# US 2019/0169941 A1 · Working machine and method for working the ground > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0169941 A1 - Document ID: US20190169941A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/323,635 - Filed: 2017-07-12 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-08-24 - Assignees: BAUER Maschinen GmbH - Applicants: BAUER Maschinen GmbH - Inventors: Sebastian BAUER; Christian FISCHER; Andreas SCHOBER - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190169941A1 ## CPC - E21B 17/07: Telescoping joints for varying drill string lengths; Shock absorbers - E21B 7/02: Drilling rigs characterised by means for land transport {with their own drive}, e.g. skid mounting or wheel mounting - E21B 7/027: {Drills for drilling shallow holes, e.g. for taking soil samples or for drilling postholes} - E21B 19/165: {Control or monitoring arrangements therefor} - E02D 27/12: Pile foundations - E21B 7/021: {With a rotary table, i.e. a fixed rotary drive for a relatively advancing tool} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - E02D: FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS (specially adapted for hydraulic engineering E02B); UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES {(tunnels, tunnelling, mining E21)} ## Abstract The invention relates to a working machine and a method for working the ground with the working machine, having a mast, along which, by means of a positioning means, a rotary head is moved vertically, by which a telescopic Kelly rod having at least two Kelly bars is displaced and guided. According to the invention the Kelly bars are locked or unlocked automatically by means of a control, wherein by means of a first detection means a rotation angle of at least one Kelly bar is detected and/or by means of a second detection means a force, torque or pressure change is detected in a hydraulic system. By the control a locking and/or unlocking of the Kelly bars is determined depending on the detected rotation angle and/or the detected change. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A working machine, in particular construction machine, having a mast, along which, by means of a positioning means, a rotary head is vertically movable, by which a telescopic Kelly rod having at least two Kelly bars is guided in a displaceable manner, wherein an outer Kelly bar designed for being supported on the rotary head and an inner Kelly bar are provided which comprises a rope suspension for a rope, by which the inner Kelly bar is vertically movable by means of a main rope winch, wherein, for the purpose of torque transmission, Kelly bars are provided on their external and/or internal sides with axially running drive keys as well as locking recesses on the drive keys which can be moved into the locking recesses for axially locking the Kelly bars or moved out of the locking recesses for unlocking, wherein a control is provided which is designed for the locking and/or unlocking of the Kelly bars, wherein for the automatic locking of the Kelly bar the control is configured such that a first torque can be applied to the Kelly bar, wherein a latch element is applied with slight pressure to a drive key of the opposite Kelly bar, and the two Kelly bars are moved axially relative to each other until the latch element rotates in the circumferential direction into a locking recess, by means of a first detection means a rotation angle of at least one Kelly bar can be detected during inward rotation or that by means of a second detection means a force, torque or pressure change in a drive system, by which at least the positioning means, the rotary head or the main rope winch are driven, can be detected during inward rotation, and the control is designed to determine the locking of the Kelly bars depending on the detected rotation angle or the detected force, torque or pressure change in the drive system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The working machine according to claim 1, wherein the Kelly rod has one or several intermediate Kelly bars that are arranged between the outer Kelly bar and the inner Kelly bar. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The working machine according to claim 1, wherein on a lower end of the inner Kelly bar a ground working tool, in particular a drilling bucket or an auger, is mounted in a releasable manner. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The working machine according to claim 1, wherein at least one input means is provided, with which a type and/or size of the Kelly rod, a position of the positioning means for the rotary head, a position of the rope and/or a type and/or size of the rotary head can be entered. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The working machine according to claim 1, wherein the first detection means has a rotation angle encoder for detecting a rotation angle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The working machine according to claim 1, wherein the second detection means has a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure increase in a hydraulic drive system. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A method for working the ground with a working machine, in particular according to claim 1, having a mast, along which, by means of a positioning means, a rotary head is moved vertically, by which a telescopic Kelly rod having at least two Kelly bars is displaced and guided, wherein an outer Kelly bar that is supported on the rotary head and an inner Kelly bar are provided that is suspended on a rope, by which the inner Kelly bar is moved vertically by means of a main rope winch, wherein, for the purpose of torque transmission, the Kelly bars are provided on their external and/or internal sides with axially running drive keys as well as locking recesses on the drive keys which are moved into the locking recesses for axially locking the Kelly bars or moved out of the locking recesses for unlocking, wherein by means of a control the Kelly bars are locked or unlocked, wherein for the automatic locking of a Kelly bar a first torque is applied thereto, wherein a latch element is applied with slight pressure to a drive key of the opposite Kelly bar, the two Kelly bars are moved axially relative to each other until the latch element rotates in the circumferential direction into a locking recess, by means of a first detection means a rotation angle of at least one Kelly bar is detected during inward rotation or by means of a second detection means a force, torque or pressure change in a drive system, by which at least the positioning means, the rotary head or the main rope winch are driven, is detected during inward rotation, and by the control the locking of the Kelly bars is determined depending on the detected rotation angle or the detected force, torque or pressure change. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, wherein for the locking and/or unlocking a ground working tool on the Kelly rod is placed onto the ground, in particular onto a borehole bottom. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, wherein a borehole is produced in the ground. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein the borehole is filled to form a foundation element. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, wherein the Kelly bar with the latch element is moved axially relative over a predetermined distance.