A Toepler pump is a form of mercury piston pump,
Operation
The principle is illustrated in the diagram. When reservoir G is lowered, bulb B and tube T are filled with gas from the enclosure being evacuated (through tube A). When G is raised, mercury rises in tube F and cuts off the gas in B and T at C. This gas is then forced through the mercury in tube D into the atmosphere. The end of tube D is bent upward at E to facilitate collection of gas (or vapor). By alternately raising G, a pumping action results. Clearly tubes F and D must be long enough to support mercury columns corresponding to atmospheric pressure (76 cm at
sea level). Instead of using mercury to provide a valving action at C, it is possible to use a glass
float valve.
Further reading
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Andrew Guthrie (1963). Vacuum Technology; Wiley; New York and London.
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R. W. Cahn (2001). The Coming of Materials Science. Pergamon. University of Michigan. p405.
