Forklift Operation - Maintaining the Stability Triangle
The center of gravity and the stability triangle is amongst the important basic operating considerations. Among the hardest things for an operator of a lift truck to determine is the significance of maintaining their center of gravity within their stability triangle.
The Stability Triangle
A forklift has a 3-point suspension system. The stability triangle is created when imaginary lines are drawn between these three points. The operator should make certain that the center of gravity, that is made, together with the machinery and his load, remains in the stability triangle in order to guard against the forklift losing balance and tipping over.
Centers of Gravity
How is the center of gravity defined? When it comes to utilizing a lift truck, we need to be concerned not only with the center of gravity of the load being lifted but as well with the combined center of gravity. This comprises the lift truck as well as the load it is picking up.
The load's center of gravity is defined as the load center. The load center could be more easily detected in a uniform load situation, like for instance a bale. A uniform load on a 48 inch long pallet, for example, will have the load center at 24 inches. This is a common load center for numerous lift trucks with smaller capacity. Then again, if a load is not centered properly, like with non-symmetrical things, perhaps an engine for instance, then great caution and care have to be taken to be able to estimate the center of gravity.
Additionally, the lift truck has it's own center of gravity. This shifts every time the lift truck picks up a load. Once the load is lifted, the center of gravity moves forward. Care should be taken to be able to maintain the center of gravity in the forklift's stability triangle. This happens by following the numbers and not carrying more than the maximum allowable, given the center of the load. What's more, the load center has to be taken into consideration. Be aware that whenever lifting the load, the load center moves forward as well.
The operator and everybody else who works in the nearby vicinity or close-by, could stay a lot safer if the stability triangle is respected and the center of gravity is maintained. This would really guarantee balanced loads, a balanced machinery and safer for everyone.