Patent ID: 8322436

Claim:
A riser deploying apparatus, comprising: a plurality of segments, each segment having a curved inner diameter portion that is a portion of a circle, each segment having two circumferentially spaced apart ends that abut adjacent ends of at least one other segment to define a circular central opening; a retractable support member attached to the plurality of segments and movable from a retracted position inward into the central opening for supporting a first riser section while a second riser section is stabbed into the first riser section; a preload plate attached to each end of each segment, each preload plate having a front face initially recessed from the end of the segment to which it is attached; wherein a gap is located between the front faces of adjacent preload plates when the ends of the segments are initially abutted; wherein forcing the adjacent preload plates toward each other reduces the gap and applies a preload force to the adjacent ends of the segments; and at least one fastener extending between the adjacent preload plates to secure the adjacent ends of the segments to each other under the preload force.