# US 11,076,538 B2 · Hydroponic turfgrass athletic field and landscape apparatus

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- Number: US 11,076,538 B2
- Document ID: US11076538B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/274,583
- Filed: 2019-02-13
- Published: 2020-08-13
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2019-02-13
- Assignees: United Arab Emirates University
- Applicants: United Arab Emirates University
- Inventors: Moustafa Amin Fadel
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11076538B2

## CPC

- A01G 9/033: Flat containers for turf, lawn or the like, e.g. for covering roofs
- A01G 20/10: Pre-cultivated sod or turf; Apparatus therefor
- A01G 25/16: Control of watering
- A01G 31/02: Special apparatus therefor (self-acting watering devices A01G27/00)
- C02F 1/32: with ultraviolet light
- C02F 1/325: {Irradiation devices or lamp constructions}
- C02F 1/66: by neutralisation; pH adjustment (for degassing C02F1/20; using ion-exchange C02F1/42; for flocculation or precipitation of suspended impurities C02F1/52; for removing dissolved compounds C02F1/58)
- C02F 2209/05: Conductivity or salinity
- C02F 2209/06: pH
- A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12)
- C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes)

## Abstract

The present invention discloses a hydroponic field irrigation system comprising a field module for growing turfgrass. The field module comprises an energy absorbing mechanism comprising a horizontal spring layer and a growth medium comprising a steel grid layer, wherein the horizontal spring layer absorbs vertical forces exerted by external loads, and the steel grid layer is positioned on top of the horizontal spring layer for holding a plurality of turf sods. The hydroponic field irrigation system further comprises a used water tank for receiving water from the field module, an ultra-violet (UV) unit for disinfecting the water received from the used water tank, a water quality management unit for adjusting quality of the water received from the ultra-violet (UV) unit, a geothermal unit for conditioning temperature of water received from the water quality management unit and plurality of solenoid valves for pumping water into and out of the field module.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A field module for growing turfgrass, the field module comprising:
a container;
a horizontal spring layer positioned within the container made of a perforated and corrugated sheet,
a third layer comprising a slidable sheet for enabling the horizontal spring layer to slide without corroding a bottom of the container, and
a fourth layer or growth medium comprising a steel grid layer positioned on top of the horizontal spring layer, for accommodating a plurality of turf sods and a growth substrate for sustaining a nutrient solution for growth and survival of the plurality of turf sods;
wherein the horizontal spring layer absorbs vertical forces exerted by external loads and moves horizontally from a left position to a right position and from the right position to the left position, thereby imitating natural resilience of soil; and
wherein perforations of the horizontal spring layer assist in fluid dynamics by allowing flow of water, and allow for the plurality of turf sods to extend roots to the bottom of the container in search of the nutrient solution.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The field module of claim 1, wherein the field module further comprises a 25 cm deep container made of metal, fiberglass, galvanized steel or concrete.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The field module of claim 1, wherein the perforated and corrugated sheet is made of galvanized steel.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The field module of claim 3, wherein spaces between the perforated corrugated sheet are filled with rockwool which acts as the growth substrate for the turfgrass.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The field module of claim 3, wherein a thickness of the horizontal spring layer is 3 to 4 mm.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The field module of claim 1, wherein the slidable sheet layer is positioned below the horizontal spring layer for assisting the horizontal spring layer to move or slide horizontally.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The field module of claim 6, wherein the slidable sheet layer is made of galvanized steel.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The field module of claim 1, the external loads comprise sporting equipment.