Patent ID: 6904974

Claim:
A slotting geometry for a metal pipe having a tubular body having a first end, a second end, and a peripheral sidewall having slots arranged in a geometric pattern, the slots extending through the peripheral sidewall thereby permitting fluid communication from an exterior surface of the tubular body to an interior of the tubular body, the slotting geometry comprising: at least one integral substantially continuous unslotted helical coil extending around the peripheral sidewall for substantially the entire axial length of the tubular body; inter-coil helical regions between adjacent coil edges traversed by slots having a longitudinal orientation arranged to create elongate struts joining the adjacent coil edges, said elongate struts being formed by material between adjacent slots, wherein the longitudinal orientation of the slots does not align with the helical direction of said at least one coil, and wherein the elongate struts are adapted to permit the slots to be selectively opened or closed, the helical diameter to be varied, or the axial length to be changed; and both the first end and the second end of the tubular body having unslotted connecting portions, thereby facilitating connection with the tubular body.