Self locking mast assembly and method of making

Connectors for joining together elongate mast pole assemblies comprising:

• a first connector comprising a hollow connector end;
• said hollow connector end having an inner diameter;
• a second connector comprising an elongated body portion;
• said elongated body portion comprising a protruding connector end;
• said protruding connector end having an outer diameter;
• said outer diameter of said protruding connector end being smaller than said inner diameter of said hollow connector end to permit telescopic engagement with said hollow connector end;
• said hollow connector end comprising a slot arrangement;
• said slot arrangement comprises a pair of slots formed in diametrical opposite sides of said hollow connector end wherein each end of said pin is configured to engage a corresponding one of said slots;
• said protruding connector end comprising a pin with ends;
• said pin being configured and disposed to extend through said protruding connector end with said ends protruding beyond the diameter of said protruding connector end;
• said pin being configured to be inserted into said slot arrangement and moved into a final position in said slot arrangement, in which final position said pin engages said slot arrangement to essentially prevent relative rotational movement of said first and second connectors, and to minimize axial movement of said first and second connectors away from one another to prevent disengagement of said first and second connectors;
• said elongated body portion comprising a threaded portion disposed adjacent said protruding connector end;
• said second connector comprising first and second adjacent collars coaxially mounted on said elongated body portion adjacent said protruding connector end;
• said first adjacent collar being threadedly mounted on said threaded portion of said elongated body portion;
• said first adjacent collar being configured to be rotatably, axially moved between a first position in which said first adjacent collar is at a first distance from said pin, and a second position in which said first adjacent collar is at a second, shorter distance from said pin;
• said first adjacent collar being configured to be moved into said first position to permit insertion of said pin into said slot arrangement, and to permit movement of said pin into said final position in said slot arrangement, and to permit removal of said pin from said final position and out of said slot arrangement;
• said first adjacent collar being configured to be moved into said second position and into contact with said hollow connector end, upon said pin being in said final position, to essentially prevent movement of said pin from said final position and to minimize relative axial movement of said first and second connectors to prevent disengagement of said first and second connectors;
• said second adjacent collar being axially moveable along said elongated body portion, and being spring mounted on said elongated body portion so as to be urged toward said first adjacent collar and said pin;
• said first adjacent collar and said second adjacent collar comprising an arrangement to permit rotational movement therebetween in a first direction and inhibit rotational movement therebetween in a second direction, which second direction is essentially opposite said first direction;
• said second adjacent collar being configured to be temporarily axially moved away from and out of engagement with said first adjacent collar to permit rotational, axial movement of said first adjacent collar away from said pin;
• and
• said second adjacent collar being configured to lock said first adjacent collar in said second position to essentially prevent unwanted disconnection of said first and second connectors from each other.

A nuclear reactor tool-carrying mast structure being configured to be extended into a nuclear reactor core comprising:

• first and second elongate individual masts;
• said first elongate individual mast comprising a hollow connector end;
• said hollow connector end having an inner diameter;
• said second elongate individual mast comprising an elongated body portion;
• said elongated body portion comprising a protruding connector end;
• said protruding connector end having an outer diameter;
• said outer diameter of said protruding connector end being smaller than said inner diameter of said hollow connector end to permit telescopic engagement with said hollow connector end;
• said hollow connector end comprising a slot arrangement;
• said protruding connector end comprising a pin with ends;
• said pin being configured and disposed to extend through said protruding connector end with said ends protruding beyond the smaller, outer diameter of said protruding connector end;
• said pin being configured to be inserted into said slot arrangement and moved into a final position in said slot arrangement, in which final position said pin engages said slot arrangement to essentially prevent relative rotational movement of said first and second elongate individual masts, and to minimize axial movement of said first and second elongate individual masts away from one another to prevent disengagement of said first and second elongate individual masts;
• said elongated body portion comprising a threaded portion disposed adjacent said protruding connector end;
• said second elongate individual mast comprising first and second adjacent collars coaxially mounted on said elongated body portion adjacent said protruding connector end;
• said first adjacent collar being threadedly mounted on said threaded portion of said elongated body portion;
• said first adjacent collar being configured to be rotatably, axially moved between a first position in which said first adjacent collar is at a first distance from said pin, and a second position in which said first adjacent collar is at a second, shorter distance from said pin;
• said first adjacent collar being configured to be moved into said first position to permit insertion of said pin into said slot arrangement, and to permit movement of said pin into said final position in said slot arrangement, and to permit removal of said pin from said final position and out of said slot arrangement;
• said first adjacent collar being configured to be moved into said second position and into contact with said hollow connector end, upon said pin being in said final position, to essentially prevent movement of said pin from said final position and to minimize relative axial movement of said first and second elongate individual masts to prevent disengagement of said first and second elongate individual masts;
• said second adjacent collar being axially moveable along said elongated body portion, and being spring mounted on said elongated body portion so as to be urged toward said first adjacent collar and said pin;
• said first adjacent collar and said second adjacent collar comprising an arrangement to permit rotational movement therebetween in a first direction and inhibit rotational movement therebetween in a second direction, which second direction is essentially opposite said first direction;
• said second adjacent collar being configured to be temporarily axially moved away from and out of engagement with said first adjacent collar to permit rotational, axial movement of said first adjacent collar away from said pin;
• and
• said second adjacent collar being configured to lock said first adjacent collar in said second position to essentially prevent unwanted disconnection of said first and second elongate individual masts from each other.