Clamping system and self advancing support platform

摘要

Clamp for clamping an article including a plurality of pads (10) which may be arranged in a circle around a support frame (90) and pivotally connected thereto by pivot arms (26) pivotable about an axis parallel to the axis of an article (92) to which the pads (10) are to be clamped. The pads (10) are supported on the arms (26) by ball-joints or universal joints (48) such as to ensure any off-center load L is passed through said pads (10) as a vertical load having no radial component.

主权项

1. A clamp for clamping a tubular article, the clamp comprising:
one or more clamping pads for clamping to the tubular article: a support arm coupled to each clamping pad of said one or more clamping pads, each support arm being coupled to each clamping pad via at least two side arms, each support arm being configured to pivot about a first longitudinal axis, and the at least two side arms being configured to pivot about a second longitudinal axis; and a substantially annular support frame having a third longitudinal axis, wherein
said one or more support arms are configured to pivot between a retracted position and a contracted position, andthe at least two side arms of each support arm are configured to pivot between a first position wherein the at least two side arms of each support arm converge toward each other and a second position wherein the at least two side arms of each support arm diverge from each other.