Cyclonic surface cleaning apparatus with externally positioned dirt chamber

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a floor cleaning unit and an upright section comprising a handle drivingly connected to the surface cleaning head. The surface cleaning apparatus also comprises a cyclone mounted on the upright section and positioned in the air flow passage. The cyclone is inverted and/or has an external dirt collection chamber.

1 . An upright surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
 (a) a floor cleaning unit comprising a surface cleaning head having a dirty air inlet, a cleaning head air outlet and an upright section comprising a handle drivingly connected to the surface cleaning head;   (b) a cyclone unit positioned in the air flow passage, the cyclone unit comprising a cyclone having an air inlet located at a lower end of the cyclone and an air outlet and a dirt outlet provided at an upper end of the cyclone, and a dirt collection chamber exterior to the cyclone and surrounding at least a portion of the cyclone;   (c) a suction motor positioned in the air flow path; and,   (d) a surface cleaning unit removably mounted to the handle wherein the surface cleaning unit comprises the cyclone unit and the suction motor.   
   
   
       2 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the cyclone and the dirt collection chamber are concurrently openable. 
   
   
       3 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the cyclone is positioned interior of the dirt collection chamber. 
   
   
       4 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a plate facing the dirt outlet. 
   
   
       5 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the plate is mounted to an upper end of the cyclone unit. 
   
   
       6 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the cyclone is an inverted cyclone having an air inlet and an air outlet at a lower end of the cyclone. 
   
   
       7 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a vortex finder that is provided on an openable door of the cyclone. 
   
   
       8 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the handle comprises a portion of the air flow path. 
   
   
       9 . An upright surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
 (a) a floor cleaning unit comprising a surface cleaning head having a dirty air inlet, a cleaning head air outlet and an upright section comprising a handle drivingly connected to the surface cleaning head;   (b) a cyclone unit mounted on the upright section and positioned in the air flow passage, the cyclone unit comprising a cyclone having an air inlet located at a lower end of the cyclone and an air outlet and a dirt outlet provided at an upper end of the cyclone, and a dirt collection chamber exterior to the cyclone and surrounding at least a portion of the cyclone wherein the cyclone unit is removable in a closed configuration; and,   (c) a suction motor positioned in the air flow path.   
   
   
       10 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising a surface cleaning unit removably mounted to the handle wherein the surface cleaning unit comprises the cyclone unit and the suction motor. 
   
   
       11 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the cyclone and the dirt collection chamber are concurrently openable. 
   
   
       12 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the cyclone is positioned interior of the dirt collection chamber. 
   
   
       13 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising a plate facing the dirt outlet. 
   
   
       14 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the plate is mounted to an upper end of the cyclone unit. 
   
   
       15 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the cyclone is an inverted cyclone having an air inlet and an air outlet at a lower end of the cyclone. 
   
   
       16 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising a vortex finder that is provided on an openable door of the cyclone.