Corrugated plastic pipe sections having flanged ends and structurally tight joints thereof

Abstract

Rigid corrugated plastic pipe sections are provided with a flange radially extending from at least one end of the pipe length, which allows structural and water tight joints between connecting flanged pipes and fittings to be formed in an assembly including a peripheral clamp and gasket, and a system, method and kit for effecting structural and water tight joints in corrugated plastic pipe pipes.

1 . A peripheral flange clamp for clamping a circumferential flange of a corrugated plastic pipe to a circumferential flange of a second plastic corrugated pipe or fitting, comprising: 
 a clamp body having a first sidewall and a second sidewall;    an interior channel formed by said first sidewall and said second sidewall and configured to provide and inside clearance between an inside radius of said body and an outer circumference of said flanges;    a clamping mechanism configured to cause said first and second sidewalls to engage respective ones of said circumferential flanges; and    wherein said first and second sidewalls are configured to draw said circumferential flanges axially together upon engagement therewith.    
   
   
       2 . The flange clamp according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second sidewalls are configured to not radially extend to valleys of the corrugations in the pipes immediately adjacent to the flanges.  
   
   
       3 . The flange clamp according to  claim 1 , wherein said flange clamp has a resiliency comparable to that of the plastic corrugated pipe.  
   
   
       4 . The flange clamp according to  claim 1 , wherein said channel forms a V-shaped channel.  
   
   
       5 . The flange clamp according to  claim 1 , wherein said channel forms an U-shaped channel.  
   
   
       6 . The flange clamp according to  claim 1 , wherein said channel forms an inverted wedge-shaped channel.  
   
   
       7 . The flange clamp according to  claim 6 , wherein said inverted wedge channel encompasses an external, reverse “V” gasket.  
   
   
       8 . The flange clamp according to  claim 1 , wherein said clamping mechanism causes the diameter of said clamp body to decrease.  
   
   
       9 . The flange clamp according to  claim 8 , wherein said body comprises a plurality of peripheral sections.  
   
   
       10 . The flange clamp according to  claim 9 , wherein said plurality of peripheral sections are movably connected to one another such that said sections may move radially outward or inward to encompass said flanges.  
   
   
       11 . A peripheral flange clamp for clamping a circumferential flange of a corrugated plastic pipe to a circumferential flange of a second plastic corrugated pipe or fitting, comprising: 
 a clamp body having a V-shaped interior channel and configured to engage said circumferential flanges and cause said flanges to draw axially together; and    a clamping device configured to cause said channel to engage said circumferential flanges.    
   
   
       12 . The flange clamp according to  claim 11 , wherein said V-shaped channel is formed by a first side wall and a second sidewall, said first and second sidewalls configured to engage said flanges to cause said flanges to draw axially together.  
   
   
       13 . The flange clamp according to  claim 11 , wherein said clamp body is comprised of a plurality of segments movably connected to one another such that said clamp body may move radially to increase or decrease its diameter to encompass and tighten around the flanges.  
   
   
       14 . The flange clamp according to  claim 11 , wherein said interior channel is configured to provide an inside clearance between an inside radius of said body and an outer circumference of said flanges.  
   
   
       15 . The flange clamp according to  claim 11 , wherein said clamp body is configured to encompass said circumferential flanges that have an end portion that does not substantially extend along or parallel to a longitudinal axis of said flanges.  
   
   
       16 . A peripheral flange clamp for clamping a circumferential flange of a corrugated plastic pipe to a circumferential flange of a second plastic corrugated pipe or fitting, comprising: 
 a clamp body having an inverted wedge-shape interior channel and configured to engage said circumferential flanges and cause said flanges to draw axially together; and    a clamping device configured to cause said channel to engage said circumferential flanges.    
   
   
       17 . The flange clamp according to  claim 16 , wherein said channel is formed by an outside wall connecting to an angled first sidewall and an angled second sidewall, said first and second sidewalls configured to engage said flanges to cause said flanges to draw axially together.  
   
   
       18 . The flange clamp according to  claim 16 , wherein said body comprises a plurality of peripheral segments.  
   
   
       19 . A peripheral flange clamp for clamping a circumferential flange of a corrugated plastic pipe to a circumferential flange of a second plastic corrugated pipe or fitting, comprising: 
 a clamp body having a first sidewall and a second sidewall, said first and second sidewalls configured to form an interior channel and to encompass said circumferential flanges that have an end portion that does not substantially extend along or parallel to a longitudinal axis of said flanges;    a clamping device configured to cause said first and second sidewalls to engage respective ones of said circumferential flanges; and    wherein said first and second sidewalls are configured to draw said circumferential flanges axially together upon engagement therewith.    
   
   
       20 . The flange clamp according to  claim 20 , wherein clamping device draws said flanges axially together such that said flanges compress a gasket positioned between said flanges.