Surface cleaning apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A surface cleaning apparatus having an upper end and a lower end and comprising:
- (a) an air flow passage extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet;
(b) a suction motor positioned in the air flow passage;
(c) a dirt collection chamber having an upper end and a lower end;
(d) a first cyclonic stage comprising a cyclone positioned in the air flow passage and within the dirt collection chamber, the cyclone having a lower end comprising an air inlet, an air outlet, a longitudinal axis and a longitudinally extending sidewall, the sidewall having an annular end face at an opposing upper open end of the cyclone that extends around a perimeter of the sidewall;
(e) a plate spaced from the upper end of the dirt collection chamber and being orthogonal to the cyclone sidewall, the plate having a cyclone side spaced from and facing the end face to thereby define a continuous gap between the plate and the end face of the cyclone wherein the gap extends around the perimeter of the sidewall and wherein the gap has a variable length in the direction of the longitudinal axis; and
,(f) the dirt collection chamber in flow communication with the open end via the gap such that the gap defines a cyclone dirt outlet that extends around the perimeter.
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Abstract
A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a cyclone having an open end dirt outlet and a plate facing the open end, the height of a gap between the plate the open end is not constant.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A surface cleaning apparatus having an upper end and a lower end and comprising:
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(a) an air flow passage extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet; (b) a suction motor positioned in the air flow passage; (c) a dirt collection chamber having an upper end and a lower end; (d) a first cyclonic stage comprising a cyclone positioned in the air flow passage and within the dirt collection chamber, the cyclone having a lower end comprising an air inlet, an air outlet, a longitudinal axis and a longitudinally extending sidewall, the sidewall having an annular end face at an opposing upper open end of the cyclone that extends around a perimeter of the sidewall; (e) a plate spaced from the upper end of the dirt collection chamber and being orthogonal to the cyclone sidewall, the plate having a cyclone side spaced from and facing the end face to thereby define a continuous gap between the plate and the end face of the cyclone wherein the gap extends around the perimeter of the sidewall and wherein the gap has a variable length in the direction of the longitudinal axis; and
,(f) the dirt collection chamber in flow communication with the open end via the gap such that the gap defines a cyclone dirt outlet that extends around the perimeter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A surface cleaning apparatus having an upper end and a lower end and comprising:
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(a) an air flow passage extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet; (b) a suction motor positioned in the air flow passage; (c) a dirt collection chamber having an upper end, a lower end and a sidewall extending between the upper and lower ends, the upper end having a planar facing wall that closes an upper end of the sidewall; (d) a first cyclonic stage comprising a cyclone positioned in the air flow passage and within the dirt collection chamber, the cyclone having a lower end comprising an air inlet and an air outlet, an opposing open upper end having a dirt outlet, a longitudinal axis and a longitudinally extending sidewall, the sidewall having an end face at the open upper end of the cyclone; (e) the dirt collection chamber in flow communication with the open upper end via a gap having a height between the sidewall and the planar facing wall of the dirt collection chamber facing the end face; and
,(f) the dirt collection chamber having a region located between the sidewall of the cyclone and the sidewall of the dirt collection chamber and extending from the planar facing wall downwardly into the dirt collection chamber by a distance equal to the height wherein the region has an absence of intruding members, wherein the sidewall has a first wall portion having a first length and terminating at a first end face wherein the first end face is spaced from and faces the facing wall by a first distance defining a first portion of the gap having a first height and a second wall portion having a second, different length and terminating at a second end face that is spaced from and faces the facing wall by a second distance that is different to the first distance and defines a second portion of the gap having a second height, and wherein all material separated in the cyclone that enters the dirt collection chamber travels laterally through the gap to enter the dirt collection chamber. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
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(a) an air flow passage extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet; (b) a suction motor positioned in the air flow passage; (c) a cyclone positioned in the air flow passage, the cyclone extending along a longitudinal axis between a first end and an opposing, open second end, the first end comprising an air inlet, an air outlet, and a longitudinal axis, the cyclone comprising a longitudinally extending sidewall, the sidewall having an end face at an open second end of the cyclone; and
,(d) a dirt collection chamber in flow communication with the open second end via a continuous gap between the sidewall and a facing wall in the dirt collection chamber facing the end face, the facing wall having a facing wall sidewall extending towards the open second end and that is aligned with and facing the sidewall wherein a first portion of the gap has a first axial length and a second portion of the gap has a second axial length that is different to the first axial length. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification