Research And Design Of Steering Mechanism Of Electric Counterbalanced Forklift

Forklift truck is not only an important material handling machine, but also the guarantee to achieve efficient production. With a lack of traditional energy and strengthening of people’s environment protection awareness, the use of electric forklift is becoming more and more popular. However, because of the limitation of its structure, heavy body weight,unreasonable cell layout and poor electric power steering system are the weak points of the electric forklift.Aiming at the shortcoming of electric forklift, the major work of present thesis can be summarized as follows:firstly, the thesis studied the problems of the electric forklift and forward the overall design scheme of new type forklift. In order to reduce the weight of the forklift, the thesis uses the battery which is moves short distances back to replace the balance weight. At the same time, this arrangement also resolve the battery’s layout problem.Through the design of new electric power steering system to ensure flexibility of forklift. Secondly, the paper studied at the specific implementation method how to use the battery to replace balance weight and established the mathematical model that was use to research and analyze the steering system. Thirdly, through the MATLAB optimization software, established the optimization model of the steering gears, confirmed the constraint conditions and optimization objective,and tested by engineering example. Fourthly, with the help of the virtual simulation technology that designed the3D models of the steering mechanism.In the virtual simulation software, simulated the actual working conditions to test the feasibility of institution. Fifthly, the thesis applied the finite element analysis technology to study and optimize the structure characteristics of the new steering gear. Finally, analyse and research the stability and flexibility of new forklift.The conclusion of this thesis are as follows:firstly, the method that use the battery to replace the balance weight can ease the weight of forklift. But it can made the wheelbase long. We need to design a new steering mechanism to ensure cornering ability. Secondly, the new electric power steering system can ensure new forklift’s cornering ability. Finally, the stability and flexibility of new forklift can be ensure.