Retention system for retaining deck bushing of drilling machine

A drilling machine comprising:

• a frame;
• a mast system supported by the frame;
• a drill string;
• a work tool coupled to the drill string;
• a deck bushing movable relative to the drill string between a raised state and a lowered state;
• and
• a retention system for retaining the deck bushing in the raised state to facilitate an inspection and/or a replacement of the work tool from the drill string of the drilling machine, the retention system including:
• a hydraulically operated breakout (HOBO) device to facilitate the inspection and/or the replacement of the work tool from the drill string of the drilling machine, wherein the HOBO device is movable between a retracted position and an extended position, and wherein the HOBO defines a top surface;
• a retention arm assembly coupled with the HOBO device proximal to the top surface of the HOBO device, wherein, when the HOBO device is in the extended position, the retention arm assembly is engaged with the deck bushing to retain the deck bushing in the raised state to facilitate the inspection and/or the replacement of the work tool from the drill string of the drilling machine, and wherein, when the HOBO device is in the retracted position, the retention arm assembly is disengaged from the deck bushing;
• and
• a retention element coupled proximal to a bottom end of the drill string, wherein, when the HOBO device is in the retracted position and the retention arm assembly is disengaged from the deck bushing after the inspection and/or the replacement of the work tool from the drill string, the retention element is in engagement with the deck bushing to retain the deck bushing on the drill string.

A method for retaining a deck bushing of a drilling machine, the method comprising:

• engaging a pipe positioner system with a drill string of the drilling machine to guide and center a movement of the drill string along a vertical axis;
• raising the drill string such that a work tool of the drilling machine is raised above a mast base plate of the drilling machine;
• moving a hydraulically operated breakout (HOBO) device from a retracted position to an extended position towards the drill string to facilitate an inspection and/or a replacement of the work tool from the drill string of the drilling machine;
• engaging a retention arm assembly of the drilling machine with the deck bushing based on the movement of the HOBO device from the retracted position to the extended position, wherein the retention arm assembly is coupled with the HOBO device proximal to a top surface of the HOBO device;
• retaining, by the retention arm assembly, the deck bushing in a raised state based on an engagement of the retention arm assembly with the deck bushing to facilitate the inspection and/or the replacement of the work tool from the drill string of the drilling machine;
• engaging a retention element of the drilling machine with the deck bushing after the inspection and/or the replacement of the work tool from the drill string of the drilling machine, wherein the retention element is coupled to the drill string proximal to a bottom end of the drill string;
• retaining, by the retention element, the deck bushing on the drill string based on an engagement of the retention element with the deck bushing;
• moving the HOBO device from the extended position to the retracted position;
• reseating the deck bushing on a mast base plate;
• and
• lowering the drill string of the drilling machine to a Ready-To-Drill state or a Ready-To-Tram state.