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.

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.