A lifting device for lifting a tubular pile comprises a hoisting member including a centreline, a plurality of engagement elements which are moveably mounted to the hoisting member at angular distance with respect to each other about the centreline and actuators for moving the respective engagement elements with respect to the hoisting member. The engagement elements are moveable in longitudinal direction of the centreline along respective guides of the hoisting member. The guides are inclined with respect to the centreline such that the engagement elements move in radial direction of the centreline when being moved in longitudinal direction of the centreline. The actuators are functionally interconnected such that under operating conditions the actuators move the engagements elements simultaneously until a first one of the actuators reaches a counterforce which is higher than a counterforce of a second one of the actuators, after which the second one of the actuators is moved further.

A lifting device for lifting a tubular pile comprises a hoisting member including a centreline, a plurality of engagement elements which are moveably mounted to the hoisting member at angular distance with respect to each other about the centreline and actuators for moving the respective engagement elements with respect to the hoisting member. The engagement elements are moveable in longitudinal direction of the centreline along respective guides of the hoisting member. The guides are inclined with respect to the centreline such that the engagement elements move in radial direction of the centreline when being moved in longitudinal direction of the centreline. The actuators are functionally interconnected such that under operating conditions the actuators move the engagements elements simultaneously until a first one of the actuators reaches a counterforce which is higher than a counterforce of a second one of the actuators, after which the second one of the actuators is moved further.

Implementations described herein include a hoisting device and method for handling, coupling and recovery of tubular members such as drill string components. The hoisting device has a self-energizing gripping means configured to releasably engage a drill string component. In one aspect, the self-energizing gripping means can be operable to increase at least one of a radial biasing force and a contact friction force applied to a drill string component, causing the gripping means to increase the overall gripping force applied to the component with minimal effort exerted by a hoisting device operator.

Implementations described herein include a hoisting device and method for handling, coupling and recovery of tubular members such as drill string components. The hoisting device has a self-energizing gripping means configured to releasably engage a drill string component. In one aspect, the self-energizing gripping means can be operable to increase at least one of a radial biasing force and a contact friction force applied to a drill string component, causing the gripping means to increase the overall gripping force applied to the component with minimal effort exerted by a hoisting device operator.

The invention relates to a pile upending system for upending a pile such as a monopile for the foundation of offshore wind turbines, the pile upending system comprising; a pivotally mounted pile support frame having a seat for engaging an outside wall of a pile, the pile support frame being pivotable around a support frame axis of rotation for allowing the seat to support the pile during upending, a cable system for supporting an, in use outboard, end of a pile, comprising one or more tensioned or tensionable cables having an outboard end provided with a hoisting member for supporting the outboard end of the pile during upending of said pile, an outboard support system comprising a frame member for, in use, extending outboard and supporting the hoisting member of the cable system,
wherein the outboard support system is arranged with respect to the pile support frame such that the frame member extends transverse with respect to the support frame axis of rotation for arranging the hoisting member at a distance from the seat and aligned with the seat such that a pile may engage the hoisting member upon longitudinal movement of the pile along the seat.

The invention relates to a pile upending system for upending a pile such as a monopile for the foundation of offshore wind turbines, the pile upending system comprising; a pivotally mounted pile support frame having a seat for engaging an outside wall of a pile, the pile support frame being pivotable around a support frame axis of rotation for allowing the seat to support the pile during upending, a cable system for supporting an, in use outboard, end of a pile, comprising one or more tensioned or tensionable cables having an outboard end provided with a hoisting member for supporting the outboard end of the pile during upending of said pile, an outboard support system comprising a frame member for, in use, extending outboard and supporting the hoisting member of the cable system,
wherein the outboard support system is arranged with respect to the pile support frame such that the frame member extends transverse with respect to the support frame axis of rotation for arranging the hoisting member at a distance from the seat and aligned with the seat such that a pile may engage the hoisting member upon longitudinal movement of the pile along the seat.

A tool is provided for removal and installation of a fire tube that extends into an opening in a wall of a heating vessel. The fire tube locates within an interior of the heating vessel when mounted thereto. The fire tube has tube wall that defines an tube interior and has a mounting end for mounting the fire tube to the wall of the heating vessel. The tool has an elongated main shaft member having an insertion end and an opposite control end. A first support is mounted upon the insertion end that is configured for being closely received within the tube interior. A second support is mounted along the length main shaft member, the second support having a fire tube interface configured for engaging and releasably coupling to the mounting end of the fire tube. A lift coupling couples to the main shaft and locates between the second support and the control end of the main shaft member for coupling to a lift line. A counterbalance support carries removable weighting members, the counterbalance support being coupled to the main shaft by a counterbalance support spacing arm that extends laterally from the main shaft member.

Implementations described herein include a hoisting device and method for handling, coupling and recovery of tubular members such as drill string components. The hoisting device has a self-energizing gripping means configured to releasably engage a drill string component. In one aspect, the self-energizing gripping means can be operable to increase at least one of a radial biasing force and a contact friction force applied to a drill string component, causing the gripping means to increase the overall gripping force applied to the component with minimal effort exerted by a hoisting device operator.

Implementations described herein include a hoisting device and method for handling, coupling and recovery of tubular members such as drill string components. The hoisting device has a self-energizing gripping means configured to releasably engage a drill string component. In one aspect, the self-energizing gripping means can be operable to increase at least one of a radial biasing force and a contact friction force applied to a drill string component, causing the gripping means to increase the overall gripping force applied to the component with minimal effort exerted by a hoisting device operator.

The invention relates to a pile upending system for upending a pile such as a monopile for the foundation of offshore wind turbines, the pile upending system comprising; a pivotally mounted pile support frame having a seat for engaging an outside wall of a pile, the pile support frame being pivotable around a support frame axis of rotation for allowing the seat to support the pile during upending, a cable system for supporting an, in use outboard, end of a pile, comprising one or more tensioned or tensionable cables having an outboard end provided with a hoisting member for supporting the outboard end of the pile during upending of said pile, an outboard support system comprising a frame member for, in use, extending outboard and supporting the hoisting member of the cable system,
wherein the outboard support system is arranged with respect to the pile support frame such that the frame member extends transverse with respect to the support frame axis of rotation for arranging the hoisting member at a distance from the seat and aligned with the seat such that a pile may engage the hoisting member upon longitudinal movement of the pile along the seat.