Innovative design of the lifting mechanisms for forklift trucks

Forklift truck is one of the most important tools in logistics. However, the general mast system of a forklift truck not only restrains the driverʹs vision, but also increases the whole weight of a truck and decreases the fuel economy. Therefore, this paper focuses on the innovative design of a new lifting mechanism for forklift truck. Firstly, a spatial multi-link lift-guidance mechanism is proposed. And then, under the constraints of this mechanism, the mobility of the fork and fork frame is investigated in theory. Lastly, a new lifting mechanism based on it is presented and computer simulation is used to demonstrate the feasibility of motion. This multi-link lifting mechanism takes advantage of flexible cable drive and rigid body guidance, which not only provides the operator with a wider field of vision but also reduces the equilibrate weight of a vehicle and therefore improves the fuel economy.