Patent ID: 7033108

Claim:
A turf playing surface aeration and drainage system including a perforated pipe network installed beneath the surface, and a blower operatively associated with said pipe network for establishing an air flow in the pipe network, said system comprising: a drain pipe connecting to said perforated pipe network for channeling water out of said pipe network; said blower having a vacuum mode in which said air flow creates a vacuum in said pipe network; an air/water separator connected upstream of said blower for separating water from the air flow prior to entering said blower in said vacuum mode and channeling the water into said drain pipe for discharge through a drain outlet; a flow control unit having a unit inlet connected to said drain pipe downstream of said air/water separator and a unit outlet discharging water to said drain outlet; said flow control unit having a vacuum mode of operation blocking air flow through said unit inlet into said drain pipe when said blower is in said vacuum mode; and, said flow control unit opening said unit inlet in said vacuum mode when a waterhead buildup within said drain pipe at said unit inlet exceeds the vacuum level established by said blower at said air/water separator to discharge water through said drain outlet.