Internal air separators in a dirt separation device

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner includes a body having a canister assembly and a nozzle assembly including a suction inlet. A suction generator is carried on the body. In addition a dirt collection vessel is carried on the body. The dirt collection vessel includes a cyclonic separator having a cylindrical sidewall, a tangentially directed inlet and an axially directed outlet. The dirt collection vessel is characterized by a compound airflow guide provided adjacent the axially directed outlet. The compound airflow guide includes a blade portion and a frustoconical portion.

1 . A vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 a body including a canister assembly and a nozzle assembly including a suction inlet;   a suction generator carried on said body; and   a dirt collection vessel carried on said body, said dirt collection vessel including a cyclonic separator having a cylindrical sidewall, a tangentially directed inlet and an axially directed outlet;   said dirt collection vessel being characterized by a compound airflow guide adjacent said axially directed outlet, said compound airflow guide including a blade portion and a frustoconical portion.   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein said blade portion is provided between said frustoconical portion and said axially directed outlet. 
     
     
         3 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 2 , wherein said blade portion provides multiple feed channels in communication with said axially directed outlet. 
     
     
         4 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 3 , wherein said blade portion has a substantially +-shaped cross section. 
     
     
         5 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 4 , wherein said frustoconical portion converges toward said blade portion. 
     
     
         6 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 5 , wherein said frustoconical portion includes a closed concavity. 
     
     
         7 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 5 , wherein said axially directed outlet is defined by a conduit and said blade portion includes multiple notches that engage said conduit. 
     
     
         8 . A method of guiding airflow through a cyclonic separator including a cylindrical sidewall and an axially directed outlet, comprising:
 providing a compound airflow guide in said cyclonic separator adjacent said outlet;   moving air over a frustoconical surface of said compound airflow guide so as to promote cyclonic airflow; and   moving said air through channels defined by a blade portion of said compound airflow guide so as to redirect said air into said axially directed outlet.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , including dissipating cyclonic flow of said air as said air is fed into said axially directed outlet. 
     
     
         10 . A vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 a body including a canister assembly and a nozzle assembly including a suction inlet;   a suction generator carried on said body; and   a dirt collection vessel carried on said body;   said dirt collection vessel including a primary cyclone and at least one secondary cyclone;   said primary cyclone having a primary dirt collection chamber including a first cylindrical sidewall, a first tangentially directed inlet and a first axially directed outlet;   said at least one secondary cyclone including a second dirt separation chamber having a second cylindrical sidewall, a second tangentially directed inlet, a second axially directed outlet and a compound airflow guide adjacent said second axially directed outlet, said compound airflow guide including a blade portion and a frustoconical portion.   
     
     
         11 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 10 , wherein said blade portion is provided between said frustoconical portion and said second axially directed outlet. 
     
     
         12 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 11 , wherein said blade portion provides multiple feed channels in communication with said second axially directed outlet. 
     
     
         13 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 12 , wherein said blade portion has a substantially +-shaped cross section. 
     
     
         14 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 13 , wherein said frustoconical portion converges toward said blade portion. 
     
     
         15 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 14 , wherein said frustoconical portion includes a closed concavity. 
     
     
         16 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 14 , wherein said second axially directed outlet is defined by a conduit and said blade portion includes multiple notches that engage said conduit. 
     
     
         17 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 10  further including a secondary dirt collection chamber. 
     
     
         18 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 17 , wherein said at least one secondary cyclone includes a dirt particle discharge outlet in fluid communication with said secondary dirt collection chamber. 
     
     
         19 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 18 , further including an inner wall concentrically received in said first cylindrical sidewall, said secondary dirt collection chamber being provided within said inner wall. 
     
     
         20 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 10 , wherein said first axially directed outlet is upstream from said second tangentially directed inlet.