Cyclonic vacuum cleaner system

Abstract

A cyclone system for a vacuum cleaner includes an array of two or more primary cyclone chambers, an array of two or more secondary cyclone chambers situated downstream of the primary cyclone chambers, and a manifold situated downstream of and communicating with the primary cyclone chambers and upstream of and communicating with the secondary cyclone chambers.

1 . A cyclone system for a vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 an array of primary cyclone chambers,   an array of secondary cyclone chambers situated downstream of the primary cyclone chambers, and   a manifold situated downstream of and communicating with the primary cyclone chambers and upstream of and communicating with the secondary cyclone chambers.   
   
   
       2 . The cyclone system of  claim 1 , wherein the manifold communicates with each primary cyclone chamber via an air-extraction exit tube extending into the primary cyclone chamber. 
   
   
       3 . The cyclone system of  claim 2 , wherein each exit tube comprises an inlet through which air from the primary chamber passes en route to the manifold and a particulate screen across the inlet. 
   
   
       4 . The cyclone system of  claim 3 , wherein each primary cyclone chamber comprises a dirty air inlet port directed tangentially into the chamber and the exit tube extends sufficiently into the chamber such that its inlet is not in the direct flow path of the dirty air inlet port, but not substantially therepast, thereby leaving a major axial portion of the primary cyclone chamber unobstructed by the exit tube. 
   
   
       4 . (canceled) 
   
   
       5 . The cyclone system of  claim 1 , further comprising a respective fine particulate receptacle associated with each secondary cyclone chamber, and wherein each secondary cyclone chamber is frusto-conically tapered inwardly toward the respective fine particulate receptacle. 
   
   
       6 . The cyclone system of  claim 1 , comprising a pair of said primary cyclone chambers and a trio of said secondary cyclone chambers. 
   
   
       7 . A cyclone chamber for a vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 a dirty air inlet port directed tangentially into the chamber,   an air-extraction exit tube extending into the chamber and having an inlet through which air is extracted from the chamber, the exit tube extending sufficiently into the chamber such that its inlet is not in the direct flow path of the dirty air inlet port, but not substantially therepast, thereby leaving a major axial portion of the cyclone chamber unobstructed by the exit tube.   
   
   
       8 . The cyclone chamber of  claim 7 , further comprising a particulate screen situated across the inlet of the air-extraction exit tube. 
   
   
       9 . A cyclone system for a vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 a primary cyclone chamber for receiving dirty air and having an exit port,   a secondary cyclone chamber situated outside of and downstream of the primary cyclone chamber and having an inlet port receiving airflow from the exit port of the primary chamber.   
   
   
       10 . The cyclone system of  claim 9 , wherein the primary and secondary chambers are each substantially cylindrical with a major longitudinal axis and wherein the axes of the respective chambers are substantially co-linear. 
   
   
       11 . The cyclone system of  claim 10 , wherein the primary chamber comprises:
 a dirty air inlet port directed tangentially into the chamber,   an air-extraction exit tube extending into the chamber and having an inlet through which air is extracted from the chamber, the exit tube extending sufficiently into the chamber such that its inlet is not in the direct flow path of the dirty air inlet port, but not substantially therepast, thereby leaving a major axial portion of the cyclone chamber unobstructed by the exit tube.   
   
   
       12 . The cyclone system of  claim 11 , further comprising a particulate screen situated across the inlet of the air-extraction exit tube. 
   
   
       13 . An upright vacuum cleaner comprising the cyclone system of  claim 10  and in which the secondary chamber is situated above the primary chamber. 
   
   
       14 . The cyclone system of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary chambers each comprise an air-extraction exit tube extending into the secondary chamber and via which air is drawn from the secondary chamber.