Structural Characteristics of Four-Wheel Drive Rough Terrain Forklifts

The structural features of a four-wheel-drive rough-terrain forklift are as follows: (1) Good passability, with rough-terrain all-wheel drive. There is no differential between the axles, and large-diameter wide-base semi-steel tires are used. (2) An articulated frame is adopted. The swing angle of the frame can generally reach 30° to 40°, the steering system is simple, and only an ordinary steering drive axle is needed to achieve a relatively small turning radius. Operating the steering wheel causes the frame to swing horizontally, making it easier to align the forks with the material. (3) All-wheel braking. Except for small-tonnage forklifts that use an expanding shoe brake structure, most use caliper brakes, and large-tonnage forklifts also use wet brakes. Parking braking is mainly a handbrake. (4) The rear axle of the rough-terrain forklift is fixed to the frame, while the front axle can swing vertically relative to the frame. A support hydraulic cylinder is arranged between the frame and the front axle; when the forklift performs lifting operations, the hydraulic cylinder is operated to keep the lifting gantry in a transverse position; when the vehicle travels again, the upper and lower chambers of the hydraulic cylinder are connected to each other through a damping orifice, making the vehicle travel smoothly. (5) The wheelbase and track are relatively large, which can enhance the lateral and longitudinal stability of the vehicle. (6) Good mobility. The vehicle speed is generally 30 to 40 km/h, with good travel acceleration and a certain climbing ability. (7) The arrangement of the driver's seat. This gives the operator a better field of view during loading, and the driver's seat is generally arranged at the front. (8) Travel system. Similar to that of a loader, there are also multiple types of mechanical transmission, such as hydraulically shifted mechanical transmission, hydraulic transmission, and hydrostatic transmission. The difference lies in the use of a full-power matching method, with its load being the full-load climbing condition.