Abstract: The invention provides a clutch mechanism (200) having a driven pulley (32) and a drive pulley (34) to which a load is applied, the clutch mechanism (200) having an engaged position in which torque applied in use to the driven pulley (32) is transmitted to the drive pulley (34), and a disengaged position in which torque applied in use to the driven pulley (32) is not transmitted to the drive pulley (34), wherein the clutch mechanism (200) also has override means (238, 242) by which at least a proportion of the torque applied to the driven pulley (32) is absorbed when the load applied to the drive pulley (34) exceeds a predetermined value. The override means comprising a pair of detent plates (238, 242), and at least one ball-bearing (248) being held captive between the detent plates (248, 242).

Abstract: A handle for a vacuum cleaner includes a generally rigid pipe portion connected to a generally flexible hose portion. The hose portion is fixedly connected to the main body of the vacuum cleaner. The pipe portion is selectively connectable to the main body of the vacuum cleaner in the manner of a handle or releasable from the main body in the manner of a wand. The pipe portion is formed by a straight, hollow tube having no internal bends. The handle may have an upwardly extending handle portion and a gripping portion, wherein the gripping portion extends forwardly and downwardly from the handle portion so that, when the vacuum cleaner is in use in an upright mode, the gripping portion extends generally transverse to the forearm of the user. A cap may also be provided at the distal end of the rigid pipe portion, the cap being movable between a first position in which the end of the pipe portion is closed by the cap and a second position in which the end of the pipe portion is not closed by the cap.

Abstract: The invention provides apparatus for separating dirt or dust from an airflow, comprising a collector (32) having an outer wall (32a) forming an air-rotational surface, an inner wall (34a), an airflow inlet for introducing the airflow substantially tangentially to the outer wall (32a), an airflow outlet for removing air from the collector (32), and at least one fin or baffle (30) positioned within the collector (32), characterized in that the or each fin or baffle (30) is located on the inner wall (34a) of the collector (32) and projects outwardly therefrom. The presence of the fins or baffles (30) on the inner wall (34a) discourages re-entrainment of dirt and dust particles remaining within the separation apparatus after the airflow therethrough has been discontinued.

Abstract: The invention provides cyclonic separation apparatus containing a cyclone body having at least one fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the fluid outlet being concentric with the longitudinal axis of the cyclone body. The cyclonic separation apparatus also contains a vortex finder projecting from an end surface of the cyclone body into the interior of the cyclonic separator, and a centerbody located partially within the vortex finder. The centerbody projects beyond the distal edge of the vortex finder so that the distance between the end surface of the cyclone body and the further end of the centerbody is at least twice the smallest diameter of the vortex finder, and the cross-sectional area of the centerbody is circular at any point along its length.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner (1) comprising a first casing (10) housing dust separation apparatus, a second casing (11) housing at least one filter (21, 23) or other component of the vacuum cleaner (1), a central spine (13) housing at least one conduit and forming part of an airflow path within the vacuum cleaner (1), the first and second casings (10, 11) lying generally parallel to one another and the central spine (13) lying at least partly between the first and second casings (10, 11). Such a construction provides a vacuum cleaner having a more compact profile which enables the vacuum cleaner to be used to clean areas where there is a height restriction, for example underneath furniture.

Abstract: A cuff (10) for joining together an inner and outer pipe (16, 14), the cuff being slideable along at least part of the inner pipe to allow nesting of the pipes. The cuff (10) comprises a housing (12) and an interlocking member (28). The interlocking member (28) lies, in use, in a plane extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the pipes. The interlocking member has an actuator and an interengaging portion for interengaging with the inner pipe (16). In use, the interengaging portion lies on the side of inner pipe (16) remote from the actuator portion (30) so that, when the interlocking member (28) is translated within the plane on actuation, the interengaging portion is released from the inner pipe. A pair of diametrically opposed lugs (not shown) are located on the interlocking member (28) and a compression spring (not shown) acts between each lug and the housing (12) so as to bias the interengaging portion into engagement with the inner pipe.

Abstract: A bleed valve for introducing bled fluid to a mainstream fluid flowing through apparatus across which a pressure differential occurs, characterized in that the bleed valve is adapted to open so as to bleed fluid into the mainstream fluid when the pressure differential across the apparatus falls below a predetermined value. This arrangement is particularly appropriate to vacuum cleaners incorporating cyclonic dust-separating apparatus in that the bleed valve is more reliably operated in response to a reduction in airflow. This ensures efficient functioning of the cyclonic dust-separating apparatus and reduces the risk of overheating of the motor.

Abstract: The invention provides a tool holder for a vacuum cleaner having a main body, a wand and a hose therebetween, the tool holder (10) comprising attachment means (12, 14) for attaching the tool holder (10) to the vacuum cleaner and tool receiving means (22) for receiving at least one tool (30, 32, 34), wherein the attachment means (12, 14) are adapted such that the tool holder (10) is attachable directly to the hose (16) at any point between the main body and the wand.

Abstract: A motor comprising two or more rotors (20, 30) rotated by means of a common power supply (6), each rotor (20, 30) having a plurality of poles (22, 32) and being associated with a stator (16, 26) having a plurality of poles (18, 28), wherein the arrangement of rotor poles (22, 32) and stator poles (18, 28) is different for each rotor 920, 30) so that the rotors (20, 30) rotate at different speeds when the common power supply (6) is applied.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus comprising a drum for containing and agitating an article, wherein the drum comprises at least two rotatable drum portions in rotatable connection with one another, a rotator member in connection with each rotatable drum portion for rotating the drum portion about an axis. The apparatus is preferably a washing machine, and the method of operating the apparatus comprises inserting at least one article, preferably a plurality of articles, into the drum; and rotating each rotatable drum portion independently of one another to agitate the article or articles.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for carrying a fluid flow having at least one fluid inlet, at least one fluid outlet, a plurality of alternative fluid flow paths therebetween and valve for selecting one of the said fluid flow paths to carry a fluid flow from the or a fluid inlet to the or a fluid outlet, wherein the said valve (14) and at least part of the said alternative fluid flow paths (26, 70) are housed within a removable portion (10) of the apparatus to facilitate maintenance. Preferably, seals (32) are provided between the removable portion (10) and the remainder of the apparatus, the seals (32) being either carried by the removable portion (10) or exposed for access by removal of the removable portion (10). This arrangement facilitates removal of blockages and replacement of seals.

Abstract: The invention provides a vacuum cleaner comprising an airflow path having a dirty air inlet (14) and a clean air outlet (44e), a fan (48) for drawing an airflow along the airflow path from the dirty air inlet (14) to the clean air outlet (44e), a motor (50) for driving the fan (48), separating apparatus (18) for separating dirt and dust from the airflow, a pre-motor filter (32) arranged upstream of the motor (50) and a post-motor filter (42) arranged downstream of the motor (50), wherein both the pre-motor filter (32) and the post-motor filter (42) are cylindrical filters.

Abstract: The invention provides apparatus for separating particles from a fluid flow having a cyclonic separator (10) and a fan (12) for causing the fluid to flow through the cyclonic separator (10), the cyclonic separator (10) having an inlet (16) and an interior wall having a frusto-conical portion (18) tapering away from the inlet (16), wherein the fan (12) is positioned in the inlet (16) to the cyclonic separator (10) such that fluid passing through the fan (12) is accelerated towards the interior wall (18) and thereby given sufficient tangential velocity to cause cyclonic separation of particles from the fluid flow within the cyclonic separator (10).