UKH

I'm sure there is something out there, but am struggling to come up with the terminology to find an expanding device that can grip the bore of a vertical pipe in a range of sizes - i.e. a Cam, but with a bigger safety margin than just grabbing a Dragon 7.

Not sure if such a thing exists, I could be wrong. It doesn't sound like an application that would be suitable in the lifting arena. 

Have you seen this type of equipment?

https://www.liftingsafety.co.uk/product/tractel-topal-scx-cx-3316.html

https://www.liftingsafety.co.uk/product/tractel-topal-rb-3314.html

https://www.ihciqip.com/en/products/lifting-equipment/internal-lifting-tool

Depending on bore size, this company seems to be able to do the big stuff.

You could try searching 'internal collet' or 'expanding mandrel'. I doubt you'll find a version like the climbing cam (with a load actuated 'camming' action) off the shelf but I could be wrong.

jk

I think the most likely terminology, or search term anyway, would be something like 'vertical pipe lifting clamp', but I've never heard of anything like that. 

There are industrial camming devices that work the other way, with the cams mounted in 'jaws' to squeeze plates etc., but that's not what you mean is it?  I don't know, but suspect an industrial device like a cam that you just shove inside the bore of a pipe would be too reliant on the properties of the pipe itself to be trusted.

I'd be interested to hear about it if you do find something, but my guess is whatever you're trying to do you probably need to find another way.

Another couple of links:
http://www.camlok.co.uk/Products
https://www.thecrosbygroup.com/catalog/lifting-clamps/crosby-ipcc-vertical-...

You can waste a lot of time browsing through random stuff in Crosby's online catalogue, it's huge and has tons of information about all sorts of weird and wonderful gizmos.  If you can't find anything resembling the thing you're thinking of in there, it's quite likely that it doesn't exist.

Depending on pipe material, I'd have thought placing enough mechanical pressure on the inner walls of a pipe to achieve suitable friction to lift it, but without cracking or shattering the pipe would be fairly tricky to achieve. 

Around fifty years since I was in that position , but that was the kind of question I would have expected in A level maths or first year engineering degree.

We use ball grabs, Google carefully for Balltec pipe recovery. Might be overkill depending on your requirements though.

There are a variety of tools used in offshore drilling to recover drill pipe lost down the hole.

Here’s a video with more ridiculous American drilling terminology and tools than you could shake a stick at .

youtube.com/watch?v=7-WqVgksKtk&

Yep, depending on the industry there's loads of solutions, I've seen internal wire coil grippers in action. The coolest ones are probably for moving glassware, like a three-fingered rubber glove that inflates to pick up test-tubes and the like.

I've seen the 3 finger inflatable marigolds at Helga's House of Pain and BDSM Emporium, after 1/2 a g of coke, a bottle of Moet and double dropping E it made perfect sense! ; )

You always know you’re in for some wacky terminology when the video start with the people wearing those strange american hard hats!

https://www.tasco-safety.com/categories/hard-hats/search-hard-hats-by-desig...

Haha, brilliant.  I wonder how one of those on my head would have gone down in the days I worked as a contractor at ICI?

Doesn't it make your arse sore the next day though?

Why do you need one? I.e. what problem are you solving/what are you trying to do?