February 13, 2025

What role does the boom cylinder play in the working device of a small excavator?

The Crucial Role of Boom Cylinders in the Working Devices of Small Excavators

In the world of construction machinery, small excavators are essential tools, and the boom cylinders within their working devices play a pivotal role. Let's explore how these components contribute to the efficient operation of small excavators.

Facilitating Boom Lifting and Lowering Movements

Boom Lifting

When a small excavator needs to raise its boom, the hydraulic system supplies oil to the rodless cavity of the boom cylinder. As the hydraulic oil continuously enters the rodless cavity, the generated pressure pushes the piston to extend, thereby driving the boom to move upward. This action enables the bucket to reach a higher position, facilitating material loading, unloading, and transportation to elevated areas. For example, when loading excavated earthwork into transport vehicles, the upward movement of the boom, powered by the boom cylinder, is crucial.

Boom Lowering

When it's time to lower the boom, the hydraulic system discharges the hydraulic oil from the rodless cavity of the boom cylinder and simultaneously supplies oil to the rod - end cavity. At this point, the pressure in the rod - end cavity pushes the piston to retract, and the boom descends accordingly. This process allows the bucket to approach the ground, preparing for excavation work. After the excavation is completed, lowering the boom back to its initial lower position is also made possible by the boom cylinder, which is convenient for the movement and storage of the equipment.

The movement of the oil cylinders of small excavators

Adjusting the Excavation Angle and Depth

Changing the Excavation Angle

By controlling the telescopic length of the boom cylinder, the angle between the boom and the ground can be altered, and thus the excavation angle of the bucket can be adjusted. Different excavation angles are suitable for various working conditions. For instance, when digging deep ditches, appropriately increasing the angle between the boom and the ground can enable the bucket to dig deeper. In contrast, during shallow - layer excavation or leveling operations, reducing the angle can provide a wider excavation range and better leveling effects.

Controlling the Excavation Depth

The telescopic movement of the boom cylinder directly affects the vertical position of the bucket, thereby controlling the excavation depth. Operators can precisely adjust the telescopic amount of the boom cylinder according to the job requirements to make the bucket reach the desired excavation depth. In operations such as underground pipeline laying, which require accurate excavation depth, the precise control of the boom cylinder can ensure that the excavation depth meets the design requirements.

The boom cylinder plays a crucial role in the working device of a small excavator. It can realize the lifting and lowering of the boom, precisely adjust the excavation angle and depth, and cooperate with the stick cylinder and bucket cylinder to complete complex movements, thus improving the operation efficiency.

Collaborating with Other Components to Complete Complex Movements

Collaboration with the Stick Cylinder

The boom cylinder and the stick cylinder work in tandem to achieve complex excavation trajectories. During the excavation process, the boom cylinder controls the lifting and lowering of the boom, while the stick cylinder controls the extension and retraction of the stick. By operating these two cylinders simultaneously or alternately, the bucket can follow different curved trajectories for excavation, adapting to various irregular terrains and job demands, and improving excavation efficiency and quality.

Collaboration with the Bucket Cylinder

The cooperation between the boom cylinder and the bucket cylinder enables the grasping and unloading of materials. After excavating materials, the boom cylinder raises the boom, and at the same time, the bucket cylinder controls the opening and closing of the bucket to grasp and lift the materials to an appropriate position. Then, through the coordinated operation of the boom cylinder and the bucket cylinder, the materials can be accurately unloaded at the designated location.

In conclusion, the boom cylinder is an indispensable part of the small excavator's working device. Its functions in boom movement control, excavation angle and depth adjustment, and cooperation with other components are vital for the smooth progress of excavation work. Understanding the role of the boom cylinder can help operators better utilize small excavators and improve construction efficiency.