Forklift Engines
Forklifts are classified as vehicles with small engines, the same class in which lawnmowers are categorized. Forklift engines all follow the principles of internal combustion. Various lift truck models and brand names would have varying engine layout and design. Forklifts are made more toward producing high torque rather than for speed. They generally are geared to low speeds. The engine powers the drive wheels of the forklift. The engine is also needed to raise and lower the forks through a series of chain pulleys. Most modern forklift engines are powered by propane since they would be used indoors, where diesel and gasoline engines would be unsuitable because of the exhaust they produce.
Typically, the forklift is a four-cylinder engine-block. The engines of the forklift are similar to automobile engines as they contain pistons connecting to a camshaft. Each and every cylinder head consists of 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, when the operator starts up the forklift engine. This fine spray mixes with air coming from the mass air intake before moving into the cylinder's head intake hatches. Every one of the four pistons is staggered to rise in an exact sequence, which compresses the mixture of air and propane as every piston rises to the top of the head. With extremely exact timing, the alternator and battery of the engine create 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, leading to a continuous turning of the camshaft. In the cylinder, an air pressure imbalance causes the the exhaust hatch to draw out exhaust as more fuel passes into the cylinder. Propane burns much cleaner compared to gasoline and diesel and the exhaust is not as harmful.