Patent Number: 052951677
Section: claims

1. A service pole caddy system for servicing a nuclear reactor using a plurality of service poles which can be coupled in series to form a multi-pole assembly having an end adapted for carrying a tool, comprising: track support means mounted on said nuclear reactor;  track means supported by said track support means, said track means extending over said nuclear reactor in a generally horizontal plane;  rolling means arranged to roll along said track means between first and second positions;  pole storage means for supporting a plurality of service poles in a generally upright position;  pole assembly means for hanging a multipole assembly thereon; and  rigid frame means for rigidly coupling said pole support means and said pole assembly means, said rigid frame means riding on said rolling means.  track support means mounted on said nuclear reactor;  track means supported by said track support means, said track means extending over said nuclear reactor in a generally horizontal plane;  rolling means arranged to roll along said track means between first and second positions;  pole storage means for supporting a plurality of service poles in a generally upright position;  pole assembly means for hanging a multipole assembly thereon;  a horizontal platform for supporting work personnel thereon; and  rigid frame means for rigidly coupling said pole support means, said pole assembly means and said horizontal platform to each other, said rigid frame means riding on said rolling means.  pole assembly means for holding a first service pole generally upright at an assembly position during connection of a bottom end of a second service pole to a top end of said first service pole; and  rigid support means for supporting said pole assembly means in a position over said nuclear reactor,  wherein said pole assembly means comprises a keyway plate having a slot with a pole seat at said assembly position for receiving said neck portion and supporting said seating portion of said first service pole, each of said service poles comprises first and second solid-body end connectors joined to respective first and second ends of a tube having a third diameter which is greater than said first diameter of said neck portion, said neck portion being formed in said first end connector, and said slot further comprises guide means for blocking substantial lateral displacement of a portion of said tube of said service pole when inserted within said guide means, with sufficient play therebetween to allow said first service pole to be vertically displaced without impediment, said guide means communicating with said pole seat by way of a throat having a width greater than said first diameter of said neck portion and less than said third diameter of said tube.  pole assembly means for holding a first service pole generally upright at an assembly position during connection of a bottom end of a second service pole to a top end of said first service pole; and  rigid support means for supporting said pole assembly means in a position over said nuclear reactor,  wherein said pole assembly means comprises a keyway plate having a slot with a pole seat at said assembly position for receiving said neck portion and supporting said seating portion of said first service pole, said pole seat comprising an arc-shaped chamfered surface having a radius greater than the radius of said neck portion of said first service pole, and said seating portion on said first service pole comprising a circular chamfered surface which abuts said arc-shaped chamfered surface in a form-fitting relationship when said first service pole is supported by said keyway plate at said assembly position. 2. The service pole caddy system as defined in claim 1, wherein said pole support means comprises first and second racks which are substantially vertically aligned at first and second elevations respectively, each of said first and second racks comprising a plurality of cells arrayed such that each cell of said first rack overlies a corresponding cell of said second rack, each cell of said first rack having means for blocking lateral displacement of a first portion of a corresponding service pole placed therein and each corresponding cell of said second rack having means for blocking lateral displacement relative thereto of a second portion of said corresponding service pole, and further comprises means for blocking downward displacement of a bottom end of said service pole when inserted in said racks in a generally upright position. 3. The service pole caddy system as defined in claim 2, wherein said downward displacement blocking means comprises a perforated plate. 4. The service pole caddy system as defined in claim 1, wherein said track support means comprises a refueling bridge spanning said nuclear reactor. 5. The service pole caddy system as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said service poles comprises a neck portion and a seating portion, said seating portion being joined to said neck portion and having a diameter greater than a diameter of said neck portion, and said pole assembly means comprises a keyway plate having a slot with a pole seat for receiving said neck portion and supporting said seating portion of said service pole, said pole seat being shaped to form-fit with said seating portion to prevent lateral displacement of said seating portion of said service pole seated thereon. 6. The service pole caddy system as defined in claim 5, wherein each of said service poles comprises first and second solid-body end connectors joined to respective first and second ends of a tube having a diameter which is greater than said diameter of said neck portion, said neck portion being formed in said first end connector, and said slot further comprises guide means for blocking substantial lateral displacement of a portion of said tube of said service pole when inserted within said guide means, with sufficient play therebetween to allow said service pole to be vertically displaced without impediment. 7. The service pole caddy system as defined in claim 6, wherein said guide means communicates with said pole seat by way of throat means having a width greater than said diameter of said neck portion and less than said tube diameter. 8. The service pole caddy system as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said service poles comprises first and second solid-body end connectors joined to respective first and second ends of a tube having a predetermined diameter, and said pole assembly means comprises guide means for blocking substantial lateral displacement of a portion of said tube when inserted within said guide means, with sufficient play therebetween to allow said service pole to be vertically displaced without impediment. 9. The service pole caddy system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a horizontal platform attached to said rigid frame means for supporting work personnel thereon. 10. The service pole caddy system as defined in claim 5, wherein said keyway plate is rotatably coupled to said rigid frame means. 11. A service pole caddy system for servicing a nuclear reactor using a plurality of service poles which can be coupled in series to form a multi-pole assembly having an end adapted for carrying a tool, comprising: 12. The service pole caddy system as defined in claim 11, wherein said pole support means comprises first and second racks which are substantially vertically aligned at first and second elevations respectively, each of said first and second racks comprising a plurality of cells arrayed such that each cell of said first rack overlies a corresponding cell of said second rack, each cell of said first rack having means for blocking lateral displacement of a first portion of a corresponding service pole placed therein and each corresponding cell of said second rack having means for blocking lateral displacement relative thereto of a second portion of said corresponding service pole, and further comprises means for blocking downward displacement of a bottom end of said service pole when inserted in said racks in a generally upright position. 13. The service pole caddy system as defined in claim 11, wherein said downward displacement blocking means comprises a perforated plate. 14. The service pole caddy system as defined in claim 11, wherein said track support means comprises a refueling bridge spanning said nuclear reactor. 15. The service pole caddy system as defined in claim 11, wherein each of said service poles comprises a neck portion and a seating portion, said seating portion being joined to said neck portion and having a diameter greater than a diameter of said neck portion, and said pole assembly means comprises a keyway plate having a slot with a pole seat for receiving said neck portion and supporting said seating portion of said service pole, said pole seat being shaped to form-fit with said seating portion to prevent lateral displacement of said seating portion of said service pole seated thereon. 16. The service pole caddy system as defined in claim 15, wherein each of said service poles comprises first and second solid-body end connectors joined to respective first and second ends of a tube having a diameter which is greater than said diameter of said neck portion, said neck portion being formed in said first end connector, and said slot further comprises guide means for blocking substantial lateral displacement of a portion of said tube of said service pole when inserted within said guide means, with sufficient play therebetween to allow said service pole to be vertically displaced without impediment. 17. The service pole caddy system as defined in claim 16, wherein said guide means communicates with said pole seat by way of throat means having a width greater than said diameter of said neck portion and less than said tube diameter. 18. A service pole caddy system for servicing a nuclear reactor using a plurality of service poles which can be coupled in series to form a multi-pole assembly having a lower end adapted for carrying a tool, each of said service poles having a neck portion of first diameter and a seating portion of second diameter greater than said first diameter, said seating portion being joined to said neck portion, comprising: 19. A service pole caddy system for servicing a nuclear reactor using a plurality of service poles which can be coupled in series to form a multi-pole assembly having a lower end adapted for carrying a tool, each of said service poles having a neck portion of first diameter and a seating portion of second diameter greater than said first diameter, said seating portion being joined to said neck portion, comprising: