Guide channel for a vacuum cleaner dust separator

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner includes a cyclone separator having a cylindrical outer wall defining a radius. A dust discharge aperture is provided in a portion of the outer wall. An arcuate guide channel is defined by a portion of the outer wall, the guide channel being disposed radially outwardly from the outer wall.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a cyclone separator having a cylindrical outer wall defining a radius;   a dust discharge aperture provided in a portion of the outer wall; and   an arcuate guide channel defined by a portion of the outer wall, the guide channel disposed radially outwardly from the outer wall.   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the dust discharge aperture defines a radius equal to the radius of the cylindrical outer wall. 
     
     
         3 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the guide channel terminates at an edge of the dust discharge aperture. 
     
     
         4 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical outer wall defines a first radius, the guide channel has a second dimension sharing the center of origin of the first radius. 
     
     
         5 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 4 , wherein the second dimension is greater than the first radius. 
     
     
         6 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the guide channel has an increasing radial dimension along the guide channel, the radial dimension along the guide channel is greater than the radius of the cylindrical outer wall. 
     
     
         7 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 6 , wherein the increasing radial dimension of the guide channel and the radius of the cylindrical outer wall share a center of origin. 
     
     
         8 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the guide channel has an increasing radial dimension from the outer wall to the dust discharge aperture. 
     
     
         9 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the dust discharge aperture is in fluid connection with a dust cup. 
     
     
         10 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the guide channel includes an entrance, an exit, and opposing edges that extend an increasing distance radially away from the outer wall from the entrance to the exit. 
     
     
         11 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the guide channel defines a portion of the dust discharge aperture. 
     
     
         12 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the guide channel and the dust discharge aperture are in circumferential alignment. 
     
     
         13 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the guide channel and the dust discharge aperture are offset along a portion of a circumference of the cylindrical outer wall. 
     
     
         14 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a separator having a cylindrical outer wall;   a dust discharge aperture defined by an arcuate slot provided through a portion of the outer wall; and   a guide channel extends away from the outer wall to the dust discharge aperture.   
     
     
         15 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 14 , wherein the guide channel is disposed radially outwardly from the outer wall. 
     
     
         16 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 14 , wherein the outer wall has a first radius and the guide channel has a second dimension, the first radius and the second dimension have a common center of origin, the second dimension being greater than the first radius. 
     
     
         17 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 16 , wherein the second dimension is greater at a discharge aperture end of the guide channel than an outer wall end of the guide channel. 
     
     
         18 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 16 , wherein the dust discharge aperture has the first radius. 
     
     
         19 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a dust separation chamber having an outer wall;   a dust discharge aperture provided through a portion of the outer wall; and   a guide channel defined by a portion of the outer wall and having opposing sides, the outer wall is provided along each of the opposing sides of the guide channel.   
     
     
         20 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 19 , wherein the guide channel is disposed radially outwardly from the outer wall. 
     
     
         21 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 19 , wherein the opposing sides project away from the outer wall. 
     
     
         22 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 19 , wherein the outer wall defines a first radius, and the guide channel defines a second radial dimension, the second radial dimension being greater than the first radius. 
     
     
         23 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 19 , wherein the guide channel extends from the outer wall to the dust discharge aperture. 
     
     
         24 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 19 , wherein the guide channel and the dust discharge aperture are in alignment along a portion of a circumference of the dust separation chamber. 
     
     
         25 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 19 , wherein the dust separation chamber is a cyclonic separator.