Patent ID: 7673674

Claim:
A clamping device for use as part of a wellhead to secure a tubular member, comprising: a pressure-containing body forming a central bore, which extends vertically through the body and through which the tubular member may extend, and opposed side bores extending radially outwardly in opposite directions through the body and intersecting the central bore; a pair of clamping rams positioned in the side bores for sliding movement therealong, each clamping ram having a front and a rear end, the front ends of the clamping rams being configured to accommodate at least a portion of the circumference of the tubular member between their front ends when the clamping rams are advanced across the central bore; the front end of at least one of the clamping rams being configured with a vertical V-groove for gripping the tubular member such that a portion of the circumference of the tubular member is accommodated within the V-groove at contact points in the V-groove; and an actuator connected to the rear end of each clamping ram for advancing and withdrawing the ram in the side bore, between a gripping position when the rams are advanced across the central bore into contact with the tubular member with the portion of the circumference of the tubular member accommodated within the V-groove, and a releasing position when the rams are withdrawn from the tubular member.