A simple but clever device designed to make it easier to operate counterbalance forklift trucks has been short listed for two prestigious industry awards. FLTA
With a patent pending under the brand name ‘ForkAngles’, the device is the brainchild of design engineer, Antony Cook of Alsager, Cheshire. The idea stems from Antony’s personal experience and observations in the operation of counterbalance forklift trucks.
“There is a fundamental problem with the design of counterbalance forklift trucks”, explains Antony. “The view from the operators’ position is not sufficient to allow the driver to accurately determine the mast tilt position. Even experienced operators have to estimate the required mast tilt, and then they use their skill to make fine adjustments. If a driver gets it wrong it could result in damage to the racking system, the pallet payload and a possible injury.”
After becoming aware of this problem, Antony Cook set out to design a simple visual ‘tilt angle’ indicator to take the guesswork and skill out of setting the correct tilt angle.
“The result is a sliding indicator-weight controlled by a wire linkage, the position of the indicator-weight, allows the operator to accurately align the forks first time, every time. The concept uses gravity to provide the movement. There are no electrics involved.”
Apart from being relatively inexpensive, the ‘ForkAngles’ device can be easily retro-fitted without any drilling or modification to the truck. Indeed it is so simple that a demonstration unit can be installed in seconds.
The design has been validated after a successful series of trials, involving several logistics firms; a potteries-based manufacturer of fine china products and a regional FLT training specialist.
These trials proved that without ForkAngles, drivers have only a six per cent probability of setting the tilt angle correct first time. In comparison, with ForkAngles, the same drivers achieved 99.5 per cent probability.
ForkAngles
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