Abstract: An apparatus for separating particles from an airflow, the apparatus comprising a housing comprising an inner wall, and a body positioned within the housing and separated therefrom so as to define a substantially annular flow path between the body and the inner wall. The housing is rotationally stationary, and the body is rotatable relative to the housing about a rotational axis, the body comprising an impeller section having a first set of blades extending from the body into the annular flow path towards the inner wall of the housing, the impeller being rotatable for generating airflow through the apparatus and for generating swirl within the airflow, and a turbine section located downstream of the impeller section, the turbine section having a second set of blades for recapturing rotational energy from the airflow.

Abstract: A separator for removing dirt particles from an airflow, the separator comprising a first separation stage having an impeller, and a second separation stage having one or more cyclone bodies arranged in parallel, the first separation stage being upstream of the second separation stage. The impeller generates the airflow through the separator and concentrates the dirt particles within the airflow to produce a clean portion and a dirty portion of airflow, and wherein only the dirty portion of airflow is passed through the second separation stage.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing dirt from an airflow, the apparatus comprising an air inlet, an impeller for generating an airflow through the apparatus and for generating swirl within the airflow, the swirl throwing the dirt radially outwards and producing an outer dirty portion and an inner clean portion of airflow downstream of the impeller, and one or more splitters downstream of the impeller that bifurcate the airflow, separating the outer dirty portion from the inner clean portion.

Abstract: A separator for removing dirt particles from an airflow, the separator comprising a first separation stage having an impeller, and a second separation stage having one or more cyclone bodies arranged in parallel, the first separation stage being upstream of the second separation stage. The impeller generates the airflow through the separator and concentrates the dirt particles within the airflow to produce a clean portion and a dirty portion of airflow, and wherein only the dirty portion of airflow is passed through the second separation stage.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating particles from an airflow, the apparatus comprising a housing comprising an inner wall, and a body positioned within the housing and separated therefrom so as to define a substantially annular flow path between the body and the inner wall. The housing is rotationally stationary, and the body is rotatable relative to the housing about a rotational axis, the body comprising an impeller section having a first set of blades extending from the body into the annular flow path towards the inner wall of the housing, the impeller being rotatable for generating airflow through the apparatus and for generating swirl within the airflow, and a turbine section located downstream of the impeller section, the turbine section having a second set of blades for recapturing rotational energy from the airflow.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing dirt from an airflow, the apparatus comprising an air inlet, an impeller for generating an airflow through the apparatus and for generating swirl within the airflow, the swirl throwing the dirt radially outwards and producing an outer dirty portion and an inner clean portion of airflow downstream of the impeller, and one or more splitters downstream of the impeller that bifurcate the airflow, separating the outer dirty portion from the inner clean portion.

Abstract: A cyclonic separating apparatus includes a first cyclonic separating unit including at least one first cyclone and an annular dust collecting chamber, a second cyclonic separating unit located downstream of the first cyclonic separating unit and including at least one second cyclone and a dust collecting chamber, and a third cyclonic separating unit located downstream of the second cyclonic separating unit and including a plurality of third cyclones arranged in parallel and a dust collecting chamber. The number of third cyclones is higher than the number of second cyclones, and the dust collecting chambers of the second and third cyclonic separating units are located inside of the annular dust collecting chamber of the first cyclonic separating unit.

Abstract: A handheld cleaning appliance includes a dirty air inlet, a clean air outlet and separating apparatus for separating dirt and dust from an airflow in an airflow path leading from the air inlet to the air outlet. The separating apparatus includes a cyclonic separator having at least one first cyclone and a plurality of second cyclones arranged in parallel with one another and located downstream of the first cyclone. By providing a cyclonic separator having a plurality of second cyclones in parallel, the handheld cleaning appliance is capable of separating fine dirt and dust particles without using barriers such as filters or bags which need maintenance to ensure that performance remains high over a period of time.

Abstract: A handheld cleaning appliance includes a dirty air inlet, a clean air outlet and separating apparatus for separating dirt and dust from an airflow in an airflow path leading from the air inlet to the air outlet. The separating apparatus includes a cyclonic separator having at least one first cyclone and a plurality of second cyclones arranged in parallel with one another and located downstream of the first cyclone. By providing a cyclonic separator having a plurality of second cyclones in parallel, the handheld cleaning appliance is capable of separating fine dirt and dust particles without using barriers such as filters or bags which need maintenance to ensure that performance remains high over a period of time.

Abstract: A handheld cleaning appliance includes a dirty air inlet, a clean air outlet and separating apparatus for separating dirt and dust from an airflow in an airflow path leading from the air inlet to the air outlet. The separating apparatus includes a cyclonic separator having at least one first cyclone and a plurality of second cyclones arranged in parallel with one another and located downstream of the first cyclone. By providing a cyclonic separator having a plurality of second cyclones in parallel, the handheld cleaning appliance is capable of separating fine dirt and dust particles without using barriers such as filters or bags which need maintenance to ensure that performance remains high over a period of time.

Abstract: A cyclonic separating apparatus includes a first cyclonic separating unit including at least one first cyclone and an annular dust collecting chamber, a second cyclonic separating unit located downstream of the first cyclonic separating unit and including at least one second cyclone and a dust collecting chamber, and a third cyclonic separating unit located downstream of the second cyclonic separating unit and including a plurality of third cyclones arranged in parallel and a dust collecting chamber. The number of third cyclones is higher than the number of second cyclones, and the dust collecting chambers of the second and third cyclonic separating units are located inside of the annular dust collecting chamber of the first cyclonic separating unit.

Abstract: A cyclonic separating apparatus includes a first cyclonic separating unit including at least one first cyclone, a second cyclonic separating unit located downstream of the first cyclonic separating unit and including a plurality of second cyclones arranged in parallel, and a third cyclonic separating unit located downstream of the second cyclonic separating unit and including a plurality of third cyclones arranged in parallel. The number of second cyclones is higher than the number of first cyclones and the number of third cyclones is higher than the number of second cyclones, providing an apparatus which achieves a higher separation efficiency than known separation apparatus.

Abstract: A cyclonic separating apparatus includes a first cyclonic separating unit including at least one first cyclone, a second cyclonic separating unit located downstream of the first cyclonic separating unit and including at least one second cyclone, and a third cyclonic separating unit located downstream of the second cyclonic separating unit and including at least one third cyclone. The separation efficiency of the second cyclonic separating unit is substantially the same as the separation efficiency of either the first cyclonic separating unit or the third separating unit, providing an apparatus which achieves a higher separation efficiency than known separation apparatus.

Abstract: A cyclonic separating apparatus includes a chamber for separating dirt and dust from an airflow, an inlet to the chamber and a shroud. The shroud includes a wall having inner and outer surfaces and a multiplicity of through-holes forming an outlet from the chamber. Each through-hole has an axis. The inner surface of the wall has a serrated profile having a plurality of serrations arranged around at least a part of the circumference of the wall, each serration having a first face and a second face. At least one through-hole passes through the first face of at least one serration. By providing a plurality of serrations around the inner circumference of the wall, the airflow is forced to follow a longer path through each through-hole for when compared to conventional arrangements. This reduces the amount of dirt and dust which is able to pass through the shroud.

Abstract: A cyclonic separating apparatus includes a separating chamber, an inlet communicating with the separating chamber and an outlet formed by a conduit communicating with an interior portion of the separating chamber and having a longitudinal axis, wherein a single planar baffle projects radially inwardly from an interior surface of the conduit towards the longitudinal axis. The presence of the baffle in the outlet has the effect of reducing noise generated by the apparatus when in use and also improves pressure recovery.

Abstract: A handheld cleaning appliance includes a dirty air inlet, a clean air outlet and separating apparatus for separating dirt and dust from an airflow in an airflow path leading from the air inlet to the air outlet. The separating apparatus includes a cyclonic separator having at least one first cyclone and a plurality of second cyclones arranged in parallel with one another and located downstream of the first cyclone. By providing a cyclonic separator having a plurality of second cyclones in parallel, the handheld cleaning appliance is capable of separating fine dirt and dust particles without using barriers such as filters or bags which need maintenance to ensure that performance remains high over a period of time.

Abstract: A cyclonic separating apparatus for separating particles from a dirt-laden airflow includes a cyclone for separating and collecting dirt and dust from the dirt-laden airflow. The cyclone has an air inlet, an air outlet, a longitudinal axis and a wall. The wall includes a first portion and a second portion spaced farther from the longitudinal axis than the first portion, the first and second portions being spaced along the longitudinal axis. The cyclone also includes at least one lip extending from the first portion of the wall into a portion of the cyclone surrounded by the second portion of the wall. By providing a cyclone with a wall having two portions of different sizes and a lip extending from the portion with the smaller size into the portion with the larger size, the risk of blockages due to re-entrainment and movement of dirt and dust within the cyclonic separating apparatus is reduced.

Abstract: A cyclonic separating apparatus includes a chamber for separating dirt and dust from an airflow, an inlet to the chamber and a shroud. The shroud includes a wall having a multiplicity of through-holes forming an outlet from the chamber, each of the through-holes having substantially rectangular cross-sections with width to height ratios in the range of 1.5:1 to 1:1.5. The rectangular cross section of the through-holes maximizes the available through-hole area in the shroud, produces a low pressure drop across the shroud and reduces the amount of material required for manufacture. Further, this ratio allows the cross-sectional area of the through-holes to be dimensioned to prevent larger particles of dirt and dust from passing through the through-holes in the shroud, while still providing the required structural integrity.

Abstract: A cyclonic separating apparatus for separating solid material from a fluid includes a separating chamber, an inlet communicating with the separating chamber for carrying the fluid with the solid matter entrained therein to the separating chamber, and an outlet for carrying the fluid away from the separating chamber after the solid material has been separated therefrom. The outlet is formed by a conduit communicating with the interior of the separating chamber and having a longitudinal axis. A plurality of grooves are formed in an interior surface of the conduit outlet and extend in the same direction as the longitudinal axis. The presence of the grooves in the outlet has the effect of reducing noise generated by the apparatus when in use and also improves pressure recovery.

Abstract: There is provided cyclonic separating apparatus (100) comprising a chamber (112) for separating dirt and dust from an airflow, an inlet (110) to the chamber (112) and a shroud (200). The shroud (200) comprises a wall (200) having a multiplicity of through-holes (208) forming an outlet from the chamber (112), each through-hole (208) having a width and a height, wherein the through-holes (208) have substantially rectangular cross-sections with width to height ratios in the range of 1.5:1 to 1:1.5. The rectangular cross section of the through-holes (208) maximises the available through-hole (208) area in the shroud (200). This results in a low pressure drop across the shroud (200) and reduces the amount of material required for manufacture. Further, this ratio allows the cross-sectional area of the through-holes (208) to be dimensioned to prevent larger particles of dirt and dust from passing through the through-holes (208) in the shroud (200), whilst still providing the required structural integrity.