Forklift Components in More Detail
A lift truck is made of numerous components. The major parts that make up a lift truck are the truck frame, the engine parts, the overhead guard, the tilt cylinders and the wheels. In addition, a lift truck consists of different kinds of attachments. All the parts making up a forklift are of equal importance because they work together to make the operation of the machinery possible. The next paragraphs describe in detail a few of the forklift parts.
The Overhead Guard - this guard forms the lift truck's metal roof. It sits above the cab area and protects the machinery operator while she or he is sitting and driving. The overhead guard ensures that nothing falling from above onto the truck will damage the controls in the cab or hurt the operator. The overhead guard is integral to the frame assembly on several units.
The Mast - the mast is a vertical assembly made of interlocking rails and mounted either to the forklift frame or the front axle. The mast provides lateral stability and enables the forks to move up and down. The interlocking rails could either have bushings or bushings as guides. There are two ways the mast may be operated: hydraulically by one or more hydraulic cylinders or chain operated with motive power provided by a hydraulic motor.
Lift Truck Carriage - The carriage is the part that the forks and various other attachments are mounted to. The carriage is in fact directly connected to the hydraulic cylinder and is attached by chains. In order to allow the forks to be raised and lowered, the carriage can have either rollers or bushings to guide it in the interlocking mast rails.
Load Back Rest - When the carriage is raised to full height, there is a back rest made of metal that keeps a load from falling backwards. The back rest is either bolted or welded on to the carriage.
Lift Truck Attachments - a variety of attachments can be fixed to the front of the forklift truck. The most common attachment is forks. In addition, there are rollers, rotators, L-shaped members, pole handlers, roll clamps and so on. These various types of attachments are helpful for moving various types of loads.