A vacuum cleaner includes a first housing defining a cyclonic airflow
chamber and a second housing defining a main suction opening that is in
communication with an inlet of the cyclonic chamber. A suction source has
a suction airstream inlet in communication with an outlet of the cyclonic
chamber, and establishes a suction airstream that enters the main suction
opening, passes through the cyclonic chamber, and passes to an outlet of
the suction source. Particulates entrained in the suction airstream are
separated therefrom when said suction airstream moves in a cyclonic
fashion through the cyclonic chamber. A main filter assembly is located
in the cyclonic chamber so that a suction airstream moving from the main
suction opening to the inlet of the suction source by way of the cyclonic
airflow chamber passes through the filter medium thereof after the
airstream moves in a cyclonic fashion within the cyclonic airflow chamber
to remove residual particulates from the suction airstream before it
leaves the cyclonic chamber.