The lift truck is an important piece of equipment in most companies which operate distribution centers, warehouses, industrial and storage handling facilities. This great machine, the lift truck is made of many parts, including the essential carriage, the engine, the power source and the wheels. Lift trucks usually have a range of attachments as well. The following are several of the most essential lift truck components.
Engine of the Forklift - the lift truck is designed with a power source at the back of the machine. Various types of lift trucks have different types of engine that require varying power sources. For instance, a lift truck with an internal combustion engine could have any of the following as its power source: LP gas, CNG gas, gasoline or diesel. Electric motor lift trucks receive their power from a battery or fuel cells.
Truck Frame - The truck frame is the base of the forklift and the most important of all the lift truck components. This forms the core of the machine. All other components of a lift truck are connected to the base, including the mast, wheels, axles counterweight and overhead guard. Fuel and hydraulic fluid tanks can also be part of the frame assembly.
Counterweight Forklift Components - the counterweight is what enables the machine to be balanced while lifting heavy loads. This component is made of heavy cast iron and is attached to the rear-end of the forklift truck. The counterbalance balances the truck frame in order to prevent it from tipping over when a load is being lifted or carried on the front. The heavy lead-acid battery in an electric lift truck offers balance and can function as part of the counterweight.
The Cab Area - this part is where the operator sits and drives the equipment. Several forklifts have a cab area which is open to the air and several have closed cabs. There are really many parts situated in the cab for operating the forks. The cab contains such essential components as the seats, pedals, switches, levers, operator controls and steering wheel. The dashboard has operator readouts.