Leaf collection vehicle

A leaf collection vehicle comprising:

• a vehicle body having a receiving hopper for receiving leaves, a storage compartment for receiving leaves, a tailgate mechanism for accessing the storage compartment, and an operator cab compartment;
• a frame structure for holding the vehicle body;
• a divider wall member separating the receiving hopper from the storage compartment, the divider wall having at least one opening therein for allowing leaves from the receiving hopper to be transferred to the storage compartment;
• a fan assembly removably attachable at a location within the receiving hopper, the fan assembly providing suction for gathering leaves;
• a suction tube having one end portion thereof removably attachable to the fan assembly for collecting and transferring leaves initially to the receiving hopper and when the receiving hopper is full, then to the storage compartment;
• a boom member for cradling the suction hose, the boom member being hydraulically operated from a control unit in the vehicle cab compartment, the boom member being movable from a side storage position to an operative position angularly related thereto;
• and
• a packer device located in the receiving hopper for compacting the leaves collected therein and for transferring the compacted leaves to the storage compartment, the compaction of leaves in the receiving hopper occurring simultaneously with the collection of leaves by the suction hose.

In a refuse collection vehicle having a vehicle body, a receiving hopper, a storage compartment, a divider wall between the receiving hopper and the storage compartment having an opening associated therewith, a tailgate assembly, an operator cab, a packer mechanism for transferring refuse from the receiving hopper to the storage compartment, a vehicle engine, and a vehicle hydraulic system, the improvement comprising:

• removably attaching a fan assembly at a location within the receiving hopper, the fan assembly being operatively connected to the vehicle engine and vehicle hydraulic system;
• closing the receiving hopper with side wall members and a cover member;
• a suction hose having one end portion thereof removably attached to the fan assembly for collecting and transferring leaves initially to the receiving hopper and when the receiving hopper is full, then to the storage compartment;
• and
• a boom member for cradling the suction hose, the boom member being operatively connected to the vehicle hydraulic system for movement thereof.