WO1998035600A1

WO1998035600A1 - Apparatus for cleaning floors, carpets and the like

Info

Publication number: WO1998035600A1
Application number: PCT/GB1998/000391
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nicholas Gerald Grey
Original assignee: Vax Limited
Priority date: 1997-02-13
Filing date: 1998-02-09
Publication date: 1998-08-20
Also published as: GB9702984D0; AU5998798A; GB2322065A; GB2322065B

Abstract

A vacuum cleaning appliance of the kind comprising a cleaning implement (70) carried by a body (10) together with a source of suction (20) is provided with two interchangeable collection containers (40; 60) adapted to be mounted alternatively in a recess (15) formed in the body so as to enable the cleaner to be used either in a wet-mode or in a dry-mode. The collection containers (40; 60) each comprise a generally cylindrical body (43; 61) into which an inlet tube (45; 63) extends upwardly from the base therof and a respective separator unit (50; 65). One collection container (40), is for use in the wet mode, and includes the separator unit (50) which comprises a tube (51) forming an extension of the suction tube (45), with a baffle wall (54) over the open mouth thereof, and additionally an oblique annular baffle plate (46) may be provided in the vicinity of the junction between the two tubes (45, 51). The other collection container (60), is for use in the dry mode, and includes the separator unit (65) which comprises a mounting ring (67) carrying a tubular filter element (66), the lower end of which is closed by a baffle plate (68) which registers with the open end (63a) of the inlet tube (63) in spaced relation thereto.

Description

Title : "Apparatus for cleaning floors, carpets and the like"

Description of the invention

This invention relates to apparatus for cleaning floors, carpets and the like and is more particularly concerned with a dual puipose apparatus suitable for both dry suction cleaning ("vacuum" cleaning) and for wet process cleaning operations involving the application and removal of a liquid. Such apparatus is sometimes known as a "three-in-one" appliance since, in addition to peιfoιτning noimal diy vacuuming operations and wet cleaning operations, it can also be used simply for diying floors or picking up spillages.

Many designs have been proposed for such dual puipose appliances, but the concept of interchangeability between wet and diy modes of operation has successfully been applied only in the context of vacuum cleaners of the so-called "canister" type in which a cleaning implement to which suction is applied is connected to a source of suction within a body of the appliance by means of a flexible hose. In general, the body of appliances of the canister type can be made relatively large and, indeed, heavy because, whilst it is mobile (on castors or the like) it is not required to be moved constantly back and forth by the user.

However, an alternative form of vacuum cleaner which is in common use is the so-called "upright" type in which a main cleaning implement is carried by a body of the appliance together with a source of suction so that the appliance as a whole is normally required to be moved back and forth by the user. Thus, different constraints on size and weight apply in the case of vacuum cleaners of the upright type, and for this reason it has not previously been possible to provide a commercially successful cleaner of the upright type which is capable of operating in both wet and dry modes.

In our British Patent specifications 1601456 and 2038168 there are disclosed two vacuum cleaners of the canister type in which a reservoir assembly for a cleaning liquid and a filter assembly for the separation of diy dust are interchangeably assembled between a source of suction and a collection container wliich is thereby adapted for either wet or diy operation. Thus the main body of the appliance in either mode of operation comprises three sections which are releasably clipped together, the central section comprising either of the two interchangeable sections. Such an arrangement is generally satisfactoiy for vacuum cleaners of the canister type because they stand stably on the floor and the user can use two hands to manipulate the various components as necessary without undue difficulty.

Whilst, theoretically, such a three-section construction could be adopted for a vacuum cleaner of the upright type, in practice this has a number of disadvantages to the user in particular.

Even where the upright cleaner is of the kind which includes a base member, in which the main cleaning implement and motor/impeller unit are located, with a swivellably connected handle portion carrying the collection container, so that the appliance as a whole can stand stably on the floor with the handle assembly in an upright position, the appliance is generally less stable than a cleaner of the canister type, partly because of its greater height and partly because of the swivellable connection between the handle assembly and the base member, so that manipulation of interchangeable sections to convert from wet to diy mode may be difficult. The difficulties would be even greater with a vacuum cleaner of the so-called "stick" type in which the cleaning implement is not incorporated in a base member whereby the appliance as a whole can stand in a stable manner on the floor.

Our International Patent specifications W^'094/ 7722 and W094/17723 disclose an appliance of the stick type in which the collection container is removably housed within a recess formed in a body of the appliance, but without any provision for conversion between wet and diy modes of operation, the collection container being removably coupled at its upper end to an air/liquid separator disposed non-removably within the body ot the appliance.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vacuum cleaning appliance generally of the upright type (which term includes the stick type) which is adapted foi opeia ion selectively in wet and diy modes

Accoidmg to the piesent invention we piovide a vacuum cleaning appliance of d e kind comprising a cleanmg implement earned b a body of the appliance which has a souice of suction theiem and a suction duct connected with said cleaning implement, the body having an opening formed theiem at one side to communicate with an internal lecess, wheiein

(a) said iecess is adapted to leceive selectively and ieleasably one of two interchangeable fust and second collection containeis thiough said opening

(b) one of said collection containeis is adapted to collect liquid and mcludes a suction passage which extends upwaidly fiom the base of the contamei and terminates at an uppei end in an outlet at a position within the container and at a lower end in a leleasable connection at the base of the contamei whereby it is connectable to said suction duct, a second leleasable connection at the uppei end of the collection contamei wheieby it is connectable to said souice of suction to establish suction at said cleaning implement and an flow from said implement thiough said duct and said suction passage to said souice of suction, and a wet- mode sepaiatoi unit connected at the outlet of said suction passage within the collection contamei and which opeiates to sepaiate entiained liquid droplets fiom the an -flow theieby enabling said fust collection contamei when located within the iecess to be used foi the collection of liquid, and

(c) the othei of said collection containeis is adapted to collect diy mattei and includes a suction passage which extends upwaidly fiom the base of the contamei and terminates at an uppei end in an outlet at a position within the contamei and at a lowei end m a leleasable connection at the base of the contamei wheieby it is connectable to said suction duct, a second leleasable connection at the uppei end of the collection contamei wheieby it is connectable to said souice of suction to establish suction at said cleaning implement and an flow fiom said implement thiough said duct and said suction passage to said souice of suction, and a dry-mode sepaiatoi unit within the collection contamei at a position spaced fiom the outlet of said suction passage and which opeiates to sepaiate diy material entiained in the an -flow theieby enabling said second collection container when located within the iecess to be used for the collection of diy mattei

The wet mode sepaiatoi unit of said fust collection chambei may comprise a tube, forming m use an extension of said suction passage in the collection contamer, and having an outlet opening in iegistei w ith a tiansveisely disposed baffle which seives to leveise ti e duection of an flow and function as an air/hquid separator within said fust collection container Piefeiably the suction passage is disposed centially within said fust collection contamei. the tube also being disposed centially of the collection contamei

The baffle is piefeiably formed with a geneially cylindrical skirt which extends ovei, and m spaced i elation to, an end portion of said tube, said skirt being spaced mwaidly fiom the side wall of said fust collection contamei

Desuably, said fust collection contamei also includes an obliquely inclined annulai baffle plate which is aπanged to extend acioss the collection contamei The annulai baffle plate may be earned

an oblique end face at the lowei end of a tubulai wall which is lemovably located within said fust collection contamei

The diy mode sepaiatoi unit of said second collection contamei may compnse a filtei element disposed within the collection contamei between the outlet of said suction passage and said connection means at the uppei end of the second collection chambei

The filtei element may be earned b> a mounting nng which is lemovably mounted within, and sea ngly engages against, the side wall of said collection contamei, and may be of tubulai form and at the end theieof i emote from said mounting nng is closed by a baffle plate which, in use, is in iegistei with and spaced fiom the outlet of said suction passage m said second collection contamei

The invention furthei lesides in a collection contamei foi use with a vacuum cleanei of the kind composing a cleaning implement which is earned by a body of the appliance togethei with a souice of suction, the body having a iecess adapted to leceive the collection contamei leleasabl) thiough an opening formed at one side of the body, wheiem the collection contamei composes a suction passage which extends upwaidly fiom the base of the container and temiinates m an outlet at a position within the contamei and is releasably connectable at the base of die contamer to a suction duct in die cleaner, said suction duct being connected with said cleaning implement, connection means at the uppei end of die collection contamer for leleasable connection to said souice of suction within the body of die cleaner to establish suction at said cleaning implement and airflow from said implement thiough said suction duct and said suction passage to said souice of suction, and a sepaiatoi unit connected at the outlet of said suction passage and adapted to function as an an/liquid sepaiatoi opeiatmg to sepaiate entiained liquid dioplets fiom the an flow to enable the cleanei to be opeiated in a wet mode in which said collection contamei serves to collect liquid picked up by said cleaning implement

The mvention also resides in a vacuum cleanei having such a collection contamei leleasably assembled theiewith

The invention furthei lesides in a collection contamei foi use with a vacuum cleanei of the kind composing a cleaning implement which is earned by a body of the appliance togethei with a souice of suction, the body having a iecess adapted to leceive the collection contamei ιeleasabl> thiough an opening formed at one side of the body, wheiein the collection contamei composes a suction passage which extends upwaidly fiom the base of the contamei and terminates in an outlet at a position within the contamei and is leleasably connectable at the base of the contamei to a suction duct in the cleanei, said suction duct being connected with said cleaning implement, connection means at the uppei end of die collection contamei foi leleasable connection to said souice of suction within die body of the cleanei to establish suction at said cleaning implement and airflow fiom said implement thiough said suction duct and said suction passage to said souice of suction, and a sepaiatoi unit mounted witlun the collection contamei at a position spaced fiom the outlet of said suction passage and adapted to function as a solid mattei sepaiatoi to enable the cleanei to be used in a diy mode, opeiatmg to sepaiate solid matenal endamed in the airflow so that said collection contamei seives to collect diy mattei picked up b> said cleaning implement The invention further resides in a vacuum cleaner having such a collection container assembled therewith.

These and other features of die invention will now be described by way of example widi reference to the accompanying drawings wherein :-

FIGURE 1 shows one embodiment of vacuum cleaner in accordance with die invention set up in a wet mode witii a first collection container in place; and

FIGURE 2 shows such cleaner set up in a diy mode with a second collection container in place.

A suction cleaner embodying the present invention, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 by way of example, includes a body 10 which defines a housing for various operative components, including a motor/impeller unit 20 which provides a source of suction to draw air through a suction duct 30 and into one of two removable collection containers 40 and 60 which is for the time-being housed within the body 10.

The body 10 is formed to afford a handle assembly 1 1 at its upper end and has in its mid region an opening 12 at one side to give access to an internal recess 15 in wliich the selected removable collection container 40 or 60 is housed when in use. At its lower end the body 10 carries a suction head 70 of any convenient form. It will be understood that such head may, as in the illustrated embodiment, have provision for applying a cleaning liquid as hereinafter described, and that die head 70 may be mounted for swivelling movement relative to the suction duct 30 about a generally horizontal axis extending either in the fore-and- aft direction or in a transverse direction.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first collection container 40 comprises an outer body 41 of generally jug-like fonn having an integral handle 42 on the wall thereof which in use is outside relative to the recess 15 in the body widiin which die container 40 is received.

As shown in Figure 1 , the outer body 41 of the first container 40 seives as a reservoir compartment for clean water (normally containing a detergent or the like) which can be delivered to the suction head 70 by means of a liquid delivery pipe 31 which is leleasably connected to die lowei end of the outei body 41 desuably with d e mteiposition of valve means (not shown) wheieby the flow of liquid to the cleaning head can be regulated

The fiist contamei 40 furthei composes an innei compartment 43 which extends upwaidly beyond the uppei end of the outei body 41 and at its uppei end is adapted to piovide a connection 25 to engage sealmgly with an mtake duct 21 of the motoi/impellei unit 20, foi example by means of an interposed sealmg nng 22

The mnei compartment 43 is adapted to collect mateoal picked up by die suction head 70 and conveyed along suction duct 30 Foi tins puipose, the mnei compartment 43 of the fust contamei 40 includes a suction passage composing a cential suction tube 45 which extends upwaidly fiom the base 44 of the outei body 41 wheie a leleasable connection 44a is piovided to connect with the suction duct 30 The tube 45 extends thiough the base of the innei compartment 43 and temiinates at its uppei end in an outlet 45a at a position appioximately one thud of the way up the height of the mnei compartment 43

The mnei compartment 43 of the fust collection contamer 40 is piovided with a wet-mode sepaiatoi unit 50 of a kind adapted to sepaiate liquid dioplets entiained m the an flow fiom the suction head 70

The wet-mode sepaiatoi unit 50 composes a tube 51 which is leleasabl} connectable to the outlet 45a at the uppei end of the suction tube 45 so as to form an extension theieof At its uppei end 52 the tube 51 cames a cap 53 which includes an end wall 54 of gieatei diametei than the tube 51, in iegistei with, and spaced fiom, the uppei end 52 of the tube 51 and serves as a baffle, and a cucuinfeiential skirt 55 which oveilaps with an end portion of the tube 5 1 in spaced lelation theiefiom, whilst also being spaced fiom the side wall of the nei compartment 43 as shown in Figuie 1 Thus in use, an with liquid dioplets entiained is diawn fiom the suction head 70 thiough the suction duct 30, tubes 45 and 51, and undeigoes a sharp leveisal of flow w ithin the cap 53, in a mannei which efficiently sepaiates liquid dioplets befoie the an flow is again leveised and diawn thiough connection 25 into the intake duct 21 of the motoi/impellei assembly 20 Liquid separated from the air flow can then diain downwardly into die base of the inner compartment 43.

Preferably, the inner compartment 43 also includes an obliquely disposed annular baffle plate 46 which assists in letaining collected liquid in die base of die inner compartment as the apparatus is moved back and forth. hi die illustrated embodiment, the baffle plate 46 is provided at an oblique end face of an upwardly extending tubular wall 47 which teimmates at its upper end in an outwardly dnected flange 48 which engages the inner faces of the side walls of die inner compartment, an outlet aperture 49 being foimed at the lowest point of the baffle plate 46 at its junction with the wall 47 to allow liquid to be discharged into the base portion of the mnei compartment The baffle plate is ao'anged so that the apeituie 49 is positioned against the side of die inner compartment which is uppermost when the appliance is m use The baffle 46 prevents spillage of collected liquid into the part of the compartment above the baffle plate if the appliance is laid down and minimises sloshing of the collected liquid due to back and forth movement of the appliance in use The assembly of baffle plates 46, tubular wall 47 and flange 48 may be removably located within the inner compartment 43 so as to facilitate emptying and cleaning of the lattei aftei use Howevei, an upwaidly extending outlet tube (not shown) may be provided at the uppeimost point of the baffle plate 46, diametially opposed to the aperture 49, to enable the contents of the mnei compartment 43 to be emptied without removing the baffle plate assembly, such outlet tube normally being closed at the upper end by means of a suitable lemovable stoppei

The baffle plate 46 may be secured to. and earned by. the tube 51 of the separator unit 50 so as to foon an effectively pennanent part theieof, m which case it may be disposed neaier to the cap 53 than illustrated so as to increase the available volume of the innei compartment 43 beneath the baffle plate 46 In othei embodiments, the baffle plate 46 may be leleasably assembled w idi the tube 51, oi with the suction tube 45 of the collection contamei 40

In an alternative aπangement, the tubulai wall 47 and flange 48 may be omitted so that the baffle plate 46 then engages aiound its penpheiy directly with d e internal face of the inner compartment 43, except where the aperture 49 is required.

As described above, die first collection container 40 incorporates a reservoir from which a cleaning liquid may be dispensed as required. However, it would be possible for die inner compartment 43 to be omitted where cleaning by the application of liquid is not required, die outer body 41 then serving directly to collect liquid so ti at the appliance then seives only to pick up liquid when the fust, wet mode, collection container is in use.

For operation of the cleaner in the diy mode, the first, or wet-mode, collection container 40 is removed from the recess 15 and the second, or div-mode. collection container 60 is inserted in its place as shown hi Figure 2.

The second collection container 60 comprises a body 61 of generally jug-like fonn with an integral handle 62 and a suction passage comprising a centi-al suction tube 63 which extends upwardly from the base 64 of the second collection container 60 where a releasable connection 64a is provided to connect with the suction duct 30. The tube 63 terminates at ite upper end in an outlet 63a. The second collection container 60 is provided with a separator unit 65 wliich may essentially comprise any suitable form of filter element. In the illustrated embodiment a tubular filter element 66 is carried by a mounting ring 67, and die lowermost end of the filter element is closed by a baffle plate 68, on which air emerging from the outlet 63a of the tube 63 impinges so as to cause flow-reversal and to assist the separation of coarser particles before the air stream passes through the filter material which removes finer particles. Separated dust and other matter falls to the bottom of the body 61 of the second collection container 60 as shown, and die container 60 as a whole can be removed laterally fiom die recess 15 in the housing for emptying as required.

However, it will be appreciated that other fomis of filter may be employed if desired. For example, a conventional paper dust-bag with an apeitured cardboard mounting may be assembled directly on the tube 63 by inserting the end of the tube through the aperture of the mounting and sliding the mounting over the tube towards the base 64 of the container 60. When the dry-mode separator unit 60 is in use, die suction head 70 may be exchanged in known mamier for a suction head of known type adapted for the pick-up of diy matter. Alternatively the suction head 70 may be converted for use as a diy matter pick-up head by means, for example, of an adaptor 75 in the foim of a cover plate as described and claimed in our International Patent Application Publication No. W097/29675.

Claims

CLAIMS:-

1. A vacuum cleaning appliance of the kind composing a cleaning implement (70) earned by a body (10) of the appliance which has a source of suction (20) therein and a suction duct (30) connected with said cleaning implement, die body having an opening foimed therein at one side to communicate with an internal recess (15), wherein

(a) said recess is adapted to receive selectively and releasably one of two mterchangeable first and second collection containers (40.60) through said opening (12)

(b) one of said collection containeis (40) is adapted to collect liquid and mcludes a suction passage (45) winch extends upwardly from the base of die container (40) and temiinates at an upper end in an outlet (45a) at a position within the container and at a lower end in a releasable connection (44a) at the base of the container whereby it is connectable to said suction duct (30). a second releasable connection (25) at the upper end of the collection container (40) whereby it is connectable to said source of suction (20) to establish suction at said cleaning implement (70) and air flow from said implement through said duct (30) and said suction passage (45) to said souice of suction (20). and a wet-mode separator unit (50) connected at die outlet (45a) of said suction passage (45) within the collection container (40) and winch operates to separate entiained liquid droplets from the an- flow thereby enabling said first collection container (40) when located within the recess (15) to be used for the collection of liquid, and

(c) the other of said collection containeis (60) is adapted to collect diy matter and mcludes a suction passage (63) which extends upwaidly fiom the base of the contamer (60) and temiinates at an uppei end m an outlet (63a) at a position within the containei and at a lowei end in a leleasable connection (64a) at die base of die container whereby it is connectable to said suction duct (30), a second releasable connection (25) at the uppei end of the collection containei (60) whereby it is connectable to said souice of suction (20) to establish suction at said cleaning implement (70) and air flow fiom said implement thiough said duct (30) and said suction passage (63) to said souice of suction (20), and a dry-mode sepaiatoi unit (65) witiun the collection containei (60) at a position spaced from the outlet (63a) of said suction passage (63) and which opeiates to separate diy mate╧Çal entiained in the an-flow theieby enabling said second collection containei (60) when located witiun the iecess (15) to be used foi the collection of diy mattei

2 A vacuum cleaning appliance accoiding to Claim 1 wheiein die wet- mode sepaiatoi unit (50) of the fust collection containei (40) composes a tube (51 ), foiming in use an extension of said suction passage (45) in the fust collection contamer (40), and having an outlet opening (52) m iegistei with a tiansveisely disposed baffle (54) which seives to

the duection of an flow and function as an au liquid sepaiatoi within the fust collection conta ei (60)

3 A vacuum cleaning appliance accoiding to Claim 2 wheie said suction passage (45) composes a tube disposed centially within said fust collection containei (40), and the tube (51) of the wet-mode sepaiatoi unit (50) likewise being disposed centially of said fust collection containei (40)

4 A vacuum cleaning appliance accoiding to Claim 3 wheiem said wet- mode sepaiator unit tube (51 ) is of substantially cuculai shape in tiansveise cioss- section and said baffle (54) is of substantially cuculai shape and of laigei diametei

5 A vacuum cleaning appliance accoiding to Claim 4 whetein said baffle (54) is foimed with a geneially cylindncal skirt (55) which extends ovei, and in spaced lelation to, an end portion of said tube (5 1), said skirt (55) being spaced mwaidly fiom the side wall of the collection contamei (40)

6 A vacuum cleaning appliance accoiding to Claim 2 wheiem said fust collection containei (40) also includes an obhqueK inclined annulai baffle-plate (46) which is ananged to extend acioss the fust collection containei

7. A vacuum cleaning appliance according to Claim 6 wherein said annular baffle plate (46) is ca╧Çied by an oblique end face at the lower end of a tubulai- wall (47) which is removably located within said first collection container.

8. A vacuum cleaning appliance according to Claim 7 wherein said tubular wall (47) is spaced inwardly fi-om the side wall of said first collection container (40) and cairies at its upper end a radially outwardly directed flange (48) which engages in sealing relation with the side wall of said collection container.

9. A vacuum cleaning appliance according to Claim 7 or Claim 8 wherein an outlet aperture (49) is provided at or adjacent to the junction between said annular baffle plate (46) and said tubular wall (47) at the lowest part of said oblique end face.

10. A vacuum cleaning appliance according to any one of Claims 1 to 9 wherein said fust collection container (40) further comprises a reservoir compartment (41) for cleaning liquid, and means (31) are provided for delivery said liquid to the cleaning head (70).

11. A vacuum cleaning appliance according to Claim 10 wherein said fist collection container (40) comprises an inner compartment (43) in which said wet- mode separator unit (60) is located, and said reservoir comprises an outer compartment (41), of a jug-like unit which is leleasably locatable within the recess (15) in the body (10) of the vacuum cleaner.

12. A vacuum cleaning appliance according to Claim 1 wherein the dry- mode separator unit (65) of said second collection container (60) comprises a filter element (66) disposed within the second collection container between the outlet (63a) of the suction passage (63) and said connection (25) at the upper end of the second collection container (60).

13. A vacuum cleaning appliance according to Claim 12 wherein said filter element (66) is caoied by a mounting ring (67) which is removably mounted within, and sealingly engages against, the side wall of said second collection container (60).

14. A vacuum cleaning appliance according to Claim 13 wherein said filter element (66) is of tubular fonn and at the end thereof remote from said mounting ling (67) is closed by a baffle plate (68) which, in use, is in register with and spaced fi-om the outlet (63a) of said suction passage (63) in said second collection container (60).

15. A collection container (40) for use with a vacuum cleaning appliance of the kind comprising a cleaning implement (70) which is caoied by a body (10) of the appliance together witii a source of suction (20), and a suction duct (30) connected with said cleaning implement (70), the body having a recess adapted to receive the collection container (40) releasably through an opening ( 12) foimed at one side of the body, wherein said collection container (40) is adapted to collect liquid and comprises a suction passage (45) which extends upwardly fi-om the base (43) of me container and terminates at an upper end in an outlet (45a) at a position within the container and at a lower end in a releasable connection (44a) at the base of the contamer whereby it is connectable to said suction duct (30) in the cleaner, a second releasable connection (25) at the upper end of the collection container (40) for releasable connection to said source of suction (20) within the body (10) of the cleaner to establish suction at said cleaning implement (70) and air flow fi-om said implement through said duct (30) and said suction passage (45) to said source of suction (20), and a wet-mode separator unit (50) connected at the outlet (45a) of said suction passage (45) and adapted to function as an air/liquid separator operating to separate entrained liquid droplets from the air flow wherein said container (40) is located within said recess ( 15).

16. A vacuum cleaning appliance of the kind comprising a cleaning implement (70) wliich is ca╧Çied by a body ( 10) of the appliance together with a source of suction (20), and a suction duct (30) connected with said cleaning implement (70), the body having a recess (15) with an opening ( 12) foimed at one side of die body (10), and a collection container (40) releasably mounted in said recess and comprising a suction passage (45) which extends upwardly from the base (43) of the container and terminates at the upper end in an outlet (45a) at a position within the container and at a lower end in a releasable connection (44a) at the base of the container whereby it is connectable to said suction duct (30), a second releasable connection (25) at the upper end of the collection container (40) whereby it is releasably connectable to said source of suction (20) within die body (10) to establish suction at said cleaning implement (70) and air flow from said implement through said duct (30) and said suction passage (44) to said source of suction (20), and a wet-mode separator unit (50) connected to the outlet (45a) of said suction passage (45) and adapted to function as an air/liquid separator operating to separate entrained liquid droplets from the air flow and enabling the cleaner, when said container (40) is mounted in said recess (15), to be operated in a wet mode in which said collection container (40) seives to collect liquid picked up by said cleaning implement (70).

17. A collection container (60) for use with a vacuum cleaner of the kind comprising a cleaning implement (70) which is caoied by a body ( 10) of the appliance together with a source of suction (20), and a suction duct (30) connected with said cleaning implement (70), the body having a recess ( 15) adapted to receive die collection container (60) releasably through an opening (12) foimed at one side of the body, wherein said collection container (60) is adapted to collect diy matter and comprises a suction passage (63) which extends upwardly from the base (64) of the container and terminates at an upper end in an outlet (63a) at a position within the container and at a lower end in a releasable connection (64a) at the base of the container whereby it is connectable to said suction duct (30) in the cleaner, a second releasable connection (25) at the upper end of the collection container (60) for releasable connection to said source of suction (20) within the body (10) of die cleaner to establish suction at said cleaning miplement (70) and air flow fi-om said implement through said duct (30) and said suction passage (63) to said source of suction (20), and a dry-mode separator unit (65) mounted within the collection container (40) at a position spaced fi-om die outlet (63a) of said suction passage (63) and adapted to function as a solid matter separator to separate entrained solid material from the air flow when said collection container (60) is mounted in said recess (15).

18. A vacuum cleaning appliance of the kind comprising a cleaning implement (70) which is caoied by a body (10) of the appliance togetiier with a source of suction (20), and a suction duct (30) connected with said cleaning implement (70), the body having a recess (15) with an opening ( 12) foimed at one side of the body (10), and a collection container (60) releasably mounted in said recess and comprising a suction passage (63) which extends upwardly fi-om the base (64) of the container and terminates at an upper end in an outlet (63a) at a position witliin the container and at a lower end in a releasable connection (64a) at the base of the container whereby it is connectable to said suction duct (30), a second releasable connection (25) at the upper end of the collection container (60) whereby it is releasably connectable to said source of suction (20) within the body (10) to establish suction at said cleaning implement (70) and air flow fi-om said implement (70) through said duct (30) and said suction passage (63) to said source of suction (20), and a dry-mode separator unit (65) mounted within the collection container (60) at a position spaced from the outlet (63a) of said suction passage (63) and adapted to function as a solid matter separator to separate entrained solid material entrained from the air flow when said collection container (60) is mounted in said recess (15).

19. A vacuum cleaning appliance having interchangeable collection containers and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in die accompanying drawings.

20. A collection container incorporating an air/liquid separator and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

21. A collection container mcoiporating a solid matter separator and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 2 of die accompanying drawings.