Patent ID: 7712189

Claim:
A handling pole configured to engage in-vessel tooling for use in a nuclear reactor, comprising: a pole section with a first end and a second end; a pole adapter with a first end and a second end, the first end of the pole adapter connected to the first end of the pole section, the pole adapter having a diameter greater than the diameter of the pole section allowing the first end of the pole adapter to act as a female connector for the first end of the pole section which acts as a male pole section; a spade member with a first end connected to the second end of the pole section; a lower sleeve covering at least a portion of the first end of the spade member and at least a portion of the second end of the pole section; a J-shaped slot on the second end of the pole adapter which receives and interlocks with a corresponding pin on a second end of the spade member of an adjacent handling pole; an upper sleeve surrounding the pole adapter and the J-shaped slot, the upper sleeve rigidly connected to the pole adapter and the first end of the pole section, wherein the upper sleeve reinforces the pole adapter and prevents the J-shaped slot from deforming when torque of greater than 50 ft-lbs is applied to the adjacent handling pole about a longitudinal axis; and an upper pin in the pole adapter, the upper pin penetrating the upper sleeve, the first end of the pole adapter, and the first end of the pole section.