Breaker protection

8737 Epiroc is introducing its novel Intelligent Protection System (IPS), which is featured on many of the company’s rig-mounted hydraulic attachments. The patented IPS combines Epiroc’s AutoControl and StartSelect functions, and the fully automated system is said to provide simpler, more efficient, and more economical operation.

The AutoControl system is said to optimise breaker performance by automatically adjusting the piston stroke length. The StartSelect system offers manual switching between two modes: the AutoStart mode enables easy positioning at the beginning of the breaking cycle, and in the AutoStop mode the breaker stops automatically to avoid blank firing at the end of the breaking cycle. Meanwhile IPS ensures that the hydraulic breaker always starts in the AutoStart mode. When the contact pressure between chisel and material increases and AutoControl switches from a short piston stroke to a long piston stroke IPS switches automatically to the AutoStop mode. When the chisel breaks through the material the breaker automatically shuts off and prevents blank firing.