lies against part of the inner surface of the front face of the dust bowl 5 a shuttle backing plate 53 which is secured to the dust bowl 5 sandwiches the shuttle member 7 between it and the inner surface of the front face of the dust bowl 5 thereby providing a channel within which the shuttle member 7 can slide relative to the dust bowl 5 shuttle member 7 and shuttle backing plate 53 also each comprise two air inlets shuttle member 7 comprising inlets 47 and 49 and shuttle backing plate 53 comprising inlets 59 and 61 in the position shown in fig2 air inlet 33 in the dust bowl 5 is in register with the air inlet 47 in shuttle member 7 and with air inlet 59 into the backing plate 53 but inlet 35 into dust bowl 5 is blocked by part of the shuttle member 7 the movement of the shuttle member relative to the dust bowl 5 and shuttle backing plate 53 to alter the air flow path into the dust bowl are described in more detail with reference to fig3 and 4 the rear face of the dust bowl 5 is covered by a filter member 37 and a back cover plate 39 spaced therefrom and containing an air outlet 41 the bottom surface of the vacuum cleaner comprises an air inlet 43 which is in communication with the first air inlet 33 into the dust bowl 5 in operation in the shuttle position shown in fig2 the motor 17 drives fan 19.