Aggregates Manager Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/370990
AGGREGATES MANAGER September 2014 24 out to the fi eld. e fl ow will be calibrated to match the breaker so there are not any issues when the breaker sets to work. "To help ensure optimal breaker performance, this testing should be conducted according to the manufacturer's specifi cations," says Tim Waine, a territory representative for Montabert. Technological advancements Much of traditional hydraulic breaking involved primary and secondary breakers; however, one technological advancement is the variable-speed breaker — many breakers in one. e variable-speed feature is designed to prolong the life of the breaker by automati- cally adjusting its impact energy and striking rate to deliver high energy per blow on hard aggregate formations and high frequency on so aggregate formations. Not all rocks are created equal, and the automation causes the breaker to hit harder or so er as needed. " e breaker will begin by hi ing very rapidly, but with less power, creating a niche," Waine says. "Once it senses the hardness of the material, the frequency will slow yet each stroke will be more powerful. Finally, the breaker will speed up and lessen its power again a er breaking the material." At the core of the variable speed breaker is a play on pressure. Inside the breaker are ports within a cylinder and a piston. Once the piston surpasses a certain pressure threshold in the port, the breaker automatically senses the pressure change and adapts accordingly. "Blank fi ring" is another common concern for operators that is addressed by the variable-speed breaker. "When there is nothing for the breaker to hit, the piston travels all the way down to the bo om of the cylinder with no resistance. Over time, this can cause premature wear and tear on the internal parts of the breaker, resulting in downtime and repair cost," Waine says. One way to avoid this is to engineer a cushion of hydraulic oil at the bo om of the cylinder that slows the piston and decreases the chances of a metal-to-metal clash. If a breaker does not have the ability to change speeds automatically, the constant hard hi ing may cause excessive wear to the breaker, as well as to the carrier. Advancements in breaker technology have also been made to appease operators and their neighbors. Soundproofi ng cradles — which signifi cantly diminish the noise created in the breaking process — have made their way into the marketplace. e make-up of the cradle can also help protect the inner workings of the a ach- ment. Some units, for example, feature a heavy-duty cradle to CUSTOM LUBE TRUCKS BECAUSE NOT EVERY JOB SITE IS THE SAME. 877-OIL-VACS WWW.SAGEOILVAC.COM 7H[W,1)2WRRUYLVLWZZZDJJPDQFRPLQIR