Critical Issues in Excavator Breaker Maintenance and Performance

To address the challenges presented by the complex and ever-changing construction environment, excavators are typically equipped with various supporting accessories such as breakers, pile drivers, vibratory rammers, and steel grabbers. Currently, the breaker is the primary attachment used, but it lacks standardization. However, regular maintenance (every 500 hours or every 3 months) can lead to a shorter lifespan of the main engine and potentially cause severe damage to hydraulic components like the breaker pull cylinder, radiator oil leakage, and main pump failure. Here are the details of the issues:

1. Breaker Cylinder Pulling Phenomenon:

• The piston ring of the breaker consists of a "Y" seal and a dust ring. The "Y" seal is crucial for isolating the high and low-pressure chambers of the piston, with a lip height of 1.5mm.
• The breaker hammer piston operates at high frequency and low pressure (e.g., 185# drill rod with a frequency of 3.25-4.6 times/sec).
• Continuous use for more than 500 hours leads to significant wear of the seal lip, causing the piston to lose its elastic support and resulting in cylinder pulling.

2. Excessive Gap in Breaker Bushing:

• The wear gap between the guide sleeve, inner bushing, and drill rod exceeds 6mm.
• This misalignment prevents the drill rod from working vertically, leading to increased wear and partial striking phenomena.
• Over time, the drill rod and inner jacket may become strained and locked, which can contaminate the hydraulic system.

3. Hydraulic Oil Radiator Leakage:

• The oil return pipe of the breaker is typically connected to the front end of the oil return check valve of the radiator.
• The radiator is installed for heat dissipation, accompanied by an external relief valve and oil return accumulator to reduce the return pressure.
• Damage to the breaker's oil seal causes high-pressure oil from the piston to flow into the low-pressure side.
• This can result in hydraulic oil radiator leakage and affect the proper functioning of the system.

It is crucial to address these maintenance and performance issues to ensure the longevity and optimal operation of excavators in the demanding construction environment.