A separation system

A separation system 16 for a vacuum cleaner (10, fig.1), comprising first and second parallel cyclonic separators 50, 56, each preferably including a plurality of separators 48, 54, and a movable member 62 movable between a first position permitting airflow through a first inlet 66 of the first cyclonic separator and a second inlet 72 of the second cyclonic separator, and a second position permitting airflow through the first inlet and inhibiting airflow through the second inlet. The movable member may move by inflation and deflation via a valve (30, fig.4) between spaced from and in contact with a sealing member 60 in an inlet duct 46, possibly via a user actuator (104, fig.6) or input (26, fig.1), a switch (404, fig.9), an electric actuator (24, fig.1), and/or a drive motor (208, fig.7). The separators may have first and second dirt collection chambers 52, 58. The inlets may be in an annular array. The vacuum cleaner may be operable in first and second modes having different flow rates, which correspond to the position of the moveable member.