Hydraulic rotators for truck cranes and excavators. Idrobenne offers a complete range of state-of- the art rotators from 2 to 20 Tons. Robust and reliable, they are offered in different configurations to suit a large number of grapples.
Hydraulic rotators are the most common accessories for crane and excavator attachments such as orange peel grapples, clamshell buckets, log grabs and drywall forks. Hydraulic rotators allow the operator to run the equipment in both directions of rotation. This functionality is necessary when handling and positioning long objects such as logs or pipes, but it can also be important in other contexts where it is necessary to orient the hydraulic tool, as to establish the direction of excavation when working with a digging bucket, or to align the equipment to the load, as in the case of a wallboard fork TPW. Equipments provided with hydraulic rotator must be fed with two double-acting hydraulic circuits: one dedicated to the rotation motor and the other connected to the opening and closing function. The rotator is not only a motor of rotation, but also an hydraulic joint. In other words, it allows the passage of oil from the operating machine to the grab, while rotating. Idrobenne offers the widest range of hydraulic rotators in Italy, with over 30 models, all with continuous rotation. Rotators are always available in stock, in order to give customers a punctual customer service and sales support. They can be sold as a standalone product, the sale can take place online.
Idrobenne is the exclusive Italian importer of Kinshofer rotators with orbital system (gear-type design). This mechanism of rotation is made by concentric gears and produces a very high torque in compact dimensions. When releasing the hydraulic controls, these rotators provide a high braking force. Such precision control and braking ability are especially appreciated by operators. A grapple does not rotate unexpectedly when digging, even under maximum load, and there is no need for stability compensation when handling longer lengths of timber. All Idrobenne rotators have generously dimensioned thrust tapered roller bearings, which protect the rotation mechanism from shocks. Almost all flanged rotators have horizontal and axial oil connections. The orbital rotator, given its structural sturdiness, is ideal to be mounted on orange peel grapples, which are often subject to strong shock during work. In addition, the breaking capability is perfect for a multi tines grapple, that not have to handle long goods with high inertia, acquire most precise movements. Gear-type rotators can produce the same torque also when they are in non-axial position. So, a cardan suspension link is not always necessary: these rotating motors can be mounted on the hydraulic equipment through an adapter for rigid mounting. They are therefore mounted on sorting and demolition grapples (SG and DG lines) for excavators up to 12 tons of weight.
Some rotators offered by Idrobenne are built with the vane motor design, which produces a higher torque of rotation and gradual acceleration during the start and stop phases. Vane rotators are therefore more suitable to equip grapples for handling long longs like PTO/S and similar objects with high inertia. In fact, since the braking of vane rotators is smooth, the stop is not sudden and it doesn’t affect the safety of the load nor the structural integrity of the timber grab.
The slewing ring rotator is the simplest and the more robust mechanism. They are also called pinion and worm driven slew drives. It is essentially made by a slewing ring, with a single or a double row of balls, with a toothed ring, on which engages a pinion mounted on a hydraulic motor. This apparatus allows for values of large bending moments and is perfect for equipment subjected to extreme loads, such as demolition crushers DG series. Slewing ring rotators are however bulky and rather heavy, so they are not suitable for hydraulic equipment for truck cranes or mini- and midi-excavators.
The hydraulic rotators are made with different connection systems. In the upper part they may have a head (male), or two "ears" or supports (female), or even a flat plate. Rotators with top head and those with the two ears are intended for pendulum mounting, via swinging link, while those with flange can be bolted to an adapter for rigid mounting. The bottom of the rotator can be an axe or a flange. The rotator with axe must be installed into a suitable adapter mounted on the equipment. Flanged rotators are instead bolted on the grab. Idrobenne takes care of the installation of rotators on the grabs and runs the full testing on the complete tool, to make sure everything is properly done. Some rotators are designed to be easily interchangeable on different grabs. This happens mainly in railway maintenance, where the rotator is kept on the rail-road excavator to operate different tools: sleeper grab, rail grab, leading bucket, taper unit, digging grab, etc.
Rotator’s body of hydraulic rotators is made of tempered steel. The inner gears are superficially nitrided to ensure the maximum hardness and reliability. The flange is made in one piece of forged and tempered steel. These details guarantee great reliability and lifespan. It is possible to find used and second-hand hydraulic rotators at very attractive prices. Idrobenne can offer genuine spare parts for the best known manufacturers of hydraulic rotator such as Kinshofer, Thumm, Indexator and Baltrotors.