Configuration of a cyclone assembly and surface cleaning apparatus having same

A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

• (a) an air flow path from a dirty air inlet to a clean air out with a cyclone separator and a suction motor provided in the air flow path
• (b) the cyclone separator comprising a cyclone casing defining a cyclone chamber, the cyclone casing having first and second spaced apart ends, a first end wall at the first spaced apart end, a second end wall at the second spaced apart end, a sidewall extending between the first and second end walls, a cyclone air inlet provided at the first end, a cyclone air outlet, a dirt outlet and a cyclone axis of rotation that extends through the first and second end wall;
• and,
• (c) a dirt collection chamber exterior to the cyclone chamber and in communication with the cyclone chamber by the dirt outlet, the dirt collection chamber includes a portion radially outwardly of the cyclone chamber, the portion having an outer wall that is positioned radially outward of the sidewall,
• wherein the air flow path includes a generally axially extending side portion upstream from the cyclone air inlet, wherein air flows axially through the side portion, the generally axially extending side portion has a side portion inner wall that forms an arc that is continuous with the sidewall of the cyclone casing and a side portion outer wall that forms an arc that is continuous with the outer wall of the portion of the dirt collection chamber.