Forklift Parts in More Detail
There are many components that make up a forklift. The forklifts key parts consist of the truck frame, the engine parts, the overhead guard, the tilt cylinders and the wheels. Also, a lift truck has various kinds of attachments. All the parts making up a lift truck are of equal importance because they work together to make the operation of the machinery possible. The following paragraphs describe some of the forklift components in detail.
The Overhead Guard - this guard forms the lift truck's metal roof. It sits over the cab area and protects the equipment operator whilst he or she 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 vital to the frame assembly on some models.
The Mast - the mast is a vertical assembly made of interlocking rails and mounted either to the front axle or the forklift frame. The mast provides lateral stability and enables the forks to move upwards and downwards. The interlocking rails may either have bushings 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 that the forks and other kinds of attachments are mounted to. Actually, the carriage is directly connected to the hydraulic cylinder and is connected by chains. In order to allow the forks to be raised and lowered, the carriage could have either bushings or rollers 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 prevents a load from falling backwards. The back rest is either welded or bolted on to the carriage.
Forklift Attachments - a variety of attachments could be fixed to the front of the lift truck. The most common attachment is forks. In addition, there are rotators, rollers, L-shaped members, roll clamps, pole handlers and so on. These different attachments are very handy for transporting different types of loads.