Compactors come in various sizes and have similar parts, including an operating switch, safety switch, and motor. Home compactors use hydraulic power or a drive motor and chain to compact waste. Landfill and industrial compactors have different designs. Parts can be purchased new or rebuilt, but the correct model number must be used. Personal safety should be considered when attempting repairs.
Compactors range in size from those designed for home use to large commercial models. Whether big or small, most compactors have similar characteristics. The basic parts of the compactor include an operating switch and a safety switch, or other mechanism, to prevent accidental starting. A motor is used to drive the compaction plate or ram. This piston can come out of a chain drive, screw drive or hydraulic press.
Home compactor parts include doors and door latches, switch actuators, drawer handles and rollers, as well as assorted screws, nuts and bolts. These smaller devices can use hydraulic power to compact waste or a drive motor and chain. Household models shred common waste to reduce its volume and therefore the amount of space needed in a landfill. Drive motors are usually one of the most expensive parts to replace in home compactors.
Doors can also be expensive components to replace, but their replacement is not usually necessary. Most compactor doors or drawers are designed to withstand heavy use. Unless these external parts have been dented, they should last the life of the unit. Contact or safety switches on doors or drawers can fail from heavy use or dirt buildup. Home units may also have sensors that alert the user if the compactor has been loaded incorrectly.
The differences in the home compactor parts will depend on the style of the drive assembly. The motor can drive a drive gear with roller bearings and a chain. It can drive a screw drive that spins as it moves up and down. The piston can also be controlled by hydraulics. Hydraulics use an oil to create pressure, which, in turn, creates movement.
Landfill compactors are bulldozers with spikes in the wheels. As the bulldozer drives waste into the landfill, it reduces the amount of space the waste takes up with a chopping and crushing action. Compactors are also used in scrap metal processing plants. A pancake-style compactor crushes large objects, such as cars, into flat pieces with a hydraulically controlled plate. Another style of industrial compactor compresses both horizontally and vertically, creating a small cube.
Compactor parts can be purchased new or rebuilt. Remanufactured parts are normally less expensive and will most likely carry a limited warranty period. When choosing parts to fix a broken compactor, be sure to use the correct model number to get the right part for your unit. Keep personal safety in mind and unplug unit before attempting repairs.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
