Malleable Surface Material for Athletic Fields
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clay-based athletic field surfaces, when mixed with wax, tend to harden over time, especially in colder temperatures, losing their malleability and playability.
Innovation Solution
A surface material comprising a mixture of wax, clay, and an alkane fluid, along with crushed aggregate or sand, which maintains malleability and cohesiveness, even in colder temperatures, and can be easily repaired without adding water, while resisting divot formation under cleat impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wax is added to clay soil to improve playability, then the surface becomes more malleable and easier to repair, but the surface hardens over time especially in colder temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the soil mixture by adding alkane fluid to the existing wax-clay-sand mixture. This parameter change modifies the physical properties of the surface material, specifically preventing the hardening effect that occurs with temperature changes while maintaining the desired malleability and playability characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material system by combining four components: clay, wax, sand, and alkane fluid. This composite formulation works synergistically where the alkane fluid acts as a modifier that prevents the wax-clay mixture from hardening in cold temperatures, thus stabilizing the surface consistency while maintaining ease of operation.
2Strength
If the surface is made firmer to support players, then load-bearing capacity improves, but the surface becomes less malleable and harder to repair
Solution Approach 1:
The addition of alkane fluid changes the rheological parameters of the surface material, allowing it to maintain firmness for load-bearing while preserving malleability for repair. The alkane fluid modifies the interaction between wax and clay particles, enabling the surface to support player loads without becoming brittle or difficult to reshape.
3Ease of operation
If more wax is added to improve playability, then the surface becomes softer and more repairable, but the surface loses structural integrity and creates divots
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the composition parameters by introducing alkane fluid, which alters how wax binds with clay and aggregate particles. This parameter change allows the surface to remain soft and repairable while maintaining structural integrity, preventing the divot formation that would otherwise occur with excessive wax content.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The surface material retains its malleability and playability over time and across varying temperatures, reducing the need for frequent maintenance and water application, and provides improved load-bearing capacity and ease of repair.
Implementation Method 1
this soil can become harder over time, especially during the colder times of the year in the United States
Implementation Method 2
The surface material is preferably a mixture of wax, clay, alkane fluid, and crushed aggregate, and/or sand
Data Source
AI summary
An improved surface material is particularly suited for non-turf baseball field applications such as the pitcher's mound and base paths. The material generally comprises clay, wax, alkane fluid and sand and has a putty-like consistency. Cleats can penetrate the material but are not likely to pull it out in clumps upon removal of the cleats. Method for forming the surface includes spraying emulsified wax and/or alkane fluid on a surface and mixing it with the surface material.