Hydraulic Breakers: What Are They?

Various types of heavy machinery are essential for construction projects. One of the tools that is becoming increasingly popular in the construction industry is a hydraulic breaker or hammer. Excavator hydraulic breakers come in many types and use pressurised oil. Here is what you need to know about hydraulic breakers.

Define Hydraulic Hammer or Breaker

A hydraulic hammer, also known as a hydraulic breaker, is a construction machine that demolishes structures and breaks large materials into small pieces. The machine uses hydraulic principles by applying high pressure to a small canister containing pressurised hydraulic oil. The hydraulic hammer consists of an external or internal valve and a cylinder.

Hydraulic breakers use pistons to convert kinetic energy into percussive energy. The piston contains a front head that supports the machine and a rear head that contains nitrogen gas. Most hydraulic breakers are used as attachments to mobile equipment such as excavators.

Discover the Benefits of a Hydraulic Breaker

Here are some of the many reasons why you should try a hydraulic breaker for your next excavator project:

Protects Other Equipment

A hydraulic breaker can protect other parts of the excavator from damage. For example, your excavator may hit a hard surface in the ground. If the excavator is using a bucket, the bucket teeth are likely to be damaged. The solution is to replace the bucket with a hydraulic breaker attachment so that you can break the hard material without damaging the excavator.

Highly Efficient

If you were to break a hard surface with a hammer, it would take several days or weeks to complete the job. An excavator with a hydraulic breaker can do the job in minutes or hours. You also have an easier time dealing with the mess the excavator leaves behind. High efficiency means your projects run smoothly and without delays.

Budget Savings

One way to reduce the time it takes to break a hard surface with a hammer is to hire more people. But more people means more pay and more strain on your budget. A hydraulic breaker can do the same job in less time. The result is massive savings in both time and money.

Low Fuel Consumption

Contrary to myth, hydraulic breakers don't use a lot of fuel. In fact, some hydraulic breakers can use less fuel than other machines doing the same job. While the initial price of hydraulic breakers can be high, you will save much more money on fuel in the long run.

Customization

The manufacturer of your breaker can tailor it to your specific needs. You get a breaker that has the right excavator and skid steer. So you don't have to worry about mistakes made by using the wrong specification.

However, you can only get these benefits if you buy the breaker instead of renting it. If you rent a hydraulic breaker, you will only get the one the rental company has available, not the one you want.

Learn the Types of Hydraulic Breakers

There are many types of hydraulic breakers, including side-mounted hydraulic breakers, top-mounted hydraulic breakers and silenced hydraulic breakers. Side mounted hydraulic breakers have two thick steel springs on either side of the breaker. This makes the breaker ideal for demolition and construction work. In addition, the side-mounted hydraulic breaker can be quickly removed for easier maintenance.

The rails of the top mounted hydraulic breaker are mounted on top. This design is prone to vibration and noise, but can deliver more breaker breakout force. On the other hand, the silenced hydraulic breaker has higher vibration and noise levels as the breaker has a completely enclosed box design. The silenced breaker also has more versatility.

If you are planning to use a hydraulic breaker, the team at Huilian Machinery can help. We offer a variety of hydraulic services including construction hydraulics, excavator hydraulics and agricultural hydraulics. Contact us today for more information.