How Does the Forklift Roller Chain Pulley System Work?

 

How Does the Forklift Roller Chain Pulley System Work?

The machine’s forks that carry the load are attached to the frame with a pair of roller chain pulleys. The pulley’s fulcrum is a gear found at the top of the mast.

Here’s how the roller chain pulley system works:

1. Hydraulic pistons push the masts up.

2. Gears located on the mast are pressed against the roller chains.

3. The masts move up and pulls the fork up.

The masts can only move up if the gear rotates clockwise and lifts the fork. This is because one side of the chain is attached to the forklift’s frame

This system allows the fork to lift higher than it would if the forklift relied solely on the hydraulic system. If it only used hydraulics, the forklift would need taller cylinders to reach the same height. Taller cylinders require more materials, stronger pumps and higher pressure limits that can shift the forklift’s center of gravity, increase the risk of tipping and overall increase the level of danger when using forklifts.

Forklift Controls

A forklift’s main controls are for steering and lifting. Although it sounds simple, understanding how both of these work helps an operator safely and efficiently get the job done.

Steering Controls

The steering controls are similar to ones you’d find in a golf cart or a regular car. A forklift has an acceleration pedal, break, steering wheel, forward gear and reverse gear. However, forklifts use rear-wheel steering, meaning that the steering wheel controls the wheels in the rear. This works better for forklifts since operators have greater precision and rotation control when carrying a load.

Lifting Controls

The lifting controls use one lever for moving the load up and down and another for tilting the load back and forth. Pushing the lifting lever forward moves the load up while moving it backwards moves it down. Tilting, however, is a bit more complex.

The tilt function involves two more hydraulic cylinders found at the base of the masts. Here’s what happens when the tilt lever is moved in both directions:

• Forward: Air is pumped into the chamber. The rise in pressure level pushes the piston head and results in the mast tilting away from the frame.
• Back: Air is gently released from the chamber and air is pumped in the other pair of cylinders we mentioned earlier from the hydraulic system. The masts lean towards the vehicle when those pistons push that pair of cylinders forward.

Forklift Types and Uses

There are many different types of forklifts to choose for your project. The various types of power used, terrain, weight capacity and many other features contribute to this equipment’s versatility. In addition to warehouses and construction sites where you typically see forklifts, you can also find them at dockyards and recycling operations.

Here are a few common ways forklifts are used:

• Construction sites: Carry building material across long distances and rough terrain
• Warehouses: Unload and load trucks to store goods in a warehouse
• Recycling operations: Unload recycling materials and transport to their respective sorting areas
• Dockyards: Load girth materials on and off ships and barges, especially when swift loading is needed
• Snow plows: Clear away snow when using a special attachment

Forklifts are great pieces of heavy equipment to carry and transport materials across the work site with little to no effort. Check out our wide selection to see which machine works best for your project.