Cherry picker

For the historical British regiment, see 11th Hussars.

A wheeled cherry picker

A trailer-mounted boom lift

Multiple parked bucket trucks

A cherry picker (also known as a boom lift, man lift, basket crane or hydraladder), is a type of aerial work platform that consists of a platform or bucket at the end of a hydraulic lifting system.

It is often mounted on the back of a large vehicle such as a truck (in which case it may also be called a bucket truck), it can also be mounted on a flat back pick up van known as a Self Drive, or sometimes on a stand-alone trailer or self-moving platform. The bucket is designed for a person to stand in and work from. Often a duplicate set of controls that are used to manipulate the position of the bucket will be available to the person in the bucket, allowing the operator to position himself. The lifting arms of some cherry pickers are capable of telescoping to adjust the reach of the device, usually with automatic safety controls to prevent tipping over. Articulated boom lifts are more appropriate than stick booms when operating in tight spaces or when clearing nearby obstacles is necessary.

Cherry pickers were originally designed for use in orchards (though not just cherry orchards) where they are still heavily used. It lets the picker pick fruit high in a tree with relative ease. Similar devices, also known as 'cherry pickers', are used to service telephone, cable television and electrical equipment on utility poles. Christmas light displays and banners can also be affixed with the use of a Cherry picker. An advantage of bucket trucks in this application is that the rubber tires can insulate the truck and operator from the ground, so if the bucket or operator touches a high voltage wire there is no path to ground for current, possibly preventing dangerous electrical shock.

Some fire trucks have a cherry picker (known as a snorkel) instead of a ladder and some window cleaners also use them. Cherry pickers are also used in mining, construction, exterior painting, and sometimes by arborists to work safely in otherwise unclimbable trees.

In Popular Culture

Pop Star Michael Jackson used a device similar to this in his performances. During the 1987 Bad Tour and the 1992 Dangerous Tour, he used a device like this during his performances of "Beat it" and during the 1996/97 HIStory Tour he used this device during "Earth Song". In the documentary film Michael Jackson's This Is It he is seen rehearsing the song "Beat it" on a cherry picker.

A "cherry picker" is also a (derisive) colloquial term for someone who, in sports such as hockey, soccer or basketball, routinely sacrifices defence in order to be in a position to score easy goals/baskets, especially staying significantly up ice/field/court from where play is.

See also

• Aerial work platform (about the general category of similar work equipment)

Automotive

A "cherry picker" also refers to an engine hoist within automotive circles. This device is used to assist the removal and install of internal combustion, electric or other engines.

References

• Boom Lift Sales & Rentals