Hydraulic Center Swivel Joint Seal Fit Repair with DURA-BIDE_68 vs. Industrial Hard Chrome Plating
The situation
A Rotary Manifold Spindle / Rotary Union / Hydraulic Center Swivel Joint / Excavator Center Joint are all terms for the Swivel Joint that makes it possible for the excavator housing to turn without affecting the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid to the travel motors. Swivel joints have many seal areas with seal surfaces that will slowly wear down due to seal pressure/static rotation during standard operation.
The task at hand
When a Swivel Joint seal surface has O-ring damage and oil pressure bypasses a seal due, the swivel joint does not function properly and can not get the appropriate amount of oil pressure to the travel motors and therefore limits the ability for the piece of equipment to function properly. Historically, Hexavalent Chrome plating is utilized to repair these seal surface. Due to oil contamination in the parts, chrome plating will have pinholes and require multiple reworks. It is also a known carcinogenic plating solution and hexavalent chrome does not help our environment re: emissions or waste disposal.
The action plan
HIH Technologies focus on Environmental solutions and Asset Repair to extend life and reduce virgin material used for new parts - has developed DURA-BIDE_68 (DB_68). It is a chrome plating replacement alloy with the benefits of improved seal performance, improved longevity of seal surface during operation (3x – 10x improvement over industrial hard chrome plating) and the material and process have less than 10% of the equivalent impact on the environment in comparison to chrome plating processes and ventilation systems. 100% of the overspray powder and grinding sludges are Up-cycled into new alloys and therefore, there is literally no waste during the application process.
The results
We have customers with 3,000 – 5,000 hours of circulation service life on Swivel Joints with DB_68 on seal areas. With chrome plating repairs, these seals will wear into that surface within 1,000 – 2,000 hours. These same swivels we have repaired have come out for other seal area repairs (not previously repaired with DB_68) and the previously repaired areas are exactly as they had originally been repaired. On-size and the surface finish has not changed!
