Duke Energy Corporation
UTILITY STRUCTURE WITH RETRACTABLE MAST

Abstract:

A tower configured to be positioned adjacent to or as a part of existing electrical power utility structures, such as transmission towers, distribution towers, substation structures, etc., includes an outer structure having a lower end configured to be anchored to the ground, and an opposite upper end. An inner structure is positioned within the outer structure and is connected to the outer structure. The inner structure has a lower end configured to be anchored to the ground and an opposite upper end. A mast is movable within the inner structure between a lowered position and a raised position. The mast supports various electronic equipment, such as cellular antenna arrays, remote radio unit (RRU) arrays, microwave antennas, imaging equipment, acoustic sensors, tectonic or motion sensors, thermal sensors, chemical sensors, and/or nuclear sensors.