Abstract: A clamping system (10/110) for holding, supporting or lifting a heavy work piece (200; e.g. a pipe section of pipe line of hundreds of pounds) located below a girder (100) using rigging (210) attached to the clamp at attachment openings (27/37, 127/137) equally spaced from the center-line web (103) of the girder, which clamping system is attached to opposed, side edges of the top flange member (102) of the girder (vis-a-vis the bottom flange member 101), or in a second embodiment (FIGS. 9+) to either the top or the bottom. In the second embodiment a straight bar (150) with a series of spaced, locking cavities (151a/b) is used in place of the threaded rod, threaded engagement of the first embodiment, with the cavities working with spring-biased pin latches on the side gripping elements. When used on the bottom flange, a slidable, load supporting, centrally located accessory (160) is used.

Abstract: A sling (10, 10′, FIGS. 1-3) for lifting a heavy work piece (e.g. a pipe section; FIGS. 5, 6), including a single strap made of flexible, in-elastic fabric material over-lappingly converging upon itself to form a top strap member and a bottom strap member to form a two-ply strap member; a first, integral, eye-loop end; a second, integral eye-loop end; at least one, intermediately spaced, bi-directional loop (50, 150a-d) coupled to the two-ply strap member between the first and second, eye-loop ends. Each bi-directional loop serves to distribute suspension stresses in two directions, longitudinally, along the lifting sling when used to complete the closed lifting loop and distribute pulling forces in either of two directions, longitudinally, along the sling when pulled in any or either longitudinal direction. Additionally, since crane time is very expensive to operate, a sling system which can accommodate the lifting of a plurality of heavy pipes or other heavy objects simultaneously is provided (FIGS.

Abstract: A sling for lifting a heavy work piece (e.g. a pipe section) including a strap of flexible, fabric-like material having first and second, looped strap ends, and first, outer & second, inner strap surfaces. The first, outer strap surface has a plurality of eye-loops also of flexible, fabric-like material affixed thereto and spaced along the length thereof. The first, looped, strap end is selectively attachable to one of the plurality of eye-loops to form a closed lifting loop. The strap preferably is made of a fabric material of Nylon.TM.. The eye-loops are preferably constructed of the same material as the strap, and are preferably attached to the strap by stitching. Each eye-loop is preferably separated from the first strap end by a distance sufficient to allow each eye-loop to be used in conjunction with the first strap end to form a snug fit about a different, standard-size pipe. An attachment device (e.g.