A dirt separator for a vacuum cleaner including a chamber having an inlet through which dirt-laden fluid enters the chamber and an outlet through which cleansed fluid exits the chamber; and a disc located at the outlet, the disc being arranged to rotate about a rotational axis and including holes through which the cleansed fluid passes. When viewed normal to the disc, each hole is elongate and defines a longitudinal axis which runs within the plane of the disc. The longitudinal axis of each hole is inclined relative to the radial direction of the disc.

A dirt separator for a vacuum cleaner including a chamber having an inlet through which dirt-laden fluid enters the chamber and an outlet through which cleansed fluid exits the chamber; and a disc located at the outlet, the disc being arranged to rotate about a rotational axis and including holes through which the cleansed fluid passes. When viewed normal to the disc, each hole is elongate and defines a longitudinal axis which runs within the plane of the disc. The longitudinal axis of each hole is curved.

A dirt separator including a chamber having an inlet through which dirt-laden fluid enters the chamber and an outlet through which cleansed fluid exits the chamber, and a disc located at the outlet, the disc being arranged to rotate about a rotational axis and including holes through which the cleansed fluid passes. The holes are distributed over at least first and second regions of the disc, the second region being radially outward of the first region. The porosity of the second region is higher than the porosity of the first region.

A dirt separator for a vacuum cleaner including a chamber having an inlet through which dirt-laden fluid enters the chamber and an outlet through which cleansed fluid exits the chamber; and a disc located at the outlet, the disc being arranged to rotate in a predetermined direction about a rotational axis, and including holes running from an upstream face to a downstream face through which the cleansed fluid passes. When viewed along the radial direction of the disc, the path of each hole through the thickness of the disc defines a centreline, the centreline being inclined such that it is non-perpendicular to the disc. The centreline of each hole is inclined such that it intersects the upstream face of the disc at a point which is behind, in the direction of rotation of the disc, the point at which the centreline intersects the downstream face of the disc.

A handheld vacuum cleaner includes a dirt separator. The dirt separator includes a chamber having an inlet through which dirt-laden fluid enters and an outlet through which cleansed fluid exits the chamber. A disc located at the outlet rotates about a rotational axis and comprises holes through which the cleansed fluid passes.

A vacuum belt filter including a belt with a plurality of vacuum boxes, filter means being arranged to the vacuum boxes, drive means for moving the belt, and a suction station for creating an underpressure to the vacuum boxes at the suction station. In order to enable liquid-solid separation at low energy costs and long service interval of the vacuum belt filter, the filter means is in the form of a capillary filter, each vacuum box being provided with such a filter and each vacuum box being provided with an outlet having a check valve enabling a fluid flow from the inside space of the vacuum box to the outside of the vacuum box for creating an underpressure in the vacuum box when the suction station is connected to the vacuum box.

Provided herein is technology relating to isolating nucleic acids. In particular, the technology relates to methods and kits for extracting nucleic acids from problematic samples such as stool.

A pump-and-filter assembly for use in a pond, pool, or fountain. The pump unit creates a flow of water into an intake port and out through a discharge port and a filter unit mounted in front of the pump unit for filtering water flowing through the pump. The filter unit has a turbulence-producing device that produces turbulence in the water on the outside of the filter element. The turbulence in the water that is being drawn into the filter impedes or prevents the build-up of material deposits on the outside surface of the filter element.

A handheld vacuum cleaner includes a dirt separator. The dirt separator includes a chamber having an inlet through which dirt-laden fluid enters and an outlet through which cleansed fluid exits the chamber. A disc located at the outlet rotates about a rotational axis and comprises holes through which the cleansed fluid passes.

Provided herein is technology relating to isolating nucleic acids. In particular, the technology relates to methods and kits for extracting nucleic acids from problematic samples such as stool.