Soil based material and method of producing same

Abstract

This invention relates to a soil based material for improving the qualities of the soil. The invention is particularly concerned with improving load bearing qualities and impact loading qualities of the soil. The soil based material includes synthetic fibres ( 5 ) scattered throughout the soil matrix ( 4 ) and may include additives such as resilient particle ( 20 ) also scattered throughout the soil matrix ( 4 ). The invention also relates to a method and apparatus for producing the soil based material.

1 . A soil based material including a soil matrix and synthetic fibres scattered throughout said matrix.  
   
   
       2 . A soil based material according to  claim 1 , wherein said fibres are a mixture of mono-fibres and fibrillated fibres.  
   
   
       3 . A soil based material according to  claim 2 , wherein said mixture of fibres includes substantially even amounts of said mono-fibres and said fibrillated fibres respectively.  
   
   
       4 . A soil based material according to  claim 3 , wherein each cubic metre of the soil matrix includes 1 to 6 kilograms of said mixture of fibres.  
   
   
       5 . A soil based material according to  claim 4 , wherein each cubic metre of the soil matrix includes approximately 2.6 kilograms of said mixture of fibres.  
   
   
       6 . A soil based material according to  claim 1 , wherein said fibres are mono-fibres, and each cubic metre of said soil matrix includes approximately 17 kilograms of said fibres.  
   
   
       7 . A soil based material according to any preceding claim, wherein biodegradable fibres, in addition to said synthetic fibres, are scattered throughout said soil matrix.  
   
   
       8 . A soil based material according to any preceding claim, wherein at least some of said fibres have a length in the range 15 millimetres to 20 millimetres inclusive.  
   
   
       9 . A soil based material according to any preceding claim, including at least one additive dispersed throughout the matrix.  
   
   
       10 . A soil based material according to  claim 9 , wherein said additive comprises or includes an organic material fertiliser or wetting agent.  
   
   
       11 . A soil based material according to  claim 9 , wherein said additive comprises or includes particles of resilient material scattered throughout the soil matrix.  
   
   
       12 . A soil based material according to  claim 11 , wherein said particles are approximately 3 millimetres thick, approximately 25 millimetres long, and approximately 20 millimetres wide.  
   
   
       13 . A soil based material according to  claim 11  or  12 , wherein said particles are formed of polyethylene.  
   
   
       14 . A method of producing a soil based material including a soil matrix and synthetic fibres scattered throughout said matrix, including the steps of depositing said fibres on the surface of a body of soil, and mixing said fibres with said body of soil to achieve a substantially regular dispersion of said fibres throughout said body of soil.  
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein said fibres are caused to separate prior to being deposited on said body of soil.  
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein said separation is effected by inducing an electrostatic charge in said fibres.  
   
   
       17 . A method according to any one of  claims 14  to  16 , including the step of mixing particles of a resilient material with the soil matrix so as to achieve a substantially consistent dispersion of said particles throughout said matrix.  
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein said particles are mixed with the soil matrix prior to introducing said fibres into said soil matrix.  
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein said particles and said fibres are simultaneously mixed with said soil matrix.  
   
   
       20 . A method of producing a soil based material including the steps of, moving a mixing chamber over the surface of a body of soil, causing soil to be lifted from said surface to flow upwards into said chamber, directing a stream of fibres into said chamber so as to mix with said upward flow of soil, directing said soil/fibre mixture to flow downwards within said chamber towards said body of soil at a position rearwards of said upward flow of soil relative to the direction of travel of said chamber, and mixing said soil/fibre mixture within said body of soil.  
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein said fibres are caused to separate prior to being deposited on said body of soil.  
   
   
       22 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein said separation occurs before said fibres enter said mixing chamber.  
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 21  or  22 , wherein said separation is effected by inducing an electrostatic charge in said fibres.  
   
   
       24 . A method according to any one of  claims 20  to  23 , wherein an additive is introduced into said stream of fibres to mix therewith before said stream enters said mixing chamber.  
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein said additive comprises particles of a resilient material, and both said fibres and said particles are mixed with said upward flow of soil within said mixing chamber.  
   
   
       26 . A ground surface including a surface layer and a second layer underlying the surface layer, said surface layer including a soil matrix and synthetic fibres scattered throughout said matrix, and said second layer including a soil matrix, synthetic fibres scattered throughout the soil matrix of the second layer, and particles of resilient material scattered throughout the soil matrix of the second layer.  
   
   
       27 . A ground surface according to  claim 26 , wherein said surface layer is formed of a soil based material according to any one of  claims 2  to  13 .  
   
   
       28 . A ground surface according to  claim 26  or  27 , wherein said second layer is formed of a soil based material according to  claim 12  or  13 .  
   
   
       29 . A ground surface according to any one of  claims 26  to  28 , wherein said second layer is interposed between said surface layer and a base layer.  
   
   
       30 . A ground surface according to  claim 29 , wherein said base layer is composed of sand or a sand composite.  
   
   
       31 . Apparatus for forming a soil based material according to any one of  claims 1  to  13 , said apparatus including a delivery system through which a stream of said fibres is moved, separation means promoting separation of individual fibres in said stream, and mixing means operative to mix said fibres within a body of soil that forms said soil matrix.  
   
   
       32 . Apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein said separation means induces an electrostatic charge in said fibres.  
   
   
       33 . Apparatus according to  claim 31  or  32 , including storage means in which said stream of fibres is deposited downstream from said separation means, and from which fibres are extracted for delivery to said mixing means.  
   
   
       34 . Apparatus according to  claim 31  or  32 , wherein said mixing means includes a mixing chamber for receiving said stream of fibres downstream from said separation means, and soil engaging means operative to lift soil from a body of soil beneath said mixing chamber and cause the lifted soil to mix with said fibres within said mixing chamber, and said mixing chamber includes flow directing means that directs the soil/fibre mix to flow downwards onto said body of soil.  
   
   
       35 . Apparatus according to  claim 34 , including storage means for containing a body of said fibres, and flow inducing means for causing fibres to exit said storage means and flow towards said mixing chamber.  
   
   
       36 . Apparatus according to  claim 35 , wherein said flow inducing means is formed by or includes said separation means, and said separation means is located between said storage means and said mixing chamber.  
   
   
       37 . Apparatus according to  claim 35  or  36 , wherein said storage means includes a plurality of compartments, one of which is a storage compartment for said body of fibres, and each said compartment has an exit port that can be selectively opened or closed.  
   
   
       38 . Apparatus according to  claim 37 , wherein another of said compartments is a storage compartment for a body of particles of resilient material, and said flow inducing means is operative to cause particles to exit said particle storage compartment when the exit port of that compartment is open.  
   
   
       39 . Apparatus according to  claim 38 , including metering means operative to control the ratio of said fibres and said particles when said fibres and said particles are being simultaneously extracted from their respective said compartments.  
   
   
       40 . Apparatus according to  claim 39 , wherein said metering means is adjustable to vary said ratio.  
   
   
       41 . Apparatus according to  claim 34  including a feed auger being operable to supply said fibres and particles to the separation means, the feed auger being rotatable about an axis, the speed of rotation being adjustable to adjust the rate of supply of fibres and particles to the separation means.  
   
   
       42 . Apparatus according to  claim 40  including storage means for containing a body of said fibres or said particles and agitation means for agitating said fibres or said particles to move towards the feed auger.  
   
   
       43 . Apparatus according to  claim 40  or  41  including flow inducing means for inducing fibres or particles to exit the separation means.  
   
   
       44 . Apparatus according to  claim 42 , wherein the flow inducing means is an impeller located between the separation means and mixing chamber.  
   
   
       45 . Apparatus according to any one of  claims 34  to  44 , wherein said mixing chamber is movable across said body of soil.  
   
   
       46 . Apparatus according to  claim 45 , wherein said mixing chamber forms part of an assembly including the following components said soil engaging means, said storage means, said flow inducing means, said separation means, and said metering means.  
   
   
       47 . Apparatus according to  claim 46 , including prime moving means for moving the assembly relative to the body of soil.  
   
   
       48 . Apparatus according to  claim 47 , wherein the prime moving means is separable from the assembly.  
   
   
       49 . Apparatus according to  claim 48 , wherein the prime moving means provides drive means for the operation of the components of the assembly.  
   
   
       50 . Apparatus for processing bulk foamed material to produce particles of predetermined size including: 
 a slicing means including a plurality of slicing discs being operable to process the bulk material into strips;    a mulching means including a plurality of mulching discs being operable to process the sliced material into particles of predetermined size; and    a sieve defining at least in part a mulching zone within which the mulching discs operate, the sieve permitting material of a predetermined size to pass therethrough.    
   
   
       51 . Apparatus according to  claim 50 , wherein the slicer discs are located on opposing shafts, the shafts being rotatable in opposite directions.  
   
   
       52 . Apparatus according to  claim 51 , wherein the speed of rotation of each shaft is adjustable so as to adjust a speed at which sliced material is discharged from the slicing means.  
   
   
       53 . Apparatus according to  claim 51  or  52 , wherein each slicing disc on each shaft is separated by a boss of substantially similar thickness, the opposing shafts being positioned such that the slicing discs on opposing shafts interleave and overlap.  
   
   
       54 . Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each mulching disc on each shaft is separated by a boss of substantially similar thickness to the mulching disc, the opposing shafts being positioned such that each mulching disc on opposing shaft interleaves.  
   
   
       55 . Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each mulching disc includes a tooth which is negatively raked to facilitate mulching of the stripped material and movement of the material from a lower position within the mulching zone to an upper position in the mulching zone.  
   
   
       56 . Apparatus according to  claim 54 , wherein the speed of rotation of one shaft is approximately one half to one third speed of rotation of the other shaft.