Lift truck Engines
Forklifts are classified as vehicles with small engines. The engines of the forklift all follow the principles of internal combustion, though the numerous makes and models of forklift will have a different layout and design. Forklifts are designed more toward generating high torque than for speed. They generally are geared to low speeds. The engine runs the drive wheels of the forklift. The engine is also needed to lower and lift the forks via a series of chain pulleys. The majority of modern forklift engines are fueled by propane because they will be utilized indoors, where diesel and gasoline engines will be unsuitable due to the exhaust they create.
A four-cylinder engine-block is typically found in a forklift. Much similar to the engine in small cars, forklift engines have cylinders that contain pistons connecting to a camshaft. Every cylinder head has an exhaust hatch, a spark plug and an exhaust hatch, each of them spring-loaded and one-way.
Engine Function
Propane passes through the opened throttle-plate in a fine spray, once the operator starts up the engine of the forklift. This fine spray mixes with air which comes from the mass air intake before moving into the head intake hatches of the cylinder. Each one of the four pistons is staggered to rise in an exact sequence, compressing the mixture of propane and air as every piston rises to the top of the head. With extremely precise timing, the battery and alternator of the engine produce an electrical current which passes through the spark plug. The fuel ignites leading to an explosion which drives the piston back down to the bottom of the cylinder, causing a continuous turning of the camshaft. In the cylinder, an air pressure imbalance causes the the exhaust hatch to draw out exhaust when more fuel passes into the cylinder. Propane burns a lot cleaner compared to gasoline and diesel and the exhaust is not as harmful.