Sports surface

Abstract

A sports surface, including: a top layer, a base surface, and a support structure located between the top layer and base surface; wherein: the top layer is at least partially permeable to fluid; and the support structure defines a volume between the top layer and base surface, an airflow recirculation arrangement fluidly connected to the volume.

1 . A sports surface, including:
 a top layer, a base surface, and a support structure located between the top layer and base surface; wherein:   the top layer is at least partially permeable to fluid; and   the support structure defines a volume between the top layer and the base surface,   an airflow recirculation arrangement fluidly connected to the volume.   
     
     
         2 . The sports surface according to  claim 1 , wherein liquid is collectable in the volume on the base surface, and wherein collection of liquid in the volume through the top layer and air flow through the volume are controllable independently. 
     
     
         3 . The sports surface according to  claim 1 , wherein the airflow recirculation arrangement includes:
 a first airflow passage fluidly connected to the volume at a first location of the volume;   a second airflow passage fluidly connected to the volume at a second location of the volume.   
     
     
         4 . The sports surface according to  claim 3 , wherein the airflow recirculation arrangement further includes a fan connected to the first airflow passage and the second airflow passage,
 wherein the fan is arranged to drive air through the first airflow passage and second airflow passage, such that the first airflow passage, volume, and second airflow passage form an air recirculation loop.   
     
     
         5 . The sports surface according to  claim 3 , wherein the first location is positioned along a first side of the volume, and the second location is located along a second side of the volume, and wherein the first location is at an opposite side of the volume to the second location. 
     
     
         6 . The sports surface according to  claim 3 , wherein the first airflow passage includes a plurality of first airflow passages fluidly connected to the volume, and wherein the second airflow passage includes a plurality of second airflow passages fluidly connected to the volume wherein each of the plurality of first airflow passages are fluidly connected to a respective zoning airflow passage, each zoning airflow passage fluidly connected to the volume at a plurality of locations along the first side of the volume, and wherein each of the plurality of second airflow passages are fluidly connected to a respective secondary zoning airflow passage, each secondary zoning airflow passage fluidly connected to the volume at a plurality of locations along a second side of the volume. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The sports surface according to  claim 3 , further including an air plenum located along a first side of the sports surface, the air plenum connected between the volume and the first airflow passage. 
     
     
         10 . The sports surface according to  claim 1 , wherein the volume is separated into a plurality of zones along at least one cross-section of the volume perpendicular to a first side of the volume, and wherein the volume is separated into a plurality of zones along by an airflow restricting barrier along at least one cross-section of the volume perpendicular to a first side of the volume. 
     
     
         11 . The sports surface according to  claim 6 , wherein the volume is separated into a plurality of zones along at least one cross-section of the volume perpendicular to a first side of the volume, and wherein each zoning airflow passage and each secondary zoning airflow passage is fluidly connected to a respective zone of the volume. 
     
     
         12 . The sports surface according to  claim 3 , wherein the airflow circulation arrangement includes a weir arrangement fluidly connected between the volume and the first airflow passage, the weir arrangement including a weir wall having a height up to 60 percent of a height of the volume, or greater than a height of the volume, the weir wall configured to allow air flow over the wall and to prevent liquid flow over the wall from the volume. 
     
     
         13 . The sports surface according to  claim 1 , further including a drainage system fluidly connected to the volume through the base surface, wherein liquid collected in the volume is controllably removable through the drainage system, and optionally wherein the sports surface further includes a water level sensor for detecting a water level in the volume, the water level sensor configured to control the drainage system. 
     
     
         14 . The sports surface according to  claim 13 , wherein each of:
 collection of liquid in the volume;   removal of liquid through the drainage system; and   air flow through the volume,   is controllable independently.   
     
     
         15 . The sports surface according to  claim 1 , further including a thermostat(s) located in at least one of the following:
 within the support structure;   in the top layer,   in the volume; and   in the airflow recirculation arrangement;   wherein the sports surface further includes a heating and/or cooling system connected to the airflow recirculation arrangement,   wherein the heating and/or cooling system is configured to heat and/or cool the air in the airflow recirculation arrangement,   wherein the heating and/or cooling system is controlled by the thermostat(s), and   wherein air flow and air temperature through the volume are controllable independently.   
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . : The sports surface according to  claim 13 , further including a thermostat(s) located in at least one of the following:
 within the support structure;
 in the top layer; 
 in the volume; and 
 in the airflow recirculation arrangement, 
   wherein the sports surface further includes a heating and/or cooling system connected to the airflow recirculation arrangement,   wherein the heating and/or cooling system is configured to heat and/or cool the air in the airflow recirculation arrangement,   wherein the heating and/or cooling system is controlled by the thermostat(s), and   wherein collection of liquid in the volume, removal of liquid, air flow, and air temperature through the volume are controllable independently.   
     
     
         18 . The sports surface according to  claim 13 , wherein the drainage system is connected to a recirculation pipe and sprinkler arrangement for spraying liquid onto the top layer. 
     
     
         19 . The sports surface according to  claim 1 , further including an impermeable geomembrane layer on the base surface. 
     
     
         20 . The sports surface according to  claim 1 , wherein the support structure includes:
 a first generally planar upper region;   a second generally planar lower region; and   a third generally convex region joining the first region and the second region;   wherein at least one of the first region, the second region, and the third region includes at least one aperture for the passage of fluid through the support structure, and wherein the third region of the support structure at least partially conforms to a lateral surface of an imaginary curved frustum or curved truncated cone.   
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The sports surface according to  claim 1 , further including a layer of permeable aggregate positioned between the top layer and the support structure. 
     
     
         23 . The sports surface according to  claim 20 , further including a layer of permeable aggregate positioned between the top layer and the support structure and wherein the layer of aggregate is supported by at least one of: the first, second, and third regions of the support structure. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The sports surface according to  claim 1 , further including a temperature-controlled air inlet fluidly connected to the volume, the temperature-controlled air inlet fluidly connected to an air supply external to the volume. 
     
     
         26 - 28 . (canceled)