Hydraulic breakers have become an essential tool for hydraulic excavators, and some users also install hydraulic breakers on excavator loaders (also known as two-way loaders) or wheel loaders for breaking operations.
Hydraulic breakers are also known as hydraulic crushers or hydraulic rock breakers (hydraulic breaker), terms commonly used in Japan and South Korea. They are also referred to as hydraulic hammers (hydraulic hammer), a term frequently used by companies in Finland and Germany. In China, manufacturers and users may refer to them as hydraulic crushers, hydraulic picks, hydraulic cannons, or breaking heads, among other terms. The official terminology in China’s national standards is “hydraulic impact breaker” (hydraulic impact breaker).
Although the names vary widely, they all refer to the same equipment. This equipment uses liquid static pressure as its power source to drive the piston in reciprocating motion. During the piston stroke, it rapidly impacts the chisel, which then breaks down minerals, concrete, and other solids. This article will refer to this equipment as a hydraulic hammer for simplicity.
The hydraulic hammer market is currently thriving, with various models from countries such as South Korea, Japan, Germany, the United States, Finland, and Italy flooding the Chinese market. Domestic manufacturers also offer some models of hydraulic hammers. The model number is an important piece of information for both sellers and users, but what exactly does the model number tell us?
2. Hydraulic hammer model numbers and the meaning of the digits
Hydraulic hammer model numbers are typically composed of letters and digits. What do these model numbers signify, particularly the digits within them? Below, I will explain the model numbers of some companies’ hydraulic hammers and the meaning of the digits within them.
2.1 Numbers in the model indicate the machine weight of the excavator it is suitable for
In some company models, the numbers indicate the machine weight grade of the excavator it is suitable for. For example, in the GB170 model, “GB” stands for General Breaker (the abbreviation of the Korean company), and the number 170 indicates that this model is suitable for excavators with a machine weight of approximately 170 kN (i.e., 17 t), which corresponds to excavators in the 13–20 t range. Similarly, GB220 and GB290 denote General Breaker hydraulic hammers suitable for excavators with operating weights of 22 t and 29 t, respectively.
The hydraulic hammer models KB1500, KB2000, KB3500, KB4000, and KB5000 use “KB” to denote Komac Rock Breaker Company’s rock breakers, with the numbers 1500, 2000, 3500, 4000, and 5000 represent excavator weights of approximately 15 t, 20 t, 35 t, 40 t, and 50 t, respectively. SG1200, SG1800, SG2800, and SG3200 refer to hydraulic hammers manufactured by SANGI Co., Ltd. of South Korea, suitable for excavators weighing approximately 12 t, 18 t, 28 t, and 32 t, respectively. F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, F9, F12, F19, F22, F27, F35, F45, F70 are hydraulic hammers from the F series of Furukawa Company in Japan, suitable for excavators weighing approximately 1 t, 2 t, 3 t, 4 t, 5 t, 6 t, 9 t, 12 t, 19 t, 22 t, 27 t, 35 t, 45 t, and 70 t, respectively.
2.2 The numbers in the model indicate the bucket capacity of the excavator it is suitable for.
The model SB50 of the hydraulic hammer, where SB stands for Soosun Hydraulic Breaker (a hydraulic breaker manufactured by the South Korean company Soosun), and the number 50 indicates that it is suitable for excavators with a bucket capacity of approximately 0.45 to 0.6 m³, or around 0.5 m³. Similarly, SB60, SB80, and SB130 indicate that the bucket capacities of excavators compatible with Soosun Company’s hydraulic hammers are approximately 0.6 m³, 0.8 m³, and 1.3 m³, respectively. The model numbers D60, D70, and D90 for hydraulic hammers represent Dainong Company’s hydraulic hammers, suitable for excavators with bucket capacities of approximately 0.6 m³, 0.7 m³, and 0.9 m³, respectively. GT80 is the model number for Maanshan Jing Tian Company’s hydraulic hammer, indicating it is suitable for excavators with a bucket capacity of approximately 0.8 m³.
2.3 The numbers in the model indicate the weight of the hydraulic hammer
In the hydraulic hammer model IMI260, IMI stands for Italian IDROMECCANICA ITALIANA, and 260 indicates that the hydraulic hammer weighs 260 kg. Similarly, IMI400, IMI1000, and IMI1200 are all Italian IDROMECCANICA ITALIANA hydraulic hammers, weighing 400 kg, 1,000 kg, and 1,200 kg respectively. Note whether the weight includes the frame weight. IDROMECCANICA ITALIANA’s hydraulic hammers include the frame weight in their specified weight. However, Hunan Sunward Company’s hydraulic hammers do not include the frame weight in their specified weight.
In the SWH1000 model, SWH stands for Sunward Hydraulic Impact Hammer, and 1000 indicates the bare hammer weight of 1,000 kg (excluding the frame weight).
In the hydraulic hammer models YC70, YC110, and YC750 from Changzhi Hydraulic Components Factory, “YC” is the pinyin abbreviation for “hydraulic breaker impact hammer,” and 70, 110, and 750 indicate the operating weights of the hammers, which are 70 kg, 110 kg, and 750 kg, respectively. “Operating weight” is a foreign term that can also be translated as “operational weight” or “working weight.” There is no definitive definition of the operating weight or working weight of the hammer. Based on the literal definition, it can be understood as the total mass during operation, which should include the hammer body mass, frame mass, coupler mass, hose mass, and the mass of hydraulic fluid within the hydraulic hammer. It is unclear how the manufacturer interprets this term. If there is inconsistency in understanding the working weight, it may be better to use more explicit concepts such as hammer body weight (including the drill rod) or total weight (including the bracket).
2.4 The numbers in the model indicate the diameter of the hydraulic hammer chisel rod
The hydraulic hammer chisel rod is the tool used by the hydraulic hammer to directly break rock or concrete. There is no unified terminology for this, with some referring to it as a chisel (chisel), others as a rod (rod), or a tool (tool). The hydraulic hammer model KrB68 uses the letters KrB as an abbreviation for Koory Breaker, the hydraulic hammer produced by Korean company Koory. The number 68 indicates that the chisel diameter of the hydraulic hammer is 68 mm. Similarly, KrB85, KrB100, KrB125, KrB140, KrB155 are all Koory Breaker hydraulic hammers, with rod diameters of 85 mm, 100 mm, 125 mm, 140 mm, and 155 mm, respectively.
In general models, the numbers indicate the range of the hydraulic hammer’s chisel diameter. For example, H120 and H130 are Caterpillar hydraulic hammers, with actual chisel diameters of 115 mm and 130 mm, respectively.
2.5 The numbers in the model indicate the hydraulic hammer’s impact energy
The hydraulic hammer model CB370, where CB stands for Case Breaker, and 370 indicates an impact energy of approximately 370 J. Similarly, CB620, CB1150, and CB2850 represent Case Breaker hydraulic hammers with impact energies of approximately 620 J, 1150 J, and 2850 J, respectively.
PCY80, PCY300, and PCY500 are the model numbers of hydraulic hammers produced by Tonghua Pneumatic Tools Factory. PCY is the Chinese pinyin abbreviation for “hydraulic breaker impactor.” 80, 300, and 500 indicate impact energy of approximately 80 N·m, 300 N·m, and 500 N·m, respectively.
YC2000 is the model number of the hydraulic hammer produced by Guangdong Foshan Textile Machinery Factory. YC is the pinyin abbreviation for hydraulic hammer. 2000 indicates an impact energy of approximately 2000 J.
2.6 The numbers in the model number only indicate the design serial number of the hydraulic hammer
There are also many hydraulic hammer models where the numbers cannot be interpreted to indicate their exact meaning. Since the exact information they carry is unknown, they can only be understood as a design series number assigned by the manufacturer to distinguish different hydraulic hammers.
3. Selection of hydraulic hammers
Understanding the meaning of the numbers in hydraulic hammer models is of great help to excavator users in selecting and matching hydraulic hammers.
3.1 Directly Selecting a Hydraulic Hammer Based on the Model Number
3.1.1 Selecting a Hydraulic Hammer Based on the Excavator’s Operating Weight
If the numbers in the hydraulic hammer model number indicate the operating weight (total machine weight) of the excavator it is suitable for, the hydraulic hammer can be directly selected based on the excavator’s operating weight and the hydraulic hammer model number.
3.1.2 Selecting a Hydraulic Hammer Based on Excavator Bucket Capacity
If the numbers in the hydraulic hammer model indicate the applicable excavator’s bucket capacity, the hydraulic hammer can be directly selected based on the excavator’s bucket capacity and the hydraulic hammer model.
