GB2303038A - Apparatus for watering and draining soil - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for watering and draining soil. The tube apparatus comprises vertical slotted tubes 2 which comprise elongated vertical aperture flow controllers interconnected by drainage pipes 5. The vertical tube apparatus is embedded in coarse sand or gravel 4 over a impervious base 8. The vertical tube apparatus controls the drainage direction 11 and vertical water table 12 governed by a water controller 13 to activate direct drainage from sportsfield surface. The apparatus has three functions - direct drainage control to a trough - combined sub irrigation and drainage to a sump - drainage in the soil only to the vertical apparatus, all inserted vertically in the playing surface of a sportsfield and sports area 1.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to a system of vertical porous tube containers inserted into the sports field natural turf surfaces to control the surface drainage and/or sub irrigate to promote extensive root formation of the grassed area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Sportsfields are normally of a natural grass turf surface externally exposed to the weather elements principley constructed by conventional methods.

The invention due to the uniqueness allows existing sportsfield grass surfaces to be drained effectively and quickly causing little inconvenience to the sport surface at a low cost.

This highly permeable sub surface perforated duct permits rainwater to be promptly directed down from the turf surface to be collected and dispersed within an interconnecting tube in a trench to a trough easily reversed to introduce supplementary irrigation water into the vertical tube to disperse.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The apparatus comprises of a vertical conduit with or without a vertical secondary duct connected to a conventional supply duct for irrigation or drainage.

IRRIGATION The supply consists of a small diameter duct inserted into a larger duct the smaller duct being pressured to conduct irrigation water within the vertical perforated conduit and immediately reduced to gravity pressure by a pressure reducing cap or bubble controlling the irrigation flow to the vertical dispersing duct.

DRAINAGE The duct comprising of perforated structure covered by a fabric sock inserted vertically into the sports area turf surface to suit the depth requirement.

The surplus surface water will disperse and flow into the vertical duct at the field surface, accumulate and slowly disperse into the sub surface soil or be conducted into a horizontal tube connected to the lower vertical duct and conducted to a trough.

VERTICAL DUCT The ducts are inserted vertically into the soil surface at suitable spacing in a pattern to attract and collect the surface water. The accumulation of rainwater or irrigation develops a greater environment for root growth and discourages surface compaction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A typical layout of an existing football/soccer size sportsfield for outdoor activities 1 where pre-made vertical tubes of various sizes 2 are inserted over an existing impervious surface 3 in the form of a vertical hole 4 interconnected to a drainage conduit 5 to a sump.

Tubes 4 embedded in coarse sand 6 or fine gravel 7 sumperimposed over a plastic impervious layer to suit size of hole 8 completed with surface insertion of existing turf plug 9.

Drainage evacuation in two directions the width of the sportsfield 10 Soil drainage direction is shown 11 to vertical tube controlling a subsoil water table 12 controlled by a water flow controller to drainage 13 covered by fabric sock 14. Distribution slots covered with a fabric sock as indicated around tubes 15 The sub irrigation supply is installed with a elongated aperture flow controller 16 which allows for surplus soil water to discharge 17 but allows subirrigation 18 and retains soil water 19.

The sub irrigation flow is shown 20 through the distribution slots 15 . The sub irrigation supply interconnecting with each and every vertical tube 21 A vertical supply flow control or bubble outlet 22 filling distribution tube 2 The vertical tube only inserted into existing sports field is programmed to drain only 23 with no extensions.

Drainage flow 24 collected and distributed by absorption to the subsoil 25 through coarse sand or fine gravel 7. Distribution drain to trough bedding and covered with coarse sand or fine gravel 7 Vertical tubes 2 are capped with a slotted cap 26 with a base composed of a solid cap 27 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig.l Indicates plan and section of vertical tubes over an existing sportsfield indicating the drainage flow and irrigation directions.

Fig.2 Details the vertical tube indicating the drainage action and connection to the outfall drain through the flow control unit located inside the tube to control the water table level.

Fig.3 Details the method of sub irrigation flow together with drainage overflow forming a recycle action with surplus soil water.

Fig.4 Indicates the drainage element of the vertical tube together with the soil water flow pattern restricted by a impervious layer (plastic sheet) to increase the horizontal water flow without external attachments.

Fig.5 The plan of the vertical tube showing the top flow control slots in top cap - fabric sock - coarse sand or fine gravel trench.

Indicating drain and water supply flow directions.

Claims (7)

1. Interconnecting vertical tubes for rapid surface drainage and sub irrigation by the vertical tubes inserted into the existing surface of a sportsfield or area.

2. As in Claim 1 a lightweight vertical tube manufactured and inserted quickly with no inconvenience to the use of the sportsfield leaving the surface intact ready for activities with a de-watered surface.

3. As in Claims 1 and 2 the vertical tubes are universal and adaptable for a drainage only system.

4. As in Claims 1 and 2 the vertical tubes can be adaptable for sub irrigation.

5. As in Claims 1 and 2 the vertical tubes can introduce liquid fertilizer and convey within the irrigation water supply.

6. As in Claims 1 and 2 the vertical tubes can introduce and convey hot water through the system for soil heat, frost control and snow melting.

7. As in Claims 1 and 2 the porous vertical tube unit inserted into the surface of the sports area and connected to a air pressure pump can aerate directly under pressure through the distribution action of the tube unit by substituting the water supply solid tube to an air pressure supply allowing aeration and oxigination to the subsoil generating excellent grass root structure.

7. As in Claims 1 and 2 the vertical tubes can be reversed to extract soil water from the field surface by means of a reversible pump or vacuum pump.

8. As in Claims 1 and 2 the vertical tubes create a aeration system within the surface soil.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. An interconnecting vertical shallow depth apparatus consisting of a porous tube inserted (30cm) into a sportsfield turf or all weather surface acting as a dewatering and drainage unit vertically and horizontally over the porous tube discharging directly into a perforated drain pipe housing a solid pressure pipe directed to a pump and trough performing a discharging and recycling action together with the evacuation of surface waters unwanted for grass turf sports.

2. As in Claim 1 the vertical porous tubes inserted in place can be adapted to collect and/or disperse the soil water from the sports surface within the vertical porous tube by gravity force action and direct discharge into a perforated tube to a sump over a impervious base. Alternatively returning under pressure within the perforated drain pipe to connect and supply the vertical porous tubes producing irrigation supply.

3. As in Claims 1 and 2 the vertical porous tube unit can be adapted for introducing liquid fertilizers and retention of fertilizers delivered within the water supply under pressure to be dispersed to the soil horizontally through the vertical porous tube unit.

4. As in the above Claims the vertical porous unit can be adapted for the distribution of hot and cold water within the tube unit horizontally within the periferal area of the porous tube unit.

5. As in Claim 4 the vertical porous tube can be adapted for surface soil heating elements by distributing horizontally to counteract surface frost and snow melting within the area and scope of the vertical porous tube being supplied by hot water from a solid tube in a perforated tube which returns the hot water for re-heating in a sump.

6. As in Claims 1 and 2 the vertical porous tubes can be adapted to extract and de-water surface waters vertically from the sports surface by incorporating a extraction pump to discharge to a sump within the vertical porous tube units.