Lift truck Engines
Forklifts are classified as small-engine vehicles, the same class wherein lawnmowers are categorized. The engines of the forklifts all follow the principles of internal combustion. Various forklift models and brand names will have varying engine design and layout. Forklifts are designed more toward generating high torque rather than for speed. They normally are geared to low speeds. The engine runs the forklift's drive wheels. The engine is also needed to lower and raise the forks through a series of chain pulleys. Nearly all modern lift truck engines are powered by propane because they will be used indoors, where diesel and gasoline engines would be inappropriate due to the exhaust they produce.
A four-cylinder engine-block is normally found in a lift truck. Much similar to the engine in small cars, forklift engines have cylinders containing pistons connecting to a camshaft. The head of each cylinder consists of an exhaust hatch, a spark plug and an exhaust hatch, each of them one-way and spring-loaded.
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 coming from the mass air intake before moving into the cylinder's head intake hatches. Each and every one of the four pistons is staggered to rise in a precise sequence, which compresses the mixture of propane and air as each piston rises to the top of the head. With timing which is very precise, the engine's battery and alternator produce an electrical current that passes through the spark plug. The fuel ignites resulting in an explosion which drives the piston back down to the bottom of the cylinder, leading to a continuous turning of the camshaft. An air pressure imbalance in the cylinder causes the the exhaust hatch to draw out exhaust when more fuel passes into the cylinder. Propane burns much cleaner compared to diesel and gasoline and the exhaust is not as harmful.