A vacuum cleaner comprises a cyclonic separator (116) for separating dirt and dust from an incoming airflow. A tool (300) and a suction conduit (114) connect the tool (300) to the separator (116). The tool (300) comprises a main air inlet aperture for engaging with a surface to be cleaned and a bleed air inlet (310) for allowing air to bleed into the suction path. The bleed air inlet (310) is located such that it is separate from the main inlet. The cross-sectional area of the bleed air inlet (310) is sufficiently large that, in use, the bleed air inlet (310) admits a sufficient quantity of air to maintain adequate separation efficiency in the separator of the cleaner even when the main air inlet is fully blocked.

Disclosed is a cyclone separating apparatus, and a vacuum cleaner having the same. The cyclone separating apparatus includes a first cyclone separating dust from dust-ladened air. A plurality of second cyclones centrifugally separate fine dust particles from air which is first separated at the first cyclone. A dust collecting unit detachably connects to the first and the second cyclones. The dust collecting unit separately collects large dust particles separated at the first cyclone, and fine dust particles separated at the second cyclone. Accordingly, a more compact cyclone separating apparatus can be realized with improved suction efficiency and dust collecting efficiency.

A vacuum cleaner includes a housing and a nozzle in fluid communication with the housing. A suction source is held by the housing. The nozzle is in fluid communication with the suction source. A dust cup is selectively secured to the housing. The dust cup includes an inlet in fluid communication with the nozzle and a first inertial dust separation stage positioned downstream from the inlet. A first dust containing chamber is located adjacent the first inertial dust separation stage for holding the dust separated by the first inertial dust separation stage. A second inertial dust separation stage is located downstream from the first inertial dust separation stage. A second dust containing chamber is located adjacent the second inertial dust separation stage for holding dust separated by the second inertial dust separation stage. An outlet is located downstream from the second inertial dust separation stage. The dust cup can be selectively removed from the housing for emptying.

A vacuum cleaner having a first housing member with at least one housing wall defining a first housing passage. The first housing passage having an intake end adjacent a subjacent surface and a discharge end opposite the intake end. A second housing member mounted on the first housing member with the second housing member including a filter chamber. The filter chamber has at least one filter chamber wall defining a collection cavity therein. The at least one filter chamber wall has a port communicating with the collection cavity. A vacuum source supported on either the first or second housing member and in fluid communication with the first housing passage and the port. A conduit extends between the discharge end of the first housing passage and the port of the filter chamber. The conduit has a conduit wall defining a conduit passage in fluid communication between the first housing passage and the port. An access port defined in the conduit wall, and a cover selectively mounted the access port to form a fluid-tight seal thereacross.

An upright-type vacuum cleaner includes a cleaner body, a suction brush, cyclone dust collecting apparatus, and a filter. The cyclone dust collecting apparatus is removably disposed in a dust collecting chamber in the cleaner body. The suction brush draws air and contaminants from a surface to be cleaned into the cleaner body. The cyclone dust collecting apparatus induces the air and contaminants into a vortex to separate by centrifugal force large particle contaminants from the air and to collect the contaminants. The filter further filters fine contaminants from the air that is discharged from the cyclone dust collecting apparatus.