Patent ID: 8096540

Claim:
A tension ring lifting assembly for securing around a pipe, the assembly comprising a tension ring and at least one lifting lug by which the tension ring, and a pipe around which the tension ring has been secured, can be lifted, the tension ring comprising: a plurality of collar segments which can be assembled into a ring around the pipe; a plurality of slip segments adapted to fit between the collar segments and the pipe and to make direct contact with the pipe surface, the collar segments and the slip segments when assembled having inclined contacting surfaces such that an inner diameter across said ring, between the inner faces of the slip segments, varies as the slip segments move up and down inside said collar segments; means for tensioning adjacent collar segments against one another to secure said ring around the pipe; and means for removeably mounting said at least one lifting lug to the tension ring; wherein, prior to mounting of said at least one lifting lug, the tension ring has an outer diameter that is less than the diameter of the tension ring lifting assembly after mounting of said at least one lifting lug to the tension ring.