Patent Description:
Small cordless-type vacuum cleaners using a battery pack are widely used. A conventional compact and lightweight handy vacuum cleaner is described in, for example, Patent Literature <NUM>, in which the entire housing is formed in a cylindrical shape, a dust case having an opening (suction port) is attached to one side on a center line (axis) in a longitudinal direction of the cylindrical shape, and a main body housing having a handle part and housing a motor and a fan is attached on the opposite side in the longitudinal direction. A paper pack type filter, a cylindrical filter extending in an axial direction, or the like is provided inside the dust case, and dust that has entered the dust case due to a suction force of the fan is collected by the filter. The dust case is fixed to the main body housing by an attachment/detachment mechanism. As an example of the attachment/detachment mechanism, there is one in which a dust case is attached to the main body housing by rotating the dust case by a certain rotation angle in a circumferential direction with respect to the axis, for example, about <NUM> degrees.

On the other hand, in small vacuum cleaners, a so-called cyclone type vacuum cleaner in which air mixed with dust from an intake port is suctioned toward a tangential direction from an outer circumferential side of a cyclone chamber in a cylindrical shape by an airflow generated by rotation of the motor and dust contained in the air is centrifugally separated by a strong swirling flow formed in the cyclone chamber has spread. A cyclone type vacuum cleaner includes a dust case having a columnar internal space (cyclone space) attached at a distal end of the main body housing. Air mixed with dust is suctioned into the dust case from an opening (suction port), the suctioned air is made into a circumferential swirling flow in the columnar space, and dust and air are separated by a centrifugal force generated by the swirling flow. The suctioned dust collides with an inner side of an outer wall of the dust case due to the swirling flow, falls along an inner surface of the outer wall, and moves to a bottom portion of the outer cylinder. Air separated from dust in the vicinity of an axial center of the cyclone chamber is discharged in an axial direction through an exhaust duct (inner duct), thereby enabling continuous dust collection due to a centrifugal force. The technology of Patent Literature <NUM> is known as such a cyclone type vacuum cleaner. In Patent Literature <NUM>, suctioned air is guided into a cyclone chamber in a tangential direction and generates a tornado-like swirling flow in the cyclone chamber. The cyclone chamber includes an exhaust pipe provided to allow the outside and inside in an axial direction to communicate, and air is suctioned from an opening provided in a part of an outer circumferential surface of the exhaust pipe.

While the conventional dust case type small vacuum cleaner has an advantage of being lightweight and having a simple structure, since dust accumulates on an outer circumference of the filter, the filter is likely to become clogged as work is continued in a dusty environment. Also, when dust is thrown away, dust adhered on a surface of the filter must be removed, and thus there is a disadvantage in that the work causes inconvenience. In order to eliminate these disadvantages, there was a demand to realize a configuration in which a cyclone unit of a separate body type is added to the conventional dust case type small vacuum cleaner, but when a cyclone unit is provided at a distal end of the conventional dust case type small vacuum cleaner, the product becomes large and the overall weight increases, and this impairs portability and workability. A vacuum cleaner is also known e.g. from <CIT>.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described background, and an objective of the present invention is to provide a portable vacuum cleaner capable of appropriately using a conventional vacuum cleaner that suctions with a filter and a cyclone type vacuum cleaner according to a work type. Another objective of the present invention is to provide a portable vacuum cleaner having an attachment part to which a plurality of dust collection units can be selectively attached.

Typical features of the invention disclosed in the present application will be described as follows. According to the first aspect of the present invention, a vacuum cleaner includes a motor, a fan driven by the motor, a main body housing having a cylindrical shape extending in a front-rear direction, housing the motor and the fan, and including an intake port for allowing an airflow due to the fan to enter inside, and a dust collection unit detachably attached to the main body housing to cover the intake port, in which, as the dust collection unit, (<NUM>) a first dust collection unit attachable to the main body housing to cover the intake port, including a cyclone chamber in a cylindrical shape and an inflow port which is provided on a side wall of the cyclone chamber to allow inside-outside communication and configured to direct an airflow entering the inside of the cyclone chamber in a circumferential direction with a central axis of the cyclone chamber as a center, and centrifugally separating dust by rotating the airflow in the circumferential direction in the cyclone chamber, and (<NUM>) a second dust collection unit including a suction port for suctioning air mixed with dust and a dust collecting chamber in a cylindrical shape extending in a front-rear direction from the suction port to the intake port, and configured to collect dust without using a centrifugal force of the airflow, due to a filter disposed on a way in which the airflow flows in the dust collecting chamber, are selectively attachable to and detachable from the main body housing. An attached part allowing any of the first and second dust collection units to be attached in a same attachment/detachment operation is provided around the intake port of the main body housing, an attachment part attachable to the attached part is formed in the first and second dust collection units, and the attachment parts of the first and second dust collection units respectively have a common shape.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the first and second dust collection units are each attachable and detachable through rotation relative to the main body housing. The first dust collection unit is of a cyclone type and is configured to include a dust case forming the cyclone chamber and a filter attached to the dust case, the dust case includes a connection pipe in which the inflow port is provided, and air mixed with dust taken into the inside of the cyclone chamber from the connection pipe is rotated in the cyclone chamber. Also, in the first dust collection unit, a central axis B1 of the cyclone chamber in the cylindrical shape is offset in a radial direction of a rotational operation in an attachment/detachment operation, and the connection pipe is disposed on a side opposite to the central axis B1 of the cyclone chamber with respect to the central axis A1.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the dust case of the first dust collection unit is integrally formed of a synthetic resin, and the connection pipe is formed to protrude radially outward from a rotation range of the attached part in the rotational operation. Also, the filter of the first dust collection unit is positioned to cover the intake port of the main body housing, the filter and the dust case each include a restriction means which makes rotation relative to each other impossible at a time of being attached to the main body housing, and a cylindrical protruding part from the intake port to a side of the main body housing is provided in the filter. With such a configuration, in the first dust collection unit, the filter is able to be removed from the main body housing at the same time by the attachment/detachment operation of the dust case.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the second dust collection unit includes a dust case having the suction port, housing the filter, and accumulating dust, and is configured as a conventional filtration type in which dust taken into the dust collection unit from the suction port is filtered only by the filter. The filter used here may be a netlike filter or the like that does not require frequent replacement or may be a paper pack type premised on frequent replacement.

According to the present invention, since the cyclone type dust collection unit can be attached to the main body housing of the vacuum cleaner, the user can use a conventional vacuum cleaner and a cyclone type vacuum cleaner appropriately according to a work type. Particularly, users who own a conventional vacuum cleaner may purchase an additional cyclone type dust collection unit and easily switch to a cyclone type vacuum cleaner. Also, since both the dust collection units are attached to the main body housing in the same attachment method, a vacuum cleaner that is easy for users to use can be realized. Further, in realizing a cyclone type, the dust collection unit itself is configured to be replaced as a cyclone dust collection unit from a filter filtration type dust collection unit instead of inserting a cyclone dust collection unit of a separate body type into a conventional dust case type vacuum cleaner, and thereby a compact and lightweight cyclone type vacuum cleaner can be realized.

Hereinafter, examples of the present invention will be described on the basis of the drawings. In the following figures, the same portions will be denoted by the same reference signs, and repeated description will be omitted. Also, in the present specification, a front-rear direction, a left-right direction, and a vertical direction will be used in description as the directions illustrated in the drawings.

<FIG> is a side view of a cyclone vacuum cleaner <NUM> according to an example of the present invention. The cyclone vacuum cleaner <NUM> is constituted by a main body housing <NUM>, a cyclone unit <NUM>, and a battery pack <NUM>. The cyclone unit <NUM> can be attached to or removed from the main body housing <NUM>. The main body housing <NUM> houses a motor and a fan, to be described later, therein and includes a handle part <NUM> formed to be suitable for an operator to grip with one hand. A hollow portion <NUM> for an operator to put his/her hand is formed on a lower side of the handle part <NUM> of the main body housing <NUM>. In the present example, a shape of the main body housing <NUM> is arbitrary except for a shape of an attachment mechanism of the cyclone unit <NUM> (an attached part <NUM> to be described later in <FIG>) and may be not only the shape illustrated in <FIG> but also any other shape as long as an operator can perform the work while holding it.

The battery pack <NUM> is attached to a lower side of the main body housing <NUM>. The battery pack <NUM> houses a plurality of lithium-ion cells, which is a secondary battery, and battery packs widely used in electric tools or the like can be used. Here, the battery pack <NUM> with a rating of <NUM> V is utilized, but a voltage of the battery pack <NUM>, a shape of the used secondary battery, an external shape of the battery pack <NUM>, or the like is arbitrary. From a state illustrated in <FIG>, the battery pack <NUM> can be removed from the main body housing <NUM> by sliding the battery pack <NUM> rearward with respect to the main body housing <NUM> while pressing latch buttons <NUM> positioned on the left and right. A battery pack guard <NUM> covering a front surface of the battery pack <NUM> is provided on a front side of the battery pack <NUM>. An external charger (not illustrated) is used to charge the battery pack <NUM>. The battery pack <NUM> in which charging has been completed can be attached to the main body housing <NUM> by sliding the battery pack <NUM> from the rear to the front.

The cyclone unit <NUM> that is configured to be detachably attached to the main body housing <NUM> is attached to a front side of the main body housing <NUM>. The cyclone unit <NUM> includes an extension pipe (not illustrated) connected to a front side of a connection part <NUM>, and a floor nozzle or the like is connected to a distal end of the pipe. The cyclone unit <NUM> suctions an airflow mixed with dust into the inside of a dust case <NUM> through a nozzle or an extension pipe (not illustrated) at a distal end thereof by generating a strong airflow (suction air) using a fan (to be described later in <FIG>) housed inside the main body housing <NUM>. Air mixed with dust is suctioned into the inside of the dust case <NUM> through a suction port 60a and is guided to the inside of a cyclone chamber (see <FIG> below for a reference sign thereof) in a cylindrical shape defined by an outer cylindrical part <NUM>. A connection pipe <NUM> having an axis extending in a direction parallel to the outer cylindrical part <NUM> is formed on a lateral side (here, upper side) in a radial direction of the outer cylindrical part <NUM> of the dust case <NUM>. In the connection pipe <NUM>, one end side (front side) serves as the suction port 60a for connecting the extension pipe (not illustrated), and the other end side, that is, an end portion on a side opposite to the suction port 60a is a closed wall surface (curved part 60b).

The connection part <NUM> in which an inner diameter thereof is slightly increased in a stepped shape is formed in the vicinity of the suction port 60a of the connection pipe <NUM>. An inner wall portion behind the connection pipe <NUM> when viewed in a longitudinal direction is formed to be curved and is connected to an inflow part <NUM> from the curved part. The inflow part <NUM> is provided on a side wall of the cyclone chamber <NUM> to allow the inside and outside of the cyclone chamber <NUM> to communicate and directs an airflow entering the inside of the cyclone chamber <NUM> in a circumferential direction with a central axis B1 of the cyclone chamber <NUM> as a center. The main body housing <NUM> and the cyclone unit <NUM> are connected to each other in a front-rear direction by a parting plane. The air suctioned from the suction port 60a flows through the parting plane from the cyclone unit <NUM> side to the main body housing <NUM> side and passes through the internal space of the motor housing part <NUM> to be discharged to the outside from a first exhaust port <NUM> and a second exhaust port <NUM> provided on both left and right sides of the main body housing.

<FIG> is a vertical cross-sectional view of the cyclone vacuum cleaner <NUM> according to the present example. The main body housing <NUM> is formed by forming a synthetic resin and has a form divided into two left and right parts with a parting plane in a vertical direction. The left and right sub-divided parts of the main body housing <NUM> have a plurality of screw holes (cannot be seen in the figure) and screw bosses 26a to 26d and are fixed by fixing elements such as screws (not illustrated). On the other hand, an outer shell (the dust case <NUM> which is an outer portion) of the cyclone unit <NUM> is integrally formed of a synthetic resin and has a structure that does not have a parting plane in the vertical direction. The cyclone unit <NUM> can be attached by being pressed rearward in a direction of an axis A1 with a position thereof aligned with respect to the main body housing <NUM> and then turned around the axis A1 by a predetermined angle. When the cyclone unit <NUM> is removed, an operation opposite to that at the time of attachment may be performed.

Air suctioned from the suction port 60a of the cyclone unit <NUM> flows rearward in an axial direction through a connection passage <NUM> inside the connection pipe <NUM> and enters the inside of a cylinder of the outer cylindrical part <NUM> from the inflow part <NUM> as indicated by a dotted arrow AIR1. A portion thereof coming close to the connection pipe <NUM> is connected by the inflow part <NUM>. Inside the outer cylindrical part <NUM>, a filter holder <NUM> is provided on an outer side of a cylindrical filter <NUM>, and the air AIR1 that has flowed in is guided into the cyclone chamber <NUM> toward a tangential direction of the axis B1, becomes a tornado-like cyclone flow in the cyclone chamber <NUM>, and rotates while moving toward a bottom surface 52a. When the tornado-like swirling flow (airflow) is generated in the cyclone chamber <NUM>, dust suctioned together with air is centrifugally separated. The filter <NUM> allows air to pass from the outside to the inside in a radial direction, and dust separated by a centrifugal force due to having a higher specific gravity than air moves to the bottom surface 52a side of the cyclone chamber <NUM> and is accumulated. Here, the filter holder <NUM> is configured to include a filter frame <NUM> for holding the filter <NUM> and a disc-shaped closed wall <NUM> connected to a rear side of the filter frame <NUM>. In the present example, a combination of the filter holder <NUM> and the filter <NUM> constitutes the "filter" in a broad sense defined in the claims. The filter holder <NUM> is configured to be detachably attached to the dust case <NUM>. Air that has passed from an outer circumferential side to an inner circumferential side of the filter <NUM> and from the outside of the bottom surface to the inside of the bottom surface flows into an intake chamber <NUM> and reaches the inside of the main body housing <NUM> from an intake port <NUM>.

An attachment part <NUM> constituted by a cylindrical part <NUM> and a recessed part (to be described later in <FIG>) formed on an inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical part <NUM> is formed at a rear end portion of the dust case <NUM>. The outer cylindrical part <NUM>, the connection pipe <NUM>, and the attachment part <NUM> of the dust case <NUM> are manufactured in an integral structure by forming a synthetic resin. In order to facilitate the integral forming, a rotation center of the attached part <NUM> (coincides with the axis A1) and a rotation center of the cyclone chamber <NUM> (a cyclone axis, the same as the axis B1 of the filter <NUM>) have a form in which they are offset from each other. A central axis C1 of the connection pipe <NUM> is formed parallel to or substantially parallel to the axis B1. When the axes A1, B1, and C1 are disposed to be deviated from each other in a radial direction in this way, a strength of the dust case <NUM> after integral forming can be improved (a principle of this will be described later in <FIG>).

An air passage indicated by an airflow AIR2 from the intake port <NUM> to the exhaust ports <NUM> and <NUM> is formed in an internal space formed by a left inner portion and a right inner portion of the main body housing <NUM>. Here, illustration of a dotted arrow of an airflow from the vicinity of the exhaust port <NUM> to the vicinity of the exhaust port <NUM> is omitted. The hollow portion <NUM> which is penetrated from a left side to a right side so that four fingers of the operator from the index finger to the little finger are inserted is formed on a rear side of the main body housing <NUM>, and the main body housing <NUM> appears to have a substantially D shape rotated by <NUM> degrees in a side view. One side (upper side) of the D-shaped hollow portion (hollow portion <NUM>) is the handle part <NUM> gripped by the operator, and the remaining portion of the main body housing <NUM> excluding the handle part <NUM> is the motor housing part <NUM>. A rear end portion of the handle part <NUM> and the vicinity of a rear end of the motor housing part <NUM> are connected, and an internal space <NUM> inside the motor housing part <NUM> and an internal space of the handle part <NUM> are formed to communicate with each other. Therefore, the airflow AIR2 is not all discharged from the second exhaust port <NUM>, and air that is not discharged from the second exhaust port <NUM> flows forward through the internal space of the handle part <NUM> to be discharged to the outside from the exhaust port <NUM>. A partition plate <NUM> is formed on an inner front side of the handle part <NUM>, and the internal space of the handle part <NUM> and a space housing a motor <NUM> are separated by the partition plate <NUM>.

The motor <NUM> is housed along the axis A1 of the main body housing <NUM>. An output shaft (not illustrated) of the motor <NUM> is disposed in a direction along the rotation axis (attachment axis) A1 at the time of attaching the cyclone unit <NUM>. The motor <NUM> is a direct current (DC) motor in which a rotor is housed in a metal motor case. Although illustration of an internal structure of the motor <NUM> is omitted here, the entire motor <NUM> is covered with a magnetic material having a substantially cylindrical shape, for example, an iron material having a thickness of <NUM> to <NUM>, and a case thereof also serves as a part of a stator. An outer circumferential portion in the vicinity of a front end of the motor <NUM> is held by a motor holder <NUM> having an inner cylindrical part having a cylindrical shape. The motor holder <NUM> is connected to the main body housing <NUM> at four positions on an upper side and a lower side and includes an inner cylindrical part for housing the motor <NUM> and a disc-shaped wall surface which is a front surface of the inner cylindrical part, and a plurality of ribs extending radially is formed between the wall surface and an outer cylindrical part to form openings communicating in the axial direction between the ribs. A fan guide <NUM> is disposed in front of the fan <NUM>. A space defined by the fan guide <NUM> and the motor holder <NUM> is a fan housing chamber <NUM>. The intake port <NUM> that opens to a front side is formed at a portion of the fan guide <NUM> close to the axis A1. Also, an opening guard <NUM> that guards against foreign matter entering the inside is formed in the intake port <NUM>. The fan <NUM> is fixed to the output shaft (not illustrated) of the motor <NUM> and rotates with the axis A1 as a center in synchronization with rotation of the motor <NUM>. The fan <NUM> is a centrifugal fan, suctions air from a front side along the axis A1, and discharges the wind to the outside in a radial direction of the fan <NUM>.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view along A-A portion of <FIG>. The connection pipe <NUM> has an inner diameter configured to match an extension pipe (not illustrated), and the outer cylindrical part <NUM> has an outer diameter larger than that of the connection pipe <NUM>. The filter holder <NUM> for holding the filter <NUM> is disposed on an inner side of the outer cylindrical part <NUM>. The filter holder <NUM> and the outer cylindrical part <NUM> are coaxially disposed with the axis B1 as a center, and a space between the filter <NUM> and an inner wall surface of the outer cylindrical part <NUM> is the cyclone chamber <NUM> in which the air AIR1 rotates. An inflow passage <NUM> is formed from a rear end portion (the curved part 60b in <FIG>) of the connection pipe <NUM> to the cyclone chamber <NUM>. In the inflow passage <NUM>, a connection opening 66a and an inflow port 66b are formed only on a left half from a vertical plane passing through the axes B1 and C1, and the air AIR1 flowing from the connection pipe <NUM> into the cyclone chamber <NUM> is directed to flow in a tangential direction of the cyclone chamber <NUM>, as a result, the air AIR1 becomes a tornado-like flow that approaches in a direction toward the bottom surface 52a (see <FIG>) while swirling around the filter <NUM> in the cyclone chamber <NUM>. Since the air suctioned from the connection opening 66a continuously flows into the inside of the cyclone chamber <NUM>, the air correspondingly is suctioned from the outside to the inside of the filter <NUM>, passes through an opening portion <NUM> from an inner space of the filter frame <NUM>, flows to the fan <NUM> side along the axis B1, and flows into the intake chamber <NUM> (see <FIG>) formed between the main body housing <NUM> and the cyclone unit <NUM>. Although the dust case <NUM> is integrally formed of a synthetic resin, wall surfaces (62a and 62b) of the connection part <NUM> are formed to connect the connection pipe <NUM> and an outer circumferential surface of the outer cylindrical part <NUM> on an outer side of the inflow passage <NUM> portion, and thereby a strength of both sides is increased.

<FIG> is an exploded view of the cyclone vacuum cleaner <NUM> according to the present example with the cyclone unit <NUM> removed. The cyclone unit <NUM> is constituted by two main parts including the dust case <NUM> and the filter holder <NUM>. The filter holder <NUM> is integrally formed of a synthetic resin, and the filter <NUM> is attached to the filter holder <NUM>. A rear side of the dust case <NUM> has a circular opening, and the cylindrical attachment part <NUM> is formed around the opening. The attachment part <NUM> is a portion to be fitted with the attached part <NUM> of the main body housing <NUM>, and protruding parts 57a and 57b protruding inward from an inner wall portion of the cylindrical part <NUM> are formed at two positions in a circumferential direction of the inner circumferential surface. Although only the protruding part 57b can be seen in <FIG>, another protruding part 57a is provided at a position <NUM> degrees away in the circumferential direction. A rotation restriction protruding part <NUM> that restricts the filter holder <NUM> not to rotate relative to the dust case <NUM> is provided in the vicinity of the protruding part 57b that can be seen in <FIG>. A position at which the rotation restriction protruding part <NUM> is provided is set to a position sufficiently closer to a stepped surface <NUM> than the two protruding parts 57a and 57b and is configured so that the rotation restriction protruding part <NUM> does not interfere with the attached part <NUM> of the main body housing <NUM> when the dust case <NUM> is attached to the main body housing <NUM>.

The filter holder <NUM> is attached to the dust case <NUM> side after the filter <NUM> is attached, and the dust case <NUM> with the filter holder <NUM> attached is attached to the attached part <NUM> of the main body housing <NUM>. At this time, after the protruding parts 57a and 57b of the dust case <NUM> are aligned to coincide with axial grooves <NUM> of the main body housing <NUM> in circumferential positions, the dust case <NUM> is moved to approach the main body housing <NUM> in a direction of the axis A1, and in that state, the dust case <NUM> is rotated by about <NUM> degrees in the circumferential direction with respect to the main body housing <NUM> around the axis A1. Then, the protruding parts 57a and 57b of the dust case <NUM> move in circumferential grooves <NUM> and abut against or are held at positions close to stopper surfaces 32a. The circumferential grooves <NUM> are each formed so that a width thereof in a front-rear direction gradually decreases toward the stopper surface 32a, and when the protruding parts 57a and 57b are in a state in which they are abutting against the stopper surfaces 32a, the protruding parts 57a and 57b are pressed rearward by lock members <NUM> and are maintained in a state of being sandwiched in the circumferential grooves <NUM>, and thereby the dust case <NUM> is stably held in the main body housing <NUM>. The lock members <NUM> are made of a synthetic resin. Further, a lock mechanism for stable holding when the protruding parts 57a and 57b are in contact with the lock members <NUM> is not limited only to a shape such as the lock members <NUM> that reduce the axial width of the circumferential grooves <NUM> but may also be realized by using a known lock mechanism or a stopper mechanism.

When the dust case <NUM> is removed from the main body housing <NUM>, a reverse procedure is performed. That is, the dust case <NUM> is rotated about <NUM> degrees with respect to the main body housing <NUM> in a direction opposite to that at the time of the attachment with the axis A1 as a central axis, and when the protruding parts 57a and 57b reach positions that coincide with the axial grooves <NUM>, the dust case <NUM> is moved in a direction of the axis A1 and in a direction away from the main body housing <NUM>. Then, the dust case <NUM> is removed from the main body housing <NUM>, but at this time, the filter holder <NUM> with the filter <NUM> attached remains in a state of being attached to the dust case <NUM> side. With such a configuration, the dust case <NUM> and the filter holder <NUM> can be removed from the main body housing <NUM> in a single operation. When the operator pulls out the filter holder <NUM> rearward in a direction of the axis A1 from the removed dust case <NUM>, a space inside the outer cylindrical part <NUM> of the dust case <NUM>, that is, a space in which collected dust is accumulated can be exposed. Thereafter, the operator can dispose of the collected dust inside a trash can, a trash bag, or the like by inclining the opening of the dust case <NUM> to face downward.

The filter holder <NUM> is a positioning member for attaching the cylindrical filter <NUM> and disposing the filter <NUM> at a predetermined position on the axis B1 of the cyclone chamber <NUM> (see <FIG>) of the dust case. The disc-shaped closed wall <NUM> serving as a lid for closing the rear opening of the dust case <NUM> is formed in a rear portion of the filter holder <NUM>. An annular flange part <NUM> that is axially shifted in a stepped shape is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the closed wall <NUM>. When the flange part <NUM> comes into contact with the stepped surface <NUM> of the dust case <NUM>, movement of the filter holder <NUM> with respect to the dust case <NUM> in the direction of the axis B1 and toward a side approaching the bottom surface 52a is restricted. The flange part <NUM> includes two notch parts 73a and 73b formed to avoid interference with the protruding parts 57a and 57b when the filter holder <NUM> is attached to the dust case <NUM>, and one notch part 73c for preventing the filter holder <NUM> from rotating by facing the rotation restriction protruding part <NUM>. An exhaust port 71a serving as an outlet for air from the cyclone unit <NUM> is formed in the closed wall <NUM>. The filter frame <NUM> extending to the rear side is connected to an outer edge portion of the exhaust port 71a. Six filter frames <NUM> are disposed at regular intervals in the circumferential direction and extend to the front side in the direction of the axis B1 (detailed shape will be described with reference to <FIG>).

<FIG> is a perspective view of the main body housing <NUM>. The main body housing <NUM> includes the handle part <NUM> formed on an upper side of the motor housing part <NUM>, and a rail mechanism (not illustrated) for housing the battery pack <NUM> formed on a lower side. The battery pack guard <NUM> is formed on a front side of an attachment part of the battery pack <NUM> to extend downward from the motor housing part <NUM>. The battery pack guard <NUM> is formed to close a ventilator window (cannot be seen in the figure) formed in the battery pack <NUM>. A switch panel <NUM> on which a switch for switching on or off of the motor <NUM> is disposed is provided on an upper side of the handle part <NUM>.

The intake port <NUM> is formed on the front side of the main body housing <NUM> and in a central portion including the axis A1. A plurality of rib-shaped opening guards <NUM> extending in a horizontal direction is formed around the intake port <NUM>. A cylindrical filter attachment part <NUM> is formed around the opening guards <NUM> at a predetermined distance in a radial direction. The filter attachment part <NUM> is used to attach a filter <NUM> (see <FIG>) when a filter filtration type vacuum cleaner <NUM> to be described later in <FIG> is used. Further, when the cyclone unit <NUM> is attached to the main body housing <NUM>, the filter attachment part <NUM> functions as a member for restricting the filter holder <NUM> not to move rearward in the axial direction.

The attached part <NUM> is formed on an outer circumferential surface of a front opening of the main body housing <NUM>. The attached part <NUM> is configured so that both the cyclone unit <NUM> of the present example and a dust collection unit <NUM> to be described later in <FIG> and <FIG> can be attached thereto by the same attachment/detachment operation. Here, the groove-shaped attached part <NUM> (the axial groove <NUM> and the circumferential groove <NUM>) having a substantially L-shape in a side view is formed at two positions, and these are manufactured integrally with the main body housing <NUM> by integrally forming a synthetic resin. A rib <NUM> for holding the dust case <NUM> not to move in the axial direction is formed on a front side of the circumferential groove <NUM> in the axial direction. Also, the lock member <NUM> is provided adjacent to an end portion of the rib <NUM> in the circumferential direction. The lock member <NUM> has a hollow wall surface in the circumferential direction and the axial direction, and a rear wall surface of the wall surface in the circumferential direction is formed to protrude slightly rearward from the rear wall surface of the rib <NUM>. As a result, a width of the hollow wall surface part of the lock member <NUM> is smaller than a width (distance in the axial direction) of the circumferential groove <NUM> in the vicinity of the rib <NUM>.

<FIG> is a longitudinal sectional view of the cyclone unit <NUM> of <FIG>. The cyclone unit <NUM> is constituted by two parts including the dust case <NUM> and the filter holder <NUM> when the filter <NUM> is excluded. <FIG> illustrates a state in which the filter holder <NUM> is attached to the dust case <NUM>. What is characteristic here is that a central axis of the cyclone chamber <NUM> (a space for performing cyclone-type dust separation) on a front side of the closed wall <NUM> and a central axis of the attachment part on a rear side (a side closer to the motor <NUM>) of the closed wall <NUM> are deviated from each other. An axial center of the cyclone chamber <NUM> is B1, an axial center of a rotation center of the attachment part <NUM> on the rear side of the closed wall <NUM> is A1, and the axes A1 and B1 do not coincide with each other. In a conventional cyclone type vacuum cleaner, the axis B1 of the dust case <NUM> and the axis A1 of the rotation center of the attachment part <NUM> are formed to coincide with each other. However, in the present example, for a smaller size and a lighter weight, a diameter of the outer cylindrical part <NUM> of the dust case <NUM> is reduced, and the axis B1 is shifted to one side (on a lower side, here) in the radial direction with respect to the axis A1 so that a part of the connection pipe <NUM> is disposed in a space on the other side (on an upper side, here) in the radial direction secured by the shifting. As a result, a height H of the dust case <NUM> in a vertical direction can be made substantially the same as that of the filter filtration type vacuum cleaner <NUM> to be described later in <FIG>. On the other hand, in order to secure a volume of the internal space of the outer cylindrical part <NUM> of the dust case <NUM>, a length L thereof in the direction of the axis B1 is made sufficiently larger than a length of the filter <NUM> in the direction of the axis B1. As a result, a large amount of centrifugally separated dust can be accumulated in the vicinity of the bottom surface 52a.

Double cylindrical parts (<NUM> and <NUM>) are formed on the rear side (on a side closer to the motor <NUM>) of the closed wall <NUM>. The cylindrical part <NUM> is positioned on an outer circumferential surface of the attached part <NUM> of the main body housing <NUM>. The cylindrical part <NUM> on the inner circumferential side engages with an outer circumferential surface of the filter attachment part <NUM> of the main body housing <NUM>, and thereby the intake chamber <NUM> (see <FIG> for a reference sign thereof) is formed between the cylindrical part <NUM> and the filter attachment part <NUM>.

<FIG> is a rear view of only the dust case <NUM> from a rear side (motor <NUM> side). As can be understood here, a diameter R<NUM> of the outer cylindrical part <NUM> is formed to be sufficiently smaller than a diameter R<NUM> of the cylindrical part <NUM>. A diameter R<NUM> of the connection pipe <NUM> is even smaller than the diameter R<NUM> of the outer cylindrical part <NUM>. In addition to the magnitude relation of the diameters R<NUM>, R<NUM>, and R<NUM>, the positional relationship is such that the cylindrical part <NUM> intersects the vicinity of the axial center C1 of the connection pipe <NUM> when viewed in a direction of the axis A1. On a portion outside the connection pipe <NUM> and the outer cylindrical part <NUM> and positioned inside the cylindrical part <NUM>, a wall surface extending in a radial direction, that is, a connection wall <NUM> is formed. With such a shape, the dust case <NUM> can be easily manufactured by injection forming of a synthetic resin using two molds, and a rigidity of the dust case <NUM> after the forming can be increased.

<FIG> is an exploded perspective view of the filter holder <NUM> and the filter <NUM>, and <FIG> is a side view of the filter holder <NUM> with the filter <NUM> attached. The filter holder <NUM> serves the role of a lid for closing the outer cylindrical part <NUM> by the closed wall <NUM>, and also serves the role of forming an inner cylindrical part to extend from the closed wall <NUM> to the inside of the outer cylindrical part <NUM> by the filter frames <NUM>. The filter holder <NUM> is manufactured by integrally forming a synthetic resin. Inside the cyclone type cyclone chamber <NUM> (see <FIG>), a cup-shaped filter <NUM> is positioned on an inner portion of the airflow AIR1 (see <FIG>) rotating in the cyclone chamber <NUM>, and air on an inner circumferential side which is lighter than dust moves inward in the radial direction through the filter <NUM>. Large opening portions <NUM> are formed between the filter frames <NUM>, and the opening portions <NUM> each have an elongated shape in the axial direction. The air that has reached the inside of the filter frames <NUM> through the filter <NUM> and the opening portions <NUM> is suctioned to the main body housing <NUM> side through the exhaust port 71a (see <FIG>) formed in the vicinity of the center of the closed wall <NUM>.

The filter <NUM> is formed in a cup shape with a nonwoven fabric made of several types of fibers having different thicknesses and can be manufactured using a known filter material available on the market. Also, the filter <NUM> can be easily attached to or removed from the filter holder <NUM>. Six filter frames <NUM> are formed at regular intervals in the circumferential direction and are disposed to extend in the direction of the axis B <NUM>. Also, an enlarged diameter part <NUM> that extends in a conical shape is formed at front end portions of the filter frames <NUM>, and an outer edge portion of the enlarged diameter part <NUM> is in contact with a joining portion between a cylindrical surface 81a and a bottom surface 81b of the filter <NUM>, and thereby the filter <NUM> is stably held. An axial opening <NUM> is formed on an inner side of the enlarged diameter part <NUM> so that airflows in the direction of the axis B1. The cylindrical surface 81a and the bottom surface 81b of the filter <NUM> do not in contact with the filter frames <NUM>, and only a part thereof is in contact with the enlarged diameter part <NUM>. When the filter <NUM> and the filter frames <NUM> are not in close contact with each other in this way, an effective filtration area of the filter is increased, and thus filtration performance can be improved. A shrinkable attachment part <NUM> is formed in the vicinity of an outer edge of an opening 81c of the filter <NUM>, and when the attachment part <NUM> is positioned on an outer circumferential side of a fixed rib <NUM>, the attachment part <NUM> is stably held by the fixed rib <NUM> of the filter holder <NUM>.

<FIG> is a rear view of the filter holder <NUM>. Here, a cylindrical space due to the filter frames <NUM> is formed around the axis B1. The axis B1 is disposed to be shifted in one direction with respect to the rotation axis A1 for attaching the cyclone unit <NUM> to the main body housing <NUM>. In other words, the rotation center (= axis B <NUM>) of the cyclone chamber <NUM> of the cyclone unit <NUM> is shifted from the attachment axis A1. The two notch parts 73a and 73b are provided on the flange part <NUM> of the filter holder <NUM> at rotationally symmetrical positions with the axial center A1 as a center. The notch parts 73a and 73b are formed to avoid interference with the protruding parts 57a and 57b when the filter holder <NUM> is attached to the dust case <NUM>. Also, the notch part 73c for positioning in the circumferential direction when it is attached to the dust case <NUM> and stopping relative rotation of the dust case <NUM> and the filter holder <NUM> is formed in the vicinity of the notch part 73b.

<FIG> is a rear view in a state in which the filter holder <NUM> is attached to the dust case <NUM> (rear view of the cyclone unit <NUM> in <FIG>). The two protruding parts 57a and 57b and the one rotation restriction protruding part <NUM> are formed on an inner circumferential side of the cylindrical part <NUM> of the dust case <NUM>. The rotation restriction protruding part <NUM> is a protrusion having a smaller circumferential length than the protruding parts 57a and 57b and formed at a position on a rear side of the protruding parts 57a and 57b in a direction of the axis A1 and is provided for aligning a circumferential position of the filter holder <NUM> with respect to the dust case <NUM>. Therefore, when the filter holder <NUM> is attached, the cylindrical space due to the filter frames <NUM> is always positioned at a center of the outer cylindrical part <NUM>. Also, the cylindrical space due to the filter frames <NUM> is offset downward as viewed from the axis A1 and is positioned on a side opposite to an upper side in which the connection pipe <NUM> is positioned. To attach the filter holder <NUM> to the dust case <NUM>, the filter holder <NUM> is positioned so that the notch parts 73a to 73c are aligned with positions of the protruding parts 57a and 57b and the rotation restriction protruding part <NUM>, and the filter holder <NUM> is moved to a side closer to the bottom surface 52a (see <FIG>) in a direction of the axis A1 so that the flange part <NUM> of the filter holder <NUM> comes into contact with the stepped surface <NUM> (see <FIG>) of the dust case <NUM>. Thereafter, when the dust case <NUM> is attached to the main body housing <NUM>, movement of the filter holder <NUM> in a front-rear direction is restricted by the cylindrical filter attachment part <NUM> (see <FIG>) of the main body housing <NUM> and the stepped surface <NUM> (see <FIG>).

<FIG> is a view for explaining a method of attaching the cyclone unit <NUM> to the main body housing <NUM> and is a cross-sectional view along line B-B of <FIG>. In order to attach the cyclone unit <NUM> to the main body housing <NUM>, the two protruding parts 57a and 57b are aligned to be positioned in the circumferential direction to face the axial grooves <NUM> of the main body housing <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>, in that state, the cyclone unit <NUM> is pressed against the main body housing <NUM> side and rotated counterclockwise as indicated by an arrow <NUM> when viewed from the rear in the direction of the axis A1 as illustrated in <FIG>, and the two protruding parts 57a and 57b are slid in the circumferential grooves <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> and rotated in a direction in which they approach the stopper surfaces 32a. A rotation angle of the arrow <NUM> at this time is about <NUM> degrees. Also, in such rotation, the connection pipe <NUM> is positioned either immediately above (state of <FIG>) or immediately below (see <FIG>). The two protruding parts 57a and 57b reach positions adjacent to or in contact with the stopper surfaces 32a in the circumferential grooves <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. The lock member <NUM> (see <FIG>, <FIG>) is provided in the vicinity of the stopper surface 32a on a side surface on a front side in the axial direction, and thus a distance in the axial direction of the circumferential groove <NUM> is formed to be small. Due to such a shape of the circumferential groove <NUM>, when the front side surfaces of the two protruding parts 57a and 57b come into contact with the lock members <NUM>, the cyclone unit <NUM> is stably held by the main body housing <NUM> by a frictional force between the lock members <NUM> and the two protruding parts 57a and 57b.

<FIG> is a view for explaining another method of attaching the cyclone unit <NUM> to the main body housing <NUM>. In the cyclone unit <NUM> of the present example, the two protruding parts 57a and 57b are formed at positions separated by <NUM> degrees from each other on an inner side of the attachment part <NUM>. That is, since the protruding parts 57a and 57b are disposed at positions rotationally symmetric with respect to the axis A1, an attachment method in which the connection pipe <NUM> is positioned on a lower side of the cyclone unit <NUM> is also possible as illustrated in <FIG> in addition to the attachment method in which the connection pipe <NUM> is positioned on an upper side of the cyclone unit <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>. When the cyclone unit <NUM> is attached to the main body housing <NUM> in this way, since an extension pipe or a nozzle (not illustrated) connected to a front side of the connection pipe <NUM> is positioned on the lower side of the main body housing <NUM>, it is advantageous when a floor surface with a low height such as between a sofa and the floor is cleaned.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the filter filtration type vacuum cleaner <NUM> (with a dust case <NUM> removed). The dust collection unit <NUM> is constituted by the dust case <NUM> and the filter <NUM>. In the vacuum cleaner <NUM>, the main body housing <NUM> is common to the cyclone vacuum cleaner <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. In the present example, the cyclone vacuum cleaner <NUM> and the normal vacuum cleaner <NUM> of a filter filtration type can be easily realized by attaching either the cyclone unit <NUM> (see <FIG>) or the filter filtration type dust collection unit <NUM> to the common main body housing <NUM>. In this way, when the main body housing <NUM> is made common to the filter filtration type vacuum cleaner <NUM> and a size of the cyclone unit <NUM> is made substantially the same as a size of the dust collection unit <NUM>, a vacuum cleaner capable of realizing dual methods that are very easy for users to use while being compact and lightweight can be realized.

The filter <NUM> is attached to the main body housing <NUM> side. Therefore, as illustrated in <FIG>, when the dust case <NUM> is removed from the main body housing <NUM>, the filter <NUM> remains on the main body housing <NUM> side. The filter <NUM> is detachably attached to the main body housing <NUM>. When the dust case <NUM> is removed, dust inside the dust case <NUM> and around the filter <NUM> can be dropped into a trash can, a trash bag, or the like.

The dust case <NUM> has a substantially cylindrical shape that is narrowed toward the front, and a pipe-shaped nozzle <NUM> is formed at a distal end in a direction of the axis A1. An opening of the nozzle <NUM> has a shape that is obliquely cut to be retracted downward. The nozzle <NUM> can be connected to a floor nozzle via an extension pipe (not illustrated) or directly to the floor nozzle. The filter <NUM> has a cup shape and includes a fine net <NUM> provided between frame parts <NUM> to filter dust in suctioned air. Here, the filter <NUM> is manufactured as an integrally formed product in which the frame parts <NUM> are formed of a synthetic resin by casting the net <NUM>, but a shape of the filter <NUM> is not limited only to this, and the filter <NUM> may be realized by a known filter device formed of a cloth, paper, nonwoven fabrics, or the like. Although a bottom surface <NUM> (a surface perpendicular to the axis A1 and cannot be seen in the figure) on a distal end side (a side closer to the nozzle <NUM>) of the filter <NUM> is closed, a net may also be disposed on the bottom surface <NUM> in the same manner.

<FIG> is a longitudinal sectional view of the filter filtration type vacuum cleaner <NUM>. As the motor <NUM> rotates, the fan <NUM> attached to a rotating shaft of the motor <NUM> rotates, and thereby air mixed with dust is suctioned from the nozzle <NUM>. An opening/closing lid 152b made of rubber is provided at a rear end portion of the nozzle <NUM>, and the opening/closing lid 152b is inclined rearward during suctioning to release a flow path of the nozzle <NUM>. Air suctioned into the dust case <NUM> through the nozzle <NUM> flows from the outside to the inside of the filter <NUM>, and at this time, only the dust is filtered by the net <NUM> (see <FIG>), and the air that has reached the inside reaches the inside of the fan housing chamber <NUM> from the intake port <NUM> of the main body housing <NUM>. The cup-shaped filter <NUM> is held by a filter holder <NUM> provided therein. The filter holder <NUM> is a cup-shaped inner frame made of synthetic resin and serves the role of maintaining a shape of the filter <NUM> that is deformed by the suctioned airflow. The air that has passed through the filter <NUM> passes through the intake port <NUM> and flows rearward to be suctioned into the fan housing chamber <NUM>. A flow of the air suctioned into the fan housing chamber <NUM> is the same as the flow described in <FIG>, and the air is discharged radially outward from the vicinity of the axis A1 by the fan <NUM>, passes through an outer circumferential side of an outer cylindrical part of the motor holder <NUM> to flow rearward, and reaches the internal space <NUM> in which the motor <NUM> is housed.

Two protruding parts <NUM> are provided in the dust case <NUM>. The protruding parts <NUM> have shapes common to the protruding parts 57a and 57b provided in the cyclone unit <NUM> of the cyclone vacuum cleaner <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> and can be fixed to the attached part <NUM> of the main body housing <NUM> in the same manner as that.

An airflow AIR4 that has flowed to a rear side of the motor <NUM> is turned upward in its direction in the vicinity of a rear end of the handle part <NUM> as indicated by the dotted arrow, flows inside the handle part <NUM> from a rear side to a front side like an airflow AIR5, and is discharged to the outside from the first exhaust port <NUM>. In the present example, since the second exhaust port <NUM> is also formed on a lower side of the rear end of the handle part <NUM>, some of the airflow AIR4 is discharged from the second exhaust port <NUM>, and the rest is discharged to the outside from the first exhaust port <NUM>.

<FIG> is a side view of a cyclone vacuum cleaner 1A to which a cyclone unit 50A according to a modified example of the present invention is attached. The cyclone unit 50A is formed so that a connection pipe 60A and a connection part 62A are extended longer than those of the cyclone unit <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, and a suction port 60a' that is an opening at a distal end of the connection part 62A is formed to be inclined. By forming as above, when the cyclone unit 50A is attached to the main body housing <NUM> so that the connection pipe 60A is positioned on the lower side as illustrated in <FIG>, it is easy to perform suctioning work such as suctioning on a desk, cleaning a keyboard, or the like from the suction port 60a' in the state illustrated in <FIG> without using an extension pipe or an extension nozzle. Also, such a nozzle shape can realize the same usability as the conventional vacuum cleaner <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> and is very easy for user to use.

<FIG> is a side view of the two-stage cyclone vacuum cleaner <NUM>. A dust collection unit <NUM> is attached to the main body housing <NUM>, and the main body housing <NUM> is common to the cyclone vacuum cleaner <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, the vacuum cleaner <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, and the cyclone vacuum cleaner 1A illustrated in <FIG>.

<FIG> is a vertical cross-sectional view of the two-stage cyclone vacuum cleaner <NUM>. The dust collection unit <NUM> includes a dust case <NUM>, an intermediate case <NUM>, and an inner case <NUM>. A cylindrical connection pipe <NUM> extending in a front-rear direction is formed in the intermediate case <NUM>, and the inside of the connection pipe <NUM> is configured as a connection passage <NUM>. An extension pipe (not illustrated) can be connected to the connection pipe <NUM>, and the extension pipe is common to the cyclone vacuum cleaner <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, the vacuum cleaner <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, and the cyclone vacuum cleaner 1A illustrated in <FIG>. A rear end side of the connection pipe <NUM> is bent with respect to the front-rear direction.

The inner case <NUM> is attached to the inside of the intermediate case <NUM>. The inner case <NUM> includes a cylindrical first outer cylinder <NUM> centered on an axis D1 extending in a front-rear direction, and one first cyclone chamber <NUM> is formed inside the first outer cylinder <NUM>. The first outer cylinder <NUM> is connected to the connection pipe <NUM>, and the first cyclone chamber <NUM> and the connection passage <NUM> communicate with each other through a first intake port <NUM>. The dust case <NUM> is detachably coupled to the intermediate case <NUM> by a hinge (not illustrated) or the like. The dust case <NUM> is formed in a cylindrical shape with the rear end opened and the front end closed to extend in a direction of the axis D1, and a first dust collecting chamber <NUM> is formed therein. A rear end side of the first dust collecting chamber <NUM> is closed by the intermediate case <NUM>, and the first dust collecting chamber <NUM> communicates with the first cyclone chamber <NUM>. A cylindrical first exhaust duct <NUM> extending inside the first cyclone chamber <NUM> in a direction of the axis D1 is attached to the intermediate case <NUM>. Further, the axis D1 is coaxial with the axis A1. A first exhaust port <NUM> provided on a rear side of the first exhaust duct <NUM> and opens to the inside of the first exhaust duct <NUM> to allow the inside and outside of the first cyclone chamber <NUM> to communicate is formed in the inner case <NUM>. The inner case <NUM> forms a connection passage <NUM> connected to the first cyclone chamber <NUM> via the first exhaust port <NUM> at a position further rearward from the first exhaust port <NUM>.

The inner case <NUM> includes a conical second outer cylinder <NUM> centered on an axis E1 parallel to the axis D1, and a second cyclone chamber <NUM> is formed inside the second outer cylinder <NUM>. A plurality of the second outer cylinders <NUM> is disposed to be aligned in a circumferential direction with the axis D1 as the center, and thereby a plurality of (<NUM> in the present example) second cyclone chambers <NUM> is formed. Each of the second outer cylinders <NUM> and the first outer cylinder <NUM> share a part of a wall part. A second intake port <NUM> that allows the inside and outside of the second cyclone chamber <NUM> to communicate is formed in the second outer cylinder <NUM>, and the second cyclone chamber <NUM> and the connection passage <NUM> communicate with each other through the second intake port <NUM>. A second dust collecting chamber <NUM> having an open rear end is formed in the dust case <NUM>. The opening of the second dust collecting chamber <NUM> is closed by the intermediate case <NUM>, and the second dust collecting chamber <NUM> communicates with the second cyclone chamber <NUM>. Further, the first dust collecting chamber <NUM> and the second dust collecting chamber <NUM> are partitioned by a common partition wall <NUM>. An opening is provided at a rear end of the second cyclone chamber <NUM>, and the opening is closed by a partition wall <NUM> of the intermediate case <NUM> in contact with the rear end side. The partition wall <NUM> includes a cylindrical second exhaust duct <NUM> formed to extend in a direction of the axis E1 and a second exhaust port <NUM> provided in the partition wall <NUM> to allow the inside and outside of the second cyclone chamber <NUM> to communicate is formed inside the second exhaust duct <NUM>.

The intermediate case <NUM> forms a filter chamber <NUM> by the partition wall <NUM> and a side wall <NUM>. The filter chamber <NUM> opens at a rear end, and the opening is closed by the main body housing <NUM> when the intermediate case <NUM> is attached to the main body housing <NUM>. A cylindrical filter <NUM> extending in a direction of the axis D1 is attached inside the filter chamber <NUM>. The second exhaust port <NUM> opens into the filter chamber <NUM> on an outer circumferential side of the filter <NUM>, and a space on an outer side of the filter <NUM> in the filter chamber <NUM> communicates with the second cyclone chamber <NUM> through the second exhaust port. A space on an inner side of the filter <NUM> communicates with the inside of the main body housing <NUM> via the intake port <NUM> of the main body housing <NUM>.

A flow of air in the cyclone vacuum cleaner <NUM> will be described. When the motor <NUM> is driven, an airflow is generated by the fan <NUM>. The airflow enters the connection passage <NUM> from a suction port 217a, passes through the connection pipe <NUM> and the first intake port <NUM>, and enters the first cyclone chamber <NUM>. The airflow swirls around the axis D1 in the first cyclone chamber <NUM> to centrifugally separate dust contained in the airflow. The dust moves forward while swirling and is stored in the first dust collecting chamber <NUM>. The airflow enters the inside of the first exhaust duct <NUM> from the first cyclone chamber <NUM> and the first dust collecting chamber <NUM>, and then proceeds to the first exhaust port <NUM>, the connection passage <NUM>, and the second intake port <NUM> in that order to enter the inside of the second cyclone chamber <NUM>. The airflow swirls around the axis E1 in the second cyclone chamber <NUM> to centrifugally separate dust contained in the airflow. The dust moves forward while swirling and is stored in the second dust collecting chamber <NUM>. The airflow enters the inside of the second exhaust duct <NUM> from the second cyclone chamber <NUM>, then passes through the second exhaust port <NUM>, and enters the space outside the filter <NUM> in the filter chamber <NUM>. The airflow passes through the filter <NUM> from the outside toward the inside, and dust is separated by the filter <NUM> at this time. The airflow that has entered the inside of the filter <NUM> passes through the intake port <NUM>, enters the inside of the main body housing <NUM>, and heads for the fan <NUM>.

Two protruding parts <NUM> are provided in the intermediate case <NUM>. The protruding parts <NUM> have shapes common to the protruding parts 57a and 57b provided in the cyclone unit <NUM> of the cyclone vacuum cleaner <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> and the protruding parts <NUM> provided in the dust case <NUM> of the vacuum cleaner <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> and can be fixed to the attached part <NUM> of the main body housing <NUM> by the same method as those.

Claim 1:
A vacuum cleaner (<NUM>, 1A, <NUM>) comprising:
a motor (<NUM>);
a fan (<NUM>) driven by the motor (<NUM>);
a main body housing (<NUM>) housing the motor (<NUM>) and the fan (<NUM>), and including an intake port (<NUM>) for allowing an airflow due to the fan (<NUM>) to enter inside; and
a dust collection unit (<NUM>, 50A, <NUM>, <NUM>) detachably attached to the main body housing (<NUM>) to cover the intake port (<NUM>), wherein, as the dust collection unit (<NUM>, 50A, <NUM>),
a first dust collection unit (<NUM>, 50A, <NUM>) having: a connection pipe (<NUM>) having a suction port (60a) through which an airflow from outside enters; a cyclone chamber (<NUM>) in which the airflow flowing in from the connection pipe (<NUM>) swirls; and
an inner cylindrical part (<NUM>) which is provided in the cyclone chamber (<NUM>) and has a cylindrical shape extending in an axial direction of the connection pipe (<NUM>) and through which the airflow flowing into the cyclone chamber (<NUM>) passes toward the main body housing (<NUM>), the first dust collection unit (<NUM>, 50A, <NUM>) centrifugally separating dust with the airflow swirling around a periphery of the inner cylindrical part (<NUM>) inside the cyclone chamber (<NUM>), and
a second dust collection unit (<NUM>) formed with a suction port (<NUM>) through which an airflow from outside enters and having a dust collecting chamber in a cylindrical shape extending in a front-rear direction from the suction port (<NUM>) to the intake port (<NUM>), and configured to collect dust without using a centrifugal force of the airflow, due to a filter (<NUM>) disposed on a way in which the airflow flows in the dust collecting chamber, are selectively attachable to and detachable from the main body housing (<NUM>).