CYCLONE CONSTRUCTION FOR A SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS
The surface cleaning apparatus includes a cyclone positioned in am air flow passage. The cyclone has a cyclone air inlet and a cyclone air outlet, a dirt outlet spaced from the cyclone air inlet, a cyclone chamber wall and a longitudinal axis. The surface cleaning apparatus also includes a dirt collection chamber in communication with the dirt outlet. The dirt collection chamber has an openable wall mounted to the surface cleaning apparatus by a hinge and a centrally positioned longitudinal axis, the openable wall has a centre and a hinge side. The surface cleaning apparatus also includes a plate positioned at an interface of the dirt collection chamber and the cyclone. The plate is moveably mounted to the openable wall. The surface cleaning apparatus also includes a biasing member biasing the plate towards the hinge side of the openable wall a suction motor positioned in the air flow passage.
1 - 34 . (canceled)
35 . A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
(a) an air flow passage extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet;
(b) a cyclone positioned in the air flow passage and having a cyclone air inlet, a cyclone air outlet provided in a wall of the cyclone, a dirt outlet and a cyclone chamber wall;
(c) a dirt collection chamber in communication with the dirt outlet;
(d) a suction motor positioned in the air flow passage; and,
(e) the air flow passage comprises a portion extending from the cyclone air outlet to the suction motor wherein the portion comprises a conduit that extends through the dirt collection chamber.
36 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 35 wherein the wall comprises an end wall of the cyclone.
37 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 36 wherein the dirt collection chamber has an end wall that is spaced from and faces the end wall of the cyclone whereby a portion of the dirt collection chamber is positioned between the end wall of the cyclone having the air outlet and the end wall of the dirt collection chamber.
38 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 37 wherein the conduit extends through the dirt collection chamber to an opening in the end wall of the dirt collection chamber.
39 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 38 wherein, in use, the cyclone is positioned above the dirt collection chamber end wall whereby the dirt collection chamber end wall defines a dirt collection surface that is spaced from and faces the end wall of the cyclone.
40 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 35 wherein the conduit is an extension of a vortex finder.
41 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 35 wherein the cyclone air inlet is positioned at the wall of the cyclone.
42 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 35 wherein the dirt collection chamber is external to the cyclone.
43 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 42 wherein the dirt collection chamber surrounds a portion of the cyclone.
44 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 35 wherein the end wall of the dirt collection chamber is openable.
45 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 44 wherein the openable end wall has the conduit provided thereon and the conduit is removed from the dirt collection chamber when the openable end wall is opened.
46 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 45 further comprising an openable seal between the conduit and the cyclone.
47 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 44 wherein conduit is mounted to the cyclone and extends from the cyclone to the openable end wall.
48 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 47 further comprising an openable seal between the conduit and the openable end wall.
49 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 47 wherein the openable seal is in a plane at an angle to the direction of air flow through the conduit.
50 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 35 wherein the dirt collection chamber has two opposed openable end walls.
51 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 35 wherein the cyclone air outlet is provided at one end of the cyclone chamber and the dirt outlet is spaced from the cyclone air outlet.
52 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 35 wherein the cyclone and the dirt collection chamber are positioned above the suction motor.