Excavator Hydraulic Swivel Joint

Excavator Hydraulic Swivel Joint

As an excavator digs and moves materials, its structure needs to rotate to position the boom in the right place. During rotation, the hydraulic fluid needs to flow freely without getting trapped in the hose. The excavator hydraulic swivel joints allow the excavator to rotate and the fluid to move easily throughout the components. 

Learn more about hydraulic swivel joints, from their components to issues they may encounter, with SlewMaster.

 

What Is an Excavator Rotary Joint?

An excavator has two main parts — the house with the cab, boom and engine, and the undercarriage with the mechanical components. Hydraulic controls, valves and pumps are connected to drives and motors that move the excavator using hose connections. The hydraulic swivel keeps these hose connections from tangling and allows fluid to pass through during motion.

Another part of the swivel system is the swing bearing, also called a slew ring. This bearing allows the chassis to pivot continuously. The lubrication ensures smooth rotation.

 

Why Does an Excavator Need a Hydraulic Swivel?

Swivel joints in an excavator allow hydraulic fluid to move from fixed areas to oscillating or rotating parts. The coupling ensures the connection between the fixed and rotating components is free of leaks. The swivel can have as many channels and orifices as needed to supply fluid to different components.

 

How Does an Excavator Swivel Work?

The excavator hydraulic swivel is positioned on a center shaft connecting the house and undercarriage of the excavator. Holes bored into this center shaft create channels for hydraulic fluid, and the swivel directs the fluid through these channels to inner barrels. The fluid flows from the center shaft to the channel to a specific hole in the shaft.

The shaft seals at one end to contain the fluid and spins independently from the housing. This feature allows the house and undercarriage parts of the excavator to rotate in either direction.

 

The Parts of an Excavator Swivel

An excavator hydraulic swivel joint has many components, including:

  • Center shaft: The center shaft is in the middle of the swivel. It has channels that direct the hydraulic fluid into inner barrels.
  • Housing: The housing holds the internal parts of the swivel mechanism. The outside of the housing features hydraulic connections to attach to the excavator.
  • Seals: Seals are inset at each end of the opening where hydraulic fluid moves between the center shaft and housing. They contain the hydraulic fluid in each channel.
  • Bearings: Bearings are used between the swivel's rotating parts.

 

Common Problems in an Excavator Swivel

The excavator rotary joint can encounter some mechanical issues, including:

  • Hydraulic leaks: Hydraulic fluid powers and lubricates the hydraulic system, and leaks can occur after many working hours. A leak can be external at the connections or external seals. Internal leaks can also occur from damaged seals on the channels. Either type of leak can cause these parts to experience more wear, friction and loss of power.
  • Degraded parts: The components of the excavator swivel may degrade over time, even if they're well-lubricated. The minimal friction results in wear on the parts.
  • Broken bearings and seals: Bearings and seals on excavators may not last the machine's life. These parts may require repairs or replacement to keep the hydraulic swivel joint operational.

In some cases, the swivel joint can affect your final drive performance. Check your hydraulic swivel for issues every 5,000 working hours.

 

Industrial Hydraulic Swivels From SlewMaster

SlewMaster Inc. manufactures hydraulic swivels that allow fluid to transfer from stationary to rotating components without leaking or contaminating. We offer many types of swivel joints for various operating conditions. All our swivels have a shaft and housing, and you can choose the size and shape for your excavator.

With a hydraulic swivel from SlewMaster Inc. in your excavator, you can enjoy more uptime and smooth movements with minimal friction. Use our hydraulic swivels on any equipment that needs to allow fluids to flow during rotation, like cranes, vacuum trucks and wind turbines.

 

Choose SlewMaster Excavator Hydraulic Swivels

SlewMaster Inc. has hydraulic swivels and other high-performance solutions for rotating parts. Get a rotary joint for your excavator today by requesting a consultation for your project online.