. following the lamination by all layers. According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, a plurality of slits of the same or different slits in slotted and stretched accessories may also be used. stood concealed together. It is of particular advantage that the stretching is largely fixed or retained.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the padding layer will consist solely of foam. According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the foam layer may also be provided with additional layers, in particular a stretchable nonwoven or woven or knitted fabric, before or after slitting. If the additional layers are not slit, they are preferably laminated to the already stretched foam layer. Depending on the arrangement and spacing of the slots and the degree of stretching before or during laminating, the elongation of the laminate can relax more or less strongly and thereby the unslotted top or bottom layers are more or less strongly compressed when relaxing the foam layer. In particular, when using a nonwoven fabric as an additional layer laminated with the foam layer, substantially greater strains of the foam material layer can also be realized, in particular in the range from 50 to 300%. It may be advantageous if, for example, a nonwoven cover layer throws wrinkles when relaxing the foam layer, which can either directed upwards or penetrate into the slots. Particularly preferred is an embodiment comprising a foam layer with exclusively straight, offset-parallel slots, wherein the foam layer is laminated on one side with a non-woven and is stretched when laminating the nonwoven by 100 to 200%.

The individual slots are preferably the same length and preferably have a length of 30 to 100 mm, in particular 40 to 60 mm. In embodiments with slits extending substantially in two mutually perpendicular directions, the individual slits are preferably arranged to extend at an angle of in each case 45 ° to the edges of the web. The slitting of the webs is preferably carried out by means of a corresponding punching tool, for example by rolls provided with knives and possibly a counter-roll provided with slits, but can also be effected, for example, by means of lifting punching or water jet cutting.

Preferably, the webs are stretched only when laying. In this case, preferably a web end is firmly anchored to the ground. In embodiments of the invention in which a fleece was laminated to the compressed foam layer, additional stretching during installation can be dispensed with.

The laying can be done for example in the following way: With z. As a Abrollwagen the slotted web is rolled out, passing through two pairs of rollers installed on the unwinding device. The rear pair of rollers is synchronously coupled with a drive wheel of the roll-off, the front pair of rollers is connected by a chain drive with the rear roller pair. Here, a smaller sprocket provides for a translation at a lower speed of the front pair of rollers compared to the rear pair of rollers. As a result, a uniform web tension is applied continuously, which leads to the drawing of the continuous web. At the end of the laying stretch, the stretched web is fastened to the ground as at the beginning and kept under tension. In the course of laying the ends are glued to the surface while maintaining the web tension.

The web joints of adjacent webs are welded together according to a preferred embodiment of the invention in the longitudinal direction with hot air or hot wedge. Due to the stretching of the web, a fishbone-like structure of the expanded metal mesh arises in the edge region. Thus, there is no longer closed loop edge. The outwardly projecting foam elements abut elastically against each other in the edge region of two adjacent webs at irregular intervals. On the one hand, this results in a resilient behavior of the elements with achieved directional pressure, which accommodates the welding, on the other hand are obtained by the irregular welding positions in the connecting regions of the webs elastically deformable areas.

In tests, as described above, slit sheets were stretched and fastened at two ends in a frame. One surface was then heated with IR radiation. While in a parallel test, a closed, non-slit and stretched foam web of the same quality bulges convexly toward the heated side under one-sided effect of temperature, the slit and cold stretched web remains in the flat position without distortion. As the temperature increases, the slots narrow, and as the heat source is removed and cooled, the slots reopen to their original dimensions.

Another advantage of the slots is that water can run to the bottom of the web and can be discharged directly into the ground or through introduced on the web rear gutters to the edge of the field. This eliminates an otherwise usual additional operation in which holes are punched in the foam sheet.

Short description of the drawing

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment and the drawing. It shows:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the web of foam Fig. 2 is a laying device

Best way to carry out the invention

For the production of a cushion layer 1 according to the invention a foam sheet of chemically crosslinked, largely closed-cell polyethylene foam having a density of 90 kg / m ³ , make Trocellen C 09008 N, is used. The starting material in roll form has a width of 150 cm and a thickness of 8 mm. This web was conveyed by means of a roller paares whose first roller corresponding knife and whose second roller this matching slots had, provided with slots 7, 7 ', 8, 8'. The mutually parallel at a distance of 3.5 cm extending slots 7, 7 'and 8, 8' each have a length b of 5 cm and extend at an angle of 45 ° to the longitudinal extent of the web 1. The perpendicular thereto extending slots 8, 8 'also have a length b of 5 cm and are arranged alternately to the slots 7, 7', wherein between the end of the slots 8, 8 'each have a clearance c of 1 cm to the transverse slot 7, 7' remains.

For laying this cushion layer, one end of the slotted sheet is first fixed to the ground by means of a nail bar. The slotted web is rotatably mounted in the form of a roller 3 on the laying device 9. The laying device 9 is then pulled in laying direction 5, wherein the cushion layer web 1 is automatically unrolled and stretched in the draw unit 6 by 5%. The speed of advancement in laying direction 5 is also selected so that the web is stretched 5% in the longitudinal direction. At the end of the course, the track is cut to length and also fixed to the ground. As a result of the stretching, the slits 7, 7 ', 8, 8' were each opened slightly lenticularly, so that the web was stretched in the longitudinal direction at the same time by about 5% in the transverse direction. In addition to the thus laid first track is successively a second, third, etc. track laid under stretching by 5% in the longitudinal direction. The adjoining each with its longitudinal edge 2 adjacent webs are then partially welded together in a conventional manner by means of hot air, so that a homogeneous evenly stretched coating is formed. If the surface of this covering, for example, heated by sunlight, the slots 7, 7 ', 8, 8' according to the temperature-induced strain of the web again more or less together, without the web would be curled or curved. At an elongation of 5% in the longitudinal direction at the Laying temperature differences of about 80 k and more can be compensated.

Gradually with the progressive laying of the cushion layer, the top layer of artificial turf is laid in layers, thus completing the sports floor.

Legend

1 cushion layer

2 track edge

3 roll

4 wheels

5 pulling direction

6 stretch unit

7,7 'slot

8,8 'slot

9 installation device

Claims

claims

1. sports floor, in particular artificial turf, with a recordable upper layer and a cushion layer, wherein the cushion layer at least one foam layer summarized, characterized in that the cushion layer has slots that completely penetrate the foam layer.

2. Sports floor according to claim 1, characterized in that the slots are arranged in at least two at an angle of 30 to 90 ° to each other extending directions.

3. Sports floor according to claim 1, characterized in that the slots are curved or otherwise unradlinated.

4. Sports floor according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the slots extend substantially in two mutually perpendicular directions.

5. A sheet-like cushioning layer for use in a sports floor according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the cushioning layer has slots arranged in two mutually perpendicular directions, the slots forming an angle with the longitudinal or transverse extension of the web from 30 to 70 °, especially 40 to 50 °.

6. Web-shaped padding layer for use in a sports floor according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the cushioning layer has slots which are offset parallel to each other, wherein the cushioning layer is laminated on at least one side with a nonwoven, woven or knitted fabric.

7. A method for laying a cushion layer under an artificial turf o. The like. , characterized in that the

Padding layer under application of a tensile stress, which is an elongation of the padding layer in the longitudinal direction of more causes 1%, designed on the ground and then, if necessary, after connecting the longitudinal edge edges of the adjacent tracks, is covered with the artificial turf.