Shark Infinity
Manufacturers have to be very careful about the way they make cyclonic vacuums, so as not to infringe upon Dyson's patents.
The Euro-Pro Shark Infinity's cyclones are not tapered, they are like test tubes. The tapered cyclones are EXTREMELY important in that the air speeds up as the cone narrows. The proper way is to make the air spin at 928 MPH at the tip of the tapered (called 'high efficiency') cyclones. In this manner, the MOST fine dust (which is the hardest dust to remove from the airstream) is removed and sent into the bin, and NOT to the filters.
BUT, the high efficiency cyclones are NOT the ONLY cyclones needed for proper filtration. In the original Dyson dual cyclone design (like Fantom, Hoover Fusion, Bissell Volocity, etc.) the first cyclone is when the air comes into the bin at a TANGENT (curve) which spins the air at approx. 200 MPH, spinning the heavier dirt down the parellel walls to the bottom of the bin.
All of the air, plus 10% of the total dust intake, smaller than the holes in the shroud, pass THROUGH the shroud and up into the high efficiency cyclones (the 928 MPH cyclones). In the original Dyson design (and Fantom, et all), there was ONE low efficiency 200 MPH cyclones and ONE high efficiency 928 MPH cyclones.
When Dyson designed the Root8Cyclone system, he divided the air into SEVEN separate air strems (after it passed through the shroud holes) and up into SEVEN high efficiency cyclones, which gave even greater suction and higher airflow.
There was a natural limit on the total amount of air that the old 'dual cyclone's' high efficiency cyclone could process at once. However, the Root8Cyclone system could process massive amounts of airflow at once, meaning the machine could pick up more dirt from the home.
LG was the first to copy the root8cyclone system for the Kenmore Iridium canister (for which Dyson has already filed the lawsuit). Now, Shark (Euro-Pro) has also copied it, BUT, not EXACTLY. The Shark's cyclone system doesn't work properly, and does NOT remove all the fine dust from the airstream.
Neither does Bissell's copy of the Root8Cyclone system, called the Healthy Home model. It lets way, way too much fine dust go to the filters. Apparently, manufacturers feel that as long as they don't copy the Dyson EXACTLY, they are free to make their 'versions' of it. Time, and the courts, will tell.
Interesting that ALL manufacturers are planning to release cyclonic cleaners, meaning dyson was correct after all, bags for inefficient, they leak, they cost money, and they STINK when the dirt sits in them for a week.
Some manufacturers, like Dirt Devil (the Action and REaction models) FOOL the customers, using terms that Dyson uses (like Dual Cyclonic). Dirt Devil has two (one for the 'action' model) SLOW, 200 MPH cyclones and NO high efficiency 928 MPH cyclones. This means that the filters take ALL the fine dust, they clog with this dust, and the customers suffers from the machine's loss of suction and VERY DIRTY returning air stream.
The Dirt Devil models are DUSTBLOWERS. Dirt Devil's copy of the true Dual Cyclone system (as invented by Dyson) is forthcoming this February.