Rod section of a ground drilling rod, drive element, rod section system, and ground drilling device

Abstract

The invention relates to a rod section of a ground drilling rod, wherein the rod section is configured at the end side to form at least one plug connection and has at one end (a) a male connector with an outer contour or (b) a female connector with an inner contour, wherein, in cross section, the outer contour or the inner contour has a shape deviating from a circle.

1 . A rod section of a ground drilling rod, comprising:
 a rod section body; and   a first end side forming a male connector with an outer contour or a female connector with an inner contour adapted to form a non-rotatable plug connection with one of a drive element and another rod section,   wherein the outer contour or the inner contour has an elliptical cross sectional shape,   wherein the non-rotatable plug connection is made by engaging the male connector or the female connector with a corresponding female connector or a corresponding male connector via a longitudinal relative movement to each other,   wherein the male connector is a right elliptic cylinder with a base area which has the elliptical cross sectional shape, and   wherein the inner contour of the female connector forms a right elliptic cylinder which has the elliptical cross sectional shape.   
     
     
         2 . The rod section according to  claim 1 , wherein the cross sectional shape of the outer contour or the inner contour requires a rotational alignment for engaging the counterpart female connector or the counterpart male connector, respectively. 
     
     
         3 . The rod section according to  claim 1 , wherein the male connector or the female connector has an opening oriented transversely to a longitudinal axis of the rod section for inserting a bolt which is detachably connected to the male connector or to the female connector, so that the cross sectional shape deviating from a circle is broken through. 
     
     
         4 . The rod section according to  claim 3 , wherein a line that intersects the opening is at an angle of less than 30° with an axis of symmetry of the inner contour or the outer contour or with an axis running perpendicular to the axis of symmetry of the inner contour or the outer contour. 
     
     
         5 . The rod section according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the line extends along a minor axis of an inner contour or outer contour.   
     
     
         6 . The rod section according to  claim 3 , wherein the opening is part of a through hole which protrudes completely through the male connector or the female connector. 
     
     
         7 . The rod section according to  claim 3 , wherein the opening is configured as threadless. 
     
     
         8 . The rod section according to  claim 3 , wherein a latching element for engaging the bolt is arranged in the male connector, the longitudinal extent of the latching element enclosing an angle of 0° to 45° with the longitudinal axis of the rod section. 
     
     
         9 . The rod section according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one marking is provided on the rod section on an outwardly directed surface, which is in a predetermined angular relationship to an angular position of the elliptical cross sectional shape of the inner contour or the outer contour. 
     
     
         10 . A ground drilling device for driving a ground drilling rod into the ground, comprising:
 a drive element; and   a rod section,   wherein the drive element engaging with the rod section is configured as a male connector) or a female connector,   wherein an outer contour of the male connector or an inner contour of the female connector has an elliptical cross sectional shape,   wherein the non-rotatable plug connection is made by engaging the male connector or the female connector with a corresponding female connector or a corresponding male connector via a longitudinal relative movement to each other,   wherein the male connector is a right elliptic cylinder with a base area which has the elliptical cross sectional shape, and   wherein the inner contour of the female connector forms a right elliptic cylinder which has the elliptical cross sectional shape.   
     
     
         11 . A rod section system comprising:
 two or more rod sections according to  claim 3 , and   a bolt having a circumferential groove for inserting into the opening.