Lift Truck Parts in More Detail
There are many components that make up a forklift. The lift truck's key components comprise the frame of the truck, the engine components, the tilt cylinders, the overhead guard and the wheels. Also, a lift truck consists of a variety of attachments. All the parts which make up a forklift are all important as they work together to make the operation of the equipment possible. The next paragraphs describe in detail some of the forklift components.
The Overhead Guard - The overhead guard is actually the lift truck's metal roof, that sits atop the operator cab. It's job is to protect the operator while they are utilizing the machine. The overhead guard ensures that nothing falling from above onto the truck will damage the controls inside the cab or hurt the driver. The overhead guard is integral to the frame assembly on various units.
The Mast - the mast is a vertical assembly made of interlocking rails and mounted either to the forklift frame or the front axle. The mast provides lateral stability and allows the forks to move upwards and downwards. The interlocking rails could either have rollers or bushings as guides. There are a couple of ways the mast could be operated: hydraulically by one or more hydraulic cylinders or chain operated with motive power provided by a hydraulic motor.
Forklift Carriage - the forks and other attachments are mounted to the carriage. The carriage is attached to the mast directly to the hydraulic cylinder or it is connected by chains. To enable the forks to be lowered and raised, the carriage may have either bushings or rollers 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 when the carriage is lifted to its full height. The back rest is either bolted or welded on to the carriage.
Forklift Attachments - a variety of attachments can be fixed to the front of the lift truck. The most common type of attachment is forks. Moreover, there are rollers, rotators, L-shaped members, pole handlers, roll clamps and and all that. These various attachments are handy for transporting various types of loads.