Two-stage particle separator for vacuum cleaners

A vacuum cleaner comprising:

• a housing;
• a dust separation system communicating with said housing, wherein said dust separation system comprises:
• a dirty air inlet;
• a first inertial dust separation stage positioned downstream from said dirty air inlet, wherein said first dust separation stage includes a flow channel and a clean air outlet positioned in a wall of said flow channel to cause a rapid change in a direction of air flow,
• a second inertial dust separation stage positioned downstream from said first dust separation stage, wherein said second dust separation stage comprises a deflector,
• a dust containing area which communicates with at least one of said first dust separation stage and said second dust separation stage, and
• a clean air outlet located downstream from said second dust separation stage.

A vacuum cleaner comprising:

• a housing;
• a nozzle communicating with said housing;
• and
• a dust separation system communicating with said housing, wherein said dust separation system comprises:
• a dirty air inlet communicating with said nozzle,
• a first inertial dust separation stage positioned downstream from said dirty air inlet,
• a first dust containing chamber communicating with said first dust separation stage for holding dust separated, by said first dust separation stage, from an air stream flowing through said dust separation system, wherein said first dust separation system comprises a flow channel and a clean air outlet located in a wall of said flow channel to cause a sudden change of direction of an air flow through said flow channel,
• a second inertial dust separation stage positioned downstream from said first inertial dust separation stage,
• a second dust containing chamber communicating with said second inertial dust separation stage for holding dust separated by said second dust separation stage from the air stream flowing through said dust cup, and
• an outlet located downstream from said second dust separation stage.

A vacuum cleaner comprising:

• a main housing;
• a nozzle communicating with said main housing;
• a dust separation system selectively secured to said main housing, said dust separation system comprising:
• a housing section comprising a first inertial dust separation stage which communicates with said nozzle and a second inertial dust separation stage positioned downstream from said first inertial dust separation stage,
• a dust cup having a side wall and an open top communicating with at least one of said first and second inertial dust separation stages, and
• an outlet located in said dust cup, wherein said housing section is selectively mounted on said dust cup.