Patent ID: 8038174

Claim:
A damping device for supporting or structurally replacing a cracked weld joint between connected pipes, the clamping device comprising: a primary clamp housing, a secondary clamp housing, a hinge assembly rotationally joining together the primary and secondary clamp housings, at least one coupling bolt and at least one coupling bolt keeper nut joined together to connect the primary and secondary clamp housings together and thereby secure the primary and secondary clamp housings on opposite sides of the connected pipes in facing relation, the at least one coupling bolt extending through portions of the connected primary and secondary clamp housings not engaging the connected pipes, at least first and second lateral pins inserted into the primary and secondary clamp housings, respectively, the at least first and second lateral pins being seated in corresponding holes machined in the connected pipes, and at least first and second lateral pin keepers corresponding to the at least first and second lateral pins, the at least first and second lateral pin keepers being located on the primary and secondary clamp housings, respectively, a portion of each of the at least first and second lateral pins engaging a complementary portion of the at least first and second lateral pin keepers, respectively, so as to prevent rotation of the at least first and second lateral pins and thereby retain a preload on each of the at least first and second lateral pins.