Cyclonic vacuum cleaner with improved collection chamber

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner with a cyclone module assembly comprises a cyclone separation chamber for separating dust and debris from air and a collection chamber for collecting dust and debris that is separated from the air in the cyclone separation chamber. The cyclone module assembly further includes at least one feature for directing contaminants downwardly, such as a circumferential fin that extends from the inside wall of the collection chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 a cyclone separator having a separator chamber for separating contaminants from a dirt-containing airstream, and further comprising an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with the separator chamber;   a collection chamber associated with the cyclone separator for receiving contaminants separated in the separator chamber and having a sidewall and a bottom wall;   a suction nozzle fluidly connected with the inlet;   a suction source fluidly connected to the suction nozzle and to the separator chamber for establishing and maintaining a dirt-containing airstream from the suction nozzle to the inlet; and   a single fin attached to the sidewall of the collection chamber and comprising a circumferential fin body extending inwardly from the sidewall of the collection chamber, wherein the single fin is configured to reduce debris re-entrainment in the collection chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the circumferential fin body includes a leading end, a trailing end opposite the leading end, an outer edge attached to the sidewall and an inner arcuate edge that is free. 
     
     
         3 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 2  wherein the single fin extends from the sidewall in a spiral with the leading end vertically spaced above the trailing end. 
     
     
         4 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 2  wherein the leading end is fluidly upstream of the trailing end. 
     
     
         5 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 2  wherein the single fin extends at least 360° around a circumference of the collection chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 5  wherein the leading end overlaps the trailing end circumferentially. 
     
     
         7 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 1  wherein the single fin extends approximately 360° around a circumference of the collection chamber and comprises a leading end and a trailing end that lie along a common plane. 
     
     
         8 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 1  wherein the single fin has a helical trajectory to direct contaminants toward the bottom wall. 
     
     
         9 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 1  wherein the single fin extends only partially around a circumference of the collection chamber. 
     
     
         10 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 9  wherein the single fin has a helical trajectory to direct contaminants toward the bottom wall. 
     
     
         11 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 1  wherein the single fin is spaced between the bottom wall and an upper end of the collection chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 1 , further comprising a separator plate separating the separator chamber from the collection chamber, the separator plate defining a gap for passage of dirt separated from the dirt-containing airstream in the separator chamber and wherein the single fin is spaced below the separator plate. 
     
     
         13 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 1  wherein the cyclone separator further comprises an outer cyclone housing and an inner cyclone housing, wherein the separator chamber comprises a first stage separator chamber defined between the outer cyclone housing and the inner cyclone housing, and wherein a second stage separator chamber is defined within the inner cyclone housing and is fluidly downstream of the first stage separator chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 13  wherein the collection chamber comprises a first collection chamber associated with the first stage separator chamber for receiving contaminants separated in the first stage separator chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 14 , further comprising a second collection chamber associated with the second stage separator chamber for receiving contaminants separated in the second stage separator chamber, wherein the second collection chamber is sealed off from the first collection chamber and is spaced inwardly of the single fin. 
     
     
         16 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 14  wherein the outer cyclone housing comprises a cylindrical outer wall, an upper wall forming a closed top of the outer cyclone housing, and an open bottom, wherein the inlet is formed in the cylindrical outer wall and the open bottom is coupled with the sidewall of the collection chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 16  wherein the single fin is attached to the outer cyclone housing of the first collection chamber, which defines the sidewall. 
     
     
         18 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 13  wherein the single fin is attached to the outer cyclone housing, which defines the sidewall. 
     
     
         19 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 18  wherein the single fin has a helical trajectory. 
     
     
         20 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 1 , further comprising an upright handle assembly pivotally mounted to a foot assembly, wherein the cyclone separator and collection chamber are provided on the upright handle assembly and the suction nozzle is provided on the foot assembly.