Multi cyclone array for surface cleaning apparatus and a surface cleaning apparatus having same

A vacuum cleaner comprising:

• (a) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet with a suction motor provided in the air flow path;
• (b) a cyclonic cleaning stage provided in the air flow path, the cyclonic cleaning stage comprising a plurality of cyclones in parallel and an air inlet manifold having a radial outer wall and an inner volume, each cyclone having a cyclone axis of rotation, a first end, an axially spaced apart second end, a sidewall extending between the first and second ends, an air inlet in communication with the inner volume of the air inlet manifold, an air outlet and a sideways dirt outlet;
• (c) a dirt collection chamber;
• and,
• (d) a dirt collection plenum located between first and second axially spaced apart walls and positioned radially from and in communication with the dirt outlets,
• wherein the second wall has a first opening communicating with the dirt collection chamber and the first wall is positioned between the dirt collection plenum and the air inlet manifold,
• wherein at least a portion of the dirt collection plenum is positioned radially outwardly of at least some of the cyclones, and
• wherein a plane that is transverse to the cyclone axis of rotation of one of the cyclones extends through the dirt collection plenum, at least one of the dirt outlets and at least one cyclone.