Patent ID: 7770256

Claim:
A vacuum cleaner comprising: a housing defining a first cyclonic airflow chamber for separating contaminants from a dirt-containing airstream as it travels about a first cyclonic axis in the first cyclonic airflow chamber, said housing further comprising a cyclonic chamber inlet and an airstream outlet in fluid communication with said cyclonic airflow chamber; a nozzle housing including a suction opening, said suction opening being fluidly connected with said cyclonic chamber inlet; an airstream suction source fluidly connected to said suction opening and to the first cyclonic airflow chamber for transporting dirt-containing air from the suction opening to the cyclonic airflow chamber, said suction source is adapted to establish and maintain a dirt-containing airstream from said suction opening through said first cyclonic airflow chamber inlet and to a first cyclonic airflow chamber outlet; a dirt-collecting bin mounted to the housing beneath said first cyclonic airflow chamber, the dirt-collecting bin comprising a bottom wall, a sidewall, and an open top; a plurality of secondary cyclones arranged around the first cyclonic axis, wherein each secondary cyclone comprises: an inlet opening in fluid communication with the first cyclonic airflow chamber outlet; a debris outlet positioned radially inward of the inlet opening; and a second cyclonic axis that is oriented substantially perpendicular to the first cyclonic axis; and a secondary debris collector in communication with the debris outlets of the secondary cyclones.