Accumulator
A pressurised gas chamber that smooths hydraulic pressure spikes and stores energy between strikes on a hydraulic breaker. Loss of accumulator pre-charge is the most common cause of reduced breaker impact energy.
Auxiliary circuit
The hydraulic line on an excavator dedicated to powering attachments. Specified by flow rate (litres per minute) and working pressure (bar). The auxiliary circuit's capacity sets the upper limit on what attachments the carrier can run.
Back pressure
Resistance in the return line of a hydraulic system. Excessive back pressure reduces breaker impact energy without showing as a reduced flow reading at the supply line.
Blunt tool
A flat-faced breaker tool used for breaking reinforced concrete with heavy rebar. Spreads impact across a wide face to shatter the matrix without bouncing off the steel.
BPM (blows per minute)
The strike frequency of a hydraulic breaker. Higher BPM is better for soft and fractured material; lower BPM with higher impact energy per blow is better for dense rock.
Carrier
The host machine an attachment is mounted to. Usually an excavator but also skid steers, telehandlers, wheel loaders, material handlers and truck cranes.
Carrier weight class
The operating weight of the carrier, expressed in tonnes. Drives attachment selection because the attachment's own weight, hydraulic flow demand and reaction forces all scale with carrier size.
Chain cutter
A trenching attachment with a rotating chain that cuts a narrow kerf in rock or reinforced concrete. Production tool for utility trenching in hard ground.
Chain trencher
Similar to a chain cutter but optimised for soil and weak rock at higher production rates. Less effective in dense rock and reinforced concrete.
Chisel tool
A wedge-shaped breaker tool. Narrow chisel for trenching and line breaking; wide chisel for asphalt and softer material breaking.
Combi shear
A demolition attachment that combines cutting (steel) and crushing (concrete) capability in interchangeable jaws. Used for primary structural demolition where shear and pulveriser would otherwise both be needed.
CPA (Compact Production Attachment)
A Montabert range of compact drilling attachments, used for blast hole drilling and ground stabilisation work mounted on a carrier.
Drifter
A hydraulic rock drill used in tunnelling, mining and quarry blasting. Powers a drill string into rock with rotation and percussion. Distinct from a hydraulic breaker, which delivers percussion only.
Dual locking
A safety design on hydraulic quick hitches where the attachment is held by two independent mechanisms. Required by AS 13031:2023.
Hydraulic breaker
A percussive demolition attachment that uses hydraulic pressure to drive a piston that strikes a tool against rock or concrete. Also called a rock breaker, hydraulic hammer or simply a breaker.
Hydraulic drifter
See drifter.
Impact energy
The energy delivered per strike by a hydraulic breaker, measured in joules. Together with BPM, defines a breaker's productive output.
Moil point
A pointed breaker tool used for primary breaking of rock and reinforced concrete. Concentrates impact into a single point.
Operating weight
The total mass of an attachment including standard tooling. Used in carrier matching: most breakers should be 8 to 12 percent of the carrier's working weight.
Orange peel grab
A multi-tined hydraulic grab attachment used for handling bulk material like scrap, demolition rubble and bulk cargo. Named for the peel-like shape of its closed tines.
Pulveriser
A demolition attachment that crushes concrete and separates reinforcement, used for secondary processing of demolished material.
Quick coupler
A device mounted between the carrier's stick and an attachment that allows attachments to be swapped without removing pins manually. Modern fully-automatic systems (e.g. OilQuick) connect hydraulic and electrical lines in the same action.
Rebuild
Full strip-down, inspection and replacement of worn components on an attachment, typically performed at 5,000 to 7,500 hours on hydraulic breakers.
Rotor (drum) cutter
A trenching, profiling and excavation attachment with one or two transverse drums fitted with picks. Cuts into rock and concrete with low vibration and dust.
Scrap shear
A hydraulic shear attachment optimised for cutting structural steel during demolition or scrap processing.
Segregator bucket
A bucket attachment with a screening element that separates fines from coarse material on the carrier rather than at a separate processing plant.
Static pulveriser
A pulveriser attachment without rotation, used for secondary processing of demolished concrete on the ground.
Striking frequency
See BPM.
Tie rod
Structural rods that hold a hydraulic breaker's housing together against the percussive forces of operation. A high-cycle wear item.
Tilt rotator
A wrist-like attachment between the carrier and a tool that allows the tool to tilt and rotate independently of the boom. Used widely in Scandinavia, growing in Australia.
Tool diameter
The diameter of the working tool fitted to a hydraulic breaker. Sets the size of bushings and the impact area of the tool tip.
Tool retainer
The pin or wedge that holds the working tool in the breaker. A common wear item.
Tooth holder
The bracket that secures cutting teeth to a chain cutter, drum cutter or trencher. Replaceable to extend the life of the underlying drum or chain.
Variable frequency
A hydraulic breaker design (notably Montabert V Series) where the breaker adjusts its strike rate automatically based on material resistance, increasing productivity on softer or fractured material.
Working pressure
The maximum continuous hydraulic pressure (bar) at which an attachment is designed to operate. The carrier's relief valve must be set above this pressure.