Forklift Components in More Detail
A forklift is constructed from thousands of parts. The main components which make up a forklift truck are the frame of the truck, the engine parts, the overhead guard, the wheels and the tilt cylinders. Furthermore, a lift truck consists of various types of attachments. All the components which make up a forklift are of equal importance since they work together to make the functions of the machinery possible. The next paragraphs describe some of the lift truck components in detail.
The Overhead Guard - this guard forms the lift truck's metal roof. It sits on top of 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 would injure the driver or damage the controls in the cab. The overhead guard is integral to the frame assembly on some models.
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 rollers or bushings as guides. There are a couple of 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 which the forks and various other types of attachments are mounted to. Actually, the carriage is directly connected to the hydraulic cylinder and is attached by chains. To allow the forks to be lowered and raised, the carriage may have either rollers or bushings to guide it in the interlocking mast rails.
Load Back Rest - While the carriage is lifted to full height, there is a back rest made of metal that keeps a load from falling backwards. The back rest is either welded or bolted on to the carriage.
Forklift Attachments - a range of attachments can be fixed to the front of the forklift truck. The most common attachment is forks. In addition, there are L-shaped members, rotators, rollers, roll clamps, pole handlers and so on. These different types of attachments are useful for moving different types of loads.