PIPE STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE

A pipe section (3) formed of a polymeric material which has a substantially constant thickness throughout, the terminal edge (39) of the female connection (7) having a reinforcement structure (41, 43 and 45) which rigidifies the end of the female connection (7) and prevents deformation, the pipe section preferably having a flared end, and the reinforcement structure preferably being a semicircular channel formed at the end of the pipe section by a mandrel (63) after initial extrusion of the pipe section; along with a method and apparatus for forming the pipe section, a pipe assembly including such pipe section, and a method of forming the pipe assembly. A pipe section formed of a polymeric material which has a substantially constant thickness throughout, the terminal edge of the female connection having a reinforcement structure which rigidifies the end of the female connection and prevents deformation, the pipe section preferably having a flared end, and the reinforcement structure preferably being a semicircular channel formed at the end of the pipe section by a mandrel after initial extrusion of the pipe section; along with a method and apparatus for forming the pipe section, a pipe assembly including such pipe section, and a method of forming the pipe assembly. L'invention porte sur une section de tuyau formée dans un matériau polymère d'épaisseur régulière dans sa quasi totalité, le bord terminal du raccord femelle ayant une structure de renforcement qui rigidifie l'extrémité du raccord mâle et empêche la déformation. Cette section de tuyau a de préférence une extrémité évasée, et la structure de renforcement est de préférence un canal semi-circulaire formé à l'extrémité de la section de tuyau par un mandrin après extrusion initiale de la section de tuyau. L'invention porte également sur un procédé et un appareil de formation de cette section de tuyau, sur un ensemble tuyau comprenant cette section et sur un procédé de fabrication de cet ensemble tuyau.