Pipe clamping and coupling apparatus

A pipe clamp 10 comprises first and second hemicylindrical gripping members (12,14) pivotally connected at 16 by hinge members 18,20 between a gripping and a non-gripping position. Rotation of cam members 40,42 by movement of a lever 26 in direction B moves a bolt 28 downwardly to disengage a connecting bar 32 from a recess 34. Then the gripping members (12,14) can be moved to the non-gripping position. Pipe alignment apparatus (100, Fig 2) comprises first and second clamps (10), each being adapted to receive an end region of respective first and second pipes (104,106). A base (122) is provided upon which the clamps (10) are mounted, spaced from, and in alignment with, each other to hold the end regions of the pipes (104,106) in alignment for coupling. Coupling means (102) may be received between the first and second clamping means (10) to couple the pipes (104,106) together.