1. Rated Lifting Capacity: The rated lifting capacity of a forklift refers to the maximum weight of goods that can be lifted when the distance from the center of gravity of the goods to the front wall of the forks is not greater than the load center distance, expressed in tons (T). When the center of gravity of the goods on the forks exceeds the specified load center distance, the lifting capacity should be reduced accordingly due to the limitations of the forklift's longitudinal stability.
2. Load Center Distance: The load center distance refers to the horizontal distance T from the center of gravity of a standard load placed on the forks to the front wall of the vertical section of the forks, expressed in millimeters (mm). For forklifts with capacities from 1T to 4T, the specified load center distance is 500mm.
3. Maximum Lifting Height: The maximum lifting height refers to the vertical distance from the upper surface of the horizontal section of the forks to the horizontal ground where the forklift is located when the forklift is fully loaded and the goods are raised to their highest position on a flat, solid surface.
4. Mast Incline Angle: The mast tilt angle refers to the maximum forward or backward tilt angle of the mast relative to its vertical position when the forklift is unloaded on a flat, solid surface. The purpose of the forward tilt angle is to facilitate the picking and unloading of goods; the purpose of the backward tilt angle is to prevent goods from slipping off the forks when the forklift is carrying cargo. Generally, the forward tilt angle of a forklift is 3°~6°, and the backward tilt angle is 10°~12°.
5. Maximum Lifting Speed: The maximum lifting speed of a forklift usually refers to the maximum speed at which the cargo can be lifted when the forklift is fully loaded, expressed in m/min (meters per minute). Increasing the maximum lifting speed can improve operational efficiency, but excessively high lifting speeds can easily lead to cargo damage and machine damage accidents. The maximum lifting speed of domestic forklifts has been increased to 20 m/min.
6. Maximum Travel Speed: Increasing the travel speed has a significant impact on improving the operating efficiency of the forklift. For an internal combustion forklift with a lifting capacity of 1 ton, its minimum travel speed when fully loaded should not be less than 17 m/min.
7. Minimum Turning Radius: When a forklift is traveling at low speed without a load and turning with the steering wheel fully turned, the minimum distance from the outermost and innermost points of the forklift body to the center of the turn is called the minimum outer turning radius Rmin_outer and the minimum inner turning radius rmin_inner, respectively. The smaller the minimum outer turning radius, the smaller the ground area required for the forklift to turn, and the better its maneuverability.
8. Minimum Ground Clearance: Minimum ground clearance refers to the distance from the lowest fixed point on the forklift body (excluding the wheels) to the ground. It represents the forklift's ability to cross obstacles without collision. The larger the minimum ground clearance, the higher the forklift's passability.
9. Wheelbase and Track Width: The forklift wheelbase is the horizontal distance between the center lines of the front and rear axles. The track width is the distance between the centers of the left and right wheels on the same axle. Increasing the wheelbase improves the longitudinal stability of the forklift but increases the body length and the minimum turning radius. Increasing the track width improves the lateral stability of the forklift but increases the overall width and the minimum turning radius.
10. Minimum Width of Right-Angle Aisles: The minimum width of a right-angle aisle refers to the minimum width of an aisle that intersects at right angles for forklift travel. It is expressed in mm. Generally, the smaller the minimum width of a right-angle aisle, the better its performance.
11. Minimum Width of Stacking Aisles: The minimum width of a stacking aisle is the minimum width required for a forklift to operate normally.
