What Is a Rock Wheel Trencher & How Does It Work?

Rock wheel trenchers are used in the construction industry to excavate earth and install trenches for gas, electricity, and telecoms. These machines are designed to cut through hard ground, rock, concrete, and asphalt, positioned a safe distance from buildings at a controlled and steady rate. They act as an alternative to destructive and expensive trenching methods made with buckets or breakers. The rock wheel trencher is very useful for utility installation and infrastructure development due to their ability to create a clean trench of uniform quality. 

What is a Rock wheel Trencher?

A rock wheel trencher is a hydraulically operated rotary digging tool that is installed on an excavator, skid steer, or dedicated trenching machine. It has a rotating wheel or drum equipped with tungsten carbide cutting teeth that penetrate and break up hard material through continuous cutting. The trencher, when combined with rock crusher attachment also called a rock wheel trencher or rock saw. 

Rock wheel trenchers applications include: 

• Excavating trenches for utility lines and pipelines.
• Installation of fiber optic and cable.
• Irrigation and drainage systems.
• Trenching involving rocky or mixed soil conditions.

Due to their accuracy, flexibility, and speed, they are used for trenching operations.

Main Components of Rockwheel Trencher

Understanding the main components of a rock wheel trencher will help precision and efficient trenching performance. Each part ensures that cutting is controlled, durable, and reliable on-site for many years. The rock crusher attachment can be described as an assembly of heavy-duty components. These components include: 

• A cutting wheel or drum equipped with teeth made of tungsten carbide.
• A hydraulic motor is used for rotating wheels.
• A gearbox control torque and cutting speed.
• A housing that is heavy-duty to protect internal mechanisms.
• A mounting bracket to secure attachment to the carrier machine.

How Does Rock Wheel Trencher Work?

A rock wheel trencher is a machine used to excavate hard ground using a hydraulically driven rotary cutting process. Here are the steps on how a rock wheel trencher works: 

• Carrier machine supplies hydraulic power: The hydraulic oil used in the rock wheel trencher is supplied by the excavator or skid steer. The energy is provided by hydraulic flow, and cutting power is determined by machine size.
• Hydraulic motor is activated: Hydraulic oil flows into the hydraulic motor of the trencher, transforming energy into rotation. The motor provides the high torque required to cut through rock and hard material.
• Speed and regulation of gearbox: The purpose of the gearbox is to transmit the motor’s power to the cutting wheel while controlling speed and torque. It guarantees the ideal cutting performance depending on ground conditions, with no overload.
• Revolving the cutting wheel or drum: The speed of rotation of the cutting wheel is initiated. This continuous rotation allows for uninterrupted trenching and consistent material removal.
• Using cutting teeth made of tungsten carbide: The wheel has tungsten carbide teeth, which penetrate the surface material. These teeth break rock, concrete, or asphalt into small pieces rather than impacting it.
• Controlled excavation and trench formation:  As the operator maneuvers the carrier machine forward, the rotating wheel remains in contact with the ground. The boom and arm movements of the excavator control the trench depth and alignment.
• Removal of material in operation: When the material breaks, it falls away from the cutting zone, thus keeping the trench path clear; continuous cutting is possible without breakdowns.
• Making the trench profile uniform: With use of continuous rotation, the walls of the trench remain straight and the bottom flat. This limits over-excavation and reduces the need for secondary trimming/finishing work.
• Less vibration and stress on the machine: Due to the smooth and non-impact cutting action, there is less vibration, which reduces stress on the carrier machine and the adjacent ground.

Why is Rock Wheel Trencher Effective?

The rock wheel trencher is very effective because of its accuracy and controlled power. They allow consistent removal of material without striking action, unlike impact-based tools. As a result, we get accurate trench profiles with little over-excavation.

The capability of consistent cutting makes them useful for projects with high accuracy requirements, low downtime, and reliable trenching efficiency in hard materials.

When combined with a rock crusher attachment, the trencher make mining process quick. The attachment is a hydraulic tool that is mounted on excavators. 

Conclusion

A rock wheel trencher is a useful tool designed for trenching as per the requirements. The machine produces clear and precise trenches, even in the toughest ground conditions, thanks to its hydraulically driven rotary cutting wheel. Knowing what a rock wheel trencher is, and how it works can help you to understand why this trencher has become the go-to for contractors. They opt for trenchers in order to ensure efficiency, accuracy, and reliability on-site.

Find complete units, including rock wheel trencher, only at Rockzone Americas