Issue 3 - Hitachi

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ON the INSIDE What is your equipment telling you Telematics systems are being increasingly utilized in equipment management, remotely connecting maintenance managers to their machines in the field. When a machine is equipped with telematics technology, like Hitachi’s own ZXLink , real-time data is collected from the machine via a communications controller and sent wirelessly to a data server, where it is populated for viewing online. Data can also be delivered as a text message or email alert. This data includes the “vital signs” of the equipment — its location, engine hours, idle time, and other maintenancerelated stats like fluid levels, pressures, temperatures, and maintenance intervals. Having this information at hand can help you assess the health of the machine as well as document its productivity levels. When cross-referenced with fluid analysis and machine inspection reports, this data can help you make informed, cost-effective decisions regarding equipment maintenance. Systems also allow the dealer to access equipment data. In many instances, a dealer can diagnose a maintenance issue or update machine software remotely without a trip to the jobsite. Regardless of your fleet size, monitoring telematics data can make a significant improvement in machine uptime. Most new machines come equipped with a telematics system, but this technology can also be installed on older models and on all-makes fleets. Ask your Hitachi dealer about our ZXLink Select and ZXLink Ultimate equipment-management systems and how they can work for you. POWERED BY THEIR Hitachi Dash-5 are powered by the fuelefficient Interim Tier 4-certified engines, the new Dash-5s are more productive than ever. Operators will also like them for their wider cabs with improved visibility. See your Hitachi dealer today about the exciting new crop of Dash-5 excavators. www.hitachiconstruction.com Kelly Granatier, Director, Sales, Hitachi Division
InBRIEF Questions from the field: What’s the difference between passive and active exhaust-filter regeneration in Hitachi Dash-5 Excavators Passive regeneration is a natural cleaning process where engine exhaust temperatures are sufficient to oxidize the particulate matter (PM) trapped in the exhaust filter. The process is continuous during normal engine operating conditions, and is the most fuel-efficient way to clean. But, if conditions (temperature, load, or speed) for passive regeneration cannot be achieved, then PM must be removed using active regeneration, an automatic cleaning process. This requires injecting a small quantity of fuel into the exhaust stream for a short duration and elevating exhaust temperatures to clean the filter. The actual cleaning process takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes. In most applications, active regeneration cleaning occurs only when passive regeneration isn’t possible based on conditions — it serves as a backup system. Remember, in most cases, the regeneration process uses exhaust heat created under normal engine operating conditions, so the operator won’t even notice it’s taking place. In the event that an active regeneration is necessary, the engine’s control system can raise exhaust temperature to regenerate the filter. With either method, in most cases, regeneration does not impact machine operation or require operator involvement. Most of the processes with Isuzu’s Interim Tier 4 (IT4) engines happen behind the scenes, which enable operators to use their equipment the same way they used earlier Hitachi excavators powered by Isuzu engines. The diesel particulate filter is replaced at a minimum of 4,500 hours by a Hitachi dealer. For a more complete overview, read the full tech tip in the first 2012 issue of Breakout. HITACHI TECH TIPS How to fight moisture contamination Part 2 In the second 2012 issue of Breakout, we looked at how moisture contamination can get into lubricating oils and your hydraulic system. Now let’s look at a way to combat it — desiccant breather filters. Finding the right breather will help the systems in your equipment last longer and prevent unnecessary downtime and oil replacement. Desiccant breathers are especially useful in environments that contain high dust and humidity levels. Desiccant breathers are comprised of a silica gel that attracts and retains up to 40 percent of its weight in water. Together with a synthetic filter media, they prevent moisture and particle contamination from getting into your reservoirs as pressure fluctuations occur through thermal expansion and contraction of the fluid and the level changes produced by the filling and emptying of the reservoirs. When carbon is added to the silica gel, the breathers can capture oil mist and evenly disperse incoming air so that the synthetic filter and silica gel combination works more effectively. The more the air passes through both, the cleaner it becomes. If a breather is designed with more vent holes to allow variable airflow patterns, it increases the filtration media and desiccant drying capabilities. Talk to your Hitachi dealer to learn more about desiccant breather filters and how they can help you fight moisture. Some things to keep in mind when selecting desiccant breathers: n When choosing a desiccant breather size, be sure to consider the amount of air exchanged (cubic ft./min.) for each application. Airflow capacity must match or surpass the tank’s fill and drawdown rate. Breather size should increase as the flow rates increase. n Choose a steel or plastic breather housing, depending on your operating environment. Steel is a better choice if you’re dealing with hot, dusty environments. n Pay attention to the color of the silica gel as an indicator of when to change breathers, as most breather manufacturers put dyes in the silica gel to facilitate a color change when the gel becomes saturated. n If you operate in a damp and dirty environment with minimal air-volume changes, newer expansion-type breathers can better control the breathing action and permit expansion and contraction of the airspace. n Consider more specific applications for desiccant breather filters than mobile hydraulic systems, such as switch gears, gearboxes, turbines, feed pumps, oil-cooled transformers, and diesel-fuel storage tanks. 3
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Issue 3 - Hitachi

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