Method and apparatus for the hydrologic regulation of turf soil profiles
First Claim
1. A method for regulating the water content of a soil profile having a turf layer, a rootzone layer under the turf layer, a choker layer under the rootzone layer, a gravel layer under the choker layer and a drainpipe extending in the gravel layer, comprising the steps of:
- providing a perforated air pipe separate from the drainpipe in the gravel layer of the soil profile,closing the drain pipe to atmospheric pressureapplying a vacuum to the perforated air pipe such that sub-atmospheric pressure is maintained across a substantial area in the gravel layer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The hydrology of a "perched water table" soil profile is regulated by installing a simple subsurface air-pipe system in the gravel layer of the soil profile to uniformly control the air pressure under the turf and to adjust the equilibrium condition between the capillary rise and the gravitational forces on the water in the soil. The air pipe system includes perforated pipes extending horizontally through the gravel layer of the soil profile at regular, spaced-apart intervals. The pipes are located adjacent the gravel layer/choker layer interface in vertical alignment with each drain pipe in the water drainpipe trench(es). The pipes are oriented such that the perforations extend along one (or both) sides of the pipe. A vacuum is applied to the pipes and the air is withdrawn uniformly across the gravel layer and the choker layer. According to one aspect of the invention, the air pressure difference across the rootzone acts as an additional force assisting gravity in the extraction of water from the rootzone. According to another aspect of the invention, sub-atmospheric pressure in the gravel layer is provided by the air pipes to increase the driving force of the water through the soil.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for regulating the water content of a soil profile having a turf layer, a rootzone layer under the turf layer, a choker layer under the rootzone layer, a gravel layer under the choker layer and a drainpipe extending in the gravel layer, comprising the steps of:
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providing a perforated air pipe separate from the drainpipe in the gravel layer of the soil profile, closing the drain pipe to atmospheric pressure applying a vacuum to the perforated air pipe such that sub-atmospheric pressure is maintained across a substantial area in the gravel layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 12, 13)
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4. A system for regulating the water content of a multilayer soil profile, comprising:
- a soil profile having a drainpipe extending horizontally through a gravel layer, a choker layer overlying the gravel layer, a rootzone layer overlying the choker layer, and a turf layer overlying the rootzone layer,;
a perforated air pipe separate from the drain pipe extending through the gravel layer of the soil profile, and a vacuum system connected to the perforated air pipe to maintain sub-atmospheric pressure across a substantial area in the gravel layer. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 14)
- a soil profile having a drainpipe extending horizontally through a gravel layer, a choker layer overlying the gravel layer, a rootzone layer overlying the choker layer, and a turf layer overlying the rootzone layer,;
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8. A system for regulating the water content of a multi-layer soil profile, comprising:
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a soil profile having an upper turf layer, a coarse textured layer having a plurality of horizontally extending drain pipes, and a layer which creates a perched water table interposed between the turf layer and the coarse layer, a plurality of perforated air pipes extending through the coarse layer separate from the drain pipes, and a vacuum system connected to the perforated air pipes to maintain subatmospheric pressure across a substantially area in the coarse layer. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 15)
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Specification