Apparatus and method for treating synthetic grass turf

Abstract

An apparatus for renovating and/or cleaning a synthetic grass turf, or for other synthetic grass turf treatments according to the present invention, employs a hollow spike roller which rolls on the synthetic grass turf to enable air jets or other fluids to be expelled from a number of hollow spikes penetrating to a depth of the synthetic grass turf. The penetration depth of the hollow spikes, the angle of air jets and the duration of the individual air jets being expelled, are all adjustable or predetermined, such that the apparatus of the present invention can be conveniently used in various applications for treating synthetic grass turfs. The apparatus reduces or eliminates the potential damage to the grass fibers which presents with use of conventional brushes or highly pressurized fluid jets, and thereby provides efficient performance.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for treating synthetic grass turf particularly, but not exclusively, used as sports surfaces. Such synthetic grass turf is generally infilled with a layer of sand and / or other particulate material as part of its structural makeup. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] A synthetic grass turf generally comprises a synthetic backing sheet from which extend tufts of simulated grass fibers of a plastic material. The backing sheet is placed on a base substrate having drainage functions. Sand and / or other materials are layered over the backing sheet filling the spaces between the simulated grass fibers so that the simulated grass fibers remain substantially erect, and produce a flat surface which provides a ball-rebound similar to a natural grass court surface. [0003] One typical example of the infill layers is described in the Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 5,958,527, issued on Sep. 28, 1999. The exemplary infi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0017] In another example of the synthetic grass turf treatment applications, water can be directed to a relatively greater depth of the synthetic grass turf for flushing a drainage system beneath the synthetic grass turf with or without a surfactant type of fluid, for example a spacing grid preferably made of an extruded tri-plannar

Problems solved by technology

In most cases, having weeds grow into an artificial grass surface is unwanted and requires maintenance to remove and or prevent such growth.

The compacted layer can substantially reduce correct drainage of the surface and also reduces the proper resiliency and shock absorption properties required for sports, and therefore, may cause injury to the players.

However, high pressure water washing is a messy process and usually necessitates replacement of much of the particulate, and a considerable amount of leveling work.

Furthermore, soft plastic brushes are not very effective in removing infill to a significant depth, hard plastic brushes are too abrasive for the fibers, and wire brushes can damage the synthetic grass fibers.

However, the pressure of the air jets above the syn

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