Dirt separator for a vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A dirt separator for a vacuum cleaner includes a chamber having an inlet through which dirt-laden fluid enters and an outlet through which cleansed fluid exits the chamber. A disc located at the outlet rotates about a rotational axis and comprises holes through which the cleansed fluid passes. The dirt-laden fluid enters the chamber along a flow axis that intersects the disc.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 : A dirt separator for a vacuum cleaner, the dirt separator comprising:
 a chamber having an inlet through which dirt-laden fluid enters the chamber, and an outlet through which cleansed fluid exits the chamber; and   a disc located at the outlet, the disc being arranged to rotate about a rotational axis and comprising holes through which the cleansed fluid passes,   wherein the dirt-laden fluid enters the chamber along a longitudinal flow axis that intersects the disc,   wherein a wall of the chamber is moveable between an open position and a closed position, and the inlet is defined by an end of an inlet duct attached to and moveable with the wall, and   wherein a separation distance between a center of the inlet and a center of the disc is no greater than a diameter of the inlet.   
     
     
         19 : The dirt separator of  claim 18 , wherein the outlet is located at or adjacent a top of the chamber, and the wall delimits a bottom of the chamber. 
     
     
         20 : The dirt separator of  claim 19 , wherein the bottom of the chamber is spaced axially from the top of the chamber. 
     
     
         21 : The dirt separator of  claim 18 , wherein the dirt-laden fluid entering the chamber is directed at the disc. 
     
     
         22 : The dirt separator of  claim 21 , wherein the dirt-laden fluid entering the chamber is directed at a center of the disc. 
     
     
         23 : The dirt separator of  claim 18 , wherein the inlet duct extends linearly within the chamber. 
     
     
         24 : The dirt separator of  claim 18 , wherein the chamber surrounds the inlet duct. 
     
     
         25 : The dirt separator of  claim 18 , wherein the inlet duct extends through the wall, and an opposite end of the inlet duct is attachable to different attachments of the vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         26 : The dirt separator of  claim 18 , wherein the wall pivots when moving between the open position and the closed position. 
     
     
         27 : The dirt separator of  claim 18 , wherein the diameter of the disc is greater than the diameter of the inlet. 
     
     
         28 : The dirt separator of  claim 18 , wherein the disc has a total open area greater than that of the inlet. 
     
     
         29 : The dirt separator of  claim 18 , wherein the disc comprises an inner region surrounded by an outer region, the diameter of the inner region is no less than the diameter of the inlet, and the inner region has an open area less than that of the outer region. 
     
     
         30 : The dirt separator of  claim 29 , wherein, in the inner region, any holes comprise less than 10% of surface area of the inner region and, in the outer region, holes comprise greater than 20% of surface area of the outer region. 
     
     
         31 : The dirt separator of  claim 29 , wherein the holes are formed in the outer region and the inner region is non-perforated. 
     
     
         32 : The dirt separator of  claim 18 , wherein the disc is formed of a metal. 
     
     
         33 : The dirt separator of  claim 18 , wherein the dirt separator comprises an electric motor for driving the disc about the rotational axis. 
     
     
         34 : A handheld vacuum cleaner comprising the dirt separator of  claim 18 . 
     
     
         35 : A stick vacuum cleaner comprising a handheld unit attached to a cleaner head by an elongate tube, wherein the handheld unit comprises the dirt separator of  claim 18 , and wherein the elongate tube extends along an axis parallel to the rotational axis. 
     
     
         36 : A dirt separator for a vacuum cleaner, the dirt separator comprising:
 a chamber defined by a top wall, a side wall, and a bottom wall and having an inlet through which dirt-laden fluid enters the chamber, and an outlet through which cleansed fluid exits the chamber; and   a disc located at the outlet, the disc being arranged to rotate about a rotational axis and comprising holes through which the cleansed fluid passes,   wherein the bottom wall of the chamber is moveable between an open position and a closed position, and the inlet is defined by an end of an inlet duct attached to and moveable with the bottom wall, and   wherein the bottom wall pivots away from the side wall when moving between the open and the closed position.   
     
     
         37 : A dirt separator for a vacuum cleaner, the dirt separator comprising:
 a chamber having an inlet through which dirt-laden fluid enters the chamber, and an outlet through which cleansed fluid exits the chamber;   a disc located at the outlet, the disc being arranged to rotate about a rotational axis and comprising holes through which the cleansed fluid passes,   wherein a wall of the chamber is moveable between an open position and a closed position, and the inlet is defined by an end of an inlet duct attached to and moveable with the wall,   wherein the disc comprises an inner region surrounded by an outer region, and wherein the holes are formed in the outer region and the inner region is non-perforated.