Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 03047422 2019-06-18
INSTALLATION FOR WATERING AND/OR ILLUMINATION
Description
The invention relates to an installation for watering and/or illumination of
large-area
lawn sections such as, for example, football fields or the like, comprising at
least one
movable support, on which illumination elements can be mounted.
Watering and/or illumination systems for lawn care and lawn restoration are
already
known. For example, such types of systems are used in football stadiums or
arenas to
ensure the grass is suitable for playing on and its quality. These are usually
mobile illu-
mination systems, which can be flexibly positioned in place where illumination
is in-
tended. However, these mobile illumination systems usually have a wide rubber
tires,
which can also cause damage to grass. The damage to the grass can be minimized
with
special rubber tires but not completely prevented. The damage to the grass may
result,
on one hand, in that the several tons of heavy weight of the support systems
press holes
into sports turf or may cause dark and/or brown spots when the systems are
left standing
in one place for a longer period. Furthermore, the grass cannot be optimally
illuminated,
because shadows occur, which are created by the wheels or the support located
there-
upon. In addition, maintenance of the grass is usually difficult or impossible
during the
illumination. A further disadvantage that mobile illumination units have is
that the indi-
vidual units have to be placed into various positions by means of towing
machines or
tractors or similar machines in order to implement the illumination in certain
sections of
the lawn. Moreover, the illumination means must then be aligned manually or
semi-
automatically.
With the current watering systems, the watering of the lawn area is usually
implemented
via conventional sprinkler systems, which direct the water jet over the area
in a semicir-
cular manner in a high arc or generate a fine spray mist. However, this has
the disad-
vantage that precise watering of the lawn area cannot always be ensured,
because the
stream is diverted somewhat strongly depending on wind conditions. In
addition, due to
the limited range of the water jets and the fixed mounting points of the
sprinkler sys-
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tems, certain lawn areas are not supplied with water or supplied with
insufficient quanti-
ties.
One object of the invention is to overcome the disadvantages of conventional
water-
ing/illumination systems; in particular, the system according to the invention
for water-
ing and/or illumination should ensure optimum illumination of the lawn area,
i.e. such
that pressure points or shadow areas are prevented during the illumination. A
further
object of the invention is to ensure optimum watering and/or fertilization of
the lawn
area. Furthermore, the system should be assembled and disassembled in a manner
so as
to save time and personnel use.
The object is achieved by means of a system according to the invention for
illumination
and/or watering according to claim 1. Advantageous further embodiments and
preferred
embodiments are indicated in the dependent claims.
According to the invention, a system for watering and/or illumination of large-
area lawn
sections such as football fields or the like is provided, which comprises at
least one
movable support, on which illumination elements can be mounted. In doing so,
the sup-
port is in an intended working position 1 above the lawn surface and over the
lawn sec-
tion. The support has a crossmember, which is above the lawn area, but does
not touch
it, when the support is in an intended working position 1. Furthermore, the
support has
two elements, perpendicular to the lawn area, which support the crossmember.
The
crossmember in this case extends over the entire width of the lawn section and
the sup-
port is arranged so as to move alongside the lawn section such that the
support does not
touch the lawn during longitudinal movement.
If the system according to the invention is not in an intended working
position, the sup-
port can be placed in a standby position intended for this, outside of the
lawn section.
The underlying concept of the system according to the invention provides that,
when the
support is in an intended working position 1 above and/or over the lawn
surface, contact
is specifically not made with the lawn section upon movement of the support
alongside
the lawn section, and thus no damage can occur due to, for example, pressure
points of
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tires or the like. The function of the system according to the invention is
comparable to
a car wash, in which, for example, a (hot-)air blower removes water from the
motor
vehicle at the end, wherein the heater fan moves over the motor vehicle but
does not
make contact with it. The system according to the invention in this case is
controllable
fully automatically or at least semi-automatically. For example, a
programmable logic
controller (PLC) can be used here. An automatic control of the system has the
ad-
vantage, on one hand, that the setup and dismantling time of the system can
thereby be
reduced. Thus, time-consuming moving of the system back and forth into various
illu-
mination positions by means of towing machines or tractors is not necessary.
The sys-
tem and/or the support in this case can be moved using motorization and/or
moved
manually. In general, a motorized control of the system is preferred; however,
in the
event of a fault, for example power failure or the like, manual control of the
system can
also be utilized.
In particular, the system for watering and/or illumination of large-area lawn
sections
such as, for example, football/soccer fields, tennis courts, or the like.
Other applications,
in which the system according to the invention is suitable and thus can be
used, are not
excluded by the invention. For example, the system can also be used for
agriculture or
indoor farming applications.
According to the invention, the system comprises a support or main support,
which is
constructed from a crossmember and two vertical elements supporting the
crossmember.
The main support in this case may be constructed as a lattice beam with a
tubular frame
construction made of steel. Of course, other materials, such as other metals,
plastics,
composites, wood, carbon, or a compound of these materials can be used
provided they
have the necessary static properties and requirements so that the support can
be freely
arranged over the lawn area in a movable manner.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the system according to the
invention, it
comprises at least one support at the end of one side of the lawn section or
of the play-
ing field section, which is lowerable to the ground. In an intended standby
position 0,
the support in this case is positioned underneath the lawn surface and, in
contrast, with
an intended working position 1, the support is positioned above the lawn
surface and
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over the lawn section. Preferably, a tunnel shaft is provided in this case,
for example
made of reinforced concrete or a different suitable material. According to an
advanta-
geous embodiment of the system according to the invention, the tunnel shaft in
this case
is constructed as a so-called "white tank," i.e. the outer walls and the base
slab here are
produced, inter alia, with water-impermeable concrete, whereby no additional
sealing
off and, under circumstances, no drainages are required to prevent the
penetration of
groundwater and seepage water. The tunnel shaft preferably has a shaft cover,
which
may be formed, for example, from sheet steel which can be driven on. The shaft
cover
may be opened and closed hydraulically and/or mechanically fully automatically
and/or
semi-automatically. The tunnel shaft has the advantage, on one hand, that the
support
can be placed into a parked position or standby position 0 and thus optically
hidden
from the field-of-view during sports events for example; on the other hand,
the support
is also protected from weather influences due to placement in the tunnel
shaft. Advanta-
geously, the shaft cover can be covered with grass or artificial grass, which
is beneficial
for the aesthetic or architectural presentation of the entire lawn area and/or
of the stadi-
um or the arena. Advantageously, the tunnel shaft has lifting segments, which
place the
support from its standby position or parked position 0 into its intended
working position
above the lawn area. Preferably, the lifting segments are located in the left
or right part
of the tunnel shaft. The lifting segments in this case may represent, for
example, hy-
draulically operated lifting segments. The tunnel shaft is preferably located
on one side
of the lawn section. Particularly preferably with a soccer field, the tunnel
shaft is located
behind the goal area or the goal. However, it is also possible to provide
tunnel shafts on
multiple sides of a lawn section.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the system according to the
invention, the
height of the main support and/or the crossmember can also be adjusted. In
particular,
this can take place by means of lifting elements, which may be in the elements
of the
support positioned perpendicular to the lawn area. Thus, the illumination
height, for
example, can be moved downward to a minimum of about 50 cm over the lawn
surface
with respect to the lawn surface with working position 1 in order to increase
the intensi-
ty of the illumination. The extension support in this case can be moved then
in the direc-
tion of the crossmember in order to enable homogenous illumination. The
illumination
angle in this case is shortened such that a complete, more intensive
illumination is ena-
CA 03047422 2019-06-18
bled with an illumination height of about 50 cm over the upper edge of the
lawn. This
process enables a shorter but more intensive lawn illumination, e.g. with new
grass
seeding or lawn restoration seeding or with extensively stressed surfaces such
as the
goal or penalty area.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the system according to the
invention, the
support can move alongside the lawn area and is advantageously held in guide
rails in
this case. A servo motor, which can additionally be equipped with a
positioning unit so
that the precise position of the support can be determined, is preferably used
as the
drive.
The system according to the invention comprises, in an advantageous
embodiment, at
least one support, which has a watering device and/or illumination device
and/or ferti-
lizing device. In addition, a watering device and/or illumination device
and/or fertilizing
device may be on separate supports. This has the advantage that either a
simultaneous or
a separate maintenance of the lawn can take place in the form of targeted
illumination,
watering, and/or fertilizing, or other maintenance measures. Preferably
however, the
watering device and the fertilizing device in this case can be arranged within
at least one
support such that a homogenous and precise watering and/or fertilizing of the
lawn area
takes place. Advantageously with a watering device and/or fertilizing device
which are
arranged in the support, a suction pump is located in the upper part of the
support,
which can draw a certain medium such as, for example, water or a fertilizer
mixture
from a channel located to the side on the edge of the playing field, and said
medium can
then be distributed on the playing field. In an advantageous embodiment of the
inven-
tion, the distribution of the medium takes place by means of a plurality of
nozzles,
which are arranged in the crossmember. In this case, the individual nozzles
can advan-
tageously be opened or closed fully automatically, independently of one
another, and/or
the diameter of the nozzle can be modified. A precise dispensing of the medium
can
hereby take place both in a qualitative and quantitative and chronological
manner. After
completion of the watering and/or fertilizing, the nozzles can be cleaned
pneumatically
in order to ensure that the watering lines are always in a clean condition.
The entire
lawn area can be uniformly supplied with watering and/or fertilizing medium by
means
of the watering and/or fertilizing device according to the invention. Because
the stream
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only travels a short distance, the spreading losses are also very minor such
that optimum
water supply is ensured.
In a further advantageous embodiment of the system according to the invention,
it has
an illumination device, which is arranged on at least one main support. The
illumination
device in this case may comprise sodium lamps, metal halide lamps, gas
discharge
lamps, and/or LED and/or plasma lighting technology. In this case, the
illumination
device comprises at least one folding support, which, when unfolded, is in a
900 with
respect to the crossmember of the main support when it is in a working
position 1 in-
tended for this. The folding supports in this case are hinged and extended 90
and
stopped mechanically or hydraulically. This extending is preferably carried
out fully
automatically by means of a programmable logic control (PLC) for example.
According to a further advantageous embodiment of the system according to the
inven-
tion, the illumination device has at least one extension support, which is
movably ar-
ranged along the unfolded folding support, parallel to the crossmember of the
main sup-
port. The extension supports in this case move from the crossmember to their
intended
position, for example, in C-profiles or linear units. The drive is implemented
with a ser-
vo motor in this case by means of belts or chain drives. This extension can
also take
place fully automatically, for example, by means of a programmable logic
control. Fur-
thermore, the extension supports have illumination means for artificial
illumination of
the lawn. Said illumination means may comprise high-pressure sodium lamps
and/or
LED lamps. The illumination of the lawn area can likewise be controlled by
means of a
programmable logic control such that the entire lawn area and also individual
parts can
be illuminated.
In a further advantageous embodiment of the system according to the invention,
it has
contact strips or trailing cables, which are arranged in one or both of the
guide rails, in
order to supply the system with the necessary energy, for example in the form
of elec-
tricity. The two lateral guide rails may also be subdivided such that, on one
side, elec-
tricity is supplied and, on the other side, the supply of watering and/or
fertilizing medi-
um takes place. The surface of the lateral guide channels/rails can be closed
with a seg-
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mented steel chain (tank track), which can be covered, for example, with grass
or artifi-
cial grass.
In a further advantageous embodiment of the system according to the invention,
it has
light barriers, cameras with segmented field-of-view, impact bars, initiators,
limit
switches, and/or movement sensors, which can be stored and actuated, for
example, as
inputs and outputs in a programmable logic control. This has the advantage
that all indi-
vidual positions such as, for example, parked or standby positions or working
positions
can be stored and precisely actuated. Moreover, it is primarily used to
prevent collision
damage, for example, with people or objects.
According to a further advantageous embodiment of the system according to the
inven-
tion, at least one main support and/or folding support and/or extension
support has ex-
tendable and retractable slats. Burning of the lawn area caused by excessively
intense
sun radiation can be prevented by the slats. Preferably, the slats in this
case can be ad-
justed at an angle with respect to the sun depending on the incident light,
similar to
blinds on a window. The slats in this case move from the main support to their
intended
position, for example, in C-profiles or linear units. The drive is implemented
with a ser-
vo motor in this case by means of belts or chain drives. This extension can
also take
place fully automatically, for example, by means of a programmable logic
control. The
angle adjustment of the slats in this case can take place by means of a
mechanical and/or
electrical and/or motorized drive, wherein this can also take place by means
of a pro-
grammable logic control. Such a control may also be sensor-supported, e.g. a
sensor can
measure the influence of the natural light and subsequently the slat alignment
is accord-
ingly adapted to the corresponding conditions fully automatically or semi-
automatically.
In a further advantageous embodiment of the system according to the invention,
the
main support has a robot, attached lengthwise to the crossmember so as to
move, which
draws playing field markings and/or advertisements or logos on the lawn
surface as a
drawing unit. The robot can be attached to the main support, for example, by
means of
linear units and likewise moved fully automatically or semi-automatically by
means of
the programmable logic control. The robot in this case may have containers
with col-
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or(s) and/or pigments, for example made of chalk, which can be placed on the
lawn area
by means of nozzles or the like.
In a further advantageous embodiment of the system according to the invention,
when it
is in the working position 1, rolling elements, similar to high-speed roller
shutters, can
be attached to the outermost folding supports and to the extension supports,
with the
rolling elements enabling a lateral covering of the entire system if
necessary. This can
be enabled with PVC or fabric blinds. In interaction with the slats on the top
of the sys-
tem, the goal is to obtain a type of closed climate chamber, in which
additionally gas
application with carbon dioxide (CO2) can take place for photosynthesis of the
lawn
plants. The blinds in this case can be moved lower or higher automatically
also by
means of rotary motors. The gas application with carbon dioxide (CO2) can take
place
by means of a system placed specifically for this purpose. In this case, a
supply tank,
which is located in the main support (crossmember), can be provided, or the
connection
takes place via an external line, wherein the carbon dioxide here is suctioned
from a
bottle box for the gas application.
The system according to the invention is described in more detail in the
following by
means of exemplary embodiments in drawings. The explanations are only as an
exam-
ple and do not limit the general concept of the invention. A combination of
various ex-
emplary embodiments is also possible.
The following is shown:
Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of the system according to the
invention;
Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of the system according to the
invention in the
standby position 0;
Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the system
according to
the invention in the intended working position 1;
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Fig. 4 shows a schematic representation of the system according to the
invention during
a state of partial illumination of the lawn area;
Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the system 10 according to the invention in a
schematic
representation. Shown is the main support 20, which is in an intended working
position
1 above the lawn surface 40 and has a crossmember 22 and vertical elements 23
in this
case. Also shown are the guide rails 50 with a partially closed guide rail
cover 51 on the
side of the lawn area 40. The tunnel shaft 30 with partially closed shaft
cover 31 can be
seen on one side of the lawn area 40. Moreover, the direction of movement of
the sup-
port 21 along the lawn area 40 is shown.
Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of the system 10 according to the invention in a
standby
position 0. Shown is the main support 20, which is located underneath the lawn
surface
40, within the tunnel shaft 30. However, the support 20 can be moved back out
of the
tunnel shaft 30 by means of the lifting elements 60 in order to reach an
intended work-
ing position 1 (Fig. 3).
Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of the system 10 according to the invention with
partial
illumination of the lawn area 40. Shown is a main support 20 with unfolded
folding
supports 70 as well as extended extension supports 80, wherein they have
illumination
means 90. Also shown are the directions of movement of supports 21, 71, and
81.
CA 03047422 2019-06-18
List of reference numerals
10 System
Main support
21 Direction of movement of main support
22 Crossmember
23 Vertical element
Tunnel shaft
31 Shaft cover
Lawn area
Guide rail
51 Guide rail cover
Lifting element
Folding support
71 Direction of movement of folding support
Extension support
81 Direction of movement of extension support
Illumination means
