An Optical Lever Manometer

Synopsis.---To meet the demand for a gauge which will measure vapor pressures in the range between that which can be measured by the Knudsen Gage (.001 mm.) and the ordinary mercury manometer, a new type of gage has been devised. This consists of a rather large mercury manometer in one arm of which a small optical lever is so adjusted that it measures small changes in level due to differences of pressure. The range of the instrument for accurate work is from.001 mm. to 3 or 4 mm. The instrument can also be used as a differential gage with the same accuracy. In use the changes in pressure can be observed by the deflection of a beam of light and may be recorded by a photographic device. Curves are given from a photographic record of the action of the gage during the release of CO₂ and water vapor which had been frozen out in a trap with liquid air. Attention is called to the rapidity with which this gage responds to changes of pressure.