U.S. patent application number 11/452107 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-01 for soil conditioner.
Invention is credited to Jonathan W. Hubbs.
Application Number | 20070048096 11/452107 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38832506 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070048096 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hubbs; Jonathan W. |
March 1, 2007 |
Soil conditioner
Abstract
Disclosed are soil conditioning products comprising: (1) one or
more of an oil, a polymeric binder, a wax and a gel, or (2) a
carrier and one or more of an oil, a polymeric binder, a wax and a
gel. The wax is preferably a soy wax and the oil is preferably a
soy oil. The invention further includes surface materials
comprising a soil and a soil conditioning product according to the
invention. Other materials may be added to any of these soil
conditioning products or surface materials. If a carrier is used
the soil conditioning product may be added to soil as a granular
material, rather than as a gel or liquid.
Inventors: |
Hubbs; Jonathan W.;
(Phoenix, AZ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P.;Two Renaissance Squire
Suite 2700
40 North Central Avenue
Phoenix
AZ
85004-4498
US
|
Family ID: |
38832506 |
Appl. No.: |
11/452107 |
Filed: |
June 12, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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11007658 |
Dec 7, 2004 |
|
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11452107 |
Jun 12, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
405/263 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E01C 7/36 20130101; E01C
5/003 20130101; C09K 17/16 20130101; C09K 17/14 20130101; C09K
17/40 20130101; C09K 17/32 20130101; E01C 13/065 20130101; E02D
3/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
405/263 |
International
Class: |
E02D 3/12 20060101
E02D003/12 |
Claims
1. A soil conditioning product for mixing with a soil, the soil
conditioning product comprising (a) a carrier, and (b) one or more
of an oil, a gel, a polymeric binder and a wax.
2. The soil conditioning product of claim 1 wherein the carrier
includes organic binder.
3. The soil conditioning product of claim 2 wherein the carrier
includes dried and ground plantago.
4. The soil conditioning product of claim 3 wherein the carrier
includes dried and ground plantago seed husk.
5. The soil conditioning product of claim 4 wherein the carrier
comprises 80% or more dried and ground plantago seed husk.
6. The soil conditioning product of claim 1 that comprises between
20% to 90% by weight of carrier.
7. The soil conditioning product of claim 1 that comprises 25% to
80% by weight of carrier.
8. The soil conditioning product of claim 1 that comprises 40% to
60% by weight of carrier.
9. The soil conditioning product of claim 1 that comprises wax.
10. The soil conditioning product of claim 9 wherein the wax is soy
wax.
11. The soil conditioning product of claim 9 wherein the wax is an
emulsified wax.
12. The soil conditioning product of claim 9 wherein the wax is a
hydrogenated soy wax.
13. The soil conditioning product of claim 1 that comprises an
oil.
14. The soil conditioning product of claim 13 wherein the oil is
soy oil.
15. The soil conditioning product of claim 13 wherein the oil is
mineral oil.
16. The soil conditioning product of claim 13 wherein the oil is
petroleum oil.
17. The soil conditioning product of claim 13 wherein the oil is
paraffinic oil.
18. The soil conditioning product of claim 13 wherein the oil is
low-aromatic, vapthenic oil.
19. The soil conditioning product of claim 13 wherein the oil is
cotton seed oil.
20. The soil conditioning product of claim 13 wherein the oil is
IGI HT-100 oil.
21. The soil conditioning product of claim 1 that comprises a
polymeric binder.
22. The soil conditioning product of claim 21 wherein the polymeric
binder comprises amorphous olefin.
23. The soil conditioning product of claim 21 wherein the polymeric
binder is Vestoplast 608.
24. The soil conditioning product of claim 21 wherein the polymeric
binder is Vestoplast 708.
25. The soil conditioning product of claim 1 that comprises wax and
oil wherein the percentage by weight of wax to oil is between 10%
to 90%.
26. The soil conditioning product of claim 1 that comprises wax and
oil wherein the percentage by weight of wax to oil is between 1%
and 10%.
27. The soil conditioning product of claim 1 that comprises a
gel.
28. The soil conditioning product of claim 26 wherein the gel
comprises PETOX 310.
29. The soil conditioning product of claim 1 wherein the carrier
and one or more of an oil, a gel, a polymeric binder and a wax are
mixed together in a pug mill.
30. The soil conditioning product of claim 1 wherein the one or
more of an oil, a gel, a polymeric binder and a wax are heated and
mixed with the carrier.
31. The soil conditioning product of claim 1 that includes an oil
and a polymeric binder.
32. The soil conditioning product of claim 30 wherein the polymeric
binder is dispersed in the oil to create a formulation that is
mixed with the carrier.
33. The soil conditioning product of claim 30 that includes 20-80%
by weight of carrier.
34. A surface material comprising: (a) soil; and (b) a soil
conditioning product, the soil conditioning product comprising: (i)
a carrier; and (ii) one or more of an oil, a gel, a polymeric
binder and a wax.
35. The surface material of claim 33 wherein the soil comprises one
or more of the group consisting of sand, silt, crushed stone, clay
and gravel.
36. The surface material of claim 33 that comprises between 5 to
100 lbs. of soil conditioning product per ton of soil.
37. The surface material of claim 33 wherein the soil comprises
crushed stone and the crushed stone is decomposed granite.
38. A soil conditioning product including one or more of the group
consisting of oil, gel, polymeric binder and wax.
39. A soil conditioning product comprising one or more of soy oil
and soy wax.
40. A structure comprised of pebbles, stones and/or bricks and the
soil conditioner of claim 1.
41. The structure of claim 39 that is a walkway.
42. The structure of claim 40 that is a driveway.
43. The structure of claim 41 that is a wall.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of and claims
priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/007,658, filed Dec.
7, 2004, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in
its entirety.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to products that can be used to
condition soil, surface materials comprising the products and soil,
and processes for making the surface materials. Soil conditioning
products according to the invention preferably include (a) a
carrier and one or more of an oil, a polymeric binder, a gel and a
wax, or (b) one or more of an oil, a polymeric binder, a gel and a
wax. Surface materials according to the invention include a soil
combined with a soil conditioning product according to the
invention.
[0004] 2. Background of the Invention
[0005] As used herein and throughout, the terms in quotations below
are defined as follows: [0006] a. The term "sand" refers to any
granular material formed by the disintegration of rocks to form
particles smaller than gravel but coarser than silt. Sand may or
may not include organic matter. [0007] b. The term "silt" refers to
any unconsolidated sedimentary material with rock particles usually
1/20 millimeter or less in diameter, and being generally smaller
than sand but coarser than clay. Silt may or may not include
organic matter. [0008] c. The term "clay" refers to any (1)
inorganic earth surface material that is plastic when moist but
hard when fired and that is comprised primarily of hydrous aluminum
silicates and/or other minerals, or (2) substance having the
properties of clay. Clay includes dry or wet materials and may or
may not include organic matter. [0009] d. The term "organic binder"
refers to any carrier that consists primarily of organic matter and
that tends to bind soil particles together when mixed with soil,
wetted and subsequently dried. Organic binders include dried and
ground plantago. [0010] e. The term "carrier" refers to any
material that is granular (or particulate) at room temperature and
that, when mixed with one or more of a particular oil, polymeric
binder, gel and/or wax forms a soil conditioning product that may
be mixed with soil as a granular material rather than as a liquid.
The carrier is preferably an organic binder such as dried and
ground plantago. [0011] f. The term "fibers" refers to any fibers,
ribbons or strips of material used to add mechanical strength to
soil. [0012] g. The term "soil conditioning product" or "soil
conditioner" means any mixture of (a) carrier and one or more of:
oil, polymeric binder, gel and wax, wherein the soil conditioner is
a granular material at least at temperatures between about
60.degree. F. -90.degree. F., and more preferably at temperatures
between about 40.degree. F.-100.degree. F., or even a greater
range, and that can bind together soil particles, or (b) one or
more of: an oil, a polymeric binder, a gel and a wax. [0013] h. The
term "surface material" means any mixture of soil and a soil
conditioning product according to the invention.
[0014] It is known to mix organic binder with soil to create an
improved surface material and such a process and product are
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. Re. 35,989 to Hubbs et al. A basic
description of one process according to that invention is to mix
dried and ground plantago with soil, place the mixture on the
ground or other surface in preferred depths of 2''-6'', wet the
mixture, compress it and allow it to dry. The resulting surface is
hard and this product and process may be used for, among other
things, to form a surface on highway berms, parking lots, golf cart
paths, walking paths, or baseball infield base paths. While this
product has been successful, it must be wetted thoroughly and
compacted to create a good surface. Further, before being wetted
there is no adhesion between the soil and organic soil binder, so
it can be difficult to position the material on a slope since the
mixture tends to slide down the slope. Additionally, the resulting
surface is not water resistant.
[0015] Another known way to condition soil is to simply use a
polymeric binder. Known polymeric binders are usually solid, tacky
materials at temperatures below 100.degree. F. and must be heated
(into a syrup-like consistency) and mixed with soil, which is a
time consuming and difficult process. U.S. Pat. No. 5,559,166 to
Beardon discloses a ground surface material comprising sand and at
least one of clay or silt and a binder including an interpolymer
polymeric binder dissolved or dispersed in a non or low aromatic
oil.
[0016] The disclosures of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,746,546 and 6,821,332 to
Hubbs are incorporated herein by reference. The disclosure of U.S.
Pat. No. 5,559,166, to the extent it discloses oils and polymeric
binders that may be used, is also incorporated herein by
reference.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] The present invention relates to soil conditioning products,
processes for making same, surface materials including soil and a
soil conditioning product, and processes for making same.
[0018] A soil conditioning product according to the invention
preferably includes (a) a carrier, and one or more of an oil, a
polymeric binder, a gel and a wax, or (b) one or more of an oil, a
polymeric binder, a gel and a wax. Preferably the wax is a soy wax
and the oil is a soy oil. Other materials may be added to any of
these soil conditioning products.
[0019] A preferred process for making a soil conditioner comprises
adding oil, polymeric binder, gel and/or wax (collectively,
"constituents" and singly "constituent") to a carrier. The one or
more constituents are mixed with the carrier in such a manner that
the carrier absorbs at least some of the constituents so that the
resulting soil conditioner is granular at least at temperatures
between 60.degree. F. and 90.degree. F. The constituent(s) may also
be emulsified and added to the carrier as one or more
emulsifications.
[0020] If multiple constituents are utilized, they are preferably
mixed together before being mixed with the carrier or being mixed
directly with soil. The mixing is done at a temperature at which
the constituents utilized will mix together. Further, multiple
constituents could be emulsified and mixed, or possibly emulsified
together. Emulsified constituents may be added to a carrier or soil
alone or in addition to other emulsified or non-emulsified
constituents. Constituents may be added at different times to a
carrier or soil, and other materials may also be added.
[0021] Surface materials according to the present invention include
soil and a soil conditioning product. The surface material may
optionally comprise materials other than soil, carrier and/or
constituent(s).
[0022] A process for making a surface material comprises mixing a
soil conditioner according to the invention with soil. Other
materials may also be added. Granular soil conditioner utilizing a
carrier could be mixed with soil using mixing techniques such as
pug mill blending, raking, hoeing or bucket blending. Soil
conditioner not utilizing a carrier may be added to soil as an
emulsion or as a liquid, which may require heating of the
constituent(s) before being mixed with soil. Such a soil
conditioner can be mixed with the soil using any suitable
technique, such as a concrete mixer or by raking, hoeing or bucket
blending.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0023] FIG. 1(a) is a block diagram of a method for making a soil
conditioning product according to the invention.
[0024] FIG. 1(b) is a block diagram of another method for making a
soil conditioning product according to the invention.
[0025] FIG. 2(a) is a block diagram of a method for making a
surface material according to the invention.
[0026] FIG. 2(b) is a block diagram of another method for making a
surface material according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0027] The present invention relates to a soil conditioning product
comprising (1) a carrier plus one or more of the following: an oil,
a polymeric binder, a gel and a wax, or (2) one or more of an oil,
a gel, a polymeric binder and a wax. Each of these components is
described below.
Carrier
[0028] A soil conditioning product and surface material according
to the invention may include a carrier (as used herein "a" carrier
means one or more carriers). The carrier is preferably one or more
organic binders, such as dried and ground plantago. If dried and
ground plantago is used, it preferably includes plantago seed husk
and preferably includes 80% or more plantago seed husk, and most
preferably includes 90% or more seed husk. Other binders, either
organic (such as powdered guar gum) or inorganic, may be utilized
alone or in combination. In the preferred embodiment, the carrier
or organic binder is one that absorbs or adsorbs part of the oil,
gel, polymeric binder and/or wax so that the resulting soil
conditioning product can be added (preferably without heating) to
soil as a granular material at temperatures of at least between
about 60.degree. F. and 90.degree. F. and most preferably at even a
wider range of temperatures.
[0029] The amount and type of carrier or organic binder included is
chosen to provide the desired properties of the soil conditioning
product. Preferably a soil conditioning product that includes
carrier comprises between 20 and 80% by weight carrier, although
other weight percentages may be utilized depending upon the nature
of the carrier and the type(s) of oil, polymeric binder, gel and/or
wax added, the type of soil to which the soil conditioner is to be
added, and the desired properties of the conditioned soil.
Oil
[0030] The term "oil" means any substance, such as a non or low
aromatic oil, paraffinic oil, soy bean oil, cotton seed oil, other
vegetable oil, petroleum oil, or mineral oil, into which a
polymeric binder can be dispersed or dissolved. "Oil" could also be
an aqueous solution, depending upon the nature of the carrier (if
utilized) and other constituents (if utilized), although a
non-aqueous solution is preferred. As used herein, "an" oil refers
to one or more oils. An oil may alone, or in combination with one
or more other constituents, be added to soil or a carrier in any
suitable form, such as a liquid (with or without heating) or as one
or more emulsions. In one aspect of the present invention the
purpose of the oil is to provide a medium in which to dissolve or
disperse the polymeric binder, gel and/or wax and create a
formulation that may be mixed with the carrier to form a substance
that can be added to soil as a granular material.
[0031] Among the suitable petroleum oils are those containing low
or no aromatic fractions, and that are generally fluid at
temperatures between 30.degree. F. and 120.degree. F. Examples of
oils suitable for use in the present invention include paraffinic
oils and low-aromatic naphthenic oils. A commercially available
example of a paraffinic oil includes Exxon's 150 SE solvent
extracted bright stock FN-2507, and of a low-aromatic naphthenic
oil includes Cyclolube No. 2290 available from Witco. Additionally,
soy oil, cotton seed oil, other vegetable oils, or mineral oil may
be used. The most preferred oil is soy oil. An example of a
commercially available soy oil is Archer Soybean Oil, product no.
86-070-0 available from Archer Daniels Midland Company, Oils and
Fats Division, 4666 Faries Parkway, Ill. HT-100 mineral oil from
IGI is most preferred among mineral oils.
Polymeric Binder
[0032] A polymeric binder according to the invention is any
substance that may be dissolved or dispersed in an oil, that is
tackier than and has a higher viscosity than the oil, and that
provides adhesion between soil particles. As used herein, "a"
polymeric binder means one or more polymeric binders. The polymeric
binder helps to seal the outer surface of the surface material,
because of the particle adhesion it provides, and because it
preferably is water resistant. A polymeric binder may alone, or in
combination with one or more other constituents, be added to a soil
or a carrier in any suitable form, such as a liquid (with or
without heating, depending on the properties of the polymeric
binder) or as one or more emulsions.
[0033] Polymeric binders suitable for use in the present invention
include interpolymers of butene, ethylene and/or propylene with
ethylenically unsaturated monomers, including vinyl acetate, methyl
acrylate, ethyl acrylate and the like. Other polymeric binders
suitable for use in the present invention include amorphous
polymers that are soluble or dispersible in an oil according to the
invention. Commercially available examples of suitable polymeric
binders include VESTOPLAST 608 or 708. The most preferred polymeric
binder is VESTOPLAST SI, and is supplied by CREANOVA Inc., Turner
Place, Box 365, Piscataway, N.J. 08855.
Gel
[0034] The term "gel" means a gelatinous material, such as
petroleum jelly. A gel according to the invention can be used in
place of oil, or in addition to the oil, or in place of the
polymeric binder, or in place of oil and polymeric binder, or
alone, or just as another constituent along with other
constituents, depending upon the viscosity of the gel, its ability
to bind soil particles, the type of soil utilized, the other
constituents utilized, and the desired properties of the surface
material. As used herein "a" gel means one or more gels. A gel may
alone, or in combination with one or more other constituents, be
added to a soil or a carrier in any suitable form, such as a liquid
(with or without heating, depending on the properties of the gel)
or as one or more emulsions.
[0035] A preferred gel is PETOX 310, which has the consistency of
soft petroleum jelly.
Wax
[0036] A soil conditioning product and surface material of the
present invention may include a wax. The term "wax" means any
substance, such as soy wax, other vegetable waxes,
microcrystalline-based slack wax, or paraffin wax, that has water
repellency properties and softens when heated to between 80.degree.
F. and 400.degree. F., and most preferably between 80.degree. F.
and 200.degree. F., so that it can be mixed with (1) a soil, (2)
one or more of an oil, gel and/or polymeric binder to be further
mixed with soil or a carrier, or (3) a carrier. As used herein "a"
wax means one or more waxes and a wax used in the invention may or
may not be microcrystalline. A wax may alone, or in combination
with one or more other constituents, be added to a soil or a
carrier in any suitable form, such as a liquid (with or without
heating, depending on the properties of the wax) or as one or more
emulsions, powders or pelletized waxes.
[0037] The purpose of the wax is to help make the surface material
firm, malleable and to add more cohesiveness between the soil
particles. Waxes may also provide some water resistance to surface
materials of the present invention. Any wax capable of performing
these functions may be used. The wax is preferably heated to be
mixed with the carrier, a soil or one or more of an oil, gel, and
polymeric binder (after which the mixture is mixed with a carrier
or directly with soil). The wax may alternatively be added to any
of the above as powder, pellets or an emulsified wax.
[0038] Among the waxes that may be used to practice the invention
is IGI 422. IGI 422 is a microcrystalline-based slack wax. It is
recommended for use as a coating or for impregnating for
waterproofing, sweeping compounds, metal protection, lubricating,
polishing, tanning, and has the following physical properties:
TABLE-US-00001 ASTM SPECIFICATIONS TEST METHODS METHOD Minimum
Maximum TYPICAL Drop Melt Point D 127 -- -- 166 (74.4) .degree. F.
(.degree. C.) Congealing Point D 938 153 (67.2) 167 (75) 160 (71.1)
.degree. F. (.degree. C.) Kinematic Viscosity, D 445 16.0 23.0 19.5
cSt @ 210.degree. F. (98.9.degree. C.) Saybolt Viscosity, D 2161
81.9 111.4 96.4 SUS @ 210.degree. F. (98.9.degree. C.) Solvent
Extractables*, D 3235* -- -- 20.0 Wt % Flash Point (P.M.), D 93 464
(240) -- 504 (262) .degree. F. (.degree. C.) Color D 1500 -- -- 3.0
*Modified test method. 1 g sample/30 mls solvent (60% MEK, 40%
Toluene)
FDA STATUS: IGI 422 is not intended for food contact.
[0039] IGI 1266U is another wax that may be used to practice the
invention. IGI 1266U is a relatively high melting, refined paraffin
wax and may be used for applications which do not require a wax
meeting FDA specifications. IGI 1266U has the following physical
properties: TABLE-US-00002 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES ASTM SPECIFICATIONS
TEST METHODS METHOD Minimum Maximum TYPICAL Congealing Point D 938
154 (67.8) 160 (71.1) 157 (69.4) .degree. F. (.degree. C.)
Kinematic Viscosity, D 445 6.7 7.8 7.3 cSt @ 210.degree. F.
(98.9.degree. C.) Saybolt Viscosity, D 2161 48.1 51.8 50.1 SUS @
210.degree. F. (98.9.degree. C.) Oil Content, Wt % D 721 -- 1.0 --
Color D 1500 -- -- L1.0 (Off- white/tan) Odor D 1833 -- -- 2 Needle
Penetration, D 1321 -- -- 12 dmm @ 77.degree. F. (25.degree.
C.)
FDA STATUS: IGI 1266U is not intended for food contact.
[0040] Each of the above-described waxes are sold by The
International Group, Inc. ("IGI"), with locations at: 85 Old Eagle
School Road, P.O. Box 384, Wayne, Pa. 19087 and 50 Salome Drive,
Agincourt, Ontario, Canada M2S 2A8.
[0041] The most preferred wax is a soy wax. Among the soy waxes
that may be used to practice the present invention are hydrogenated
soybean oil product numbers 86-193-0 and 88-583-0 sold by Archer,
Daniels Midland Company, Oils and Fats Division, 4666 Faries
Parkway, Decatur, Ill. In alternate embodiments, the soy wax may be
a partially hydrogenated soybean oil.
Soil
[0042] The term "soil" refers to particulate surface material of
the earth, whether or not it contains organic matter, and includes
one or more of sand, silt, clay and crushed rock, such as
decomposed granite. Soil may include other components, such as
pebbles or stones, as well.
[0043] A preferred clay comes dried in packages and is called "Mud
Gel Wyoming Bentonite" sold by Baroid Drilling Fluids, P.O. Box
1675, Houston, Tex. 77251. However, it is believed that any clay
could be used to practice the invention and the clay could either
be dry or moist. Clay is typically used to provide particles that
are cohesive when wetted to form a malleable, and sufficiently
firm, surface material. A clay surface can be extremely firm when
dry.
[0044] Virtually any decomposed granite (also referred to as
"D.G.") having sand particles may be used, including 1/4'' D.G. or
D.G. finely screened to 2 mil size.
Making the Soil Conditioning Product
[0045] Turning now to the drawings, FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) depict some
preferred methods of making preferred soil conditioning products
according to the invention. First, if a polymeric binder and/or wax
is used, oil and/or gel is preferably used, too. In that case, the
oil and/or gel is added (10) to a vessel (1) and preferably heated
(20) to a temperature at which the polymeric binder and/or wax will
dissolve or disperse into the oil or gel, or simply liquify. This
is preferably a temperature of between 250.degree. F.-400.degree.
F., and most preferably at a temperature of between 265.degree.
F.-280.degree. F., and the temperature will depend in part on the
melting point(s) of the gel, polymeric binder and/or wax utilized.
The binder and/or wax may be added (30 and 40) before or after the
heating step (20).
[0046] If both gel and oil are used, the weight percentage may vary
from essentially all gel to essentially no gel. If polymeric binder
is used, the percentage of polymeric binder to oil and/or gel by
weight may vary over a wide range from 1 to 90%. In some
embodiments the preferred weight percent range of oil and/or gel to
polymeric binder is between 10 to 90% and in other embodiments
between 1-30% of polymeric binder by weight is utilized.
[0047] Wax may also be added to the mixture in a preferred weight
ratio of 1-15% of the total mixture of constituents added to the
carrier (or to which the carrier is added). Soy oil and soy wax may
be used in place of mineral oil and binder, in which case they may
be used in approximately a weight percentage of between 1%-30% wax
to oil and/or gel or more preferably 1%-15% wax to oil and/or gel.
The most preferred weight ratio of oil to wax is between 25-100
lbs. of oil to 1 lb. of wax. Similarly, in any mixture of
constituents that includes wax it is most preferred that the wax is
present in a weight percentage between 1% and 4%.
[0048] The resulting mixture of oil, gel, polymeric binder and/or
wax is preferably mixed (50) with a carrier, preferably in a pug
mill, and preferably while the constituent(s) is still at an
elevated temperature (for example, 250.degree. F.-400.degree. F),
at a weight ratio of about 10 to 90% carrier to constituent(s) or
between 20% to 80%, 25% to 75% or 40% to 70% carrier to
constituent(s).
[0049] One preferred embodiment includes VESTOPLAST polymeric
binder, which is first mixed into IGI mineral oil. The ratio can be
between 20-80% polymeric binder by weight. Carrier is added to this
mixture between 50-90% carrier by weight, and most preferably about
70% carrier by weight.
[0050] Whether a constituent or mixture of constituents is being
properly mixed with the carrier can be determined by visual
inspection - the carrier will appear to be wet rather than dry and
there would not be significant uneven mixing, with clumps or pools
of different materials in the soil conditioner. The finished soil
conditioner is preferably substantially uniformly mixed.
[0051] Wax or other constituents may be added at any stage of the
method of making soil conditioning products described herein. For
example, a constituent, such as wax, could be dissolved or
dispersed in the oil or gel, or emulsified wax could be added to
the carrier before or after the carrier is mixed with an oil, gel,
and/or binder mixture. One or more of an oil, gel, polymeric binder
or wax could optionally be added and mixed with the carrier after
the carrier has been mixed with one or more of the other
constituents.
[0052] Any of the constituents, and especially the wax, may be
added to a carrier as an emulsion. An emulsion of wax (or of any
other constituent(s)) can be stored and/or shipped in any suitable
containers, such as cans, tanks or drums. An emulsion can be added
to another constituent(s), or to a carrier or to soil in any
suitable manner, such as by pouring it or spraying it.
Making the Surface Material
[0053] A granular soil conditioning product according to the
invention may be blended or mixed with soil in any suitable manner.
Among the suitable techniques are mixing in a pug mill, bucket
mixing (also called bucket blending) using a front-end loader or
bulldozer, hand or machine tilling in situ, using a pharmaceutical
blender, or using a concrete mixer. Preferably, a soil conditioning
product utilizing a carrier is granular without being heated and
does not have to be heated prior to mixing with soil. Other
materials, such as other soil materials, organic binder, wax,
rubber particles or pieces, or fibers may be added to, or be
present in, the finished surface material.
[0054] If the carrier is an organic binder such as plantago, the
surface material could be watered, preferably compressed, and then
allowed to dry to provide additional soil adhesion and to help
disperse constituents such as oil, gel, polymeric binder and/or wax
throughout the soil. For example, if the carrier includes dried and
ground plantago, the mucilage of the plantago helps provide soil
adhesion and to disperse the constituent(s) throughout the soil.
The oil, gel, polymeric binder and/or wax provides water resistance
and perhaps some soil adhesion, depending upon the adhesive
properties of the constituent(s) used.
[0055] If the soil conditioner does not include a carrier it is
preferably added to the soil as one or more liquids or as one or
more emulsions. Such a soil conditioner may be heated prior to
adding it to soil and the soil conditioner and soil can be mixed in
any suitable fashion, such as by utilizing bucket mixing, raking,
hoeing or a concrete mixer.
[0056] It is preferred that between 5-200 pounds, and most
preferably 10-100 or 15-50 pounds, of a soil conditioning product
according to the invention be added to one ton of soil, depending
upon the consistency and type of the soil and soil conditioner and
the desired characteristics of the surface material.
[0057] The surface material may be applied to a surface in any
manner, such methods of applying surface material being known to
those skilled in the art. Generally, the material would be placed
upon the surface at a desired depth and compacted or compressed,
using any suitable method, prior to use. It may also be graded,
raked, watered and/or dried prior to use.
[0058] The invention may be used for virtually any surface
application, especially surfaces such as baseball infields, soccer
fields, hand ball courts, tennis courts, horse training arenas,
exercising, horse jumping surfaces, horse racing surfaces and
equestrian surfaces of all types, parking lots, highway berms and
embankments, golf sand bunker liners, golf cart paths, walking or
jogging paths. A surface layer utilizing the invention can be any
depth and would generally be between 2'' and 6'' depending upon the
application, although the surface layer may be of any suitable
depth. For example, a layer of about 6'' or more in depth could be
used for pitcher's mounds or equestrian racing tracks. A layer on a
baseball diamond base path could be between 1/4'' and 3'' deep.
Embodiments of the invention (either soil conditioner or surface
material) may also be used to adhere stones (including flat stones
such as flag stone), bricks, pebbles or other material on a path,
driveway, barrier, wall (such as a retaining wall used for
landscaping) or other structure. In that case the soil conditioner
or surface material would be inserted, pressed or otherwise placed
in any suitable manner into the spaces between the material to be
adhered.
[0059] Having now described preferred embodiments of the invention
variations that do not depart from the spirit thereof will become
apparent to others. The invention is thus not limited to the
preferred embodiments but is instead set forth in the following
claims and legal equivalents thereof. Unless stated otherwise in
the claims, method steps may be performed in any order capable of
providing a product or result according to the invention.
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