Forklift Parts in More Detail
A forklift is constructed from numerous components. The major components which make up a lift truck are the frame of the truck, the engine components, the overhead guard, the wheels and the tilt cylinders. Additionally, a lift truck consists of various types of attachments. All the parts which make up a forklift are of equal importance as they work together to make the equipment's operation possible. The next paragraphs describe in detail some of the forklift components.
The Overhead Guard - this guard forms the forklift truck's metal roof. It sits over the cab area and protects the machine operator whilst she or he is sitting and driving. The overhead guard ensures that nothing falling from above onto the truck will damage the controls inside the cab or harm the operator. The overhead guard is vital to the frame assembly on several units.
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 down. The interlocking rails could either have rollers or bushings as guides. There are a couple of ways the mast can be operated: chain operated with motive power provided by a hydraulic motor or hydraulically by one or more hydraulic cylinders.
Forklift Carriage - the forks and other kinds of attachments are mounted to the carriage. The carriage is attached to the mast directly to the hydraulic cylinder or it is attached by chains. To enable 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 - a back rest is a metal rack which keeps a load from falling backwards while the carriage is raised to its full height. The back rest is either welded or bolted on to the carriage.
Lift Truck Attachments - There are many attachments that could be fixed directly to the lift truck's carriage. Forks are the most common type of attachment. What's more, there are rotators, rollers, L-shaped members, roll clamps, pole handlers and and all that. These various kinds of attachments are very useful for moving various kinds of loads.