System for improving synthetic surfaces

Claim 1

A method for preventing extreme high temperatures in the vicinity of synthetic surfaces the method comprising the steps of: preparing a subgrade area to accommodate a subsurface base system on top of which is applied the synthetic surface, the subsurface base system comprising an upper layer of primarily sand-containing particulate material which has good capillary rise characteristics and in which liquid characteristically moves primarily in the vertical direction, and a lower layer of particulate material located substantially adjacent said upper layer, said lower layer consisting essentially of gravel, in which liquid characteristically moves well in the horizontal direction, as well as downwardly, so that liquid in the lower layer tends to disperse in the horizontal direction relatively rapidly and uniformly, wherein the physical characteristics of the essentially gravel particulate material of said lower layer and the primarily sand-containing particulate material of said upper layer are such that the sand-containing particulate material does not significantly penetrate into the gravel, so that, consequently, the void ratio of the gravel remains substantially unimpaired; and maintaining the particulate in the upper layer sufficiently moist that the heat insulating effect of the otherwise dry particulate is significantly reduced and so that heat at the synthetic surface is effectively transmitted from the surface to the subsurface base region and beyond.

Claim 2

A method for preventing extreme high temperatures in the vicinity of synthetic surfaces the method comprising the steps of: preparing a subgrade area to accommodate a subsurface base system on top of which is applied the synthetic surface, the subsurface base system comprising an upper layer of primarily sand-containing particulate material which has good capillary rise characteristics and in which liquid characteristically moves primarily in the vertical direction, and a lower layer of particulate material located substantially adjacent said upper layer, said lower layer consisting essentially of gravel, in which liquid characteristically moves well in the horizontal direction, as well as downwardly, so that liquid in the lower layer tends to disperse in the horizontal direction relatively rapidly and uniformly, wherein the physical characteristics of the essentially gravel particulate material of said lower layer and the primarily sand-containing particulate material of said upper layer are such that the sand-containing particulate material does not significantly penetrate into the gravel, so that, consequently, the void ratio of the gravel remains substantially unimpaired; and maintaining the particulate in the upper layer sufficiently moist that the heat insulating effect of the otherwise dry particulate is significantly reduced and so that heat at the synthetic surface is effectively transmitted from the surface to the subsurface base region and beyond.

Claim 7

A method for warming a synthetic surface comprising the steps of: preparing a subgrade area to accommodate a subsurface base system; applying the subsurface base system on top of said subgrade area, the subsurface base system comprising an upper layer of primarily sand-containing particulate material which has good capillary rise characteristics and in which liquid characteristically moves primarily in the vertical direction, and a lower layer of particulate material located substantially adjacent said upper layer, said lower layer consisting essentially of gravel in which liquid characteristically moves well in the horizontal direction, as well as downwardly, so that liquid in the lower layer tends to disperse in the horizontal direction relatively rapidly and uniformly, wherein the physical characteristics of the essentially gravel particulate material of said lower layer and the primarily sand-containing particulate material of said upper layer are such that the sand-containing particulate material does not significantly penetrate into the gravel, so that, consequentially, the void ratio of the gravel remains substantially unimpaired; applying said synthetic surface on top of said subsurface base system; establishing a reservoir of liquid in the subsurface base system; and circulating the liquid in the reservoir by removing cooler water from the reservoir and adding warmer water thereto, wherein the heat in the water in the reservoir is transferred to the particulate in said lower layer and then via capillary action to the particulate of the upper layer and then to the synthetic surface, raising the temperature of the synthetic surface so as to help prevent the freezing of the synthetic surface and the accumulation of frost and snow on the synthetic surface.

Claim 8

A method for warming a synthetic surface comprising the steps of: preparing a subgrade area to accommodate a subsurface base system; applying the subsurface base system on top of said subgrade area, the subsurface base system comprising an upper layer of primarily sand-containing particulate material which has good capillary rise characteristics and in which liquid characteristically moves primarily in the vertical direction, and a lower layer of particulate material located substantially adjacent said upper layer, said lower layer consisting essentially of gravel in which liquid characteristically moves well in the horizontal direction, as well as downwardly, so that liquid in the lower layer tends to disperse in the horizontal direction relatively rapidly and uniformly, wherein the physical characteristics of the essentially gravel particulate material of said lower layer and the primarily sand-containing particulate material of said upper layer are such that the sand-containing particulate material does not significantly penetrate into the gravel, so that, consequentially, the void ratio of the gravel remains substantially unimpaired; applying said synthetic surface on top of said subsurface base system; establishing a reservoir of liquid in the subsurface base system; and circulating the liquid in the reservoir by removing cooler water from the reservoir and adding warmer water thereto, wherein the heat in the water in the reservoir is transferred to the particulate in said lower layer and then via capillary action to the particulate of the upper layer and then to the synthetic surface, raising the temperature of the synthetic surface so as to help prevent the freezing of the synthetic surface and the accumulation of frost and snow on the synthetic surface.

Claim 12

A method for applying a synthetic surface to a subsurface base system which would otherwise be ruttable by conventional machinery for applying a synthetic surface, the method comprising the steps of: creating a binder layer at the upper surface of the subsurface base system sufficiently firm to support the conventional machinery without substantial rutting; and treating the binder layer so that it passes through the subsurface base system following application of the synthetic surface, without substantially impairing the liquid movement characteristics of the subsurface base system.

Claim 13

A method for applying a synthetic surface to a subsurface base system which would otherwise be ruttable by conventional machinery for applying a synthetic surface, the method comprising the steps of: creating a binder layer at the upper surface of the subsurface base system sufficiently firm to support the conventional machinery without substantial rutting; and treating the binder layer so that it passes through the subsurface base system following application of the synthetic surface, without substantially impairing the liquid movement characteristics of the subsurface base system.

Claim 15

A system for draining liquid from a synthetic material surface, comprising: a subsurface base system, on top of which is applied the synthetic surface, the subsurface base system comprising an upper layer of primarily sand-containing particulate material in which liquid characteristically moves primarily in the vertical direction, and a lower layer of particular material located substantially adjacent said upper layer, said lower layer consisting essentially of gravel, in which liqud characteristically moves well in the horizontal direction, as well as downwardly, so that liquid at the top surface of said upper layer tends to move rapidly downwardly into said lower area, where it tends to disperse rapidly horizontally, wherein the physical characteristics of the essentially gravel particulate material of said lower layer and the primarily sand-containing particulate material of said upper layer are such that the sand-containing particulate material does not significantly penetrate into the gravel, so that consequently, the void ratio of the gravel remains substantially unimpaired; and means providing liquid communication between said lower layer and a point outside the boundary of the surface to be drained.

Claim 16

A system for draining liquid from a synthetic material surface, comprising: a subsurface base system, on top of which is applied the synthetic surface, the subsurface base system comprising an upper layer of primarily sand-containing particulate material in which liquid characteristically moves primarily in the vertical direction, and a lower layer of particular material located substantially adjacent said upper layer, said lower layer consisting essentially of gravel, in which liqud characteristically moves well in the horizontal direction, as well as downwardly, so that liquid at the top surface of said upper layer tends to move rapidly downwardly into said lower area, where it tends to disperse rapidly horizontally, wherein the physical characteristics of the essentially gravel particulate material of said lower layer and the primarily sand-containing particulate material of said upper layer are such that the sand-containing particulate material does not significantly penetrate into the gravel, so that consequently, the void ratio of the gravel remains substantially unimpaired; and means providing liquid communication between said lower layer and a point outside the boundary of the surface to be drained.

Claim 20

A system for preventing extreme high temperatures in the vicinity of synthetic surfaces the system comprising: a subgrade area; a subsurface base system on top of said subgrade area, to the top of which base system is applied the synthetic surface, the subsurface base system comprising an upper layer of primarily sand-containing particulate material which has good capillary rise characteristics and in which liquid characteristically moves primarily in the vertical direction, and a lower layer of particulate material located substantially adjacent said upper layer, said lower layer consisting essentially of gravel, in which liquid characteristically moves well in the horizontal direction, as well as downwardly, so that liquid in the lower layer tends to disperse in the horizontal direction relatively rapidly and uniformly, wherein the physical characteristics of the essentially gravel particulate material of said lower layer and the primarily sand-containing particulate material of said upper layer are such that the sand-containing particulate material does not significantly penetrate into the gravel, so that, consequently, the void ratio of the gravel remains substantially unimpaired; and means establishing a liquid reservoir in said subsurface base system in such a manner that the particulate of said upper layer remains sufficiently moist that the heat-insulating effect of the otherwise dry particulate is significantly reduced and so that the heat at the synthetic surface is effectively transmitted from the synthetic surface to the subsurface base system and beyond.

Claim 21

A system for preventing extreme high temperatures in the vicinity of synthetic surfaces the system comprising: a subgrade area; a subsurface base system on top of said subgrade area, to the top of which base system is applied the synthetic surface, the subsurface base system comprising an upper layer of primarily sand-containing particulate material which has good capillary rise characteristics and in which liquid characteristically moves primarily in the vertical direction, and a lower layer of particulate material located substantially adjacent said upper layer, said lower layer consisting essentially of gravel, in which liquid characteristically moves well in the horizontal direction, as well as downwardly, so that liquid in the lower layer tends to disperse in the horizontal direction relatively rapidly and uniformly, wherein the physical characteristics of the essentially gravel particulate material of said lower layer and the primarily sand-containing particulate material of said upper layer are such that the sand-containing particulate material does not significantly penetrate into the gravel, so that, consequently, the void ratio of the gravel remains substantially unimpaired; and means establishing a liquid reservoir in said subsurface base system in such a manner that the particulate of said upper layer remains sufficiently moist that the heat-insulating effect of the otherwise dry particulate is significantly reduced and so that the heat at the synthetic surface is effectively transmitted from the synthetic surface to the subsurface base system and beyond.

Claim 25

A system of warming synthetic surfaces, comprising: a subgrade area; a subsurface base system on top of said subgrade area, to the top of which base system is applied the synthetic surface, the subsurface base system comprising an upper layer of primarily sand-containing particulate material which has good capillary rise characteristics and in which liquid characteristically moves primarily in the vertical direction, and a lower layer of particulate material located substantially adjacent said upper layer, said lower layer consisting essentially of gravel in which liquid characteristically moves well in the horizontal direction, as well as downwardly, so that liquid in the lower layer tends to disperse in the horizontal direction relatively rapidly and uniformly, wherein the physical characteristics of the essentially gravel particulate material of said lower layer and the primarily sand-containing particulate material of said upper layer are such that the sand-containing particulate material does not significantly penetrate into the gravel, so that, consequentially, the void ratio of the gravel remains substantially unimpaired; means establishing a liquid reservoir in the subsurface base system; and means circulating the liquid in the reservoir by removing relatively cool water from the reservoir and adding relatively warm water thereto, wherein the heat in the water in the reservoir is transferred to the particulate in said lower layer and then via capillary action to the particulate of the upper layer and then to the synthetic surface, which results in the temperature of the synthetic surface being raised, thereby tending to prevent the freezing of the synthetic surface and the accumulation of frost and snow on the synthetic surface.

Claim 26

A system of warming synthetic surfaces, comprising: a subgrade area; a subsurface base system on top of said subgrade area, to the top of which base system is applied the synthetic surface, the subsurface base system comprising an upper layer of primarily sand-containing particulate material which has good capillary rise characteristics and in which liquid characteristically moves primarily in the vertical direction, and a lower layer of particulate material located substantially adjacent said upper layer, said lower layer consisting essentially of gravel in which liquid characteristically moves well in the horizontal direction, as well as downwardly, so that liquid in the lower layer tends to disperse in the horizontal direction relatively rapidly and uniformly, wherein the physical characteristics of the essentially gravel particulate material of said lower layer and the primarily sand-containing particulate material of said upper layer are such that the sand-containing particulate material does not significantly penetrate into the gravel, so that, consequentially, the void ratio of the gravel remains substantially unimpaired; means establishing a liquid reservoir in the subsurface base system; and means circulating the liquid in the reservoir by removing relatively cool water from the reservoir and adding relatively warm water thereto, wherein the heat in the water in the reservoir is transferred to the particulate in said lower layer and then via capillary action to the particulate of the upper layer and then to the synthetic surface, which results in the temperature of the synthetic surface being raised, thereby tending to prevent the freezing of the synthetic surface and the accumulation of frost and snow on the synthetic surface.