CA2102460A1

CA2102460A1 - Prefabricated portable indoor/outdoor natural grass sportsfield

Info

Publication number: CA2102460A1
Application number: CA 2102460
Authority: CA
Inventors: James Paterson Izatt; David Russell Izatt; Christian Patrick Probst
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-11-04
Filing date: 1993-11-04
Publication date: 1995-05-05
Also published as: JP2631958B2; JPH07150513A; GB2288306B; GB2288306A; GB9420943D0

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A prefabricated portable indoor/outdoor system for rapidly removing excess moisture from a planted area surface such as a sportsfield or sports area including a sub-surface multistrata base for drainage and irrigation combined and adpated for propagating a planted surface requiring controlled irrigation and/or draining of excessive moisture.
IRRIGATION supply consists of a small diameter duct superimposed into a larger duct at right angles to each other.
Ports through the smaller duct are spaced directly into the larger duct below the level of smaller duct. The upper smaller duct is a pressure duct conducting water.
During irrigation water falls from the upper small pressure duct ports into the lower larger duct which forms a perforated sump allowing the irrigation water to disperse over the impervious plastic base.
DRAINAGE. The water rises into the larger lower duct through ports to the level of the port in the duct end caps which connects to a solid duct thus forming a reservoir sump within the larger duct over the impervious plastic base.
HONEYCOMB. Being of a lightweight construction and prefabricated in a workshop allows the apparatus to be lifted by hand according to its size and laid by hand and by doing so is consistent with a temporary movable apparatus allowing a multi purpose apparatus.

Description

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FIELD OF THE INVENTION

ThiS invention relates ^to planted surface conditioning systems and more par^ticularly relates to a system for controlling drainage and/or irrigation to promote extensive roo^t formation of the planted area. ~
:' BACKGROUND OF THE I~VENTION ~:

Sportsfields for external use have principally ~ .
been constructed by grading the soil at the proposed ~ :~
site, tilling l:he 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 highschool 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 i.njuries. ~.

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S~MMARY OF THE INVENTION ...

One object of this invention is to provide a .-natural grass spor-tsfield 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 substantia]ly 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 I.evel 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 ~he sandfill is a porous cardboard box ~ith honeycomb compartments filled with a non compactible mixture of peat, perlite and calcined agreegate toyether 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.

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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 medium to 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 transfexring 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 2G 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. ~ ~

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` 2~2~60 `.`: ' BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig.l Indicates a sportsfield complete with drainage -i 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 eontrol of honeycombs indicating drainage outlets.
Fig.3 Illustrates the cardboard box housing the j~
honeycomb with vertical slots superimposed thereon superimposed on a drainage and irrigation system engulfed in sand medium showing irrigation 10w 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.S Detail showing honeycomb structure with 2 inch apertures and 2 inch depth.
Detail showing vertical slots in line 1/8" thiek with 1/32" apertures.
Fig.6 Deseribes the seetion of eardboard slots super-imposed over the honeyeomb 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. `~

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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A typical layout for a football-soccer size -~
-~ sportsfield indoor ox outaoor where maln 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 Erom 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 hase 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.

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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 com~osed 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 adjun~t to this system.

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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 ~orts 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 ~low 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 2~ and levels 2~. 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 1/8" width 26 and no .
greater than 2 inch depth 27 o various overall sizes to suit area.

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Claims

1. A drainage system for rapid drainage of the top surface of a sportsfield - athletic playing field and for water conservation characterized by a water-proof 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.

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.