4 pivotally mounted to lever arm 16 and gripping elements 20 formed of the face of each of the gripping jaws 3 and 4 the housing 1 the guide discs 2 and the gear rim 5 have a radially recessed opening 7 that permits the apparatus to be placed around a tubular member when the latch 8 is not secured in the closed position the latch 8 is pivotally secured to the housing 1 at point 24 the power means 9 for operating latch 8 is secured to the housing 1 as shown in fig1 the apparatus power means 11 is mounted on the housing 1 as shown in fig1 and it drives the gearing means 23 which in turn drive the gear rim 5 the power means 9 is a conventional mechanical hydraulic or pneumatic power means the apparatus power means 11 is a conventional hydraulic drive means line 25 represents the axis of the apparatus the gear rim 5 carries cams 12 and 13 which are disposed in symmetrically opposite relation to each other cam 12 is provided with a centering face 12a a holding face 12b and a clamping face 12c cam 13 is provided with a centering face 13a a holding face 13b and a clamping face 13c lever arm 15 is pivotally secured to carrier 14 at respective pivot points 17a lever arm 16 is pivotally secured to carrier 14 at respective pivot point 17b guide roller 18 is rotatably mounted to the free end 15a of lever arm.