SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS
A surface cleaning apparatus comprises an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and includes a suction motor. The surface cleaning apparatus may be battery powered and/or may have a power requirement of 200 Watts or less. A cyclone chamber may be provided in the air flow path and may comprise a cyclone air inlet having a height, a cyclone air outlet and a screen surrounding the cyclone air outlet. The cyclone air outlet may comprise a passage that extends into the cyclone chamber less than the height of the cyclone inlet.
1 . A battery operated surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
(a) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and including a suction motor;
(b) a cyclone chamber provided in the air flow path and comprising a cyclone air inlet having a height, a cyclone air outlet and a screen surrounding the cyclone air outlet, wherein the cyclone air outlet comprises a passage that extends into the cyclone chamber less than the height of the cyclone inlet; and,
(c) at least one battery operably connected to the suction motor.
2 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one battery produces less than 50 air watts and an air flow rate less than 1.3 m 3 /minute.
3 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one battery produces less than 40 air watts and an air flow rate less than 1.2 m 3 /minute.
4 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one battery produces less than 30 air watts and an air flow rate less than 1.1 m 3 /minute.
5 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the passage is provided in a wall of the cyclone chamber and passage has a thickness proximate a thickness of the wall.
6 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cyclone air inlet and the cyclone air outlet are provided at a first end of the cyclone chamber.
7 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 6 wherein the cyclone chamber further comprises a dirt outlet and the dirt outlet is at a second end of the cyclone chamber opposed to the first end.
8 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the screen has a plurality of openings that are less than 8 mm in size.
9 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the screen has a plurality of openings that are less than 6 mm in size.
10 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the screen has a plurality of openings that are less than 4 mm in size.
11 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the screen has a plurality of openings that are less than 2 mm in size.
12 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the screen is cylindrical in shape.
13 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the screen is frusto-conical in shape.
14 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the screen has a height that is from 0.5 to 4 times the height of the cyclone air inlet.
15 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the screen has a height that is from 1 to 3 times the height of the cyclone air inlet.
16 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the screen has a height that is about twice the height of the cyclone air inlet.
17 . A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
(a) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and including a suction motor having a power requirement of 200 Watts or less and;
(b) a cyclone chamber provided in the air flow path and comprising a cyclone air inlet having a height, a cyclone air outlet and a screen surrounding the cyclone air outlet, wherein the cyclone air outlet comprises a passage that extends into the cyclone chamber less than the height of the cyclone inlet.
18 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17 wherein the surface cleaning apparatus produces less than 50 air watts and an air flow rate less than 1.3 m 3 /minute.
19 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17 wherein the surface cleaning apparatus produces less than 40 air watts and an air flow rate less than 1.2 m 3 /minute.
20 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17 wherein the surface cleaning apparatus produces less than 30 air watts and an air flow rate less than 1.1 m 3 /minute.
21 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17 wherein the passage is provided in a wall of the cyclone chamber and passage has a thickness proximate a thickness of the wall.
22 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17 wherein the cyclone air inlet and the cyclone air outlet are provided at a first end of the cyclone chamber.
23 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 22 wherein the cyclone chamber further comprises a dirt outlet and the dirt outlet is at a second end of the cyclone chamber opposed to the first end.
24 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17 wherein the screen has a plurality of openings that are less than 8 mm in size.
25 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17 wherein the screen has a plurality of openings that are less than 6 mm in size.
26 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17 wherein the screen has a plurality of openings that are less than 4 mm in size.
27 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17 wherein the screen has a plurality of openings that are less than 2 mm in size.
28 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17 wherein the screen is cylindrical in shape.
29 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17 wherein the screen is frusto-conical in shape.
30 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17 wherein the screen has a height that is from 0.5 to 4 times the height of the cyclone air inlet.
31 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17 wherein the screen has a height that is from 1 to 3 times the height of the cyclone air inlet.
32 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17 wherein the screen has a height that is about twice the height of the cyclone air inlet.