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INTRODUCTORY INFORMATION
Definition of vacuum
Types of vacuum pumps
Operating ranges
INTRODUCTION TO VACUUM
The history of vacuum pump engineering began in 1644 in Magdeburg Germany with Otto Von Guerick's famous "Magdeburg Hemispheres" experiment. Guerick previously
invented the first vacuum pump in 1650 which he used in his historic experiment four years later. Guerick showed how with two separate (halved) copper spheres evacuated completely of air, they could
withstand the power of 16 horses (two teams of eight) trying to pull the two spheres apart. The two spheres were held together with only the aid of grease, leather gaskets and the immense power of
VACUUM. This is what is symbolized with our logo above.
Ever since Europe emerged from the Middle Ages through the advent of the Renaissance and later the reformation movement, Europe began the slow and painful process of
shedding the stifling effects philosophy and religion had over science at the time. As late as 1633 Galileo, the founder of modern physics, was even charged with heresy by the Papal inquisition
where he, on penalty of death, was forced to denounce the Copernican theory that the earth revolved around the sun.
One can now see the great significance Guerick's experiment had on science and society as well as news of his experiment spread throughout Europe sparking increased
interest in the physical world around them and scientific study in particular. Since then, scientists and engineers alike have continued the work of Guerick, Torricelli (inventor of the first
barometer and for whom the "Torr" is named after) and Robert Boyle (inventor of the first vacuum gauge) by creating and inventing more advanced machines to accomplish some of the tasks that provide us
with our modern day luxuries. For example: Vacuum pumps are used in the production of incandescent light bulbs, freeze drying of life saving pharmaceuticals, distillation of crude oil for
gasoline, production of special high strength metal alloys such as Titanium used in military aircraft, food packaging of meat products to prolong shelf life, semiconductor manufacturing that led to the
computer revolution and many, many other used too numerous to mention here.
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