Telescopic handler

A telescopic handler, or telehandler, is a machine widely used in Agriculture and Industry. It is similar in appearance and function to a forklift, with the increased versatility of a single telescopic boom that can extend forwards and upwards from the vehicle. On the end of the boom the operator can attach one of several attachments, such as a bucket, pallet forks, muck grab, or lift table. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 531 pixelsFull resolution (2240 × 1488 pixel, file size: 771 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 531 pixelsFull resolution (2240 × 1488 pixel, file size: 771 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... US airman operates forklift at a truck A forklift is a powered industrial truck used to hoist and transport materials by means of steel forks inserted under the load. ... A wooden pallet A plastic pallet with nine legs, which can be lifted from all four sides A Pallet can also be a small, hard, or temporary bed (a term heavily used in the southern United States to describe a makeshift bed consisting of a blanket and a pillow on... A lift table is a work platform that can raise and lower people and materials. ...

The most common attachment for a tele-handler is pallet forks and the most common application is to move loads to and from places out of reach for a conventional forklift. For example, telehandlers have the ability to remove palletized cargo from within a trailer and to place loads on rooftops and other high places. The latter application would otherwise require a crane, which is not always practical or time-efficient.

The advantage of the telehandler is also its biggest limitation: as the boom extends or raises while bearing a load, it acts as a lever and causes the vehicle to become increasingly unstable, despite counterweights in the rear. This means that the lifting capacity quickly decreases as the height and/or length of the boom increase. A vehicle with a 5,000lb capacity with the boom retracted may be able to lift as little as 400lb with it fully extended. The operator is equipped with a load chart which helps him determine whether a given task is possible, taking into account weight, boom angle and height. Failing this, most telehandlers utilize a computer which uses sensors to monitor the vehicle and will warn the operator and/or cut off further control input if the limits of the vehicle are exceeded. Some machines are also equipped with front outriggers similar to those installed on mobile cranes, which extend the lifting capability of the equipment while stationary. A crane can be any of the following things: A crane is a piece of industrial machinery used for working on tall buildings or for lifting containers onto and off of ships in port. ...

Articles

• Bigger and Better Telehandlers on Demand (Masonry Magazine)