Pipe engaging and lifting apparatus

An apparatus for clamping a pipe, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing including left and right side portions extending outward and downward from a top of the housing and defining a pipe aperture with an open bottom;
• wherein the left side portion extends substantially in an arc from a top of the pipe aperture outward and downward and then inward to a bottom end of the left side portion of the housing, and the right side portion of the housing extends outward and downward from the top of the pipe aperture in a direction opposite the left side portion;
• a curved jaw pivotally attached inside the right side portion of the housing about a jaw axis substantially aligned with a longitudinal pipe axis of a pipe clamped in the apparatus, and located above and to the right of the pipe axis, and wherein the jaw can pivot from an open position to a closed position;
• wherein an upper end of the jaw extends externally above the housing on the left side of the jaw axis and is adapted for attachment of a lifting device;
• wherein when the jaw is in the open position, an upper portion of the jaw extends into an upper portion of the pipe aperture and a pipe opening is defined between the bottom end of the jaw and the bottom end of the left side portion of the housing that will allow the pipe to enter the pipe aperture;
• where in operation the housing is moved downward onto a pipe such that a top of the pipe contacts the upper portion of the jaw moving the upper portion of the jaw upward and moving a lower portion of the jaw laterally toward the left side portion of the housing to the closed position where the left side portion of the housing and the jaw are in close proximity to the pipe, and wherein the bottom end of the left side portion is located under the left side of the pipe, and a bottom end of the jaw is under a right side of the pipe;
• wherein an upward force exerted on the upper end of the jaw by the lifting device to lift a clamped pipe is also exerted laterally on the lower portion of the jaw causing the jaw to exert a force on the clamped pipe toward the left side portion of the housing;
• and
• a locking mechanism mounted in the housing and comprising a blocking member movable from an unlocked position to a locked position;
• wherein when the jaw is in the closed position, the blocking member can be located between the jaw and the housing in the locked position to prevent the jaw from moving back toward the open position;
• and
• a lock indicator operative to visibly indicate that the blocking member is in the locked position.