Patent ID: 8181999

Claim:
A pipeline joining clamp system for holding two pipes' ends together in a reversible or temporary manner, comprising: a. Two clamshell clamps, each comprising: i. A first half comprising 1. a half-pipe of semicircular cross-section the inner surface of which is sized to match and mate with the outer surface of a pipe to be joined near the joint 2. a loop attached to a straight edge of the half-pipe 3. a finger attached to the opposite edge of the half-pipe ii. a second half comprising 1. a second half-pipe of similar diameter to the first 2. a loop attached to a straight edge of the second half-pipe 3. a finger attached to the opposite edge of the second half-pipe iii. a pin which inserted into the loops of the two half-pipes forms a hinge, constraining the half-pipes to rotate about the hinge to form a tube when closed iv. the tube when closed having the fingers of the first and second half-pipes interleaved forming a space between the interlocked fingers to receive a second pin v. the second pin or the space between the fingers or both being conical in shape, tapered along the length of the tube b. a similar second clamshell clamp, formed to receive a third pin to form a hinge and a fourth pin to hold the half-pipes together c. the second and fourth pins connected together such that if the clamps are moved apart along the pipes upon which they are deployed, those pins are held immovable with respect to each other and the spaces between the fingers of the clamps are forced such that the clamps are tightened about the pipes.