Patent ID: 7787583

Claim:
A handling pole for use in a nuclear reactor, the handling pole comprising: a pole section; a pole adapter; an upper sleeve; a spade member; a lower sleeve; and a nut assembly; wherein the pole adapter is connected to a first end of the pole section, wherein the upper sleeve is disposed around the connection of the pole adapter to the first end of the pole section, wherein the spade member is connected to a second end of the pole section, wherein the lower sleeve is disposed around the connection of the spade member to the second end of the pole section, wherein the nut assembly is disposed around the spade member, wherein the nut assembly is configured to connect adjoining poles, wherein the pole adapter is configured to connect the pole section of the handling pole to a spade member of a second handling pole, wherein the spade member is configured to connect the pole section of the handling pole to a pole adapter of a third handling pole, and wherein the pole adapter includes a J-shaped slot that receives and interlocks with a corresponding pin on the second handling pole.