Riding Arena Floor Panel Fluid-Tight Cover Layer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Riding arena floor panels made from plastic and rubber materials can leak pollutants like lead and plasticizers into the environment, especially when frequently exposed to water, posing a risk to environmental safety.

Innovation Solution

A water-resistant and weather-resistant fluid-tight cover layer made of plastic and/or rubber materials, containing preservatives such as methylisothiazolinone and chloromethylisothiazolinone, and quartz powder, is applied to the entire surface of the panel body to prevent pollutant escape, enhancing durability and ensuring long-term fluid-tight properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If floor panels are made from plastic and rubber materials to achieve elasticity, then good elastic properties are obtained, but pollutants such as lead and plasticizers can leak into the ground

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveelasticityVSAvoidpollutant leakage
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The floor panel is segmented into two functional parts: the panel body made of plastic/rubber material providing elasticity, and a separate cover layer providing protection. This segmentation allows each part to fulfill its specific function while minimizing harmful effects - the panel body maintains elasticity while the cover layer prevents pollutant leakage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cover layer acts as an intermediary barrier between the panel body and the environment. It mediates the interaction by preventing direct contact between water/soil and the plastic/rubber material, thus blocking the pathway for pollutant leakage while allowing the panel to maintain its elastic properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If the cover layer is made water-resistant and fluid-tight to prevent pollutant escape, then environmental safety is improved, but the durability under mechanical and water exposure must be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepollutant leakage preventionVSAvoiddurability under mechanical and water exposure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cover layer is formulated as a composite material containing preservatives (such as methylisothiazolinone and chloromethylisothiazolinone) and quartz powder. This composite structure provides both fluid-tightness to prevent pollutant leakage and enhanced durability through the stabilizing effect of quartz powder on abrasion resistance and layer thickness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The cover layer's composition parameters are specifically adjusted to achieve the required performance. The inclusion of preservatives at specific concentrations provides water and weather resistance, while quartz powder content is optimized to stabilize abrasion resistance. These parameter changes ensure the cover layer maintains its protective function under prolonged mechanical and water exposure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Duration of action of stationary object

If quartz powder is added to the cover layer to stabilize abrasion resistance and layer thickness, then long-term durability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelong-term durabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The manufacturing process merges multiple functions into a single cover layer application step. The preservatives, quartz powder, and binding agents are combined in one formulation that is applied in a single process, simultaneously achieving fluid-tightness, durability, and abrasion resistance without requiring multiple separate manufacturing steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 solution effectively prevents pollutant leakage from the floor panels, maintaining environmental safety while maintaining good elastic properties, even under heavy mechanical and water exposure conditions, making them suitable for riding arenas and sports fields.

Implementation Method 1

the entire surface of which is encased by a water-resistant and weather-resistant, fluid-tight top layer (20)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid-tight barrier:

Implementation Method 2

the top layer (20) has at least one preservative

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPreservation: Preservative

Implementation Method 3

the top layer (20) additionally contains quartz powder; the quartz powder stabilizes the abrasion resistance of the top layer and the layer thickness of the top layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbrasion resistance stabilization:

Implementation Method 4

an adhesive can also be contained in the cover layer. The cover layer can be permanently fixed to the panel body more reliably by the adhesive

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP3957795B1Riding area floor panel and method of manufacturing a riding area floor panel
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 OTTO ARENA SYST GMBH
  • EP3957795B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

A riding arena floor panel (10) for a riding arena or sports field comprises a panel body (12) made of a plastic and/or rubber material, the entire surface of which is encased in a water-resistant and weather-resistant, fluid-tight top layer (20) to prevent the release of pollutants such as, in particular, lead and plasticizers. For long-term durability, even with constant contact with water, the top layer (20) contains at least one preservative and also includes quartz flour.