Forklifts: Definitions

Jib Crane Attachment

A crane consisting of a boom which is supported as a cantilever on a column.

Hoist Attachment

A device used for lifting or lowering a load by means of a drum or lift-wheel around which rope or chain wraps. It may be manually operated, electrically or pneumatically driven and may use chain, fiber or wire rope as its lifting medium. The load is attached to the hoist by means of a lifting hook.

Cantilever

A long projecting beam or girder fixed at only one end, used chiefly in bridge construction.

Motorized Hand Pallet Jack

A low-lift (ground level) unit has forks or a platform. Some models allow the operator to stand on the back, others are walked. A high-lift version has a mast and straddle legs. Solid tires.

Pneumatic Tires

A round, rubber tire that is inflated with air. The most common example is automobile tires. It tire can also be found on bicycles, wheelchairs and forklifts. It is popular because it absorbs the impact between the vehicle and the road, reducing the bumps and jolts felt by passengers inside a vehicle.

Chock

A wedge or block of wood, metal, or the like, for filling in a space, holding an object steady, etc...

Internal Combustion Engine Trucks, Sit-Down Rider; Pneumatic Tires

Counterbalance in the rear, pneumatic tires.

Forklift Moment

Equals the distance from the fulcrum to the center of gravity times the weight.

Internal Combustion Engine Trucks, Sit-Down Rider, Solid Tires

Forklift has a counterbalance in the rear. Solid tires.

Fulcrum

Front wheels.

Electric Motor Counter-Balanced Sit-Down Rider Forklift/Truck

Has a counterbalance weight in the body. Solid and pneumatic tires.

Electric and Internal Combustion Engine Tractors; Solid and Pneumatic Tires

Has a draw bar that is capable of pulling heavy loads, sit-down rider, solid and pneumatic tires.

Rough Terrain "Reach" Forklift Trucks; Pneumatic Tires

Has large pneumatic tires, and a boom which raises and extends. Outriggers at the front stabilize the forklift on soft or uneven ground. Might resemble a sit-down rider, however, it is bigger with large pneumatic tires and a large mast with large forks. Powered by internal combustion.

Electric Motor, Narrow Aisle, Stand-Up Rider

Has straddle legs on both sides of the forks to provide stability in the absence of a counterweight in the body. Solid tires.

Powerful Industrial Truck (PIT)

Is a mobile, power-driven vehicle used to carry, push, pull, lift, stack or tier material.

Forklift

Is a powerful tool that allows one person to precisely lift, move and place large heavy loads.

Beam

Is the forks.

3 Point Center Suspension

Is when the vehicle is supported at three points.

Solid Tires

Non-pneumatic, meaning that they are not filled with air. Used primarily for industrial or light commercial applications. Vehicles like forklifts, lawn mowers, golf carts, baby carriages, wheelbarrows, and skateboards are some of the most common places to these. Made of solid rubber, or molded from plastic compounds.

Forklift Parts and Functions

See diagram.

Capacity Plate

States what loads by weight are safe to lift.

Carpet Lifting Attachment

Suitable for a variety of applications when the lifting and repositioning of a coiled product is required such as fabric, carpets, paper rolls, linings. Fits directly onto the carriage of a forklift, maintaining the truck's optimum lifting capacity.

Center of Gravity

The point on an object at which all of the object's weight is concentrated and all of the parts balance each other.

Center of Gravity

The point where all the weight is concentrated.

Stability Triangle

The sides of the stability triangle as shown in the illustration are formed by the center of each front wheel and the center of the rear wheel or at the center of the axle if there are two rear wheels.