Mini excavator maintenance points: Does the central swivel joint need to be cleaned regularly?

Feb 5th,2025 105 Views

Necessity and methods of regular cleaning of central swivel joints

In the complex operating system of modern industrial equipment, the central swivel joint is a vital core component. It is like a precise hub, connecting fixed pipes and rotating equipment, shouldering the key transmission mission, ensuring that various media such as hydraulic oil, coolant, gas, etc. can be stably transmitted between dynamic and static parts, providing guarantee for the smooth operation of the equipment. Taking the common mini excavator as an example, the central swivel joint enables the upper part of the excavator, including the cab and working device, to rotate freely and flexibly relative to the lower part, that is, the chassis and crawler, to achieve efficient operation under various complex working conditions.

However, as the equipment runs for an increasing amount of time, the central swivel joint will inevitably accumulate a large amount of impurities and dirt. These impurities come from a wide range of sources, which may be dust particles in the equipment operating environment, water vapor in humid air, or tiny impurities carried by the transmission medium itself. In the long-term working process, these impurities will gradually deposit inside the key mechanical parts of the central swivel joint, such as seals, bearings, and rotating channels. When impurities accumulate to a certain extent, a series of serious problems will occur. First, impurities will cause the internal channels of the equipment to be blocked, which will hinder the transmission of the medium and directly affect the power output and working efficiency of the equipment. Secondly, impurities will interfere with the normal operation of mechanical parts, causing brake failure, slow response and reduced movement accuracy during equipment operation. Furthermore, impurities will intensify the friction between parts and cause slippage, which will not only reduce the transmission efficiency, but also produce high-decibel noise and deteriorate the working environment. If it is not cleaned for a long time, the mechanical parts inside the joint will deteriorate due to excessive wear and tear, and the service life will be greatly shortened. In severe cases, it may even cause equipment failure, resulting in production stagnation and huge economic losses to the company.

It can be seen that it is necessary to clean the central rotary joint regularly. During the cleaning process, special attention should be paid to the following key points:

Scientific selection of cleaning agents: The selection of cleaning agents must be determined based on the material characteristics of the cleaning object and the specific type of impurities. For example, for central swivel joints with heavy oil stains, gasoline can effectively remove oil stains with its excellent solubility; alcohol is suitable for cleaning parts that are compatible with organic solvents and need to evaporate and dry quickly, which can not only deeply clean but also avoid residual liquid from damaging the equipment; diluted soap solution is mild in nature. For some joint materials that are sensitive to chemical corrosion, such as specific aluminum alloy parts, using diluted soap solution can not only achieve the purpose of cleaning but also minimize the damage to the parts. Different cleaning agents can achieve more targeted cleaning effects for different types of impurities.

Reasonable selection of cleaning tools:

Correct selection of cleaning tools is the key to ensuring cleaning effects without damaging the joints. Soft fine-bristled brushes are one of the commonly used tools. Their soft bristles can avoid scratching the surface coating and precision mechanical parts of the joints when cleaning the joint surface and internal gaps. Mild chemical solvents can be used to dissolve stubborn impurities that are difficult to remove, but the concentration and use time must be strictly controlled according to the product instructions to prevent corrosion to the equipment. In addition, a special cleaning spray gun can be equipped for high-pressure flushing of the internal channels to ensure that impurities are completely removed. Improper use of cleaning tools, such as hard metal brushes or highly corrosive chemicals, can easily damage the joint surface and mechanical parts, thus affecting the service life and stability of the joint.

Strict moisture-proof measures:

For equipment with high frequency of use, the central rotary joint should be cleaned and dried in time after each use. During the cleaning process, try to avoid using detergents with too much water content. If it is accidentally wet, immediately use a clean towel to absorb the water, and then blow it dry thoroughly with compressed air. A thin layer of protective oil can be applied to the surface of the joint to form a protective film to effectively reduce the erosion of moisture. At the same time, when storing the equipment, a dry and ventilated environment should be selected to avoid the joint being in a humid environment for a long time.

Standardized cleaning operation process:

Before cleaning the central rotary joint, be sure to shut down and cut off the power supply of the equipment to ensure the safety of the operation process. Carefully remove the joint from the equipment and place it on a special cleaning workbench. If there are obvious large pieces of dirt on the surface of the joint, you can first use a soft cloth or scraper to gently remove it. Next, pour an appropriate amount of detergent into the cleaning container and soak the joint for a period of time to fully dissolve the impurities. Then, use a soft fine-bristled brush to gently scrub the surface, internal channels, sealing grooves and other parts of the joint to ensure that every corner can be thoroughly cleaned. After cleaning, rinse with clean water, then use dry compressed air to thoroughly dry the moisture inside and on the surface of the joint, and finally reinstall the joint back to the equipment according to the correct installation steps.

The cleaning cycle also needs to be reasonably planned. In general, it is recommended to clean the central rotary joint regularly. In spring and autumn, the equipment operating environment is relatively stable and should be cleaned at least once every two months. However, in the high temperature and high humidity environment in summer, or when the equipment works in an environment with a lot of dust and corrosive gases, the accumulation of impurities is accelerated, and the number of cleanings can be increased according to actual conditions, such as cleaning once a month. In winter, if the equipment is used less frequently, the cleaning cycle can be appropriately extended, but it should not exceed three months.

In summary, regular cleaning of the central rotary joint is essential. Regular cleaning can not only extend the service life of the joint, reduce the occurrence rate of equipment failures, and reduce maintenance costs, but also significantly improve the working efficiency and safety of the equipment, ensure the continuity and stability of production, and have a very important impact on the production efficiency of the enterprise. Routine maintenance and cleaning is not only a necessary part of equipment maintenance, but also an important guarantee for enterprises to achieve efficient production and reduce operating costs.

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