Vault system for housing ice track

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a vault system for housing an ice track and, more particularly to a vault system that may provide an ice surface over the track of an indoor or outdoor ice arena and cover the track with a vault structure to reduce maintenance costs while enabling efficient operation regardless of season. For this, there is provided a vault system for housing an ice track in an arena that includes a track, wherein the track comprises cooling piping for forming an ice surface, and an isolation membrane for providing a skating space is installed over the track.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vault system for housing an ice track in an arena including a track,
 wherein the track comprises cooling piping for forming an ice surface, and   an isolation membrane is installed over the track, the isolation membrane providing a skating space.   
     
     
         2 . The vault system for housing an ice track according to  claim 1 , wherein the isolation membrane comprises:
 a frame providing a skeleton for forming a vault structure along the track; and   a panel installed on the frame, the panel configured to suppress an inflow of outside air with respect to an inside and outside of the isolation membrane.   
     
     
         3 . The vault system for housing an ice track according to  claim 2 , wherein the frame is formed by air tubes, and a compressor is provided for injecting air into or discharging air out of the frame. 
     
     
         4 . The vault system for housing an ice track according to  claim 2 , wherein an elevation hole is foiled in a ground along an edge of the track, and
 a first motor unit is installed in the elevation hole, the first motor unit configured to elevate the frame through the elevation hole.   
     
     
         5 . The vault system for housing an ice track according to  claim 2 , wherein a plurality of frames are formed along a lengthwise direction of the track,
 a portion of the frame is hinge-coupled to allow a rotational movement for ventilating between the inside and the outside of the isolation membrane,   a sensor is installed at the inside of the isolation membrane, the sensor configured to measure a temperature and a carbon dioxide concentration of the inside of the isolation membrane, and   a second motor unit and a control unit are provided, the second motor unit configured to generate a force for enabling the rotational movement of a portion of the frame, the control unit configured to control the cooling piping and the second motor unit according the temperature and the carbon dioxide concentration of the inside of the isolation membrane detected by the sensor.   
     
     
         6 . The vault system for housing an ice track according to  claim 4 , wherein a plurality of frames are formed along a lengthwise direction of the track,
 a portion of the frame is hinge-coupled to allow a rotational movement for ventilating between the inside and the outside of the isolation membrane,   a sensor is installed at the inside of the isolation membrane, the sensor configured to measure a temperature and a carbon dioxide concentration of the inside of the isolation membrane, and   a second motor unit and a control unit are provided, the second motor unit configured to generate a force for enabling the rotational movement of a portion of the frame, the control unit configured to control the cooling piping and the second motor unit according the temperature and the carbon dioxide concentration of the inside of the isolation membrane detected by the sensor.   
     
     
         7 . A vault system for housing a track in an arena, the vault system comprising:
 an isolation membrane installed over the track, the isolation membrane suppressing an inflow of outside air with respect to an inside and outside of the isolation membrane.   
     
     
         8 . The vault system according to  claim 7 , wherein the isolation membrane comprises:
 frames for providing a skeleton for forming a vault structure along the track; and   panels installed on the frame, the panels configured to suppress the inflow of outside air.   
     
     
         9 . The vault system according to  claim 7 , wherein the frames are formed by air tubes, and a compressor is provided for injecting air into and discharging air out of the frames. 
     
     
         10 . The vault system according to  claim 7 , wherein elevation holes are formed in a ground along edges of the track, and
 motor units installed in the elevation holes generate force for raising and lowering the frames through the elevation holes.   
     
     
         11 . The vault system according to  claim 10 , wherein the motor units comprise hydraulic cylinders, and the isolation membrane is supported by hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic cylinders. 
     
     
         12 . The vault system according to  claim 7 , wherein the panels are hinge-coupled to the frames, allowing rotational movement of the panels for providing ventilation. 
     
     
         13 . The vault system according to  claim 12 , further comprising motor units for generating force for enabling the rotational movement of the panels. 
     
     
         14 . The vault system according to  claim 7 , further comprising sensors configured to detect aspects of an interior environment of the isolation membrane and a control unit for controlling the environment based on detection results of the sensors. 
     
     
         15 . The vault system according to  claim 14 , wherein the control unit controls the environment by opening portions of the isolation membrane to provide ventilation based on carbon dioxide concentrations detected by the sensors, controlling cooling pipes for forming an ice surface on the track based on temperatures detected by the sensors, and/or operating an air purification module. 
     
     
         16 . The vault system according to  claim 7 , wherein the arena is an outdoor arena or an indoor arena. 
     
     
         17 . A method of operation of a vault system for housing a track in an arena, the method comprising:
 an isolation membrane installed over the track suppressing an inflow of outside air with respect to an inside and outside of the isolation membrane.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising adjusting a vertical height of the isolation membrane to provide visibility to a center portion of the arena. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising opening portions of the isolation membrane to provide ventilation based on detected carbon dioxide concentrations inside of the isolation membrane. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising controlling cooling pipes for forming an ice surface of the track inside of the isolation membrane based on detected temperatures inside of the isolation membrane.