If you’re not exactly sure what hydraulic demolition tools are, then you’re reading the right article.
Here we’ll be discussing how they are used and the cases where you can use them.
Stay with me!
Hydraulic Demolition Machines For Heavy-Duty Crushing
When it’s time for some heavy demolition work, you need to look beyond hammers and pry bars. For road re-construction and the likes, what you will need are hydraulic demolition tools.
This heavy-duty demolition machine is ideal for smashing asphalt, concrete, and stone. They are the more preferred option due to their power and high performance.
What Are The Benefits Of Using Hydraulic Breakers Vs Pneumatic Hammers?
While Pneumatic hammers are great, their efficiency cannot be compared to that of a hydraulic breaker, as the latter fully utilizes excavators.
By doing so, significantly reduces the need for human labor, thereby increasing performance.
It is safe to say that the work output of a hydraulic breaker is far more when compared to a pneumatic hammer.
Below are some other reasons why hydraulics are better.
- It doesn’t need long air supply hoses
- It consumes far less fuel
- Moving the compressors are faster
- Hydraulics have as much as 40 times more force than pneumatic hammers, which means it produces less noise and reduces the risk of accidents
How Does a Hydraulic Breaker Work?
The piston of the breaker is typically set by the center of the lower end, while the mandrel has free movement.
The high-pressure oil, which acts on the bottom working surface of the piston head lifts the striking piston, which moves in an upwards direction until the outlet gap in the higher position is closed.
Then, the nitrogen gas in the tank is compressed by the high-pressure oil in the piston head. As soon as the exhaust valve is open, the stored power in the energy converter is let loose.
And this propels the percussion piston in a downward direction with extreme power.
Using Demolition Hammers With Replaceable Tools
A hydraulic hammer is one of the most powerful demolition tools you can find in the world.
They are large, super sturdy, and can tear down gigantic structures in a matter of hours, maybe less (depending on the size of the particular structure).
But their power isn’t the only thing that is worth taking note of. Another reason why hydraulic hammers remain a popular choice for large-scale demolition is that they can be used with replaceable tools.
This not only gives the demolition more options for certain functions, but it also means demolition work can be done in the quickest possible time when using the right replacement tool for specific knock-downs.
One of the most common accessories that are used with hydraulic hammers is the demolition spike with tapered ends.
This can be used for specific tasks, as well as general demolition work. All large-scale demolition work requires the use of flat point tools that are equipped with various cutting edge lengths.
Such accessories can also be used to cut large rocks and other areas of a building or structure.
Another accessory that can be used with a hydraulic hammer is the blunt crushing tool.
I have to mention that blunt crushing tools aren’t the most popular choice, but they do have great advantages when doing large-scale demolition.
If you want to tear down very tough but brittle material, then a blunt crushing tool can come in handy. The shaft lengths of these tools are built according to the functions they were designed to perform.
The way the hammer operates shows that it is great for compaction and other screed-hammering jobs, as long as the tool is properly trained.
The accessories that can be used with a hydraulic hammer are generally built with alloy steel, which is extremely tough and resistant to wear and tear.
Tungsten and Manganese alloys are among the common alloys used.
That being said, let us take a detailed look at some of the other accessories that can be used with a hydraulic hammer.
The Chisel: If you are looking to tear down large sedimentary rocks (or structures built with such rocks), then an attachment hydraulic chisel is a good tool to use.
Not only is it powerful enough to smash through, but it is also non-abrasive.
The Moil (conical tool): Some rocks are softer and easier to smash. And while the hydraulic chisel can make quick work of them, using such a hard tool can be considered to be overkill.
The moil is a tool you can use for softer non-abrasive rocks. It isn’t as powerful as the chisel, but it’ll surely get the job done.
The Spade: Sometimes, the soil around the demolition area may be too compact or frozen. In this case, a spade attachment will work just fine.
It can be used to cut and remove soils of this nature quickly.
Compacting Plate: When dealing with less critical and limited soil, a compacting plate attachment can be used to compact the soil and prepare it for removal.
Hydraulic Plate Excavator: When there is a need to level highways and railway slopes, you wouldn’t want to use any other tool than the hydraulic plate excavator.
It is so powerful, that it rips off the bumpy offshoots on the top surface, and leaves the ground leveled flat.
Hydraulic Rock Breaker(Top Type): Hydraulic rock breakers come in various sizes, each of which is meant to perform at certain levels. Some weigh as much as 60 tons and are compatible with most excavator brands.
The blunt tool: Low/medium abrasive rocks do not need sharp cutters to take them apart. A blunt tool can be used for this purpose.
Blunt tools can also be used to smash through concrete, thanks to its high abrasion resistance.
How to Select Hydraulic Breaker for Excavator?
Now that you know what hydraulic demolition tools are, as well as the accessories that can be attached to some of them, let us take a look at how you can choose the right hydraulic breaker for an excavator.
The first thing you need to know is that breakers come in different sizes. This means that not all hydraulic hammers can be used for the same tasks.
It’s pretty much a case of one being more effective than the other.
Hammers have to be chosen according to the specific task you will be using them for. Therefore, you need to determine the weight of the attachment in order not to use the wrong-sized hammer on it.
If you use a hammer that is too heavy for the loader, then it will tip away from its equilibrium point when the boom reaches its final position.
Another factor you will have to consider when selecting hydraulic breakers is the hydraulic oil pressure and per minute flow rate. If there is a low oil supply, then the impact value will not be ideal and the piston may not even startup.
On the flip side, if the values are on the high side, then there is a possibility of instant damage.
When experts are faced with choosing the right tool for a specific job, they usually conduct thorough calculations that are based upon several factors.
Some of these factors include the type of materials they are planning to demolish and the type of terrain where the heavy-duty tools will be used.
Safety Precautions
You will rarely find a heavy-duty hydraulic demolition tool in the hands of an untrained rookie. This is because such tools are large, powerful, and dangerous when being operated by unskilled individuals.
One wrong move and the lives of people, as well as other surrounding properties, maybe in danger.
This is why demolition companies train their workers in the craft and ensure that they are all certified before they can place heavy-duty hydraulic demolition tools under their control.
Here’s what a professional should do when using such tools.
Clear the area: Demolition cannot begin with people close to the structure that is being smashed. The contractor must ensure that the area is clear first.
Put on safety gear: Before getting their hands on such heavy-duty vehicles, demolition experts will have to put on safety gear to protect themselves from potential accidents.
Such gear includes a hard helmet to protect the head from falling break-aways, gloves to have a better grip on the control and prevent blisters, headphones to block out noise, and eye goggles to keep dust and debris away from their eyes.
A facemask will also be useful, as it will prevent the operator from inhaling all the dust that will be produced during the demolition.
Final Words
Hydraulic demolition tools have proven to be very effective for large-scale demolition.
They have great power and speed, and that is why demolition experts, as well as construction companies, rely on them to get the job done fast and effectively.
Hopefully, this article on hydraulic demolition tools has been informative.
Thank you for reading.