Abstract: A manually operable vacuum pump having a housing including first and second pump chambers whose volume is altered by movement of a displaceable piston which is moved by means of a piston rod attached thereto and fed through one of the first and second pump chambers. The first and second pump chambers are configured such that gas which is fed into the vacuum pump is compressed in two steps, primarily in the first pump chamber and secondarily in the second pump chamber to provide a suitable endvacuum. Thereafter, the gas is expelled from the second pump chamber through the second end cap.

Abstract: Adsorption agent cartridge includes a vacuum tight cover having an adsorption agent filler consisting of a substance which can adsorb operating medium steam. The adsorption agent cartridge further includes an inlet opening for the inflow of the operating medium steam and an exhaust opening, which preferably connects to an exhaust device, for expelling air and nonadsorbed gases from the adsorption agent filler. The adsorption agent filler is designed to adsorb the operating medium steam and not to adsorb air components. The exhaust opening and the inlet opening are so arranged with respect to the adsorption agent filler such that the non-adsorbed gases are expelled from the regions of the adsorption agent filler without the concurrent removal of the inflowing operating medium steam.