Patent ID: 7963566
Filing Date: 2011-06-21
Classification: F16L,G21C

Abstract:
1. A clamping device for supporting or structurally replacing a weld joint between connected pipes, the clamping device comprising: an upper clamp body and a lower clamp body securable on opposite sides of the connected pipes in facing relation; at least one clamp bolt connecting the upper and lower clamp bodies and extendable through the connected pipes, wherein one of the upper and lower clamp bodies comprises at least one shaped depression, the shaped depression receiving a complementary shaped clamp bolt nut engageable with the clamp bolt, wherein the shaped depression prevents rotation of the clamp bolt nut, and wherein the other of the upper and lower clamp bodies comprises a machined depression that is shaped to receive a head of the clamp bolt, and a slot depression disposed adjacent the machined depression; and a clamp bolt keeper that is received in the slot depression and is engageable with the clamp bolt head to retain a preload on the clamp bolt, wherein the clamp bolt keeper comprises a hairpin-shaped member including two cantilever beams joined at one end and interfacing teeth disposed at a free end of one of the two cantilever beams, the interfacing teeth engaging the clamp bolt head to retain the preload on the clamp bolt.