Forklift truck

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Also known as a "forklift," "lift truck" or "counterbalanced lift truck," a forklift truck is a material handling vehicle designed to move loads by means of steel fingers or forks inserted under a load.^[1]

History

The history of the forklift is very closely intertwined with the history of the pallet. In the early 1920s, material handling manufacturers were experimenting with new means for lifting and moving objects with vehicles. The forklift truck gained popularity with the mass-production of automobiles and became an essential piece of equipment in many industries. With the increased popularity of the pallet in WWII came the need for more numerous and versatile forklifts. Since the 1920s, one of the most noticeable changes in the forklift has been the addition of safety components, including protective cabs intended to safely house the operator.^[6]

For more information on the history of the forklift truck, read an article in The MHEDA Journal.

Truck Classes

Main article: Lift truck classification

Fork lift trucks are categorized by class by the ITA:

Forklift classes and lift codes

Class	Description
Class I	Electric motor rider truck
Class II	Electric motor narrow aisle truck
Class III	Electric motor hand truck
Class IV	Internal combustion truck, cushion tires
Class V	Internal combustion truck, pneumatic tires
Class VI	Electric and internal combustion tractor
Class VII	Rough terrain fork lift truck
Class VIII	Hand pallet truck (pallet jack)

^[2]

Truck Components

Cab - The cab includes a seat for the operator and pedals and switches for controlling the lift truck. The cab is typically open and is protected cage-like overhead guard assembly.

Counterweight - The counterweight is a heavy iron mass attached to the rear of the machine, necessary to compensate for the load. In an electric forklift, the large lead-acid battery itself may serve as a counterweight.

Attachments - Fork attachments are attachments designed for use on standard counterbalanced lift trucks, although some of them are also used on reach trucks and VNA trucks. Most attachments change the lifting capacity or lifting capabilities of the lift truck.^[3]

Carriage - Fork carriages have been standardized for hook type fork carriages. There are four sizes of hook type fork carriages rated by lifting capacity of the fork carriage. Carriages for pin type forks vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Capacity of the carriage is determined by the fork size and the carriage pin size. Pin mounted forks will also vary by the amount of offset between the fork and the fork eye.^[5] The lift carriage comprises flat metal plate(s) and is moved along the mast by means of chains.
Forks - Forks are the L-shaped members that engage the load. The back vertical portion of the fork attaches to the carriage by means of a hook or latch. The front horizontal portion is inserted into or under the load, usually on a pallet. Forks come in two styles, hook type and pin type. Hook type are generally found on trucks up to 14,000 lbs. capacity. Pin, or shaft mounted, type forks are found on the larger capacity lift trucks. A variety of attachments are available for forks, including slipsheet clamps, carton clamps, carpet rams, pole handlers, and others.^[4]

Backrest - The load backrest is a rack-like extension attached to the carriage to prevent the load from shifting backward.

Mast - The number of stages (sections) in a lift truck's mast determines the lift height and lowered height of the lift. It is a hard task to find proper writing service, there is always a risk to be cheated or at least to get unsatisfactory grade for passing low quality paper. I have tried tons of them, and, to my mind, this is the best essay writing service. Please take it into consideration because I think that it�s better to try it once than waste your time and money on unprofessional writing companies. Lift trucks are available with single, double, triple or quad masts, reflecting the number of sections or stages the mast has.^[3]

Overhead guard - The driver's overhead guard is a metal roof, supported by posts, that helps protect the operator from any falling objects.

Power Source

Electric

Electric lift trucks are designed for indoor use only. They operate very quietly and do not produce any fumes. They are powered by standard batteries or sealed maintenance-free batteries.

AC/DC - AC (alternating current) powered lift trucks run off of DC (direct current) batteries and convert the DC power back to AC to power the motor. The advantages of AC motors include faster acceleration, higher efficiency, and lower maintenance costs.

Regenerative braking - This technology recharges the batteries using the momentum of the lift truck when slowing down (braking). The mechanism harnesses the power of the lift truck and uses it to recharge the battery. The frequent starting/stopping of lift trucks makes this an excellent means of power.

Fast charging - Fast charging provides a means to reduce or eliminate the need to change batteries on multi-shift operations. Batteries are quickly recharged during breaks, lunches and between shifts. Also known as opportunity charging.

Internal combustion

An internal combustion lift truck has an engine powered by fuel and combustion.

Liquid propane (LP) - Liquid propane trucks produce minimal fumes (however heavy use indoors requires adequate ventilation), and can be used both indoors and outdoors. LP trucks are commonly used in indoor/outdoor operations such as lumber yards.

Gasoline or diesel - Gasoline or diesel powered trucks are for outdoor use only due to their production of heavy fumes. These trucks are heavily used in construction, scrap yards, etc. ^[2]

Transmission Type

Manual: lift truck is equipped with a clutch and gearshift
Powershift: engine has one, two or three speeds, depending on the size of the truck
Hydrostatic: power from a hydraulic pump powers hydraulic drive motors attached to the drive wheels^[5]