EARTH-WORKING MACHINE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING AN EARTH-WORKING MACHINE

[0001]The invention relates to an earth-working machine comprising a carrier implement, which comprises a movable undercarriage, in particular comprising a tracked chassis, a working device, which is designed to work earth or rock, in particular to remove earth or rock, or to introduce structures into the earth, and at least one steel cable, which is subjected to tension at least temporarily and can be adjusted in a longitudinal cable direction by means of a cable drive, according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002]The invention relates to a method for operating an earth-working machine, comprising a carrier implement, which comprises a movable undercarriage, in particular comprising a tracked chassis, a working device, by means of which earth or rock is worked, in particular earth or rock is removed, or a structure is introduced into the earth, and at least one steel cable, which is subjected to tension at least temporarily and is adjusted in a longitudinal cable direction by means of a cable drive, according to the preamble of claim 12.

[0003]Generic earth-working machines have been used for a long time, in particular as construction machines, for example as earth augers or diaphragm wall implements. A plurality of steel cables are generally used on earth-working machines of this kind to actuate machine components. For example, in an earth auger implement, a so-called main cable comprising a main cable winch is arranged, by means of which, for example, a drilling tool, in particular a Kelly rod, can be raised and lowered along a mast. Furthermore, so-called feed cables can be used, by means of which, for example, a drill drive slide can be adjusted along the mast by means of feed winches. As a result, additional feed force can be exerted on a drilling tool, for example. In addition, further steel cables can be arranged on an earth-moving machine of this kind, for example so-called auxiliary cables, which can take on additional raising or traction functions by means of an auxiliary cable winch.

[0004]Steel cables on earth-working machines of this kind have the advantage that high tensile forces can be applied to machine components, for example working tools, by a drive member, for example a cable winch, which is arranged at a distance from the machine component. A path of the steel cable can be predetermined by one or more deflection rollers. In addition, steel cables can be rolled up on winch drums in a very compact manner, such that different working lengths can be provided for transmitting forces in an efficient manner.

[0005]A steel cable of this kind is constructed, in particular wound axially, from a plurality of so-called wires. In this case, a plurality of wires can be combined to a stranded wire, wherein the steel cable itself can be constructed from a plurality of these stranded wires. High-strength and flexible cables can thus be formed.

[0006]In earth-working machines, in particular in construction machines, the steel cables are subjected to significant wear. In this case, the wear is in particular dependent on the duration of use, the forces exerted on the cable, the type and number of winding processes and on environmental and weather conditions, which can be extreme on outdoor construction sites most of all.

[0007]The wear in particular results in breaks in individual wires in the steel cable. The steel cable can lose its required strength upwards of a certain amount and a certain number of wire breaks in a steel cable. Failure, i.e. the steel cable breaking, can occur during operation upwards of a certain level of wear. A steel cable breaking during operation of an earth-working machine can result in serious consequences, not only in excessive damage at the earth-working machine itself or at implements in the vicinity. But there is also a risk to life and limb for persons on or in the region of the earth-working machine. A steel cable breaking on an earth-working machine therefore is to be avoided at all costs.

[0008]It is known and routine to regularly visually check the steel cables used on an earth-working machine for broken wires on the surface and to replace them after a predetermined number of operating hours. This approach is associated with drawbacks, however. First of all, if a number of operating hours until the steel cables are replaced is set to be too low, steel cables that are still fully functional and are not worn are often replaced and disposed of. This is economically inefficient, since cables of this kind could still have been used further.

[0009]In addition, if the earth-working machine is strongly used, in particular in extreme weather conditions, it may be the case that cable wear occurs at an earlier point and a predetermined time for replacing said cables is too late in such a case. In these cases, which are rare but do indeed happen, there is then again the risk of persons and machines damages.

[0010]Inspection methods and inspection implements are known for inspecting steel cables, for example by means of electromagnetic waves. By means of inspection methods of this kind, breaks of individual wires can also be identified within a steel cable in a non-destructive manner, for example. For instance, in an electromagnetic survey of a steel cable, breaks of the wire can be identified as anomalies in a measurement log.

[0011]Inspection methods of this kind and measuring implements used therein are complex. A measuring implement has to be precisely positioned on a steel cable, wherein an inspection needs to be carried out by trained inspection personnel. These inspections are used, for example, for particularly expensive and also safety-relevant steel cables, for example on cable cars for conveying persons. In cable cars, very long steel cables are used, which can be several kilometres in length. Even relatively small changes in temperature result in noticeable changes in length and thus also in differing cable paths. A measuring implement can be flexibly positioned on a cable car system of this kind by means of belt systems, wherein the steel cable to be inspected is guided through the measuring implement or the measuring implement is guided along the steel cable. Inspections of this kind are time-consuming and expensive.

[0012]The object addressed by the invention is to specify an earth-working machine and a method for operating an earth-working machine by means of which particularly economical and safe use of steel cables is ensured during operation.

[0013]According to the invention, the object is solved both by an earth-working machine having the features of claim 1 and by a method for operating an earth-working machine according to the features of claim 12. Preferred embodiments of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.

[0014]According to the invention, it is provided that the earth-working machine comprises at least one holding apparatus, which is designed to receive and detachably hold a cable measurement unit, which comprises a cable passage channel and is designed to detect a cable state in the region of the cable passage channel, and that the holding apparatus is arranged in the region of the steel cable such that, when a cable measurement unit is received, this is held in a defined position in which the steel cable is guided properly through the cable passage channel.

[0015]The invention is based on the knowledge that defined cable paths of the steel cables used at many points are provided on earth-working machines. Based on this knowledge, according to an aspect of the invention, it is provided to arrange at least one holding apparatus on the earth-working machine, which apparatus is designed to receive and detachably hold a cable measurement unit in a predetermined position. The cable measurement unit can comprise an open or preferably closed cable passage channel, wherein a state of the steel cable guided through the cable passage channel can be detected by the cable measurement unit. By means of the holding apparatus, a defined position of the cable measurement unit can be predetermined during a measurement process, such that the steel cable is properly guided through the cable passage channel, wherein a particularly reliable measurement can take place.

[0016]The working device can be designed to remove earth or rock, for example as a drilling tool or as a cutter, or to introduce structures into the earth, preferably as a piling implement or a vibrator implement, to introduce foundation elements, such as sheet piles or posts, into the earth.

[0017]The measuring implement can be arranged on the holding apparatus for a longer period of time in principle. According to another aspect of the invention, the holding apparatus arranged on the earth-woprking machine makes it possible to temporarily use a relatively expensive cable measurement unit on the earth-working machine, wherein the cable measurement unit can be rapidly installed in the correct position and rapidly detached owing to the predetermined positioning of the holding apparatus. This allows for an efficient measurement process using a cable measurement unit.

[0018]For a measurement process, the steel cable can preferably be moved through the cable measurement unit by means of the cable drive. In this way, a larger cable portion can be detected and inspected for possible breaks of the wires within the steel cable in a non-destructive manner. The cable measurement unit can in particular carry out an electromagnetic survey of a steel cable, in particular an MRT method, wherein the steel cable is guided through an electromagnetic inspection field, for example. Breaks of the wires, defects or splits in the steel cable cause anomalies during the inspection which are detected. By means of the state check of the individual steel cables that is thus carried out, breaks, wear or other faults can be identified in good time, and therefore safety risks to operating personnel and the earth-working machine are significantly reduced. A cable that is only slightly worn can likewise be prevented from being replaced unnecessarily early.

[0019]According to an embodiment of the invention, it is particularly preferred for the cable drive to comprise a cable winch and/or a linear drive. Using a cable drive of this kind, a steel cable can be efficiently moved and guided through the cable measurement unit. It is expedient for the cable drive to comprise at least one cable winch, wherein the steel cable is mounted on the cable winch at least in part and is adjustable in its longitudinal cable direction by means of a winding movement. It is particularly advantageous for the cable drive designed to comprise a cable winch to be formed in the lower half of a mast or a leader of the earth-working machine according to the invention, in particular on the rear side of the mast, or on the carrier implement, in particular on the superstructure. As a result, depending on the arrangement and orientation of the cable measurement unit, the steel cable can be guided through the cable measurement unit particularly easily.

[0020]The holding apparatuses can be arranged on the earth-working machine in any manner in principle. In this case, it is particularly preferred for two or more holding apparatuses to be arranged at different points on the earth-working machine, wherein, by means of one or more cable measurement units, the state of a single steel cable can be detected at different points and/or the cable state of two or more steel cables can be detected. It is particularly advantageous for the two or more holding apparatuses to be arranged on a mast head, on a rear side of the mast or on a working slide on a front side of the mast. In particular, it is particularly preferred for the cable measurement unit to be arranged between two or more deflection rollers and/or a deflection block. As a result, the steel cable can be guided through the cable measurement unit in a particularly efficient and stable manner. Furthermore, particularly simple attachment of the cable measurement unit to the earth-working machine according to the invention can thus be ensured.

[0021]It is expedient for the cable measurement unit to comprise a data memory unit for locally storing the detected cable state data. Preferably, in addition to the cable measurement unit, an arithmetic logic unit can also be provided, which is connected to the data memory unit and is designed to evaluate and process the detected cable state data. The evaluation can in particular comprise a cable state analysis and a recommendation for use. In this case, the arithmetic logic unit can in particular be spatially separate from the cable measurement unit, in particular as a mobile arithmetic logic unit, for example as a smartphone or as tablet. As a result, the obtained measured data can be evaluated in a spatially flexible manner and independently of the respective location of the earth-working machine according to the invention. In this case, it is particularly expedient for the data detected by the cable measurement unit to be graphically displayed in a two-dimensional manner by a display apparatus.

[0022]Another advantageous configuration of the invention resides in that the holding apparatus comprises a fastening apparatus for detachably fastening the cable measurement unit. The fastening apparatus can in particular be designed as a screw connection and/or a plug-in connection. It is particularly advantageous for the fastening apparatus to be designed to insert the cable measurement unit between two opposite metal plates. It is also expedient for the fastening apparatus to be designed as a bent part. By means of the fastening apparatus according to the invention, the cable measurement unit can be installed on the earth-working machine in a flexible and needs-based manner, which allows for particularly economical operation.

[0023]According to a further development of the invention, it is advantageous for the holding apparatus to comprise a receptacle comprising at least one stop for arranging the cable measurement unit in the holding apparatus in the correct position. The receptacle can in particular have a rectangular basic shape having lateral supporting walls. In this way, particularly accurate cable guidance through the cable measurement unit on the earth-working machine according to the invention can be ensured. In the same way, the installation of the cable measurement unit on the earth-working machine is simplified by such a configuration of the holding apparatus.

[0024]An additional advantageous configuration of the invention resides in that the holding apparatus comprises an adjusting apparatus, in particular comprising at least one adjusting screw, for adjusting a receiving position of the cable measurement unit. The adjusting screw can preferably be provided for permanently fastening the cable measurement unit to the fastening apparatus. It is expedient for the adjusting apparatus to be able to be inserted, in particular screwed, into the measuring apparatus. As a result, simple and precise attachment both of the holding apparatus and the cable measurement unit can be ensured. The adjusting apparatus can also allow for displaceable holding, such that the position of the cable measurement unit can be continuously adjusted to the path of the cable being guided through.

[0025]In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the holding apparatus can be arranged on the cable drive or a deflection roller for the steel cable. In particular, the holding apparatus can be arranged on a deflection block for guiding the steel cable on the earth-working machine. It is particularly preferred for the holding apparatus to be arranged between two deflection rollers on the mast head of a mast of the earth-working machine, preferably centrally on an upper side. The holding apparatus can likewise preferably be arranged on a rear side of the mast. In this way, particularly efficient mounting of the cable measurement unit on the earth-working machine can take place.

[0026]A particularly expedient configuration of the invention resides in that the earth-working machine comprises at least two steel cables that are arranged beside one another, in particular directed in parallel with one another, and that the holding apparatus is adjustably, in particular displaceably, mounted between a first measuring position for a first steel cable and at least one further measuring position for the at least one further steel cable. In this case, the steel cables can, in particular be designed to actuate an earth-working device. In particular, a steel cable can be designed for actuating an adjustably mounted base slide on a mast of the earth-working machine in a feed direction or raising-up direction. Alternatively or additionally thereto, a cable can be provided for holding the working device on a mast head of the mast or on an extension arm. By means of an earth-working machine designed in this way, various steel cables can be particularly efficiently detected and inspected by means of a cable measurement unit, which ensures particularly safe operation of the earth-working machine even when a plurality of cables are used. Owing to the adjustability of the holding apparatus, the same cable measurement unit can be used to detect a plurality of steel cables, which reduces the costs.

[0027]According to a embodiment variant of the invention, it is provided that the earth-working machine comprises a mast or extension arm, along which at least one steel cable is guided, and that at least one holding apparatus is arranged on a head region of the mast or the extension arm. The head region of the mast can in particular comprise at least one deflection roller for changing the cable running direction of the at least one steel cable, wherein the steel cable is guided beginning from a rear side of the mast to a front side of the mast. It is particularly advantageous for the holding apparatus to be provided for fixing the cable measurement unit to the earth-working machine between two deflection rollers on the head region of the mast. The holding apparatus can likewise be arranged in a lower feed region of a deflection roller. In this way, particularly highly loaded regions of the steel cable can be detected and inspected by the cable measurement unit.

[0028]In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the earth-working machine comprises a control unit and that the cable measurement unit is connected to the control unit in a wired or wireless manner for evaluating and outputting measured data or measurement results. As a result, the data detected by the cable measurement unit relating to the state of the steel cable can be directly processed and evaluated by the control unit. The cable measurement unit can thus permanently remain in the intended position on the earth-working machine, wherein the detected data can be read out in a particularly simple manner by the operating personnel of the earth-working machine. It is advantageous here that the control unit is provided on the superstructure of the earth-working machine, in particular on a vehicle cab. In this case, the control unit comprises at least one output apparatus, for example a display, VR glasses, a tablet computer or another unit for graphically or digitally representing the detected state data of the steel cable.

[0029]It is advantageous for the control unit to comprise an arithmetic logic unit and/or a data memory for processing the detected cable state data. The cable state data can thus be processed and evaluated immediately after detection by the cable measurement unit. According to the invention, it is particularly expedient for the cable state data detected by the cable measurement unit to be processed and evaluated by the control unit, wherein a graphical representation, for example the steel-cable cross section, relating to the state of the at least one steel cable based on the detected cable state data and in particular also e.g. alphanumerical recommendations for the further use of the steel cable on the earth-working machine are output. The graphical representation can preferably relate to any detected anomalies.

[0030]In another preferred embodiment of the earth-working machine according to the invention, it is provided that it is designed as an earth auger, a slurry wall implement, a vibrator implement or a piling implement. It is expedient for the earth-working machine according to the invention to comprise at least one rotary drive comprising an earth-working tool, for example a cutting wheel or an auger for rotatably penetrating into the earth. The at least one steel cable can in particular be designed to adjust the position of the earth-working tool on the earth-working machine, for example to penetrate into the earth and/or raise up out of the earth. In this respect, the earth-working machine according to the invention can be used particularly flexibly for different application fields.

[0031]The method according to the invention is characterised in that the earth-working machine comprises at least one holding apparatus, by means of which a cable measurement unit is received and detachably held, which comprises a cable passage channel, and in that the cable measurement unit is arranged in the region of the steel cable by means of the holding apparatus such that the steel cable is properly guided through the cable passage channel of the cable measurement unit and a state of the steel cable is detected in the region of the cable passage channel by the cable measurement unit.

[0032]The method can, in particular be used in the earth-working machine according to the invention as described above. The above-described advantages can be achieved thereby.

[0033]A preferred method variant of the invention resides in that the steel cable is adjusted in its longitudinal cable direction by means of the cable drive, wherein the steel cable is moved through the cable passage channel of the cable measurement unit and the state of the steel cable is detected over a length region in the process. In this way, the state of a particularly large part of the steel cable can be permanently monitored. It is particularly expedient for the steel cable cross section as a whole to be detected over a length region while monitoring the state of the steel cable. It is advantageous for the steel cable to be adjusted in its longitudinal direction such that at least a tenth of the total length of the steel cable passes through the cable passage channel of the cable measurement unit and is detected. By means of a configuration of this kind, the state of the cable can be particularly reliably assessed.

[0034]According to a further development of the invention, it is expedient for at least one cable measurement unit to be only temporarily arranged on a holding apparatus and then to be detached and removed again. By attaching the cable measurement unit in a needs-based manner, particularly economical and efficient operation of the earth-working machine is ensured. For example, the cable measurement unit can thus be used for a plurality of earth-working machines and is not necessarily permanently attached to a single earth-working machine. In particular, it is advantageous for at least one cable measurement unit to be arranged successively on a plurality of holding apparatuses of the earth-wortking machine according to the invention and then detached and removed again, wherein the holding apparatuses are arranged at different positions of the earth-working machine, and thus the portion of one or more steel cables that can be detected is enlarged. As a result, steel cable portions can, in particular also be inspected which are not detected when rolling up or unrolling the steel cable owing to a first position of the cable measurement unit. Therefore, the region of the steel cable that is detected by the cable measurement unit is enlarged and safety is enhanced.

[0035]According to a particularly advantageous configuration of the invention, it is provided that measured values detected by the cable measurement unit are stored by a memory apparatus and are evaluated remotely from the earth-working machine, preferably using an arithmetic logic unit. In principle, in this case, the detected measured values can be stored by a memory unit of the cable measurement unit and/or can be stored by a memory unit of the arithmetic logic unit. The measured values detected by the cable measurement unit can, in particular be evaluated using cable state detection algorithms of the arithmetic logic unit, wherein the cable state is analysed using the detected cable state data from the cable state detection algorithms, in particular using machine learning. In this way, for example, specific recommended actions for maintaining the wire cable can be output to the operating personnel of the earth-working machine and particularly safe operation can be ensured.

[0036]The invention is explained in greater detail in the following with reference to preferred exemplary embodiments, which are shown schematically in the drawings, in which show:

[0037]FIG. 1 a side view of the earth-working machine according to the invention;

[0038]FIG. 2 a side view of a mast head according to the invention comprising a cable measurement unit;

[0039]FIG. 3 a perspective view of a detail of a mast head of the earth-working machine according to the invention;

[0040]FIG. 4 a perspective view of a deflection block of the earth-working machine according to the invention;

[0041]FIG. 5 a perspective view of a rear side of the mast of the earth-working machine according to the invention;

[0042]FIG. 6 another perspective view of a rear side of the mast of the earth-working machine according to the invention;

[0043]FIG. 7 a partial perspective view of a base slide of the earth-working machine according to the invention;

[0044]FIG. 8 a perspective view of a cable drive of the earth-working machine according to the invention;

[0045]FIG. 9 a perspective view of a deflection block of the earth-working machine according to the invention;

[0046]FIG. 10 a perspective view of another deflection block of the earth-working machine according to the invention; and

[0047]FIG. 11 a perspective view of a deflection roller of a mast head of the earth-working machine according to the invention.

[0048]FIG. 1 shows an earth-working machine 10 according to the invention comprising a carrier implement 12. The carrier implement 12 can preferably comprise a tracked chassis as the undercarriage 14, on which a superstructure 16 can, in particular be rotatably mounted. A controller 60 for the earth-working machine 10 can be located in an operator's cab of the superstructure 16. In principle, as shown here, the earth-working machine 10 can be designed as a civil engineering machine.

[0049]A mast 20, which can be designed as a leader 21 and can have an upright, substantially vertical position during operation, can preferably be adjustably mounted on the superstructure 16, in particular via an articulated mechanism 18. The mast 20 can, in particular also be directly connected to the superstructure 16 via a joint (not shown) arranged in the lower region of the mast 20 and one or more actuating cylinders (not shown). It is also possible for a boom (not shown) that can be bent to be adjustably arranged on the superstructure 16 instead of the mast 20.

[0050]According to the exemplary embodiment shown, the mast 20 can preferably be designed as a leader 21 comprising a linear guide 24 on its front side. A base slide 38 comprising a rotary drill drive 36 can be vertically movably mounted along the linear guide 24, for example. As a result, the earth-working machine 10 can be constructed as a drilling implement. In the drawings, an exemplary central position of the rotary drill drive 36 and a lower position represented by dashed lines is shown.

[0051]A cable, in particular a first steel cable 40 as the main cable 42, can be guided over a mast head 22 at the upper end of the mast 20, at one end of which cable a preferably telescopic Kelly rod 32 comprising an exemplary auger 34 can be provided for forming a working device 30, in particular a civil engineering tool. The Kelly rod 32 can be guided by a sleeve-shaped drive wheel of the rotary drill drive 36 being arranged on the base slide 38, such that a torque from the rotary drill drive 36 is transmitted to the Kelly rod 32, for example via driver strips (not shown). The auger 34 can be arranged on the lower end of the Kelly rod 32 for making a borehole in the ground. The drilling tool can be designed in any manner in principle and, in particular can comprise an auger 34 or a drilling bucket.

[0052]The steel cable 40 can be guided from the Kelly rod 32 via deflection rollers 26 on the mast head 22 along the mast 20 as far as a cable drive 46 in the superstructure 16. As shown by way of example in FIG. 1, a cable measurement unit 80 can be formed on the mast head 22 of the mast 20 for detecting cable state data. The cable measurement unit 80 can preferably be formed centrally between a first and a second deflection roller. An auxiliary cable (not shown here) can preferably extend in parallel with the first steel cable 40 as a further steel cable, wherein the cable measurement unit 80 can be designed to detect cable state data of the auxiliary cable and/or the steel cable.

[0053]The cable drive 46 is driven by a motor 50, in particular an electric motor or a hydraulic motor, which can also be operated in a recuperation mode. The Kelly rod 32 comprising the auger can be raised and lowered via the cable drive 46 by means of the steel cable 40.

[0054]The base slide 38 comprising the rotary drill drive 36 can be pulled upwards via a further steel cable 40, which is in particular designed as a feed cable 44, by means of a feed winch 28, in particular a actuator, comprising a winch on the mast 20. By accordingly driving the feed winch 28 in the opposite direction, the base slide 38 comprising the rotary drill drive 36 can also be lowered downwards. The base slide 38 can likewise be pulled downwards by the feed winch 28.

[0055]The rotary drill drive 36 can be formed by a top drive comprising at least one further motor. The feed winch 28 can likewise be configured to have a motor (not shown), for example an electric or hydraulic motor. By means of the controller 60, the at least one motor 50 is actuated to operate the cable drive 46 and the further motor is preferably also actuated to operate the feed winch 28. The feed winch 28, shown here, can also be designed as an actuating unit in principle.

[0056]The control unit 60 can, in particular comprise an arithmetic logic unit, a data memory and/or a communication unit and can be in a data connection to the cable measurement unit 80. In principle, the cable measurement unit 80 can likewise comprise an arithmetic logic unit, a data memory and/or a communication unit and can be designed to receive data, in particular control commands.

[0057]For example, the detection of data of the cable measurement unit 80 can be started, stopped or adjusted by an operator inputting a control command. The data can, in particular be stored by a memory unit of the cable measurement unit. Likewise, the data from the cable measurement unit can preferably also be stored and/or processed by a separate arithmetic logic unit, wherein the evaluation can also be carried out by a further arithmetic logic unit with a time delay. The cable measurement unit 80 can preferably be connected to the control unit 60 in a wired and/or wireless manner. In the same way, the control unit 60 can be connected to a mobile arithmetic logic unit for storing and/or graphically representing the detected cable state data and for outputting recommendations for use on the basis of the cable state data detected by the cable measurement unit 80. The control unit 60 can thus preferably be designed to prepare and analyse the detected cable state data, in particular to output recommendations for use. A mobile arithmetic logic unit, for example a tablet computer or a smartphone, can in particular be provided to input control commands into the control unit 60 and/or the cable measurement unit 80. The control unit 60 can preferably be integrated in the earth-working machine 10, in particular in the superstructure 16, and can comprise at least one monitor for control by the operating personnel.

[0058]The first steel cable 40 shown in FIG. 1 and all the other mentioned cables, in particular the main cable 42 and the feed cable 44, can in particular be formed from a plurality of twisted wires, wherein the cable measurement unit 80 can be designed to detect the individual wire states. The state data thus detected can be evaluated by the cable measurement unit 80 and/or by the control unit 60, wherein weak points in the steel cable 40 can be identified in good time. In this case, detected cable state data can be output with a warning message, in particular in a vehicle cab of the earth-working machine 10. The detected data can likewise be output to a territorial remote user, for example over the Internet.

[0059]The earth-working machine 10 according to the invention comprising the cable measurement unit 80 will be explained in greater detail in the following with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 shows a side view of the mast head 22 of a configuration variant of the earth-working machine 10, wherein the cable measurement unit 80 is arranged in a central region between a first deflection roller 26 and a second deflection roller. As shown here, the cable measurement unit 80 can, in particular be held in parallel with the steel cable 40 by a holding apparatus 70 in a position angled with respect to the vertical. In particular, the steel cable 40 can pass through the centre of the cable measurement unit 80, wherein a measuring passage of the cable measurement unit 80 can be oriented in parallel with the cable passage direction. The steel cable 40, which, by way of example, is designed here as a main cable 42 for supporting and adjusting the drilling tool, can pass through the cable measurement unit 80 in a straight line between two deflection rollers here, wherein the steel cable 40 has an angle of between 0° and 90°, in particular, as shown here, between 30° and 60°, to the horizontal. Unlike the arrangement of the cable measurement unit 80 in the central region as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cable measurement unit 80 can preferably also be arranged in a side region of the connecting axis between the first and the second deflection roller of the mast 20.

[0060]FIG. 3 shows an enlarged perspective view of a cable measurement unit 80 on the earth-working machine 10, wherein the cable measurement unit 80 comprising the holding apparatus 70 is arranged on the mast head 22. As shown here, the holding apparatus 70 can, in particular be fastened to the mast head 22 by a fastening apparatus 72. For this purpose, a plurality of screw connections can preferably be provided. The holding apparatus 70 can, in particular have a rectangular basic shape having two opposite support plates. As shown here, the holding apparatus 70 can encompass the cable measurement unit 80 laterally, such that there is a secure connection of the cable measurement unit 80 to the frame of the mast head 22. The holding apparatus 70 can, in particular be arranged such that the steel cable 40 passes through the centre of the cable measurement unit 80 in the longitudinal direction.

[0061]The arrangement of the cable measurement unit 80 according to the invention on the earth-working machine 10 will be explained in greater detail in the following with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7. FIGS. 4 to 7 each show further exemplary arrangements of the cable measurement unit 80 on the earth-working machine 10, wherein the cable measurement unit 80 is provided for detecting cable state data of the feed cable 44 as the further steel cable 40 here. Another steel cable 40, in particular the main cable 42, can, however, pass through the embodiments shown in the same way, and these embodiments can be designed to detect cable state data thereof.

[0062]FIG. 4 shows an exemplary arrangement of the cable measurement unit 80, which is fastened to a deflection block 27 of the earth-working machine 10 here. As shown, in this case, the feed cable 44 can pass through the cable measurement unit 80 in a cable passage channel 90 in the longitudinal direction. The cable measurement unit 80 can preferably be attached to the earth-working machine 10 by a holding apparatus 70 and a fastening apparatus 72. The holding apparatus 70 and the fastening apparatus 72 can be designed in any manner in principle. As shown in FIG. 4, the fastening apparatus 72 can, in particular be designed for adjustably arranging the cable measurement unit 80 on the feed cable 44. As shown here, the holding apparatus 70 can preferably be designed as a holding frame penetrated by two guides, wherein the cable measurement unit 80 is mounted on the guides by a plurality of screws.

[0063]FIG. 5 shows a embodiment variant in which the cable measurement unit 80 is arranged on a rear side 23 of the mast and a steel cable 40 passes therethrough. Here, both the cable measurement unit 80 and the holding apparatus 70 can be arranged along the mast 20 in any manner in principle. As shown here, the holding apparatus 70 can, in particular be formed by two opposite holding elements comprising symmetrically introduced guides, by means of which an adjusting apparatus for changing and adapting the position of the received cable measurement unit 80 is formed.

[0064]FIG. 6 likewise shows exemplary a cable state detection by means of the cable measurement unit 80 on a rear side 23 of the mast before a cable deflection (not shown here). As shown here, the holding apparatus 70 can preferably be designed as a rectangular receiving element for receiving the cable measurement unit 80.

[0065]FIG. 7 shows an exemplary arrangement of the cable measurement unit 80 on the base slide 38 of the earth-working machine 10. The holding apparatus 70 can, in particular be formed along two sides of the cable measurement unit 80 by two flat holding elements arranged at right angles.

[0066]The cable state detection according to the invention is explained in greater detail in the following in conjunction with FIGS. 8 to 11. FIGS. 8 to 11 show embodiment variants of the cable state detection according to the invention in which the cable measurement unit 80 is arranged in various ways on the earth-working machine 10 for detecting cable state data of the main cable 42. The embodiment variants shown here are not limiting in principle and can be designed in the same way for detecting cable state data of other steel cables, in particular the feed cable 44 and/or the auxiliary cable. As shown in FIG. 8, the cable measurement unit 80 can, in particular be fastened to the cable winch 47 on a frame. The orientation of the cable measurement unit 80 along the steel cable 40 can preferably be provided with the holding apparatus 70, wherein the holding apparatus 70 is formed on an upper element of the frame.

[0067]FIGS. 9 and 10 each show, by way of example, an arrangement of the cable measurement unit 80 on a deflection block 27 on the rear side of the mast of the earth-working machine 10. The cable measurement unit 80 can preferably be arranged with the holding apparatus 70 on one or more deflection rollers. In this case, the holding apparatus 70 can preferably be designed as an elongate, extended receiving element approximately in parallel with the rear side 23 of the mast in a position above and below the deflection block 27.

[0068]FIG. 11 shows another exemplary arrangement of the cable measurement unit 80 on the mast head 22 of the earth-working machine 10 according to the invention. As shown here, the holding apparatus 70 can preferably be designed as part of a frame element of the deflection roller 26, wherein the frame element encompasses the deflection roller 26 and the steel cable 40 spatially at least in part. The holding apparatus 70 can, in particular be formed for vertically orienting the cable measurement unit 80 along the main cable 42. Likewise, the holding apparatus 70 can be designed for arranging the cable measurement unit 80 above the deflection roller 26 in parallel with the main cable 42, wherein the holding apparatus 70 is designed as a frame element of the deflection roller 26 and encompasses the deflection roller 26 at least half-sided. The deflection roller 26 can preferably be oriented towards the rear side 23 of the mast, but, in particular can also be oriented towards an opposite front side of the mast.