Telescoping Mast Utility Line Management

Abstract

A telescoping mast utility line management system is disclosed. The system can include panels for adjacent translatable portions of a telescoping mast and a utility line arranged in a coil. Coil portions can be coupled to the panels such that relative telescoping translation of the panels laterally displaces the coil portions relative to one another.

Description

BACKGROUND

Extendable mast structures are commonly used to raise and lower sensor and/or antenna systems to perform required operations. The extended height of these mast systems can be as much as 10 meters or more, and require many electrical connections to the mast mounted equipment. A typical mast installation simply drapes a cable for such connections around the outside of the mast, coiling the cable like a spring. The typical alternate approach to this is to contain the cable system in a central open area within the mast, which is typically unused space or where drive components for the mast or electronic equipment may reside.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which together illustrate, by way of example, features of the invention; and, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a telescoping mast in accordance with an example of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the telescoping mast of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is a side view of a telescoping mast utility line management system in accordance with an example of the present disclosure, showing an extended configuration.

FIG. 3B is a side view of the telescoping mast utility line management system of FIG. 3A, showing a configuration between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration.

FIG. 3C is a side view of the telescoping mast utility line management system of FIG. 3A, showing a retracted configuration.

FIG. 4A is a side view of a utility line in accordance with an example of the present disclosure, shown in an extended configuration and isolated from telescoping mast structure.

FIG. 4B is a side view of the utility line of FIG. 4A, showing a configuration between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration and isolated from telescoping mast structure.

FIG. 4C is a side view of the utility line of FIG. 4A, showing a retracted configuration and isolated from telescoping mast structure.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a telescoping mast utility line management system in accordance with another example of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-section of an exemplary utility line that can be utilized with a telescoping mast structure.

Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated, and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used herein, the term “substantially” refers to the complete or nearly complete extent or degree of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, an object that is “substantially” enclosed would mean that the object is either completely enclosed or nearly completely enclosed. The exact allowable degree of deviation from absolute completeness may in some cases depend on the specific context. However, generally speaking the nearness of completion will be so as to have the same overall result as if absolute and total completion were obtained. The use of “substantially” is equally applicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the complete or near complete lack of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result.

As used herein, “adjacent” refers to the proximity of two structures or elements. Particularly, elements that are identified as being “adjacent” may be either abutting or connected. Such elements may also be near or close to each other without necessarily contacting each other. The exact degree of proximity may in some cases depend on the specific context.

An initial overview of technology embodiments is provided below and then specific technology embodiments are described in further detail later. This initial summary is intended to aid readers in understanding the technology more quickly but is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the technology nor is it intended to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Although the current telescoping mast cable routing management designs are generally functional, the existing approaches do have drawbacks. For example, in a typical mast installation where the cable is around the outside of the mast, extension and retraction of the mast stretches the coiled cable “spring.” The coils of the cable are free to move and come into contact with one another as well as with the outside of the mast, which exposes the cable to both mechanical and environmental damage possibilities. In the typical alternate approach to this where the cable is contained in a central open area within the mast, space is limited for the amount of cable length required for full mast extension, which must compete for space with other mast systems and mechanisms, such as the mechanism for raising and lowering the mast sections. Thus, telescoping mast installations can benefit from an improved cable management approach, which can protect cables while preventing entanglement or kinking of the cables throughout extension and retraction of the telescoping mast and that avoids the interior spaces within the telescoping mast that are typically used or occupied by other components or payload, such as a drive motor and/or electronics.

Accordingly, a telescoping mast utility line management system is disclosed that protects utility lines from environmental hazards, prevents tangling and kinking during operation of the mast and maintains interior space within the mast for other required mast components. In one aspect, multiple utility lines for the mast can be incorporated. The telescoping mast utility line management system can include first and second panels for adjacent translatable portions of a telescoping mast, and a utility line arranged in a coil. A first coil portion can be coupled to the first panel and a second coil portion can be coupled to the second panel, such that relative telescoping translation of the first and second panels laterally displaces the first and second coil portions relative to one another.

A telescoping mast is also disclosed. The telescoping mast can comprise first and second translatable portions to extend and retract the mast. The first and second translatable portions can have first and second walls, respectively. The telescoping mast can also comprise a utility line arranged in a coil. A first coil portion can be coupled to the first wall and a second coil portion can be coupled to the second wall, such that relative telescoping translation of the first and second translatable portions laterally displaces the first and second coil portions relative to one another.

One embodiment of a telescoping mast 100 is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The telescoping mast 100 can include any number of translatable portions 110a-n to extend and retract the mast 100 in directions 102, 103, respectively. The telescoping mast 100 can also include a utility line 120, which can be used for any suitable purpose for the telescoping mast 100. For example, the utility line 120 can be coupled to a sensor or antenna system 104, such as to transmit electricity and/or a signal to or from the sensor or antenna system 104. In another example, the utility line 120 can be used to extend and/or retract the telescoping mast 100, such as by housing a structural cable or containing hydraulic fluid. The utility line 120 can therefore include a cable, a wire, a hose, a conduit, a tube, a power line, a hydraulic line, a pneumatic line, and/or any other suitable type of utility line. In one aspect, the utility line can comprise an electrical cable, an optical cable, a coaxial cable, a twinaxial cable, a paired cable, a ribbon cable, a shielded cable, a twisted cable, a braided cable, and/or any other suitable type of cable. Thus, for example, the utility line 120 can comprise a group of wires, glass fibers, etc. covered in plastic or rubber (i.e., for protection, insulation, and/or shielding) and can be used to carry or transmit electricity and/or telecommunication signals (i.e., electrical signals). The utility line 120 can therefore include any suitable wiring or cable technology utilizing any suitable shielding technology.

The telescoping mast 100 can be of any suitable shape or configuration. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, which illustrates a top view of the telescoping mast 100, the translatable portions 110a-n can comprise a polygonal cross-sectional configuration, such as the octagon shape shown in the figure. R should be recognized, however, that a telescoping mast in accordance with the present disclosure can have any suitable cross-sectional configuration or combination of cross-sectional configurations, such as an elliptical cross-sectional configuration, and/or a circular cross-sectional configuration. The translatable portions 110a-n can include walls or panels 111a-n, which can serve to at least in part define the cross-sectional configuration of the translatable portions 110a-n. Thus, as shown in the figures, the walls or panels 111a-n can comprise a planar configuration, although a wall or panel can be of any suitable configuration as part of a particular cross-sectional configuration or shape of a translatable portion.

In one aspect, described in more detail hereinafter, at least a portion of the utility line 120 can be disposed or located in spaces within and/or between adjacent translatable portions 110a-n, such as between walls or panels 111a-n. Such integration of the utility line 120 into or within the mast structure can provide a utility line management system that facilitates effective routing of the utility line 120 through the telescoping mast 100 to house and protect the utility line 120 while preventing entanglement or kinking of the utility line 120 throughout operation (i.e., extension and retraction) of the telescoping mast 100. In another aspect, the routing of the utility line 120 in such a manner can avoid interior spaces within the telescoping mast 100 that are typically used or occupied by other components or payload, such as a drive motor and/or electronics.

For example, a telescoping mast utility line management system 201 in accordance with an example of the present disclosure is illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3C. The telescoping mast utility line management system 201 can include any suitable number of panels or walls (represented here by two panels 211a, 211b) for translatable portions of a telescoping mast and a utility line 220, which may be similar to those illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The exemplary representative panels 211a, 211b illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3C are for adjacent translatable portions of a telescoping mast, which portions are shown in an extended configuration (FIG. 3A), a retracted configuration (FIG. 3C), and an intermediate configuration (FIG. 3B).

As shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, the utility line 220 can be arranged in a coil within the mast structure. For example, a coil portion 221a of the utility line 220 can be coupled to the panel or wall 211a and a coil portion 221b can be coupled to the panel or wall 211b. In one aspect, the utility line 220 can be coupled to the panels 211a, 211b via one or more clips 230a, 230b, 231b, 232b, which can maintain the coil portions 221a, 221b coupled to the respective panels 211a, 211b. The panels 211a, 211b can optionally include utility line openings 212a, 212b, respectively, and the utility line 220 can extend through the utility line openings 212a, 212b as the coiled utility line 220 extends from panel to panel, although the utility line 220 may simply extend or wrap around the panels 211a, 211b.

FIGS. 4A-4C show a utility line 320 isolated from any telescoping mast structure, such as a panel or wall, for clarity in illustrating the movement of the utility line 320 during operation of a mast to extend and retract. The utility line 320 is illustrated as if coupled to three telescoping portions or panels (similar to the manner and arrangement shown in FIGS. 3A-3C), but can be coupled to any suitable number of telescoping portions or panels. In this case, illustrated is movement of two coil portions 321a, 321b during extension and retraction as if coupled and operable with three telescoping portions.

The coil portions 321a, 321b can be coupled to the telescoping portions such that relative telescoping translation of the telescoping portions, such as in directions 302, 303 parallel to an extension axis of the telescoping mast, laterally displaces the coil portions 321a, 321b relative to one another. Thus, in contrast to a coil with coil portions that are displaced parallel to an axis about which the coil is formed (i.e., stretched or compressed like a coil spring), the coil portions 321a, 321b experience lateral movement relative to one another in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis 305 (axis extending into the page) (FIG. 4C) about which coil is formed. Thus, in a retracted configuration of the telescoping mast, the longitudinal axis 305 of the coil can be oriented perpendicular to an extension axis of the telescoping mast. The coil portions 321a, 321b can therefore change shape from a loop shape when in line with one another (FIG. 4C), to a loop and stem shape when laterally displaced from one another (FIGS. 4A and 4B), this being dependent upon the length of the utility line 320 and the displacement distance of the mast portions. The stem portions 322a, 322b can be formed by the limited straightening or uncoiling of the coil portions 321a, 321b as the coil portions are laterally displaced. For example, when extending from the fully retracted configuration illustrated in FIG. 4C, two upper telescoping portions can move together in direction 302 to arrive at the configuration illustrated in FIG. 4B. Here, the coil portion 321b has been laterally displaced and transformed from a loop shape to a loop and stem shape. The coil portion 321a has also been laterally displaced, but because the two telescoping portions that affect its shape have moved in unison, the coil portion 321a has maintained its loop shape from the fully retracted configuration. The shape of the coil portion 321a changes, however, when the uppermost telescoping section moves further in direction 302 to arrive at the fully extended configuration illustrated in FIG. 4A. Here, the coil portion 321a has been laterally displaced and transformed from a loop shape to a loop and stem shape. The coil portion 321b has remained in the loop and stem shape from FIG. 4B because the two telescoping portions that affect its shape have not moved. The telescoping mast can be retracted from the fully extended configuration of FIG. 4A to the fully retracted configuration of FIG. 4C in the reverse order described above, with the coil portions 321a, 321b transitioning from loop and stern shapes to loop shapes around the common axis 305. It should be recognized that telescoping portions of a telescoping mast can extend and retract in any suitable order, which may differ from that illustrated in the figures (e.g., uppermost telescoping portion extended first and retracted last). In some cases, multiple telescoping portions can move relative to one another simultaneously, thus stretching and/or contracting multiple coil portions at once. In other words, the telescoping mast utility line management system can facilitate and enable selective, random or out of order telescoping of the various portions making up the telescoping mast, as each portion comprises a utility line coupled therewith in a manner as described herein. Indeed, those skilled in the art will recognize the myriad of possible movement scenarios of the telescoping mast.

Referring again to FIGS. 3A-3C with an understanding of the manner in which the utility line 220 moves during extension and retraction of the telescoping mast, the coil portions 221a, 221b can be coupled to the panels 211a, 211b in the manner illustrated to maintain predictable and consistent movement of the utility line 220. For example, the coil portion 221a can comprise a segment that is fixed relative to the panel 211b and a segment that is movable relative to the panel 211a, with a sufficient amount or length of utility line being provided between telescoping portions to allow the telescoping mast utility line management system to function as intended and described herein. The fixed segment can be established at least in part by coupling the coil portion 221a to the panel 211b with dips 231b and 232b. The segment of the utility line 220 between clips 230b and 231b is also fixed and can represent the transition between coil portions 221a and 221b as the utility line 220 extends through the utility line opening 212b. These fixed points of attachment for the utility line 220 to the panel 211b can maintain a desired shape and/or location of the utility line 220 during extension and retraction operations of the telescoping mast to prevent damage, tangling, kinking, etc. of the utility line 220. For example, the fixed segment between clips 230ab and 231b can be coupled to opposite sides of the panel 211b to prevent movement of the utility line 220 that may cut or damage the utility line on sides of the utility line opening 212b. In one aspect, the location of the attachment points for the fixed segment can maintain the utility line 220 at a radius greater than or equal to a minimum bend radius of the utility line 220, thus preventing damage to the utility line 220 during operation of the telescoping mast.

The movable segment can be established by coupling the coil portion 221a to the panel 211b with clip 232b and to the panel 211a with clip 230a. This movable segment can change shape by partially straightening or uncoiling during relative movement of the panels 211a, 211b to extend the telescoping mast or by bending to form a loop shape when the panels 211a, 211b move relative to one another to retract the telescoping mast. Thus, the utility line 220 can be coupled or affixed to the panels 211a, 211b in certain locations to facilitate movement and bending of the utility line 220 in a controlled space and in a repetitive manner.

In one aspect, inward-turned edges of the panels (not shown) can serve or act as natural utility line guides and contain the utility line within the panel structure on one or more sides. In another aspect, the telescoping mast utility line management system 201 can include a utility line guide 240 coupled to provide a boundary for movement of the utility line 220 as the coil portions 221a, 221b laterally displace relative to one another. For example, in one example, the utility line guide 240 can comprise a base having a surface operable to interface with the utility line 220, and to facilitate the movement of the utility line 220 as described herein. The utility line guide 240 can be coupled to the panel 211b and positioned proximate the movable segment of the coil portion 221a to maintain a desired shape and/or position of the movable segment during relative movement of the panels 211a, 211b. In this case, the utility line guide 240 is oriented in a direction parallel to an extension/retraction direction 202, 203 of the telescoping mast. In one aspect, the location of the attachment points for the movable segment and/or the location and configuration of the utility line guide 240 can maintain the utility line 220 at a radius greater than or equal to a minimum bend radius of the utility line 220, thus preventing damage to the utility line 220 during operation of the telescoping mast.

The attachment points of the utility line 220 and/or the utility line guide 240 can also establish and/or maintain a desired shape or configuration of the utility line 220 in retracted and extended configurations of the telescoping mast. For example, in a retracted configuration of the telescoping mast, the coil portions 221a, 221b can comprise elongated loop shapes that coil/uncoil in a direction parallel to the extension/retraction direction 202, 203 of the mast as shown in FIG. 3C, which can facilitate fitting the utility line 220 to a particular panel or set of panels. In an extended configuration of the telescoping mast, the coil portions 221a, 221b can comprise loop shapes laterally offset from one another in a direction parallel to the extension/retraction direction 202, 203 of the mast, as shown in FIG. 3A, which can be connected to one another by a stem portion formed at least in part by the fixed segment between clips 231b, 232b and the movable segment proximate the utility line guide 240. Thus, the utility line 220 can occupy any portion of the space about or between the adjacent panels 211a, 211b. In one aspect, the utility line coil portions 221a, 221b can be substantially the same size and shape and can be substantially aligned with one another when in the retracted configuration. In this case, due to the difference in panel sizes of a telescoping mast, an outer boundary of an innermost coil portion may occupy substantially all of the available usable space about the panel and an outer boundary of an outermost coil portion may occupy only a portion of the available space about the panel. In another aspect, utility line coil portions of the same size and shape can be laterally and/or vertically offset from one another when in the retracted configuration. For example, each coil portion can be located to one lateral side of its corresponding panel. In this case, due to the difference in panel sizes of a telescoping mast and the resulting lateral offset of the panel edges, the coil portions will be laterally offset from one another. Similarly, coil portions of different sizes and/or shapes can be aligned or offset when in the retracted configuration.

The two panels 211a, 211b and associated utility line 220 shown in FIGS. 3A-3C may represent only a portion of the panels and utility line utilized in a telescoping mast. Although the size of the panels may vary from panel to panel for telescoping portions of a mast, as represented in the figures, the features and geometry represented here can be repeated with as many panels as desired for a given application, with the only limit being practical considerations that may exist, such as the size or number of telescoping portions of the mast.

In one aspect, the telescoping mast utility line management system 201 can be incorporated in a telescoping mast by coupling the utility line 220 to an inner panel, such as panel 211a, which is smaller than panel 211b. The utility line 220 can be coupled to the panel 211a as illustrated in the figures or in any other suitable manner. The panel 211a can then be coupled to a corresponding inner telescoping portion of the mast. The utility line 220 can also be coupled to a panel that is an “outer” panel relative to the inner panel just installed, such as panel 211b. The utility line 220 can be coupled to the panel 211b as illustrated in the figures or in any other suitable manner. The panel 211b can then be coupled to a corresponding telescoping portion of the mast that is outward of the previous telescoping portion. This process can be repeated for any number of panels and telescoping portions of the mast. In one aspect, the installation procedure is performed on a retracted telescoping mast. This installation procedure can also be used to retrofit a telescoping mast utility line management system to an existing mast. In this case, certain panels of the mast can be removed and modified if needed and reinstalled with the utility line according to the installation procedure outlined above. Furthermore, the panels can be replaced by different panels during the installation procedure.

In one aspect, multiple utility lines can be incorporated into a single telescoping mast. For example, each “face” of the octagonal shape of the telescoping mast 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2 can potentially be associated with a utility line as described herein. Thus, multiple “sides” of a telescoping mast can be used to accommodate multiple utility lines in a single telescoping mast.

In another example, shown in FIG. 5, a telescoping mast utility line management system 401 can include multiple utility lines 420a, 420b associated with a single “side” of a telescoping mast, as illustrated with panels 411a, 411b. In this case, the utility lines 420a, 420b can be disposed adjacent one another with the utility line 420b being located “inside” the utility line 420a, such that the utility line 420b forms at tighter bend radius than that of utility line 420a. The utility lines 420a, 420b can be coupled to the panels 411a, 411b in the manner described above, such as with clips 430a, 430b, 431b, 432b, which can be configured to couple with multiple utility lines. Any suitable number of utility lines can be included, being limited only by considerations, such as size and/or space constraints, or the minimum bend radius of the utility lines.

FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-section of a utility line 520 that can be utilized with a telescoping mast as described herein. Due to the nature of the repeated bending of a utility line that may occur in a tight space during extension and retraction operation of a telescoping mast, the utility line 520 includes some features and attributes that can facilitate such bending to minimize or eliminate damage to the utility line 520. For example, the utility line 520 can include wires 524 that can be tightly spiraled to maximize cable flexibility for the tight radius motion that may be required for extension and retraction of the mast. In one aspect, particular wires or conductors can be located within the utility line 520 to enhance flexibility of the utility line 520. In addition, the utility line 520 can include a protective jacket 525 to house and protect the wires 524 while facilitating bending of the utility line 520.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method of installing a utility line for a telescoping mast is disclosed. The method can comprise coupling first and second coil portions of a utility line to first and second panels for a telescoping mast, respectively. The method can also comprise coupling the first and second panels to adjacent translatable portions of the telescoping mast, wherein relative telescoping translation of the first and second panels laterally displaces the first and second coil portions relative to one another. In one aspect, the method can further comprise removing the first and second panels from the adjacent translatable portions of the telescoping mast. In another aspect, the method can further comprise extending the utility line through a utility line opening in at least one of the first and second panels. In an additional aspect, the method can further comprise fixing the utility line to opposite sides of the first panel. It is noted that no specific order is required in this method, though generally in one embodiment, these method steps can be carried out sequentially.

It is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention disclosed are not limited to the particular structures, process steps, or materials disclosed herein, but are extended to equivalents thereof as would be recognized by those ordinarily skilled in the relevant arts. It should also be understood that terminology employed herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositional elements, and/or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member. Thus, no individual member of such list should be construed as a de facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based on their presentation in a common group without indications to the contrary. In addition, various embodiments and example of the present invention may be referred to herein along with alternatives for the various components thereof. It is understood that such embodiments, examples, and alternatives are not to be construed as de facto equivalents of one another, but are to be considered as separate and autonomous representations of the present invention.

Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the description, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of lengths, widths, shapes, etc., to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.

While the foregoing examples are illustrative of the principles of the present invention in one or more particular applications, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications in form, usage and details of implementation can be made without the exercise of inventive faculty, and without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the claims set forth below.

Claims

1. A telescoping mast utility line management system, comprising:

first and second panels operable with respective adjacent translatable portions of a telescoping mast that are translatable in a telescoping direction; and

a utility line arranged in a coil having a longitudinal axis oriented perpendicular to the telescoping direction,

wherein a first coil portion is coupled to the first panel and a second coil portion is coupled to the second panel such that relative telescoping translation of the translatable portions and the first and second panels laterally displaces the first and second coil portions relative to one another in the telescoping direction.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second panels includes a utility line opening operable to receive at least a portion of the utility line there through.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second panels comprise a planar configuration.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the utility line is coupled to at least one of the first and second panels via a clip.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the utility line comprises a type selected from the group consisting of a cable, a wire, a hose, a conduit, a tube, a power line, a hydraulic line, a pneumatic line, or combinations thereof.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the cable comprises an electrical cable, an optical cable, a coaxial cable, a twinaxial cable, a paired cable, a ribbon cable, a shielded cable, a twisted cable, a braided cable, or combinations thereof.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first coil portion comprises a fixed segment relative to the first panel and a movable segment relative to the first panel.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the fixed segment is coupled to opposite sides of the first panel.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the fixed segment maintains the utility line at a radius greater than or equal to a minimum bend radius of the utility line.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a utility line guide coupled to the first panel to provide a boundary for movement of the utility line as the first and second coil portions laterally displace relative to one another.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second utility line disposed adjacent to the first utility line.

12. A telescoping mast, comprising:

first and second translatable portions to extend and retract the mast, the first and second translatable portions having first and second walls, respectively; and

a utility line arranged in a coil,

wherein a first coil portion is coupled to the first wall and a second coil portion is coupled to the second wall such that relative telescoping translation of the first and second translatable portions laterally displaces the first and second coil portions relative to one another.

13. The telescoping mast of claim 12, wherein the first and second translatable portions comprise a polygonal cross-sectional configuration, an elliptical cross-sectional configuration, or combinations thereof.

14. The telescoping mast of claim 12, wherein in a retracted configuration of the mast, a longitudinal axis of the coil is oriented perpendicular to an extension axis of the mast.

15. The telescoping mast of claim 12, wherein in a retracted configuration of the mast, the coil portions comprise elongated loop shapes in a direction parallel to an extension direction of the mast.

16. The telescoping mast of claim 12, wherein in an extended configuration of the mast, the coil portions comprise loop shapes laterally offset from one another in a direction parallel to an extension direction of the mast.

17. The telescoping mast of claim 12, further comprising a utility line guide coupled to the first wall to provide a boundary for movement of the utility line as the first and second coil portions laterally displace relative to one another.

18. The telescoping mast of claim 17, wherein the utility line guide is oriented in a direction parallel to an extension direction of the mast.

19. A method of installing a utility line for a telescoping mast, comprising:

coupling first and second coil portions of a utility line to first and second panels for a telescoping mast, respectively; and

coupling the first and second panels to adjacent translatable portions of the telescoping mast, wherein relative telescoping translation of the first and second panels laterally displaces the first and second coil portions relative to one another.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising removing the first and second panels from the adjacent translatable portions of the telescoping mast.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising extending the utility line through a utility line opening in at least one of the first and second panels.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising fixing the utility line to opposite sides of the first panel.