Pile upending device

1. A pile upending device for large diameter tubular elements, the device comprising;

an annular base ring for extending along the entire circumference of the tubular element,

a central lifting arm for coupling the pile upending device to a hoisting element, which lifting arm is hingeably coupled with the base ring,

a number of wedge assemblies disposed along an outside circumference of the base ring for facing an inside surface of the tubular element and frictional engagement with the tubular element, wherein the central lifting arm is moveably disposed between a pair of plate members within the annular base ring.

2. The pile upending device according to claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the outside circumference of the base ring exceeds 3 meters.

3. The pile upending device according to claim 1 , wherein the base ring is centrally open.

4. The pile upending device according to claim 1 , wherein the number of wedge assemblies extend in total over more than 50% of the outside circumference of the base ring.

5. The pile upending device according to claim 1 , wherein the lifting arm is hingeable around lifting arm rotation axis, and the rotation axis extends in a plane which is defined by the number of wedge assemblies such that in use the rotation axis imaginary crosses an annular contact area between the pile upending device and the tubular element.

6. The pile upending device according to claim 5 , wherein the rotation axis extends through the centre of the base ring.

7. The pile upending device according to claim 1 , comprising a lifting arm driving device for angular displacement of the lifting arm with respect to the base ring.

8. The pile upending device according to claim 1 , comprising a base ring driving device for centring the base ring with respect to the tubular element.

9. The pile upending device according to claim 8 , wherein the base ring driving device comprises a number of drive units for contacting the inside surface of the tubular element.

10. The pile upending device according to claim 1 , wherein a wedge assembly of the number of wedge assemblies, comprises a wedge driving device.

11. The pile upending device according to claim 1 , wherein a wedge assembly, of the number of wedge assemblies, comprises a wedge surface which is moveably arranged and moveable between a wedge inner position wherein the pile upending device can be introduced or taken out of the tubular element, and a wedge outer position wherein the wedge surface contacts the tubular element for friction coupling between the pile upending device and the tubular element.

12. The pile upending device according to claim 11 , wherein the wedge surface is moveable over a long stroke.

13. An assembly of a tubular element and a pile upending device according to claim 1 , wherein the pile upending device is friction coupled with the tubular element.

14. An assembly according to claim 13 , wherein the pile upending device is friction coupled with a conical section of the tubular element.

15. A method for upending a large diameter tubular element, comprising the steps;

providing a pile upending device according to claim 1 ,

introducing the device in a top end of a horizontal tubular element while controlling an angular position of the base ring with respect to the lifting arm,

centring the pile upending device with respect to the tubular element,

extending the wedge assemblies for frictional engagement with the tubular element,

upending the tubular element at a lift point on the lifting arm, and

lifting the tubular element.