Fitted to the vast majority of slurry tankers sold in the UK and Ireland, the humble vacuum pump is hard-wearing and fairly simple. This is how it works

The sound of a vacuum pump is a familiar background noise on many livestock farms in the spring as slurry tankers are kept busy. But what is actually going on inside these pumps? What is the drive shaft powering? And why is there a hissing noise when you operate the lever that alters the pressure?