Capital Equipment News June 2021

HYDRAULIC HAMMERS

Everdigm’s Prime series, including the EHB50 (on picture), are silenced-type breakers.

Hydraulic hammers and the evolution of the equipment carrier The evolution of equipment carriers such as excavators continues apace, but what about the hydraulic hammers used with these machines? Are they adapting to this evolution? This feature explores these questions and takes a look at the hydraulic hammer models currently in the marketplace, their features and applications. By Mark Botha. R apid developments in carrier technology call for corresponding adaptations in hydraulic breaker technology. To quote Epiroc Partner Demolition and Drilling Equipment director Robin Jackson, “it goes without saying that any developments on the excavator or carrier side must be complemented by developments or improvements on the breaker”. He says the same “broader factors” driving innovation in excavators are also driving the changes in breaker design. “The hydraulic breaker and its carrier are in a mutually dependent relationship,” he says. “One cannot perform optimally without the other. You can only imagine how challenging this is for breaker OEMs if you consider the massive array of carriers in sizes ranging from 0,5 tonne (t) to over 100 t. “Not only are the sizes and weight classes extensive, but if you think about the vast range of applications and the types of customer who must be considered, then this challenge becomes even more daunting. So, needless to say, there are not many breaker OEMs out there who can stay abreast.

He notes that no customer wants “half a solution”, which is why Epiroc’s continual focus on ensuring maximum use of the energy coming from the carrier to the breaker moil makes the move to hybrid or fully electric carriers more feasible. The company’s Hydraulic Attachment Tools Connectivity (HATCON) telematics solution complements the telemetry being introduced on excavators to give the customer a complete view of their equipment. Tecman South Africa CEO Darrell Bendall says the hydraulic hammer is an “extremely mature” product, but that most compact machinery manufacturers run the return lines through the control valve in order to cut cost. This causes high back-pressure at the expense of hammer performance. “The need for more compact machines also means that either small hydraulic oil coolers or no coolers at all are installed. Combine this with very small hydraulic oil reservoirs and the potential for loss of hammer performance due to high oil temperatures becomes a real concern,” he says. Montabert sales manager at Doosan SA Vinesh Naidu says today’s OEMs who produce new generation skid steers and excavators are opting for electronically operated equipment. “These changes have no drastic effect to the premium brand Monatbert breakers, as we at the manufacturing facility stay

CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS JUNE 2021 24