A MONITORING DEVICE OF FORKLIFT’S STABILITY TRIANGLE

In most branches of industry forklifts are used for lifting and handling various shaped loads. These machines classified as lifting trucks vary in size and might be equipped with various attachments to enable work as universal lifting cranes. However, the main issue related to their usage is their critical stability that causes a lot of accidents resulting in human and material losses. These machines have been gone through years under development so as to render them more and more stable; the present research is a trial and a step forward towards better passive stability of forklifts. This research aims at enhancing the forklift longitudinal stability by monitoring the status of the so called forklift “stability triangle”, and at keeping the forklift operators working within stable range of load and speed. A new monitoring device which locates the forklifts center of gravity (C.G.) during its forward movement (uphill and downhill) instantaneously displays the C.G. point together with the stability triangle. In addition, a warning red light will be lightened in case the C.G. point tends to get out of the stability triangle or, in other words, in case of dangerous situations that might lead to forklift tipping-over.