Surface cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus comprises at least one cyclone and at least one dirt collection chamber. The at least one cyclone has a cyclone air inlet, a cyclone air outlet and a removably mounted shroud surrounding the cyclone air outlet. The at least one dirt collection chamber comprises an opening and an openable door covering the opening. The shroud is removable through the opening when the door is open.

1 . A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
 (a) a front end and a rear end:   (b) an air flow passage extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet;   (c) a first cyclone unit positioned in the air flow passage, the first cyclone unit comprising at least one cyclone and at least one dirt collection chamber, the at least one cyclone having a cyclone air inlet, a cyclone air outlet, and a removably mounted shroud surrounding the cyclone air outlet, the at least one dirt collection chamber comprising an opening and an openable door mounted in the opening, the shroud is removable through the opening when the door is open; and,   (d) a suction motor positioned in the air flow passage.   
   
   
       2 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the dirt collection chamber is external to the cyclone. 
   
   
       3 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the at least one cyclone further comprises a dirt outlet, the opening is provided in the at least one dirt collection chamber and the openable door is mounted facing the dirt outlet. 
   
   
       4 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim wherein a vortex finder is provided in the cyclone, and the shroud comprises a screen surrounding the vortex finder. 
   
   
       5 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the deer is removable. 
   
   
       6 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the door is openable when the first cyclone unit is mounted to the surface cleaning apparatus 
   
   
       7 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the at least one cyclone is positioned interior of the at least one dirt collection chamber and the at least one cyclone is defined by a cyclone casing that is sized to permit a user to insert a hand in an annular portion of the cyclone chamber positioned between the shroud and the cyclone casing. 
   
   
       8 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the surface cleaning apparatus comprises a hand vacuum cleaner and the door is positioned at the front end. 
   
   
       9 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the surface cleaning apparatus comprises a hand vacuum cleaner and the first cyclone unit is positioned forward of the suction motor. 
   
   
       10 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the surface cleaning apparatus comprises a hand vacuum cleaner, the at least one cyclone has a cyclone front end, and a cyclone rear end, and the cyclone air inlet and the cyclone air outlet are at the same end. 
   
   
       11 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the cyclone air inlet and the cyclone air outlet are at the cyclone rear end. 
   
   
       12 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the at least one cyclone has a first end, and a second end, and the cyclone air inlet and the cyclone air outlet are at the same end. 
   
   
       13 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 10  wherein a separation plate is mounted in facing relation to the dirt outlet. 
   
   
       14 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the surface cleaning apparatus comprises a hand vacuum cleaner, the cyclone has a separation plate that is mounted in facing relation to the dirt outlet and the dirt outlet is positioned at the cyclone front end and the cyclone front end is positioned at the front end of the hand vacuum cleaner. 
   
   
       15 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the separation plate is mounted to the door. 
   
   
       16 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the dirt collection chamber is removable from the surface cleaning apparatus as a sealed unit for emptying. 
   
   
       17 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the dirt collection chamber is removable from the surface cleaning apparatus with the first cyclone unit. 
   
   
       18 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the shroud has a dirt outlet end and the dirt outlet end is positioned proximate the dirt outlet. 
   
   
       19 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first cyclone unit has a single cyclone and a single dirt collection chamber. 
   
   
       20 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a suction motor housing, the suction motor is positioned in the suction motor housing and the first cyclone unit is removably mounted to the suction motor housing. 
   
   
       21 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a second cyclone unit downstream from the first cyclone unit. 
   
   
       22 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the surface cleaning apparatus is a hand vacuum cleaner.