Abstract: A cyclonic separation device comprises a cyclone chamber 11 having a cyclone axis A, a fluid outlet at one end of the cyclone chamber and a tubular apertured shroud 14 extending concentrically with the cyclone axis A. In use a motor 15 rotates the shroud 14 in the direction of a rotational airflow in the chamber 11 at a rotational speed which is over 1500 rpm and/or over 70% of the airflow speed around the shroud 14. The high speed of rotation of the shroud 14 is sufficient to dislodge any dust on the shroud by centrifugal action. Also, the high rotational speed of shroud 14 means that the air does not to need to decelerate to pass through the shroud 14 apertures and hence the risk of pressure drop and a loss of suction is avoided.

Abstract: A cyclonic separation device comprises a plurality of cyclonic separators fluidly arranged in parallel with each other, each cyclonic separator comprising a chamber 18 having a circular-section side wall 19, a fluid inlet 20 and a fluid outlet 21 disposed at one end of the cyclone chamber 18, and an opening at the second end of the cyclone chamber 18 through which separated matter passes out of the chamber for collection. The cyclonic separators are arranged in a rotatable body 17 such that their respective cyclone axes B are outwardly inclined relative to an axis A of rotation of the body 17 and such that the second end of each cyclone chamber 18 is disposed radially outwardly of its first end with respect to the axis A of rotation. A motor 15 rotates the body 17 about its axis A of rotation and so imparts a radially outward force on separated matter forced against the side wall 19 by the cyclonic action, the radial force serving to rapidly force the matter axially of the towards the opening.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner incorporating a cyclone separation device comprises a cylindrical cyclone chamber having a tubular side wall in the form of a filter. An auger is mounted within the chamber for rotation about the longitudinal axis thereof, the auger having a vane which extends along the chamber in a first helical direction. In use, the auger is rotated in a direction opposite to said helical direction so that separated dirt and dust is driven to a collection region at the bottom of the chamber and compacted. The collection region preferably expands during use to increase the capacity thereof. A vacuum cleaner in accordance with the invention has to be emptied less regularly and any risk of dust re-entrainment is reduced.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a device for dispensing atomized liquid, the device having a reservoir for holding liquid and an ultrasonic transducer arranged to atomize the liquid in the reservoir. An airflow is created through the reservoir via the exhaust gasflow from the vacuum cleaner, the airflow carrying the atomized liquid via an elongate tube to dispensing outlet provided on a cleaning head of the vacuum cleaner. The ultrasonic transducer is simple and inexpensive, yet is able to reliably atomize the liquid for dispensing.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having a filter assembly 12 disposed on grill 16 between the bag chamber 7 and motor chamber 13. Bag chamber 7 has a cover 8. Filter assembly 12 has an upstanding wall 15 provided with a covering of resilient material, e.g. rubber. The cover 8 is formed with a grill 14 in a lower region. When the filter assembly is correctly installed, and the cover 8 is in position, the resilient covering of the upstanding wall 15 rests in sealing contact against the inner surface of the cover 8 and over the grill 14. If the filter assembly 12 is absent, the grill 14 provides direct fluid communication between the bag chamber 7 and the atmosphere. The cleaner will be ineffective in picking up dirt thereby alerting the user to the absence of the filter assembly.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner comprises an elongate upright body 11 pivotally connected to a floor-engaging foot 10 comprising a motor and fan unit 17 for creating an airflow through the cleaner, the airflow extending between respective ducts 32, 18 in the body 11 and the foot 10 along a neck 20, which is rotatably connected at its lower end to the duct 18 in the foot 10 for rotation about an axis A which extends transversely of the foot 10. The neck 20 acts to support the body 11 on the foot 10 and acts as the point about which relative pivotal movement of the body 10 and foot 11 occurs. An arm 40 is coupled to the neck 20 for actuating a mechanism, which lifts the foot 10 away from the floor surface when the body 10 is in the upright position, so as to prevent the rotating agitator brush 16 in the foot 10 from damaging the floor surface while the cleaner is stood in the upright position when performing above-floor cleaning.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner comprises first and second devices 116,125 for separating dirt and dust from an airflow through the cleaner. The dirt and dust separated by the first and second devices 116,125 is deposited at the bottom of a collection chamber 112. The dirt and dust separated by the second device 125 is transferred to the bottom of the collection chamber 112 via a duct which is normally closed by a valve 124 to prevent air from leaving the chamber 112 along the duct 133 instead of forming a proper cyclonic flow in the chamber 112. An actuator 131, 135, 136 is provided for periodically opening the valve 124 to release the collected dirt and dust into the bottom of the chamber 112. The actuator 131, 135, 136 simultaneously closes the duct 133 between the valve 124 and the second device 125, so as to temporarily prevent air from leaving the chamber 112 along the duct 133 whilst the collected dirt and dust is released.

Abstract: A floor cleaning apparatus comprising a steam generator 21 for providing a steam cleaning mode, a rotary brush 25 for providing a dry cleaning mode, a switch 17 operable to select the steam and/or dry cleaning mode, an upstanding handle 13, and a switch 15 disposed adjacent the upper end of the handle 13 which can be actuated to operate the cleaner in accordance with the selected mode(s). A user is thus able to operate the cleaner to provide the selected mode(s) of cleaning by actuating the switch 15 which is conveniently located on the handle 13.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having an elongate body portion 11 which is mounted at its lower end via a neck 15 to the rear of a wheeled floor-engaging head portion 10, the body 11 being pivotable in use relative to the head about a first axis A1 for movement upwardly and downwardly and about a second orthogonal axis A2 for movement from side-to-side. A catch 17 is disposed on the neck 15 for preventing pivotal movement of the body 11 about the second axis A2 when the body 11 is disposed in its most upright position. The provision of the catch 17 improves the stability of the cleaner when the cleaner is not in use or when it is being used for above floor cleaning.

Abstract: A steerable vacuum cleaner comprises an upright body portion which is pivotally mounted at its lower end to the rear of a wheeled floor-engaging head portion. A catch is pivotally mounted intermediate its opposite ends to the upright body portion, the catch having a finger at a forward end arranged to engage a formation on the head portion. The rearward end of the catch defines a foot pedal for moving the forward end of the catch out of engagement with the formation. The catch on the body portion can engage the head portion to prevent the head portion from pivoting sideways and rearwards when the cleaner is not in use.

Abstract: A cyclonic separation apparatus comprises a plurality of series-connected separation stages 50,51, each comprising a plurality of cyclone separators 16/23 connected in parallel and disposed in a generally annular arrangement about a main vertical axis of the apparatus, with their respective longitudinal cyclone axes extending parallel to the main axis. The successive separation stages 50,51 in the direction of fluid flow are disposed radially inwardly of each other with respect to the main axis of the apparatus and are also vertically staggered upwardly, so that the outlet 20 of one separation stage 50 leads directly into the inlet 22 of the next downstream stage 51. The multi-stage, series connected cyclone separators of the apparatus provide a high separation efficiency, yet the annular arrangement of the stages 50,51 makes the apparatus compact and enables the apparatus to be utilized in a vacuum cleaner.

Abstract: A cyclonic separation apparatus comprising at least two series connected separation stages and a receptacle for collecting material separated by the separation stages is described. The first stage comprises a first cyclone separator, and the second stage comprises a plurality of parallel connected second cyclone separators. The first and second separation stages are connected by at least one transfer duct which extends through the receptacle and transfers fluid that has been partly cleaned by the first separation stage to the second separation stage.

Abstract: A cyclonic vacuum cleaner comprises a first stage 10 comprising a single cyclone separator for separating heavier dirt and dust particles and a second stage 11 comprising a plurality of cyclone separators 25 arranged in parallel in a plurality of groups, each group of cyclone separators 25 comprising a respective inlet duct 24, each inlet duct 24 being connected at its upstream end to the first stage 10 and at its downstream end to the cyclone separators 25 of its respective group.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner comprising: a cleaner body 3; an elongate handle 5 connected to the cleaner body, the elongate handle being movable between an extended position, extending outwardly from the cleaner body, and a stowed position, in which the elongate handle is positioned substantially adjacent to the cleaner body; wherein the vacuum cleaner further comprises a carry handle 11 which becomes accessible for use when the elongate handle is moved from the extended to the stowed position.