Apparatus to support a tubular member

An apparatus to support a tubular member such as pipes, comprising:

• a carrying structure configured to be mechanically attached to a handling apparatus, the carrying structure extending annularly around a central opening along an axis and having an inner circumferential surface bounding the central opening, wherein the inner circumferential surface tapers conically at a cone angle relative to the axis,
• a plurality of clamp elements arranged movable relative to the carrying structure in the central opening, wherein each of the clamp elements has an inclined surface on a radially outer side thereof, the inclined surface being inclined at the cone angle relative to the axis and being configured and arranged to slide along the inner circumferential surface, and wherein each of the clamp elements has a clamp surface arranged parallel to the axis, and
• a plurality of linear actuators, wherein each of the linear actuators respectively has first and second actuator components that are configured to be driven linearly relative to one another along an actuator axis that is inclined at the cone angle relative to the axis, wherein the first component is attached to the carrying structure, and wherein the second component is attached to a respective one of the clamp elements, wherein both the first and the second components are positioned in a recess of the inclined surface of the respective clamp element.