Dirt separator

Abstract

A dirt separator for a vacuum cleaner is provided, which includes a dirt separation chamber, a filter assembly, and an outlet chamber. The dirt separation chamber extends along a longitudinal axis from an opening to an outlet. The filter assembly extends parallel to the longitudinal axis and divides the dirt separation chamber into a dirt collection chamber upstream of the filter assembly. The outlet chamber is downstream of the filter assembly. The outlet chamber has a cross-sectional area that is substantially constant along a length of the filter assembly.

1 . A dirt separator for a vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 a dirt separation chamber extending along a longitudinal axis from an opening to an outlet,   a filter assembly extending parallel to the longitudinal axis and dividing the dirt separation chamber into a dirt collection chamber upstream of the filter assembly, and   an outlet chamber downstream of the filter assembly,   wherein the outlet chamber has a cross-sectional area that is substantially constant along a length of the filter assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The dirt separator according to  claim 1 , wherein the dirt collection chamber has a cross-sectional area that is substantially constant along the length of the filter assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The dirt separator according to  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the cross-sectional areas of the dirt collection chamber to the outlet chamber is between 0.9 and 1.1. 
     
     
         4 . The dirt separator according to  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the cross-sectional areas of the opening to the outlet is between 0.9 and 1.1. 
     
     
         5 . The dirt separator according to  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of a length of the dirt separation chamber to a width of the dirt separation chamber is at least 5. 
     
     
         6 . The dirt separator according to  claim 1 , wherein the dirt separation chamber has a length no less than 150 mm, and a width no greater than 60 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The dirt separator according to  claim 1 , wherein the dirt separation chamber is substantially cylindrical. 
     
     
         8 . The dirt separator according to  claim 1 , wherein the filter assembly comprises a mesh screen and a removable filter medium located downstream of the mesh screen. 
     
     
         9 . The dirt separator according to  claim 8 , wherein the mesh screen is formed from a metal or metal alloy. 
     
     
         10 . The dirt separator according to  claim 1 , wherein the filter assembly is substantially v-shaped or u-shaped in cross-section. 
     
     
         11 . The dirt separator according to  claim 1 , further comprising a valve positioned at the opening and movable between a closed position, in which airflow is prevented from entering the dirt collection chamber via the opening, a first open position, and a second open position, in which airflow is permitted to enter the dirt collection chamber via the opening,
 wherein the valve is moveable to the first open position in response to suction within the dirt separation chamber, wherein the valve is moveable to the closed position in response to removal of the suction within the dirt separation chamber, and wherein the valve is movable in response to a user input from the closed position to the second open position to evacuate dirt collected in the dirt collection chamber.   
     
     
         12 . The dirt separator according to  claim 1 , wherein the dirt collection chamber is located on one side of the dirt separator, and the outlet chamber is located on an opposite side of the dirt separator. 
     
     
         13 . The dirt separator according to  claim 12 , wherein the dirt separation chamber is defined by an outer wall, wherein the dirt collection chamber extends between an upstream surface of the filter assembly and a first side of the outer wall, and wherein the outlet chamber extends between a downstream side of the filter assembly and a second, opposite side of the outer wall. 
     
     
         14 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a main body comprising the dirt separator according to  claim 1  and a suction generator for generating an airflow, the suction generator positioned downstream of the dirt separator,   wherein a rotational axis of the suction generator is co-axial with the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         15 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 14 , wherein the main body has a substantially constant cross-section along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         16 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 14 , wherein the main body has an outer diameter no greater than 60 mm.