Multi cyclone array for surface cleaning apparatus and a surface cleaning apparatus having same
A surface cleaning apparatus has an upstream air treatment member and a downstream cyclonic cleaning stage that includes a plurality of cyclones in parallel. Each cyclone has a cyclone axis of rotation, a first end, an axially spaced apart second end, a sidewall extending between the first and second ends, an air inlet, an air outlet, and a sideways dirt outlet. The surface cleaning apparatus also includes a dirt collection chamber and a dirt collection plenum.
1. A vacuum cleaner comprising:
(a) an upstream air treatment member;
(b) a downstream cyclonic cleaning stage comprising a plurality of cyclones in parallel, each cyclone having a cyclone axis of rotation, a first end, an axially spaced apart second end, a sidewall extending between the first and second ends, an air inlet, an air outlet and a sideways dirt outlet;
(c) a dirt collection chamber; and
(d) a dirt collection plenum comprising a volume that is in communication with at least some of the dirt outlets and the dirt collection chamber whereby the dirt collection plenum receives dirt from at least some of the cyclones and at least some of the dirt is received by the dirt collection chamber, the dirt collection plenum comprising a first wall and an axially opposed second wall, an outer wall and at least some of the sidewalls of the plurality of cyclones,
wherein a first plane that is transverse to one of the cyclone axis of rotation extends through at least some of the dirt outlets of the plurality of cyclones and the dirt collection plenum, and
wherein at least a portion of the dirt collection plenum is positioned radially inwardly of at least some of the dirt outlets of the plurality of cyclones.
2. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein a passage having an inlet end and an outlet end extends from the upstream air treatment member to at least some of the cyclone air inlets, and the dirt collection plenum has a radial outer extent that is spaced radially inwardly outwardly of the inlet end of the passage.
3. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein a passage having an inlet end and an outlet end extends from the upstream air treatment member to at least some of the cyclone air inlets, and a second plane that is transverse to the one of the cyclone axis of rotation extends through the inlet end of the passage and the dirt collection plenum.
4. The vacuum cleaner of claim 3 wherein the second plane extends through the sideways dirt outlets.
5. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the sideways dirt outlet comprises an opening in the sidewall.
6. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the sidewall is spaced from the second end, whereby the sideways dirt outlet comprises a space between the sidewall and the second end.
7. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the sideways dirt outlet directs dirt outwardly in the first plane.
8. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the plurality of cyclones comprises a first cyclone and a second cyclone and a portion of the dirt collection plenum is radially positioned between the first and second cyclones and the sideways dirt outlet of the first cyclone directs dirt towards the portion.
9. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein each cyclone has a radially inner side, a radially outer side and lateral sides provided between the radially inner and radially outer sides and the sideways dirt outlet is provided in one of the lateral sides.
10. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein a portion of the air flow path extends along an axially extending passage surrounding at least a portion of the plurality of cyclones.
11. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein a portion of the air flow path extends along an axially extending passage surrounding the plurality of cyclones.