Corrugation structure for pipe

Abstract

A corrugated pipe 2 has a plurality of corrugation structures 10, 12 positioned adjacent one another. The corrugation structures 10, 12 comprise an inner cylindrical wall 22, two annular wall portions 28, 32 that extend outwardly from the inner cylindrical wall 22, and a bowed annular wall portion 40 that is connected to the outer ends 36, 38 of the two annular wall portions 28, 32. The corrugation structure 10, 12 includes a centroid 48, 49 and at least a portion of the inner surface 50 of the bowed wall portion 40 has a radius R1 centered on the centroid 48, 49 and at least a portion of the outer surface 52 of the bowed wall portion 40 has a radius R2 centered on the centroid 48, 49. The cavity 56 defined by the corrugation structure 10, 12 has an inner surface with an inner radius R1, R3 that is equal to or greater than one half the thickness T1 of the inner cylindrical wall 22. The profile of the corrugation structure 10, 12 is configured to optimally accept forces caused by backfill soil positioned over the pipe 2. A method of manufacturing a corrugated pipe 2 includes manufacturing a first, a second, and a third corrugated pipe 80, 90, 100, with each pipe having an inner diameter ID and an outer diameter OD. The inner diameter ID is chosen such that the first pipe 80 can be telescopically inserted into the second pipe 90 and the second pipe 90 can be telescopically inserted into the third pipe 100. A method of shipping a plurality of different diameter pipes is also provided.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.