Refueling mast retaining tool for a nuclear reactor

A retaining tool for a telescoping refueling arm in a nuclear reactor, the refueling arm comprising an outer tube assembly, a plurality of intermediate tube assemblies, and an inner tube assembly, each of the outer tube assembly and the intermediate tube assemblies including at a bottom end, a flange and a plurality of roller housings spaced around the circumference of each flange, said retaining tool comprising:

• a plurality of support members;
• a first plate having a first and a second side, said first plate coupled to said support members;
• a second plate coupled to said support members and spaced apart from said first plate, said second plate comprises an arcuate cut out configured to conform to the shape of the refueling arm intermediate tube assembly;
• and
• a third plate having a first and a second side, said third plate coupled to said support members and spaced apart from said second plate so that said second plate is located between said first and said third plates, said second side of said first plate configured to engage roller housings of the refueling arm outer tube assembly, said first side of said third plate configured to engage roller housings of an intermediate tube assembly.