Surface cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A surface cleaner has an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet with a suction motor positioned in the air flow path, a cyclone chamber positioned in the air flow path, and a dirt collection chamber. The cyclone chamber has a first end, an opposed second end, a cyclone axis of rotation that intersects each of the first and second ends, a cyclone sidewall extending between the first and second ends, a cyclone air inlet provided at the first end, a cyclone air outlet and a dirt outlet. The second end of the cyclone chamber has a ramped surface that curves around the cyclone chamber from a proximal end to a distal end. The proximal end is closer to the first end of the cyclone chamber than the distal end. The dirt outlet is provided at the distal end of the ramped surface.

1 . A surface cleaner comprising:
 (a) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet with a suction motor positioned in the air flow path;   (b) a cyclone chamber positioned in the air flow path, the cyclone chamber has a first end, a second end opposed to the first end, a cyclone axis of rotation that intersects each of the first and second ends, a cyclone sidewall extending between the first and second ends, a cyclone air inlet provided at the first end, a cyclone air outlet and a dirt outlet; and,   (c) a dirt collection chamber,   wherein the second end of the cyclone chamber has a ramped surface that curves around the cyclone chamber from a proximal end to a distal end, the proximal end is closer to the first end of the cyclone chamber than the distal end, and the dirt outlet is provided at the distal end of the ramped surface whereby, in operation of the surface cleaner to clean a surface, some dirt separated in the cyclone chamber travels along the ramped surface and then through the dirt outlet to the dirt collection chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the cyclone air outlet is provided at the first end. 
     
     
         3 . The surface cleaner of  claim 2  wherein the cyclone air outlet comprises a vortex finder and the ramped surface is mounted to the vortex finder. 
     
     
         4 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1  wherein air rotates in the cyclone chamber in a direction of rotation and the ramped surface is curved in the direction of rotation from the proximal end to the distal end. 
     
     
         5 . The surface cleaner of  claim 4  wherein the proximal end of the ramped surface is angularly positioned with respect to the cyclone air inlet and axially positioned with respect to the first end of the cyclone chamber such that air entering the cyclone chamber rotates in the direction of rotation at least twice around the cyclone axis of rotation prior to contacting the ramped surface adjacent the proximal end. 
     
     
         6 . The surface cleaner of  claim 5  wherein air entering the cyclone chamber rotates in the direction of rotation between 2 and 3 times around the cyclone axis of rotation prior to contacting the ramped surface adjacent the proximal end. 
     
     
         7 . The surface cleaner of  claim 5  wherein the ramped surface has a landing portion that is positioned, in the direction of rotation, from the proximal end to a location that is up to 180° around the cyclone chamber from the proximal end. 
     
     
         8 . The surface cleaner of  claim 5  wherein the ramped surface has a landing portion that is positioned, in the direction of rotation, from the proximal end to a location that is up to 90° around the cyclone chamber from the proximal end. 
     
     
         9 . The surface cleaner of  claim 6  wherein the ramped surface has a landing portion that is positioned, in the direction of rotation, from the proximal end to a location that is up to 180° around the cyclone chamber from the proximal end. 
     
     
         10 . The surface cleaner of  claim 6  wherein the ramped surface has a landing portion that is positioned, in the direction of rotation, from the proximal end to a location that is up to 90° around the cyclone chamber from the proximal end. 
     
     
         11 . The surface cleaner of  claim 5  wherein air entering the cyclone chamber rotates in the direction of rotation between 2 and 2.5 times around the cyclone axis of rotation prior to contacting the ramped surface adjacent the proximal end. 
     
     
         12 . The surface cleaner of  claim 11  wherein the ramped surface has a landing portion that is positioned, in the direction of rotation, from the proximal end to a location that is up to 180° around the cyclone chamber from the proximal end. 
     
     
         13 . The surface cleaner of  claim 11  wherein the ramped surface has a landing portion that is positioned, in the direction of rotation, from the proximal end to a location that is up to 90° around the cyclone chamber from the proximal end. 
     
     
         14 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the ramped surface comprises a spiral surface. 
     
     
         15 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the ramped surface extends radially outwardly to the cyclone sidewall. 
     
     
         16 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the ramped surface extends radially outwardly towards the cyclone sidewall and an annular gap is provided between the radial outer side of the ramped surface and the cyclone sidewall. 
     
     
         17 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the dirt collection chamber is spaced axially from the second end of the cyclone chamber and the dirt collection chamber has an openable end wall that is spaced from and faces the ramped surface. 
     
     
         18 . The surface cleaner of  claim 17  wherein the surface cleaner is an upright vacuum cleaner and, in operation to clean a floor, the first end of the cyclone chamber is an upper end of the cyclone chamber and the dirt collection chamber underlies the cyclone chamber. 
     
     
         19 . The surface cleaner of  claim 18  wherein the cyclone air outlet comprises a vortex finder and the ramped surface is mounted to the vortex finder. 
     
     
         20 . The surface cleaner of  claim 19  wherein air rotates in the cyclone chamber in a direction of rotation and the ramped surface is curved in the direction of rotation from the proximal end to the distal end.