A hydraulic breaker is one of the most commonly used attachments for excavators, widely applied in demolition, mining, and crushing operations for urban construction. Proper operation helps speed up crushing work progress.
On the contrary, improper operation prevents the impact force from being fully exerted. Meanwhile, the impact force of the breaker will rebound to the breaker body, guard plates and the excavator arm, causing damage to these components. This not only delays construction progress but also easily damages the breaker itself.
So how should a hydraulic breaker be used correctly?
1. Pre-operation Inspection and Maintenance
A thorough pre-operation inspection is mandatory before starting crushing work. First, check whether the high-pressure and low-pressure hoses of the breaker are loose, and inspect all parts for oil leakage. In addition, regularly check the nitrogen pressure inside the breaker.
2. Vertical Blows
Before starting the breaker, place the chisel vertically on the material to be crushed, and start the breaker only after ensuring stability. During operation, always keep the chisel perpendicular to the struck object. If the chisel hits at an angle, it may slip and damage the breaker’s chisel and piston.
3. Avoid Dry Firing
Never operate the breaker without a target. Stop the striking action immediately once the rock or object is broken. Continuous dry firing will only loosen and damage the front housing and main bolts, and may even harm the mechanical equipment. Besides improper insertion, breaker vibration may also cause dry firing.
4. Do Not Push Heavy Objects or Large Rocks with the Breaker
Do not use the guard plate as a tool to push heavy objects. This will damage guard plate bolts, cause chisel rod fracture and breaker failure, and may even lead to boom breakage.
5. Avoid Shaking the Chisel Rod
Attempting to shake the chisel rod during crushing may result in fracture of the main bolts and chisel.
6. Do Not Operate in Water
Hydraulic breakers are not fully sealed structures and must not be submerged in water; otherwise, the piston cylinder will be damaged and the excavator’s hydraulic system will be contaminated. Therefore, avoid working on rainy days or in water areas. No parts other than the chisel should be immersed in water.
7. Avoid Prolonged Striking
If an object cannot be broken after striking the same spot continuously for more than one minute, change the striking position and try again. Repeated striking at the same point will only cause excessive wear of the chisel rod.
8. Do Not Operate When Hydraulic Cylinders Are Fully Extended or Retracted
Operating the breaker when the excavator’s hydraulic cylinders are fully extended or fully retracted will cause impact vibration to rebound to the hydraulic cylinders, resulting in severe damage to the excavator.