Lift trucks are important pieces of machinery utilized widely in business, particularly within warehouses, distribution centers, storage handling and industrial facilities. A forklift truck is constructed of hundreds of parts, including the carriage, the cab, the power source, the engine and the wheels. Forklifts generally have various kinds of attachments too. The following are several of the most important forklift components.
Lift Truck Engine - the lift truck is made with a power source at the rear of the machinery. Various kinds of forklift truck have various types of engine that need varying power sources. For instance, a lift truck with an IC engine could have any of the following as its source of power: CNG gas, LP gas, diesel or gasoline. Electric motor lift trucks receive their power from a battery or fuel cells.
Truck Frame - the base of the forklift truck and the most important of all the lift truck parts is the truck frame. This forms the core of the equipment. All other parts of a lift truck are connected to the base, like for example the mast, wheels, axles counterweight and overhead guard. Hydraulic fluid and fuel tanks could be part of the frame assembly too.
Counterweight Lift Truck Parts - the counterweight is what allows the machinery to be balanced while lifting heavy loads. This component is made of heavy cast iron and is connected to the backend of the forklift truck. The counterbalance balances the frame of the truck to prevent it from tipping over when a load is being carried or lifted on the front. The heavy lead-acid battery in an electric forklift offers balance and may function as part of the counterweight.
The Cab Area - this part is where the operator sits and drives the equipment. Several lift trucks have a cab area that is open to the air and some have closed cabs. There are really numerous components located within the cab for operating the forks. The cab contains such important parts as the seats, pedals, levers, switches, operator controls and steering wheel. The dashboard has operator readouts.