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Title:
METHOD FOR UNCOVERING AND ON-COVERING OF A LIMITED HORIZONTAL SURFACE WITH A COVER AND STORAGE SYSTEM AND PULL-OUT WINCH FOR USE WITH THE METHOD
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2016/169569
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
Storage system and pull out winch (6) where the storage system includes a, above a horizontal surface (1) suspended storage (3) for storing of a cover (2) in a rolled up state, since a pull out winch (6) is connected via a wire connection (5) to a pull out edge (4) of the cover (2) and a motor drive (9) in the storage (3) is connected with a roll up rod (13) where the motor drive (9) and the pull out winch (6) are in connection with a joint control system (11).

Inventors:
ESPERSEN CLAUS (DK)
Application Number:
PCT/DK2016/050107
Publication Date:
October 27, 2016
Filing Date:
April 19, 2016
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
ASTRO FOIL NORDIC APS (DK)
International Classes:
A63C19/12; E04H4/10
Domestic Patent References:
WO1998005392A11998-02-12
Foreign References:
US5524302A1996-06-11
DE3102362A11982-11-04
KR101332636B12013-11-25
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
PATENT NORD APS (Julius Posselts Vej 123th, 9400 Nørresundby, DK)
Download PDF:
Claims:
P A T E N T C L A I M S

Method for uncovering and on-covering of a limited horizontal surface (1 ) with a cover (2) where the cover (2), when it is not in use, is suspended in a storage (3) above the surface (1 ) and that on-covering of the surface (1 ) occurs by a pull-out edge (4) of the cover (2) being pulled via connection straps (5) to a pull-out winch (6), across the horizontal surface (1 ) during controlled release of the cover (2) from the storage (3) and that the pull-out edge (4) and a rear edge of the cover (2) during or after the pulling out is gradually lowered for contact between a lower side (10) of the cover (2) and the horizontal surface (1 ) characterized in that along the pull out edge (4) and / or along the rear edge (15) fastened end parts (7) of the cover (2) are placed manually in place in connection to respectively the pull out edge (4) and / or a rear edge (15) for covering of non-equal ly edged parts (8) of the horizontal surface (1 ).

Method according to claim 1 characterized in that the storage (3) releases the cover (2) from a rolled up state, and receives the cover (2) again during roll up controlled by a motor driven winch (9) since the pull out winch (6) and the motor drive's winch (9) receive control signals from a joint control system (1 1 ).

Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cover's rear edge (15) is lowered down for contact against the surface (1 ) during simultaneous lowering of the storage (3) via a number of suspension elevators (12).

Method, according to claim 3, characterized in that the lowering of the storage stops before the storage reaches the surface and that the rear edge of the cover is lowered a final distance towards the surface during unwinding of carrying straps (28) from a motor driven winch (9) controlled by control signals from the joint control system (1 1 ).

Method, according to one or more of claims 1 - 3, characterized in that the storage remains in a fixed mounted position during the operation and that the cover's rear edge (15) is lowered down for contact against the surface (1 ) during unwinding of carrying straps (28) from the motor driven winch (9) controlled by control signals from the joint control system (1 1 ).

Storage system and pull out winch (6) for use by the method according to claim 1 , where the storage system includes a, above a horizontal surface (1 ) suspended storage (3) for storing of a cover (2) in a rolled up state, since a pull out winch (6) is connected via a wire connection (5) to a pull out edge (4) of the cover (2) and a motor drive (9) in the storage (3) is connected with a roll up rod (13) where the motor drive (9) and the pull out winch (6) are in connection with a joint control system (1 1 ) characterized in that there along the pull out edge (4) and / or along the rear edge (15) are fastened end parts (7) and that these end parts (7) are designed for covering non- equilateral parts (8) of the horizontal surface (1 ).

Storage system and pull out winch (6), as stated in claim 6, characterized in that the storage (3) is suspended in its own elevator winch (12), which is also in connection with, and is controlled by, the joint control system (1 1 ). Storage system and pull out winch (6), as stated in claim 6, characterized in that the roll up rod (13) includes a storage area for winding of cover parts and attachment points for winding of carrying strap of sling (28), which connects the roll up rod (13) with the cover's rear edge (15), such that the cover's rear edge (15) can be raised and lowered from the storage system during the carrying sling's (28) or the carrying strap's unwinding from, respectively winding up on the roll up rod (13).

Storage system and pull out winch (6), as stated in claim 7 or claim 8, characterized in that the cover (2) includes a rectangular piece (14) with two equilateral opposite side edges (4, 15), where a first edge acts as pull out edge (4) and is connected with the wire connection (5) and a hereto opposite edge (15) is either directly connected to the roll up rod (13) or is connected to the roll up rod (13) via one or more carrying straps (28).

10. Storage system and pull out winch (6), as stated in claim 6, characterized in that they, along the pull out edge (4) and along the rear edge (15) fastened end parts (7), will either be vertically hanging down by fully pulled out cover (2) or via, in or on the cover (2), mounted spring steel bands (31 ) stretch themselves away from the rear edge (15) or the pull out edge (4).

Description:
Method for uncovering and on-covering of a limited horizontal surface with a cover and storage system and pull-out winch for use with the method.

The invention relates to a method for uncovering and on-covering of a limited horizontal surface such as the water level in a swimming pool, the ice surface of an ice covered field for sport or recreation, the grass surface of ball or sports field with connected cover for, for example, thermal isolation and protection of the surface. More specifically, the invention relates to a method for uncovering and on-covering of a limited horizontal surface with a cover where the cover, when it is not in use, is suspended in a storage above the surface and that on-covering of the surface occurs by a pull-out edge of the cover being pulled via connection straps to a pull-out winch, across the horizontal surface during controlled release of the cover from the storage and that the pull-out edge and a rear edge of the cover during or after the pulling out is gradually lowered for contact between a lower side of the cover and the horizontal surface.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a storage system and pull-out winch and a cover for use in the storage system.

For swimming pools and ice covered sports fields are known different ways of ensuring a thermal insulation of the surface of the sports field, when it is not in use. Typically, there is involved a cover including a several layer foil, which is placed on a roll, which is mounted at a side edge of the field and which is then pulled out by hand during unwinding from the roll. Subsequent rolling up can occur by hand or via a built in motor drive. An automatic system is needed, which can put cover on and remove cover from the surface without use of manual power. Also, there is a need for the storage, which ensures that the cover can be removed without trouble from the edge of the pool or the sports field, such that it is not in the way of subsequent activity on the field. According to the invention's method, as stated in claim 1 , the cover is, when it is not in use, suspended in a storage above the surface. It is made possible that uncovering and on-covering of the surface can occur by a pull- out edge of the cover being pulled via wire connection to a pull-out winch across the horizontal surface during controlled release of the cover from the storage and such that the pull-out edge and the storage or the cover's rear edge during or after the pulling out is gradually lowered for contact between the cover's lower side and the horizontal surface. Hereby, the cover's movement for folded out contact against a surface and back in a storage can be controlled and carried out without manual mesh. The suspended storage above the field or the surface will not matter for the sport or other activity, which is carried out on the field, so there is not need for difficult transport of the storage away from the field.

End parts of the cover are placed, in relation to the invention, manually in place in connection to respectively the pull-out edge and / or the rear edge for covering non-equal ly edged parts of the horizontal surface. The end parts can, in other words, be placed either on the pull-out edge, or on the rear edge or on both these. The cover thus includes partly a rectangular part, which is suited for covering a rectangular part of the fields and partly pieces with a straight edge across a curved edge. These latter pieces can then be used for covering the surface's non-equilateral parts in connection to the rectangular piece. For, for example, an ice hockey field, the central middle field will consist of a rectangle and at two opposite ends, there are rounded off field parts. Here are manually placed the cover parts, which via an equilateral edge are connected to the rectangular cover piece along one or both end edges hereof and stretches itself from here and out to the non- straight brim of the field. Hereby, it is also possible to achieve an almost 100% covering of the surface. As stated in claim 2, it is preferred that the storage releases the cover from a rolled up state and receives the cover again during roll up controlled by a motor drive since the pull-out winch and the motor drive receive control signals from a joint control system. Typically, the joint control system will stand in radio connection with motor drive and pull-out winch, such that the pull-out and the release of the cover can be synchronized suitably. It is hereby ensured that the cover is stretched and tight during both pull-out and the roll up and there will not be any need for manual mesh. According to claim 3, the magazine is thus suspended in an elevator, such that it can be raised to a position high above the surface or lowered fully down to contact with the surface. Hereby, the cover's rear edge, which is attached to a roll up peg in the storage, can be moved up or down depending on whether the cover should be placed on the surface or is to be removed. Lowering occurs, according to the invention, simultaneously with the cover being pulled out of the storage and across the surface, for it is thereby ensured that there does not occur a much too large pull in horizontal direction on the storage's fixture, since a part of the cover can come to contact before the whole cover is pulled out of the storage. Furthermore, the pull-out winch and the controlled release of the cover can ensure that the part of the cover, which does not touch the surface, hangs in a suitably soft curve above the surface, which again acts to ensure against overload of the winch and of the mounting for the storage. According to claim 4, the lowering of the storage must cease before the surface is reached, such that the rear edge of the cover is lowered one last distance towards the surface during unwinding of carrying straps from a motor driven winch controlled by control signals from the joint control system. The storage lowering occurs in such cases in order for the cover to go free of the, above the surface suspended, device, such as loud speaker systems, big screens, light fixtures or camera carryings and similar equipment, which can be beneficial during exercise of sports matches. The storage is then lowered so far down as required, whereafter the rear edge is lowered during release of the carrying straps from the roll up rod where they are bedded outside each other in hereto designed tracks.

In a preferred embodiment, as stated in claim 5, the cover's rear edge is lowered down for contact against the surface during execution of carrying straps from the motor driven winch controlled by control signals from the joint control system. This method has the advantage that the whole storage as such must not be lowered, but the rear edge of the cover is lowered since carrying straps, which are connected with the rear edge are being released from a winch in the storage. It is here preferred that the winch consists a part of the mechanism, which also rolls up the cover such that it can be stored in the storage.

The invention also relates to a storage system and pull-out winch, as stated in claim 6, where the storage system includes a, above a horizontal surface, suspended storage for storing a cover in a rolled up state, since a pull-out winch is connected via a wire connection to a pull-out edge of the cover and a motor drive in the storage is connected with a roll up rod where the motor drive and the pull-out winch are in connection with a joint control system, where there along the pull-out edge and along the rear edge is fastened end parts, and that these end parts are shaped for covering of non-equilateral parts of the horizontal surface. Hereby is achieved a compact system for covering of for example an ice surface, which is also especially easy to operate, since both release of the cover from the storage system and roll up of the cover on a roll up rod in the storage can occur automatically and without mesh. Non-equilateral parts of the field are very easily covered with the end parts, which are directly fastened to pull-out edge and rear edge. Moreover, the suspension of the storage above the surface means that the storage can be left here, also during the use of the surface to for instance sports exercise or other activities.

In an embodiment, storage system and pull-out winch are, as stated in claim 7, suspended in their own elevator winch, which is also in connection with, and controlled by, the joint control system. The advantage hereby is that the elevator winch allows the storage to become lowered fully or partially down to the surface, such that the cover can be pulled out from the storage without, in the ceiling suspended, elements coming into conflict with the cover during the stretching.

It is preferred, as stated in claim 8, that the roll up rod includes both a storage area, for the winding of cover parts and a storage area for winding of carrying strap or sling, which connects the roll up rod with the cover's rear edge, such that the cover's rear edge can be raised and lowered from the storage system under the carrying sling's or the carrying strap's unwinding from, respectively, winding on the roll up rod. The roll up rod becomes, however, less complicated, and there must be established carrying straps between the roll up rod and the rear edge of the cover. The storage area for the winding of carrying strap or sling is designed with a slightly smaller diameter than the storage area for cover parts, such that one can initially roll up the carrying sling and then outside this winding and besides it, accumulate the cover evenly. The storage area for the cover can be established appropriately by providing a roll up rod consisting of a circular cylindrical pipe with radially directed wings, which stretch in the pipe's longitudinal direction between the storage areas for the carrying sling. If there is worked in metal, such wings can be spot-welded to the circular cylindrical pipe.

According to claim 9, the storage system and the pull out winch are designed such that the cover has a rectangular piece with two equilateral opposite side edges, where a first side edge acts as pull out edge and is connected with the wire connection, and where a hereto opposite side edge is connected to the roll up rod either directly or via carrying straps. It hereby becomes possible to always place a rectangular cover piece on a surface. As stated in claim 10, the storage system and the pull out winch are designed such that they along the pull out edge and along the rear edge fastened end parts will either be vertically hanging down by fully pulled out cover or via, in or on the cover, mounted spring steel bands stretching themselves away from the rear edge or the pull out edge. The end parts are not stretched between the pull out winch and the rear edge of the cover, so therefore they hang down and will not by themselves get to rest expanded on the surface, but must manually be widened out in the extent potential spring bands do not ensure the expansion. But as a result of them sitting fixed on respectively pull out edge and the rear edge of the foil, they are easy to put out against a potentially curvy ending part of a field, which is situated in connection to a rectangular central part.

A cover for use in a storage system is also a part of the invention and it has a net weight of not over 250 g/m 2 , preferably not over 220 g/m 2 Hereby, the total weight of the cover does not become insurmountable and the cover can together with the storage be suspended in the roof construction on most halls with for example ice fields.

It is preferred that the cover material includes at least 3 layers, of which a layer includes a fiber reinforcement, a layer includes a bubble wrap with air enclosures and additionally a layer including a metallized surface. The combination of metallization and bubble wrap ensures good insulating power for the cover and also gives the fiber armoured layer good strength and wear constancy, such that the cover is not torn apart during roll out or roll up in the storage. The fiber reinforcement can include glass fibre, aramid fibers, carbon fibre or mixtures hereof, but also fibers of plant material or metal can be a possibility.

The cover is also manufactured such that the material layers together form a thermic isolating surface, whereby it is ensured that there is maintained a significant temperature difference between the upper and lower side of a cover placed on an ice surface or a water surface in for example a swimming pool.

The invention will now be explained more fully with reference to the drawings, on which:

Fig. 1 shows a 3D representation of a cover, which is being pulled out on an ice field from a storage,

Fig. 2 shows pull-out winch, which is placed opposite the suspended storage,

Fig. 3 shows a detail in connection with the elevator winch, which holds the storage up and here suspended in the ceiling construction,

Fig. 4 shows the elevator winch's two units suspended in a beam mounted across the field,

Fig. 5 shows storage parts for the cover,

Fig. 6 shows a magnified section of the storage,

Fig. 7 shows the different layer parts in the cover,

Fig. 8 shows an embodiment of the invention where the storage is not lowered, but only the cover's rear edge is lowered

Fig. 9 shows transverse rod with the cover connected hereto,

Fig. 10 shows detail of a spring steel band mounted on the cover,

Fig. 1 1 is an overview sketch, which shows all spring steel bands,

Fig. 12 shows a 3-D representation of an embodiment for the roll up rod, Fig. 13 shows a side image of a roll up rod, as the one shown in Fig. 12, Fig. 14 shows a pull-out winch, where the winch winds or unwinds a wide strap. A storage system and pull out winch 6 are shown in fig. 1 and 2, together with a field with a horizontal surface 1 . The storage 3 for storing a cover 2 in a rolled up state is in the shown example suspended in a lattice girder 19, which is raised above the one end of the field, and in figure 2 is also seen a pull out winch 6, which is here mounted on a similar lattice girder at the field's opposite end.

A connection 5 with wire or another pulling element connects the pull-out winch 6 with a pull out edge 4 of the cover 2 and a motor drive 9 in the storage 3 is connected with a roll up rod 13. The motor drive 9 and the pull- out winch 6 stand in connection with a joint control system 1 1 . Connections between control system and motor drive and pull-out winch can be on basis of radio connections and they are therefore not drawn on. The joint control system can be found a fitting place in the sports hall and be designed with operation and programming unit, as known consisting of for example a touch sensitive screen (not shown).

When the cover 2 is to be put on the surface 1 , the storage 3 is initially lowered down towards the field's surface 1 , and then the pull-out winch is activated at the field's opposite end and at the same time there is initiated a controlled delivery from the storage since the motor drive 9 is put in rotation for rotation of a roll up rod 13, on which the cover is rolled up. This occurs synchronously by the control system 1 1 emitting signals to respectively the pull-out winch and the motor drive.

The motor drive 9 can appropriately be built into the roll up rod 13, such that it takes up the least space. This is shown in fig. 6, where the motor drive 9 is shown schematically with dotted line. By initiating the cover's 2 placing with lowering the storage towards the field, a part of the cover 2 will come to contact against the surface 1 before the cover is fully pulled out from the storage 3 and the pull is thereby eased on both the pull-out winch and on the suspension since a part of the weight of the cover is hereby made to rest against the surface 1 . The storage 3 is as it seen in fig. 3, suspended in its own elevator winch 12, which is also in connection with, and is controlled by, the joint control system 1 1 . The elevator winch 12 includes a chain 20, whose one end is fastened to either the lattice girder 19 or a part of a roof construction. The other end of the chain 20 is fastened in a roll up block (not shown), which is placed in an elevator housing. Hereby, it becomes possible to roll the chain 20 up or out from the roll up block in the usual way via an electrical motor and a control system. Here is used a chain, but it is possible to let the elevator winch operate with wire drive. Alternatively, the elevator housing can be placed mounted fixed on the lattice girder or be placed mounted to a part of the ceiling construction (not shown).

As shown in fig. 1 , the cover 2 includes a rectangular piece 14 with two equilateral opposite side edges 4, 15; where a first side edge acts as pull- out edge 4 and is connected with the wire connection 5. The other side edge is titled the rear edge 15 and is fastened to the roll up rod 13. As it is seen in fig. 1 and 2, the wire connection 3 includes separate wires, which again have grip in respective wire drum 22. The drums 22 can have joint through-going shaft 23, such that there is only needed one motor to operate the three drums. Alternatively, each wire connection can go to each own winch, with belonging drum, motor and control. The placement of the wire drums 22 above the field, as shown in fig. 1 , ensures that the cover's end part is lifted free from the surface during both placement and uncovering of the surface 1 . It thus also means that when the cover 2 is placed flat on the surface 1 and is to go back on the roll up rod, this operation should be initiated with rolling at least a part of the wire drive 5 up on the drums 22. Hereby, the outermost end of the cover 2 comes up over the surface 1 . Also, the elevator winch 12 must be activated in the opposite end, such that the storage is raised a certain distance up over the surface 1 . Only hereafter, the motor drives 9 are to be put in rotation, so the roll up rod 13 is rotated such that the cover 2 becomes winded up around the rod 13. Simultaneously hereby, wire 5 must gradually be released from the drums 22.

As it appears from fig. 5 and 6, the roll up rod 13 has a longitudinal groove 24 and in this groove is fixed an end edge 15 of the cover, such that when the rod 13 is rotated around its longitudinal axis, the cover 2 becomes rolled up around, or winded off, the rod. As it is seen in fig. 6, there is additionally provided a large circular disc 21 at the end of the rod and this helps to ensure that the cover 2 is rolled evenly and regularly around the roll up rod 13.

As it is seen in Fig. 8, there is along the pull out edge 4 and along the roll up rod 13 fastened end parts 7, which will be hanging down vertically by fully pulled out cover 2. The end parts 7 are designed for uncovering of non- equilateral parts 8 of the horizontal surface 1 . Such non-equilateral parts 8 are especially useful for ice fields intended for ice hockey and ice skating where the field in each end includes a rounded off part. Typically, one will here suspend the storage 3 and pull out winch above the field above the transition from equilateral to non-equilateral limitation of the field, such that a rectangular cover piece can exactly cover the part of the field's surface, which is placed between the two lattice girders. For then to be able to cover also the parts of the field's surface, which are placed in direction away from the two lattice girders (or suspension points in the roof construction) there are in connection to the rectangular cover piece 14 in each end attached rounded cover pieces.

In the end of the rectangular cover piece 14, which has grip in the roll up rod 13, according to Fig. 1 - 6, the cover piece with the rounded shape is also connected to the roll up rod 13. When the rod 13 is rotated, there will in the start be rolled up two layers of cover around the rod 13. At the end of the roll up, the last part of the roll up will include wire drive and the part of the cover, which is hanging down.

Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 8, the end parts 7 are fixed to a transverse rod 27 inserted at the cover's 2 rear edge 15. The lowering of the storage to the surface can be full or partial, since it is possible, as explained in the following, to lower a rear edge of the foil towards the surface of a storage, which is raised a certain distance above the field. This can be used when there in the ceiling above the field is built in suspended fittings for light, sound or recording device, which the cover must pass under.

In the following it is explained how lowering of the rear edge from an either fixed mounted storage or partially lowered storage can occur. Fig. 8 shows an embodiment of the invention, where it is not the whole storage, which is lowered to the surface, but only the cover's 2 rear edge 15. To the rear edge of the cover, there is connected a transverse rod 27, which partly ensures that the cover 2 is stretched and partly constitutes attachment points for carrying straps 28. The carrying straps 28 are each connected to the roll up rod 13, since the roll up rod 13 even in this embodiment remains suspended in fixed suspension points 29, such that when the roll up rod 13 is rotated, the carrying straps 28 are winded off or on the roll up rod 13 and the transverse rod 27 is raised or lowered correspondingly. When the rod 27 reaches the roll up rod, it is embedded on this and subsequently, both the cover 2 and the end parts 7 are winded around the roll up rod outside the rod 27. It is self-evident that the transverse rod 27 is consequently only through-going from a suspension point 29 to a following suspension point.

When the cover 2 is folded out, as shown in Fig. 8, the carrying straps 28 are almost fully unwinded, and in order to get the cover 2 removed from the ice, the roll up 13 is initially rotated such that the carrying straps 18 are winded up during raising of the cover's rear edge 15 on the rod 27. When the carrying straps 18 are fully winded up, the rear edge 15 will be raised fully up to the roll up rod 13 and by continued rotation of the roll up rod 13, the cover itself now becomes winded around this, outside the winding of the carrying straps 18 and as mentioned outside the rod 27. At the same time, there is released wire 5 from the pull-out winches 6 such that the pull out edge 4 can slide backwards above the ice backwards around the roll up rod 13.

In fig. 9, the cover's rear edge 15 is shown with the transverse rod 27, which the cover 2 is connected to and whereto the carrying straps 28 are also fixed. The transverse rod 27 can appropriately be designed as a hollow pipe in order to keep the weight low. It is preferred to use a pipe with a diameter of 40 mm and with a material thickness of 2 mm. The through- going rod 38 at the cover's 2 front edge 4 is similarly shaped.

As it is seen here and in Fig. 8, there is from the cover's rear edge 15 a cover part, which stretches itself forwards towards the pull out edge and a cover part, which stretches itself opposite, away from the rear edge and is titled end part 7. End part 7 is potentially folded out manually, when the transverse rod 27 gets close to the ice by rolling out of the carrying straps 18. Alternatively, or for helping with the folding out, there can in or on the cover's end parts 7 be placed longitudinal spring steel bands 31 , as illustrated in Fig. 10 and Fig. 1 1 . The spring steel bands 31 are fixed to the end parts' 7 rear side with aluminum tape 42, as seen from Fig. 10, but other forms of fixing or embedment in the cover are possible. For example, the spring steel bands 31 can be fixed to the cover's 2 end parts 7 by gluing or be sewed on. The spring steel bands 31 help the end part 7, which fixes to the transverse rod 27, fold out by itself and covers the ice from the rod 27 and forwards towards the field's curved end 33. End parts 7, which are place in continuation of the pull out edge 4, as seen in Fig. 8, must be folded out manually in order to be placed in one layer, as seen in the figure, since there at the end parts 7 in continuation of the pull out edge 4 is not provided spring steel bands.

In Fig. 1 1 is seen all mounted spring steel bands on the cover's rear side and it is seen that the bands are placed perpendicular out from the cover's 2 rear edge 15. This helps to secure that the end parts 7, which protrude from the cover's rear edge 15 will fold out automatically, when the cover is lowered. The spring steel bands 31 have typically got a thickness of 0.38 mm and a width, which is in the interval 10 mm - 20 mm. In the shown embodiment, it is steel bands, but bands of other material, such as fiber armoured plastic can also be used for the purpose. The roll up rod 13 for the embodiment, where this is not lowered with down, or only partially lowered down to the surface is shown in Fig. 12. The rod 13 includes a cylindrical inner pipe 34, on which longitudinal radially-directed wings 35 are provided. The wings 35 can be designed as hollow or solid aluminum profiles, and can be spot welded to the central pipe. The wings, of which there for example can appropriately be 8 pieces, extend along the pipe, since the pipe 34 is kept free from the wings at fastening points 36 for the carrying straps 28. This means that the carrying strap 28 can be wound directly on the pipe 34, and is accumulated around the pipe at the fastening points 36 such that the accumulated winding of the carrying strap 28 here has about the same or slightly smaller diameter than the diameter, which a circumscribed circle around the radial edges of the wings 35 will have. Hereby, it is thus true that during the winding, the carrying straps 28 are first winded on the pipe 34 and then the cover 2 externally on the wings and on top of the carrying strap winding, whereby there together is achieved an even and smooth winded cover on the roll up rod 13.

In Fig. 12, there is shown a triangle fixture 37, which makes suspension of the roll up rod 13 possible in the ceiling or roof bearing beam construction inside a sports hall. This is an alternative to suspension in a transverse lattice girder 19 carried by upright pillars, as shown in Fig. 1 . In Fig. 8 there is schematically indicated 6 suspension points 29 and each of these points can includes a triangle mounting 37, as shown in Fig. 12. As previously described, there will inside the roll up rod 13 be provided motor drive 9, for example consisting of drum motors, which can operate the rod around to up-winding or unwinding of the cover or the carrying straps 28 according to where in a cycle for on-covering or uncovering of an ice field, the unit is situated.

In order for the cover 2 not to become too heavy, it has a net weight of not over 250 g/m 2 , preferably not over 220 g/m 2 It is hereby ensured that roof constructions or the lattice girder 19 with reasonableness can be

dimensioned, so they will be able to carry the otherwise quite heavy cover 2.

The cover material includes at least 3 foil layers, of which one layer includes a fiber reinforcement 16, a layer includes a bubble wrap 17 with air enclosures and additionally a layer includes a metallized surface 18. The different layers will typically be attached to each other by use of glue.

Alternatively, they can be welded to each other without use of additive material. The material layers together form a thermic isolating surface, such that there is maintained a significant temperature difference between the upper and lower side of the added foil. In that way, one can insulate an ice surface in a skating rink and save up to 20% of the energy consumption for cooling. Something similar is true for swimming pools where it will however typically be the water under the cover, which has the higher temperature.

As it is seen in the embodiment according to Fig. 1 , the cover 2 is

composed of panels, typically a middle panel 25 and two side panels 26. There is then connected a pulling wire to each panel. The middle panel's pulling wire is as shown connected hereby centrally in the middle panel, while the side panels' pulling wire is connected hereby fully out by the brim. A good stability is hereby ensured and the cover avoids folds or folding. The embodiment, according to Fig. 8 is slightly different, since the individual panels must here be winded on a roll up rod 13, which has a number or suspension points 29, and naturally, it cannot be possible to wind the cover around a suspension point. Therefore, the cover 2 is divided in separate longitudinal panels along lines 30, which proceed the whole way along the cover's longitudinal direction. As it is also seen in Fig. 8, there are only two wire connections 5 from pull out winch 6, so in order to get the cover parts with, which are otherwise not connected with a wire connection 5, there is along a front edge 4 of the cover 2 provided a through-going rod 38, which all parts of the cover are connected with. The rod 38 can appropriately be designed in the same way as the transverse rod 27, as previously described, but consequently fully through-going. It means that the through- going rod 38 cannot be embedded on the roll up rod 13 and follow it around in rotation around the suspension points 29 and therefore, potential end parts connected to the rod 39 get to hang down from the storage design and do not become winded up in this. The cover 2 can be connected to the rods 27, 38 in a very simple way, as shown in fig. 9. The cover is winded one time around the rod 27 and a longitudinal stitching 39 holds the rod fixed to the cover 2. It should be noted that the embodiment, according to Fig. 8 uses wide bands or straps as wire connections and the pull out winch to this embodiment is accordingly designed to wind up straps, as it appears from Fig. 14, and not wire as mentioned in connection with the mention of the embodiment according to Fig. 4. The straps consist of flat, relatively wide bands with high pulling strength, for example corresponding to the bands, which are used as seat belts in vehicles.

Fig. 13 shows a side view of a winding rod 13, as the one shown in Fig. 8 and 1 1 , but without fixture or carrying straps. The fastening points for the carrying straps 28 are shown, and they have a length along the rod 13, which is not smaller than the width of the type of straps 5, which are used. Here, the width will be 100 mm. The distance from a suspension point 29 to the first attachment point is indicated with the arrow L1 and is here 795 mm. The distance between the individual attachment points is indicated by the arrow L2 and is 2050 mm. The total length of the winding rod 13 is 6000 mm. Winding rods with this length are put together in continuation of each other above the field for formation of the in Fig. 8 shown total storage system across a field. The limitation of the individual sections' length results in that a total system can be packed for shipping in a 20 foot container, which makes the transport both inexpensive and efficient. There measures stated here are not by themselves decisive for the function, but it has been found that with these measures, it is possible to achieve a both light and well-functioning winding rod 13.

A European skating rink is typically 30 meters wide and 60 meters long. This gives an area of 1800 m 2 .

The described special system ensures that the ice becomes covered about 95 %. Reference numbers:

1 Horizontal surface

2 Cover

3 Storage

4 Pull out edge

5 Wire connection

6 Pull out winch

7 End parts

8 Non-equally edged parts

9 Motor drive

10 The cover's lower side

1 1 Joint control system

12 Elevator winch

13 Roll up rod

14 Rectangular piece

15 Rear edge

16 Fiber armouring

17 Bubble wrap

18 Metallized surface

19 Lattice girder

20 Chain

21 Disc

22 Wire drum

23 Joint through-going shaft

24 Longitudinal groove

25 Middle panel

26 Side panels

27 Transverse rod

28 Carrying strap

29 Suspension points Lines

Spring steel band Aluminum tape Curved end

Cylindrical inner pipe Wings

Attachment points Triangle fixture Through-going rod Stitching