Cyclone separator

A vacuum cleaner comprising a cyclone separator, the cyclone separator comprising:

• an involute-shaped inlet chamber;
• an involute-shaped outlet chamber;
• a fluid inlet comprising a curved wall of the inlet chamber of maximum radius, for introducing a fluid mixture into the inlet chamber so that it swirls around an inlet chamber axis and passes to the outlet chamber in which it swirls about an outlet chamber axis, the outlet chamber being provided with a light phase outlet for conducting lighter phase fluids;
• wherein:
• the outlet chamber is also provided with a heavy phase outlet, comprising a curved wall of the outlet chamber of maximum radius, for conducting heavier phase fluids from the outlet chamber, the heavy phase outlet being provided at a relatively large distance from the outlet chamber axis and light phase outlet being provided at a relatively small distance from the outlet chamber axis;
• and:
• the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber are spaced apart and an intermediate chamber is provided therebetween through which fluid swirls kin use in passing from the inlet chamber to the outlet chamber.

A method of separating gases, liquids or solids of different density, or combinations thereof, comprising introducing them as a swirling mixture to the cyclone separator, the cyclone separator comprising:

• an involute-shaped inlet chamber;
• an involute-shaped outlet chamber;
• a fluid inlet comprising a curved wall of the inlet chamber of maximum radius, for introducing a fluid mixture into the inlet chamber so that it swirls around an inlet chamber axis and passes to the outlet chamber in which it swirls about an outlet chamber axis, the outlet chamber being provided with a light phase outlet for conducting lighter phase fluids;
• wherein:
• the outlet chamber is also provided with a heavy phase outlet, comprising a curved wall of the outlet chamber of maximum radius, for conducting heavier phase fluids from the outlet chamber, the heavy phase outlet being provided at a relatively large distance from the outlet chamber axis and light phrase outlet being provided at a relatively small distance from the outlet chamber axis;
• and:
• the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber are spaced apart and an intermediate chamber is provided therebetween through which fluid swirls in use in passing from the inlet chamber to the outlet chamber.