Forklift

Overview

The forklift is an electric counterbalance truck for indoor warehouse and dock work. It lifts and transports palletized loads on two forks projecting ahead of the front wheels; a heavy Counterweight cast from iron and bolted to the rear chassis balances the load moment about the front axle. Electric drive produces no exhaust, making the truck suitable for enclosed and food-grade environments, and keeps noise low for indoor operation.

How it works

Loads are handled by the Mast Assembly, a telescoping rail structure carrying a fork carriage that rolls on mast rollers. A Lift Hydraulic Cylinder raises the carriage via leaf chains, and a pair of Tilt Cylinder units rake the mast forward and back to cradle the load. These actuators are fed by the Hydraulic System, where an electric Pump Motor drives a gear pump through a Control Valve Block block that the operator meters with control levers.

Propulsion comes from the Traction Drive, whose AC traction motor turns the front wheels through a reduction gearbox and drive axle. Both motors draw from the Traction Battery, a 48V lead-acid pack that doubles as ballast low in the chassis. Power is metered by the Motor Controller, which uses IGBT and MOSFET power stages to regulate torque and recover energy under braking. The rear Steer Axle provides the tight steering geometry that lets the truck pivot in narrow aisles, and the operator is protected overhead by the Overhead Guard.