Patent ID: 8151828

Claim:
A pipe-clamping tool comprising: first and second tool jaws each having a concave substantially semi-cylindrical surface, the first tool jaw being displaceable with respect to the second tool jaw such that the tool jaws may be brought together around a pipe with the concave surfaces forming respective portions of a hollow cylinder, the pipe-clamping tool further comprising biasing means for biasing the tool jaws together and means arranged to inhibit rotation of the first tool jaw with respect to the second tool jaw; and a deformable element comprising a hollow cylinder of deformable material having a slit along its length, the internal and external diameters of the deformable element being such that the deformable element may be placed around a pipe and held under compression between said concave surfaces of the tool jaws when the tool jaws are biased together; wherein the deformable element has two length portions having different internal diameters.