Cyclone construction for a surface cleaning apparatus
View Patent ↗A cyclone for a surface cleaning apparatus has spaced apart and opposed first and second cyclone chamber end walls and a cyclone chamber sidewall extending therebetween. At least one of the first cyclone chamber end wall and the second cyclone chamber end wall is openable so as to provide access to the cyclone chamber. An opening extends along only a portion of the perimeter of the cyclone chamber sidewall and is positioned adjacent the second cyclone chamber end wall, the opening defining the dirt outlet whereby dirt exiting the cyclone chamber via the dirt outlet travels in a generally outwardly direction to an exterior dirt collection chamber.
1. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
(a) an air flow passage extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet;
(b) a filtration member housing having a housing sidewall;
(c) a cyclone chamber positioned within the filtration member housing and comprising a cyclone end wall at a first end, a cyclone chamber sidewall extending along a cyclone axis from the cyclone end wall to a dirt outlet end spaced from the first end, a cyclone air inlet, a cyclone air outlet, and a dirt outlet, the cyclone chamber sidewall including at least one sidewall portion that is laterally spaced from and faces the housing sidewall, the one sidewall portion extending from the dirt outlet end of the cyclone chamber toward the first end and the dirt outlet extending along at least a portion of the perimeter of one sidewall portion at the dirt outlet end of the cyclone chamber, the one sidewall portion having a first edge at the dirt outlet end;
(d) a dirt collection chamber exterior to the cyclone chamber and in communication with the dirt outlet;
(e) a plate positioned at the dirt outlet end of the cyclone chamber, a first portion of the plate abutting the cyclone chamber sidewall and a second portion of the plate is axially spaced apart from and faces the first edge of the one sidewall portion and is laterally spaced apart from the housing sidewall, the dirt outlet being at least partially bounded by the first edge and the second portion of the plate whereby dirt exiting the cyclone chamber via the dirt outlet travels in a generally outwardly direction, wherein at least one of the plate and the cyclone end wall is openable; and,
(f) a suction motor positioned in the air flow passage.
2. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cyclone chamber wall is generally circular in transverse cross-sectional shape and the dirt outlet is arcuate.
3. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the plate comprises a peripheral edge of the plate that abuts an inner surface of the cyclone chamber sidewall.
4. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the second portion of the plate comprises a lip portion that extends transversely beyond the cyclone chamber sidewall.
5. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plate covers substantially the entire dirt outlet end of the cyclone chamber.
6. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plate is movable between an open position, whereby access to the cyclone chamber is provided, and a use position.
7. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising a first abutment member provided in the dirt collection chamber or the cyclone chamber and a complimentary second abutment member provided on the plate and bearing against first abutment member when the plate is in the use position.
8. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising a biasing member biasing the plate toward the use position.
9. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the dirt collection chamber includes an openable wall.
10. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the plate is moveable with the openable wall whereby opening the openable wall opens both the dirt collection chamber and the cyclone chamber.
11. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the plate is mounted to and supported apart from the openable wall by a support member.
12. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the plate is moveably mounted to the openable wall.
13. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the dirt outlet is above the cyclone air inlet.
14. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the dirt outlet is below the air inlet.
15. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the air inlet is positioned toward the dirt outlet end of the cyclone chamber.
16. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the air inlet is positioned toward the first end of the cyclone chamber.
17. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the air inlet and air outlet are both provided at one of the first end and the dirt outlet end of the cyclone chamber.
18. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
(a) an air flow passage extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet;
(b) a filtration member housing having a first housing end wall at a first end of the housing, a second housing end wall at a second end of the housing axially spaced apart from the first end of the housing and a housing sidewall extending between the first and second housing end walls;
(c) a cyclone chamber positioned within the filtration member housing and having a first cyclone chamber end wall at a first end of the cyclone chamber, a cyclone chamber sidewall extending from the first cyclone end wall, the cyclone chamber sidewall comprising at least one sidewall portion that is spaced from and faces the housing sidewall, a second cyclone chamber end wall spaced from the first cyclone chamber end wall at a second end of the cyclone chamber and disposed axially intermediate and spaced apart from the first and second housing end walls, a cyclone air inlet, a cyclone air outlet, and a dirt outlet, wherein at least one of the first cyclone chamber end wall and the second cyclone chamber end wall is openable whereby access to the cyclone chamber is provided;
(d) an opening extending along only a portion of the perimeter of the cyclone chamber sidewall, including at least a portion of the perimeter of the one sidewall portion and positioned adjacent the second cyclone chamber end wall, the opening defining the dirt outlet whereby dirt exiting the cyclone chamber via the dirt outlet travels in a generally outwardly direction;
(e) a dirt collection chamber exterior to the cyclone chamber and in communication with the dirt outlet; and,
(f) a suction motor positioned in the air flow passage.
19. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the one sidewall portion comprises a first edge, and wherein a first portion of the second cyclone chamber end wall abuts the cyclone chamber sidewall and a second portion of the second cyclone chamber end wall is spaced from and faces the first whereby the opening defining the dirt outlet is at least partially bounded by the first edge of the one sidewall portion and the second portion of the second cyclone chamber end wall.
20. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 19 , wherein at least a portion of a perimeter of the first portion of the second cyclone chamber end wall abuts an inner surface of the cyclone chamber sidewall.
21. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the second portion of the second cyclone chamber end wall extends transversely beyond the cyclone chamber sidewall.
22. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 18 , wherein both the first cyclone chamber end wall and the second cyclone chamber end wall are openable.
23. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the dirt collection chamber includes a first dirt collection chamber end wall and a second dirt collection chamber end wall spaced from the first dirt collection chamber end wall, and at least one of the first and second dirt collection chamber end walls are openable whereby access to the dirt collection chamber is provided.
24. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the second dirt collection chamber end wall is openable and the second cyclone chamber end wall is moveable with the second dirt collection chamber end wall whereby opening the second dirt collection chamber end wall opens both the dirt collection chamber and the cyclone chamber.
25. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the second cyclone chamber end wall is mounted to and supported apart from the openable wall by a support member.
26. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the second cyclone chamber end wall is moveably mounted to the openable wall.
27. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 23 , wherein both of the first and second dirt collection chamber end walls are openable.
28. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 27 , wherein both the first and second cyclone chamber end walls are openable.
29. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the second cyclone chamber end wall is connected to and openable with the second dirt collection chamber sidewall.
30. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 29 , wherein the first cyclone chamber end wall is connected to and openable with the first dirt collection chamber end wall.
31. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the dirt outlet is above the cyclone air inlet.
32. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the dirt outlet is below the air inlet.
33. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the air inlet is positioned toward the second end of the cyclone chamber.
34. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the air inlet is positioned toward the first end of the cyclone chamber.
35. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cyclone chamber is defined by the housing sidewall and the cyclone chamber sidewall.