Forklift Operation - Maintaining the Stability Triangle
The center of gravity and the stability triangle is one of the important basic operating considerations. Amongst the hardest things for a lift truck operator to determine is the significance of maintaining their center of gravity within their stability triangle.
The Stability Triangle
To describe it clearly, a forklift has a 3-point suspension system. When drawing imaginary lines between these three points, the stability triangle is formed. The operator must ensure that the center of gravity, that is made, along with his load and the machinery itself, remains in the stability triangle to be able to guard against the forklift losing balance and tipping over.
Centers of Gravity
How do you define the center of gravity? When it comes to using a lift truck, we must be concerned not just with the center of gravity of the load being lifted but as well with the combined center of gravity. This comprises the lift truck and the load it is picking up.
The load center is defined as the center of gravity of the load. In a uniform load situation, like a bale for instance, the load center can be more easily detected. A uniform load on a 48 inch long pallet, for example, would have the load center at 24 inches. This is a common load center for a lot of lift trucks with smaller capacity. Then again, if a load is not centered properly, like with non-symmetrical items, perhaps an engine for instance, then a lot of caution and care must be taken in order to gauge the center of gravity.
Moreover, the lift truck has a center of gravity of its own. This shifts each time the lift truck picks up a load. Once the load is lifted, the center of gravity shifts forward. Care has to 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 raisin more than the maximum allowable, given the center of the load. What's more, the load center must be taken into consideration. Be aware that whenever raising the load, the load center also shifts forward.
The operator and everybody else who works close-by or in the nearby vicinity, could stay much safer if the center of gravity is maintained and the stability triangle is respected. This will guarantee balanced loads, a balanced machinery and safer for everybody.