Nuclear reactor core servicing apparatus

An improved core servicing apparatus for a nuclear reactor of the type having a reactor vessel, a reactor vessel head having a head penetration therethrough, a removable plug adapted to fit in said head penetration, and a core of the type having an array of elongated assemblies, the improvement comprising:

• a plurality of support columns suspended from said plug and extending downwards towards said nuclear core;
• a plurality of servicing means suspended from said support columns for servicing a plurality of said assemblies of said nuclear core;
• at least a pair of rigid support means laterally extending from said support columns, each rigidly holding at least a pair of said servicing means in fixed relationship with one another, and each of said rigid support means attached respectively to one of said columns in fixed spatial relationship therewith for fixedly positioning said servicing means in a fixed pattern corresponding with said array of assemblies of said nuclear core;
• and means for rotating said rigid support means around said support column axis between condensed and expanded positions, said rigid support means and said servicing means associated therewith when in said condensed position lying completely within the coextensive boundaries of said plug, and some of said rigid support means in said servicing means associated therewith when in said expanded position lying without the coextensive boundaries of said plug.