Configuration of a cyclone assembly and surface cleaning apparatus having same

1. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising a cyclone separator, the cyclone separator comprising:

(a) a cyclone casing defining a cyclone chamber and having a first end having a first end wall, a second end having an opposed second end wall that is axially spaced apart from the first end wall, a sidewall, a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and a separated material outlet, said separated material outlet being positioned in the second end and being in communication with a separated material collection chamber, wherein the fluid inlet comprises an inlet conduit that defines a passage;

(b) the sidewall having an inlet section and a second section, the fluid inlet provided on the inlet section;

(c) the separated material collection chamber having a sidewall that surrounds at least a portion of the cyclone chamber and is spaced therefrom; and,

(d) the separated material collection chamber having a first end and a second end, the second end having an opposed surface facing the second end of the cyclone chamber and is spaced therefrom and facing the first end of the separated material collection chamber and is spaced therefrom; and

(e) an openable cover at least partially bounding the inlet conduit and at least one of the cyclone chamber and the separated material collection chamber, wherein the cover is configured such that opening the cover simultaneously opens the inlet conduit and at least one of the entire first end of the cyclone chamber and the entire first end of the separated material collection chamber.

2. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the separated material collection chamber is round.

3. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sidewall of the separated material collection chamber facing the sidewall of the inlet section of the cyclone casing is spaced apart by less than 0.5 inches.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sidewall of the separated material collection chamber facing the sidewall of the second section of the cyclone casing is spaced therefrom by at least about 0.5 inches and the opposed surface of the separated material collection chamber facing the second end is spaced from the second end by at least about 0.5 inches.

5. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cyclone chamber, the inlet conduit and the separated material collection chamber open along a common plane.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cyclone chamber comprises a generally cylindrical portion having a central axis, and wherein fluid travels at an angle to the central axis through the passage defined by the inlet conduit.

7. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fluid inlet comprises an inlet opening in the sidewall of the cyclone chamber and the inlet conduit communicates with the inlet opening.

8. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises the fluid outlet, and the fluid outlet is moveable with the cover.

9. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the inlet conduit is positioned in the separated material collection chamber.

10. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising a cyclone separator, the cyclone separator comprising:

(a) a cyclone casing defining a cyclone chamber and having a first end having a first end wall, a second end having an opposed second end wall that is axially spaced apart from the first end wall, a sidewall, a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and a separated material outlet, said separated material outlet being positioned in the second end and being in communication with a separated material collection chamber, wherein the fluid inlet comprises an inlet conduit that defines a passage;

(b) the sidewall having an inlet section and a second section, the fluid inlet provided on the inlet section;

(c) the separated material collection chamber having a sidewall that surrounds at least a portion of the cyclone chamber and is spaced therefrom; and,

(d) the separated material collection chamber having an opposed surface facing the second end and is spaced therefrom; and

(e) an openable cover at least partially bounding the inlet conduit and at least one of the cyclone chamber or the separated material collection chamber, wherein the cover is configured such that opening the cover simultaneously opens both the cyclone chamber, the inlet conduit and the separated material collection chamber.

11. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein an end of the cyclone chamber, an end of the inlet conduit and an end of the separated material collection chamber is openable and the ends of the cyclone chamber, the fluid inlet and the separated material collection chamber are positioned adjacent the second end of the cyclone chamber.

12. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising a cyclone separator, the cyclone separator comprising:

(a) a cyclone casing defining a cyclone chamber and having a first end having a first end wall, a second end having an opposed second end wall that is axially spaced apart from the first end wall, a sidewall, a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and a separated material outlet, said separated material outlet being positioned in the second end and being in communication with a separated material collection chamber, wherein the fluid inlet comprises an inlet conduit that defines a passage;

(b) the sidewall having an inlet section and a second section, the fluid inlet provided on the inlet section;

(c) the separated material collection chamber having a sidewall that surrounds at least a portion of the cyclone chamber and is spaced therefrom; and,

(d) the separated material collection chamber having an opposed surface facing the second end and is spaced therefrom; and

(e) an openable cover at least partially bounding the inlet conduit and at least one of the cyclone chamber or the separated material collection chamber, wherein the cover is configured such that opening the cover simultaneously opens both the inlet conduit and the at least one of the cyclone chamber or the separated material collection chamber,

wherein the cover comprises the first end wall of the cyclone chamber and a first end wall of the separated material collection chamber.

13. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising a cyclone separator, the cyclone separator comprising:

(a) a cyclone casing defining a cyclone chamber and having a first end having a first end wall, a second end having an opposed second end wall that is axially spaced apart from the first end wall, a sidewall, a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and a separated material outlet, said separated material outlet being positioned in the second end and being in communication with a separated material collection chamber, wherein the fluid inlet comprises an inlet conduit that defines a passage;

(b) the sidewall having an inlet section and a second section, the fluid inlet provided on the inlet section;

(c) the separated material collection chamber having a sidewall that surrounds at least a portion of the cyclone chamber and is spaced therefrom; and,

(d) the separated material collection chamber having an opposed surface facing the second end and is spaced therefrom; and

(e) an openable cover at least partially bounding the inlet conduit and at least one of the cyclone chamber or the separated material collection chamber, wherein the cover is configured such that opening the cover simultaneously opens both the inlet conduit and the at least one of the cyclone chamber or the separated material collection chamber,

wherein the openable cover at least partially bounds the inlet conduit, the cyclone chamber and the separated material collection chamber.

14. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising a cyclone separator, the cyclone separator comprising:

(a) a cyclone casing defining a cyclone chamber and having a first end having a first end wall, a second end having an opposed second end wall that is axially spaced apart from the first end wall, a sidewall, a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and a separated material outlet, said separated material outlet being positioned in the second end and being in communication with a separated material collection chamber, wherein the fluid inlet comprises an inlet conduit that defines a passage;

(b) the sidewall having an inlet section and a second section, the fluid inlet provided on the inlet section;

(c) the separated material collection chamber having a sidewall that surrounds at least a portion of the cyclone chamber and is spaced therefrom; and,

(d) the separated material collection chamber a first end and a second end, the second end having an opposed surface facing the second end of the cyclone chamber and is spaced therefrom and facing the first end of the separated material collection chamber and is spaced therefrom; and

(e) an openable cover at least partially bounding the inlet conduit and at least one of the cyclone chamber or the separated material collection chamber, wherein the cover is configured such that opening the cover simultaneously opens the inlet conduit and at least one of the entire first end of the cyclone chamber and the entire first end of the separated material collection chamber and closing the cover simultaneously closes the inlet conduit and at least one of the entire first end of the cyclone chamber and the entire first end of the separated material collection chamber.