Patent ID: 8062398

Claim:
A vacuum cleaner comprising: a cleaner body having a suction cavity with an inlet port and an outlet port; a cyclone module removably mounted in the suction cavity and having: a separation chamber having an inlet opening at a lower portion thereof and adapted to communicate with the inlet port and an outlet opening at the lower portion and adapted to communicate with the outlet port; an exhaust grill mounted in the separation chamber and in fluid communication with the outlet opening; a ramp positioned adjacent the inlet opening and adapted to direct dirty air entering the inlet opening in an upward helical path along the separation chamber for separating dust or debris from air; a debris outlet comprising a guide member that extends horizontally from an upper portion of the separation chamber; and a dust collection chamber adjacent the separation chamber and in communication with the debris outlet for collecting debris and dust separated from air in the separation chamber; and a vacuum fan/motor mounted in the cleaner body downstream of the outlet opening and having a suction inlet in communication with the outlet opening and adapted to maintain a flow of dirty air from the inlet port through the separation chamber between the inlet opening and the outlet opening.