Installation for watering and / or illumination

Abstract

To improve illumination of a lawn, the present invention provides a system for the watering and / or illumination of a lawn, comprising a movable support for mounting illumination elements wherein the movable support is located at an intended working position, above a lawn surface, wherein the movable support comprises two elements perpendicular to the lawn surface, a transverse element that extends over the lawn surface when the support is in the intended working position and wherein the transverse element of the support extends over an entire width of the lawn surface and the support comprises a lighting device with a folding bracket, which, in the extended state, is at a 90° angle to the transverse element of the support, wherein the support is movably arranged lengthwise outside of the lawn surface such that the support does not touch the lawn during lengthwise movement.

Description

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 illumination systems, which can be flexibly positioned in place where illumination is intended. 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 thereupon. 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 individual 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 semiautomatically. 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 semicircular manner in a high arc or generate a fine spray mist. However, this has the disadvantage 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- tems, certain lawn areas are not supplied with water or supplied with insufficient quantities. One object of the invention is to overcome the disadvantages of conventional watering / illumination systems; in particular, the system according to the invention for watering 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. 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 support is in an intended working position 1 above the lawn surface and over the lawn section. 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 support 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 support 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 4 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 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- 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 e 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 90° 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- 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- 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 system, 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. For greater certainty, the present invention includes the following aspect and embodiments. According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a system for the watering and / or illumination of a lawn, comprising at least one movable support for mounting illumination elements wherein the at least one movable support is located at an intended working position, above a lawn surface, wherein the at least one movable support comprises two elements perpendicular to the lawn surface, a transverse element, which extends over the lawn surface when the at least one movable support is in the intended working position and wherein the transverse element of the at least one movable support extends over an entire width of the lawn surface and the at least one movable support comprises a lighting device with at least one folding bracket, which, in the extended state, is at a 90° angle to the transverse element of the at least one movable support, wherein the at least one movable support is movably arranged lengthwise outside of the lawn surface such that the at least one movable support does not touch the lawn during lengthwise movement. In some embodiments, the lawn comprises a football field. In some embodiments, the at least one movable support is able to be lowered to the ground at an end of one side of the lawn surface and the at least one movable support is underneath the lawn surface when in an intended standby position and is above the lawn surface when in the intended working position. In some embodiments, the at least one movable support is moved using motorization or moved manually or both. In some embodiments, the at least one movable support is held in guide rails alongside the lawn surface. In some embodiments, the two elements perpendicular to the lawn surface have height-adjustable lifting segments, whereby a height of the crossmember of the at least one movable support is able to be adjusted. In some embodiments, the system is operated fully automatically or semi-automatically. In some embodiments, the system has a tunnel shaft, into which the at least one movable support is able to be lowered. In some embodiments, the tunnel shaft has a shaft cover, which is opened or closed hydraulically, mechanically, fully automatically or semi-automatically or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the tunnel shaft has lifting segments, which place the at least one movable support into the intended working position or the intended standby position. In some embodiments, the at least one movable support comprises a watering device, illumination device, or fertilizing device or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the watering device or the fertilizing device, or both, is arranged in the at least one movable support such that a homogenous and precise watering or fertilizing, or both, of the lawn surface takes place. In some embodiments, the watering or fertilizing device or both, comprises nozzles, which is able to be opened or closed fully automatically. In some embodiments, the nozzles are cleaned pneumatically. In some embodiments, the illumination device has at least one extension support, which is arranged so as to move along an unfolded folding support parallel to the crossmember of the at least one movable support. In some embodiments, the extension support has illumination means for artificial illumination of the lawn. In some embodiments, the illumination means comprise sodium lamps, high-pressure sodium lamps, metal halide lamps, gas discharge lamps, LED lighting technology, or plasma lighting technology, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the system has light barriers, segmented field-of-view cameras, impact bars, or movement sensors, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the at least one movable support has a robot which is movable lengthwise along the crossmember, said robot drawing playing field markings or advertisements or logos, or any combination thereof, on the lawn surface as a drawing unit. In some embodiments, the at least one movable support, at least one folding support, or at least one extension support, or combination thereof, has extendable and retractable slats. In some embodiments, the slats are adjusted at an angle with respect to the sun according to incident light in order to prevent burning of the lawn surface due to excessively intense sun radiation. In some embodiments, the at least one folding support includes outermost folding supports and wherein the at least one extension support comprises extension supports and wherein the system has rolling elements on the outermost folding supports and the extension supports, whereby an entire system is able to be covered laterally as needed. In some embodiments, a type of closed climate chamber is obtained, in which gas application with carbon dioxide (CO2) is able to take place for photosynthesis of the lawn plants, wherein the gas application with carbon dioxide takes place by means of a system placed specifically for this purpose. 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 example and do not limit the general concept of the invention. A combination of various exemplary 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; 4 . 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. - . List of reference numerals 10 System 20 Main support 21 Direction of movement of main support 22 Crossmember 23 Vertical element 30 Tunnel shaft 31 Shaft cover . 40 Lawn area 50 Guide rail 51 Guide rail cover 60 Lifting element 70 Folding support . 71 Direction of movement of folding support 80 Extension support 81 Direction of movement of extension support 90 Illumination means

Claims

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the lawn comprises a football field.

3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one movable support is able to be lowered to the ground at an end of one side of the lawn surface and the at least one movable support is underneath the lawn surface when in an intended standby position and is above the lawn surface when in the intended working position.

4. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one movable support is moved using motorization or moved manually or both.

5. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the at least one movable support is held in guide rails alongside the lawn surface.

6. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the two elements perpendicular to the lawn surface have height-adjustable lifting segments, whereby a height of a crossmember of the at least one movable support is able to be adjusted.

7. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the system is operated fully automatically or semi-automatically.

8. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the system has a tunnel shaft, into which the at least one movable support is able to be lowered.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the tunnel shaft has a shaft cover, which is opened or closed hydraulically, mechanically, fully automatically or semi-automatically or any combination thereof.

10. The system according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the tunnel shaft has lifting segments, which place the at least one movable support into the intended working position or the intended standby position.

11. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the at least one movable support comprises a watering device, illumination device, or fertilizing device or any combination thereof.

12. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the at least one watering device or the at least one fertilizing device, or both, is arranged in the at least one movable support such that a homogenous and precise watering or fertilizing, or both, of the lawn surface takes place.

13. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the at least one watering device or the at least one fertilizing device or both, comprises nozzles, which is able to be opened or closed fully automatically.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the nozzles are cleaned pneumatically.

15. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the at least one support comprises an illumination device, wherein the illumination device has at least one extension support, which is arranged so as to move along an unfolded one of the at least one folding support parallel to the crossmember of the at least one movable support.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the at least one extension support has illumination means for artificial illumination of the lawn.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the illumination means comprise sodium lamps, high-pressure sodium lamps, metal halide lamps, gas discharge lamps, LED lighting technology, or plasma lighting technology, or any combination thereof.

18. The system according to any of claims 1 to 17, wherein the system has light barriers, segmented field-of-view cameras, impact bars, or movement sensors, or any combination thereof.

19. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the at least one movable support has a robot which is movable lengthwise along a crossmember, said robot drawing playing field markings or advertisements or logos, or any combination thereof, on the lawn surface as a drawing unit.

20. The system according to any claims 1 to 14, wherein the at least one movable support, or the at least one folding support, or at least one extension support provided on the illumination device, or any combination thereof, has extendable and retractable slats.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein the slats are adjusted at an angle with respect to the sun according to incident light in order to prevent burning of the lawn surface due to excessively intense sun radiation.

22. The system according to claim 20, wherein the at least one folding support includes outermost folding supports and wherein the at least one extension support comprises extension supports and wherein the system has rolling elements on the outermost folding supports and the extension supports, whereby the system is able to be covered laterally as needed.

23. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein a type of closed climate chamber is obtained, in which gas application with carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is able to take place for photosynthesis of the lawn plants, wherein the gas application with carbon dioxide takes place by means of a system placed specifically for this purpose.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein the gas application takes place by means of a supply tank, which is located in a main support.

25. The system according to claim 23 or 24, wherein the gas application takes place by means of an external line, wherein the carbon dioxide is suctioned from a bottle box for the gas application.

26. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein a type of closed climate chamber is obtained, in which gas application with carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is able to take place for photosynthesis of the lawn plants, wherein the gas application takes place by means of a supply tank, which is located in the a main support.

27. The system according to claim 26, wherein the gas application takes place by means of an external line, wherein the carbon dioxide is suctioned from a bottle box for the gas application.

28. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein a type of closed climate chamber is obtained, in which gas application with carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is able to take place for photosynthesis of the lawn plants, wherein the gas application takes place by means of an external line, wherein the carbon dioxide is suctioned from a bottle box for the gas application.