GB2322397A

GB2322397A - Surfacing material

Info

Publication number: GB2322397A
Application number: GB9703623A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roy Brereton Chant; Malcolm John Dorman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-02-21
Filing date: 1997-02-21
Publication date: 1998-08-26
Anticipated expiration: 2017-02-21
Also published as: GB9703623D0; GB2322397B

Abstract

A surfacing material comprises a mixture made up of: re-cycled rubber in the form of granules having a size in the range dust to 8 mm; or an ethylene propylene diene ternomer in the form of granules having a size in the range dust to 5 mm; aggregate, such as stone, granite, glass or sand, in the form of granules having a particle size in the range dust to at least 15 mm and, a urethane pre-polymer. The surfacing material can include a colorant or an aggregate of a pre-selected colour so as to provide an entire coloured surface or, in combination with a surfacing material of otherwise similar type which includes either no colorant or aggregate of a pre-selected colour or a colourant or aggregate of different colour, a surface having areas of different colour but of similar resilience and/or wearing characteristics. Thus it is possible to provide a surface material fabrication comprising a layer of the surfacing material deposited on a geotextile membrane serving to provide an impervious backing. Typically the layer serves to provide a generally porous volume above the impervious backing. Also, there can be provided a discrete load bearing structure having a surface bearing the surface material fabrication as aforesaid. Typically the layer of surfacing material is adapted to provide a porous body through which liquid deposited on the surface can percolate to a pre-determined level and thereafter passes through the material to one or more recovery locations for the liquid.

Description

SURFACING MATERIAL This invention relates to a surfacing material. It is particularly concerned with a surfacing material able to resist cracking while providing a degree of flexibility.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a surfacing material comprising a mixture made up of: 1 re-cycled rubber in the form of granules having a size in the range dust to 8 mm or an ethylene propylene diene ternomer in the form of granules having a size in the range dust to 5 mm; 2 aggregate, such as stone, granite, glass or sand, in the form of granules having a particle size in the range dust to at least 15 mm; 3 a urethane pre-polymer.

According to a first preferred version of the first aspect of the present invention there is further provided a colorant or some or all of the aggregate is of a pre-selected colour so as to provide an entire coloured surface or, in combination with a surfacing material of otherwise similar type which includes either no particular colorant or aggregate of a pre-selected colour or a further colourant or aggregate of different colour, a surface having areas of different colour but of similar resilience and/or wearing characteristics.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a surface material fabrication comprising a layer of surfacing material according to the first aspect or the first preferred version thereof deposited on a geotextile membrane serving to provide an impervious backing to the layer. Typically the layer serves to provide a generally porous volume above the impervious backing.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a discrete load bearing structure having a surface coated with a surfacing material according to the first aspect or the first preferred version thereof.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a discrete load bearing structure having a surface bearing a surface material fabrication according to the the second aspect.

According to a first preferred version of the fourth aspect of the present invention the layer of surfacing material is adapted to provide a porous body through which liquid deposited on the surface can percolate to a pre-determined level and thereafter passes through the material to one or more recovery locations for the liquid.

By making use of a surfacing material according to the first aspect of this invention a number of benefits are obtained enabling the material to be used in a wide range of applications. In particular it provides a surfacing material having considerable tensile strength so enabling a relatively thin layer to be used as a load bearing ground covering layer than is possible with currently available materials. It also provides a resilient surface of particular benefit for path ways and as a multi-sport surface where it serves to cushion the impact of body regions with the surface.

A surface material fabrication according to the second aspect of the present invention makes a useful fabrication for horticultural use such as in nursery plant beds. Water falling on the surface passes into the body of the material until it reaches the impervious backing which, by suitable inclination, can provide for the water to drain down through the body of the material to one or more recovery locations from where the recovered water can be recycled.

A material according to the present invention can include a colorant or an aggregate of a pre-selected colour so as to provide an entire coloured surface or, in combination with further uncoloured or differently coloured material, a surface having areas of different colour but uniform resilience and wearing characteristics.

The aggregate used for the material of the present invention can include or comprise glass granules to provide a reflective surface for natural or artificial light. Material of this type can be used, for example, as part of surrounds or other regions of a road roundabout with the glass aggregate forming integral or directional or other signs which are readily visible particularly at night or in low light levels by permanent lighting or temporary lighting by passing vehicle headlamps.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing of which: Figure 1 is a block diagram showing a production and deposition process for a surfacing material according to the present invention; and Figure 2 is a plan view of a multi-sports surface with a material according to the present invention.

Figure 1 The surfacing material is produced in stages which will now be described in broad terms. The details of a particular production path will depend to a great extent to the way the material is to be applied for a given context.

The first stage 11 involves the mixing in a screw paddle type mixer of re-cycled rubber granules having a size in the range from dust to 8 mm with aggregate, in this case stone in the form of granules having a particle size in the range dust to 15 mm if not more. The proportion of rubber granules to aggregate is about 1 to 4 (by volume).

The second stage 12 provides for the mixing of a urethane pre-polymer to the output of first stage 11. The proportion of polymer to the prepared rubber/aggregate mixture is about 1 to 12.5 (by weight).

The resulting working mixture from second stage 12 is dispensed as a viscous mass over a prepared area of ground which is to form a multi-sport playing surface.

Figure 2 This shows from above a multi-sport playing area 14 over which surfacing material according to the present invention is dispensed to a controlled depth over the main region 15 except in the regions R which are filled with temporary formers coated with a release agent. The mixture is mixed and deposited and polymer component polymerise within the aggregate/rubber mixture bonding the constituents into a resilient hardwearing mass. The formers R are then withdrawn and the resulting spaces filled with a further working mixture. Equpment such as goal posts, basket ball nets or whatever are installed as demountable units so enabling a varity of sports to be played in the area 11.

The resulting polymerised material serves to provide a resilient, hard wearing surface of attractive appearance.

In an further embodiment a working surface incorporating the surfacing material of the present invention is used in a large green house for horticultural purposes. In this case a base surface is provided sloping from a high end to a low end. A geo-textile membrane having an impervious backing is then laid over the base surface from the high to the low end. Just beyond the low end guttering is provided along the width of the base surface.

Working material made according to the present invention and made up of recycled rubber or EPDM, granite aggregate and urethane pre-polymer mixed and deposited over the membrane to a predetermined depth. The granule size of the rubber and aggregate is chosen so as to provide an open textured working material. Once the mix has polymerised the working material forms a porous layer on which plants in cultivation can be placed in containers and watered as required. Any water reaching the surface passes into the body of the working material and passes downwardly until reaching the membrane when the water tends to pass down the slope to enter the guttering where it can be recycled or passed onto a further work surface lying generally beneath the first one. In this embodiment the material serves to provide a long lasting work surface which cuts down the loss of water which initially does not fall on a plant. The work surface is also readily cleaned and sterilised.

In either embodiment the resulting working surface is hardwearing, resilient, and of high tensile strength. The material also tends to resist cracking and is not unduly susceptible to deleterious effects of ultra violet light. The ability of the material to flex slightly makes it particularly for structural members of large area such as vehicle ramps in car parking structures and receiving ramps on car ferries. The use of rubber also provides for a degree of sound deadening when the mixture is applied to a surface likely to otherwise transmit or generate sound when subject to varying loadings.

A relatively thin layer of material can readily support substantial loads. The type and extent of foundation required subsurface on which the working surface of the present invention is deposited depends on the intended usage. For working surface which will be subject to light pedestrian usage and the use of light wheeled vehilces such as prams and wheel barrows then ground compaction following levelling or shaping of the ground will be sufficient and the inherent tensile strength of the completed working surface will probably be sufficent. For heavier usage such as arises with factory access surfaces, from loaded storage racks for warehousing or vehicle parking there will be a need to provide of suitable foundation material to provide for load distibution.

While the embodiments refer to work surface on which pedestrian activities occur.

However the benefits available from the surfacing material are suitable for a wide variety of applications of which the following are offered by way of example.

Recreational areas such as: tennis courts, multi sports surfaces, roller blading areas, golf tee and walkways, skate boarding areas, cricket/net practice areas Passage ways involving pedestrians or vehicles such as: driveways, road central reservations, roundabouts, walkways, road crossing reservations, cycle paths Working areas involving equipment usage, vehicles, load carrying, such as: lorry parks, car parks, live stock yards, milking sheds, fish markets, vegetable markets, nursery plant beds, stables.

Structures generally such as- architectural designs and surfaces, large area of structures such as ships decks.

Claims

CLAIMS 1 A surfacing material comprising a mixture made up of:

1 re-cycled rubber in the form of granules having a size in the range dust to 8 mm or an ethylene propylene diene ternomer in the form of granules having a size in the range dust to 5 mm;

2 aggregate, such as stone, granite, glass or sand, in the form of granules having a particle size in the range dust to at least 15 mm;

3 a urethane pre-polymer.

2 A surfacing material as claimed in Claim 1 including a colorant or some or all of the aggregate is of a pre-selected colour so as to provide an entire coloured surface or, in combination with a surfacing material of otherwise similar type which includes either no particular colorant or aggregate of a pre-selected colour or includes a further colourant or aggregate of different colour, a surface having areas of different colour but of similar resilience and/or wearing characteristics.

3 A surface material fabrication comprising a layer of surfacing material as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 deposited on a geotextile membrane serving to provide an impervious backing.

4 A surfacing material fabrication as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the layer serves to provide a generally porous volume above the impervious backing.

5 A surfacing material as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

6 A discrete load bearing structure having a surface coated with a surfacing material as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2.

7 A discrete load bearing structure having a surface bearing a surface material fabrication as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4.

8 A structure as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the layer of surfacing material is adapted to provide a porous body through which liquid deposited on the surface can percolate to a predetermined level and thereafter passes through the material to one or more recovery locations for the liquid.