Abstract: A telescoping mast assembly having a ball drive actuator drive system. A telescoping mast section is housed within a base mast section mounted to a base plate. The base mast section pivots about a pivot axis between a lowered, horizontal position and an upright, vertical position and includes an upper elongate body disposed an upper side of the pivot axis and a bottom end disposed on an opposite side of the pivot axis. A ball actuator drive includes an electrically powered motor that drives a ball screw reciprocally inward and outward along a linear stroke path. A remote end of the ball screw is attached to the bottom end of the base mast section and, by pushing and pulling the bottom end of the base mast section, pivots and maintains the base mast section to alternative positions between the fully raised and the fully lowered positions. A telescoping mast section is housed within the base mast section and telescopes between an extended position and a retracted position.

Abstract: An extendible mast assembly is disclosed comprising a base member (12); a base mast section (16) pivotally coupled thereto; and an extendible mast section (20) telescopically received within the base mast section (16). A first ball drive actuator (14) is mounted and coupled to pivotally drive the mast sections between a horizontal “down” position and a vertical “up” position, and a second ball drive actuator (18) is mounted within the base mast section to move the extendible mast section in and out of the base mast section. A wiring harness (106, 108) is routed from the base of the unit up through the base mast section and the extendible mast section for powering the ball drive actuators (14, 18) and any electrically powered device mounted to the distal end of the mast. The uppermost extendible mast section (20) is composed of non-conductive material to prevent the conductance of a charge down the mast to the vehicle to which the unit is attached.