8414.10.00.00 - Vacuum pumps

This HTS category, 8414.10.00.00, specifically covers vacuum pumps. These are mechanical devices designed to remove gases from a sealed volume, thereby creating a partial vacuum. This broad classification encompasses a wide array of vacuum pump technologies, including rotary vane pumps, piston pumps, diaphragm pumps, and diffusion pumps, regardless of their power source or specific application, provided they are not designed for use exclusively within refrigerating equipment.

It is important to distinguish vacuum pumps from their sibling categories. Hand- or foot-operated air pumps (8414.20.00.00) are distinct due to their manual operation and primary function of inflating or pressurizing, rather than creating a vacuum. Compressors of a kind used in refrigerating equipment (8414.30) are specifically excluded, as are air compressors mounted on wheeled chassis for towing (8414.40.00.00), which are designed for higher pressure applications and mobile use. Fans (8414.50-59) are also separate, circulating air rather than removing it to create a vacuum.

As this classification node for vacuum pumps is a leaf node within the HTS structure, there are no further subdivisions at this specific level. Therefore, classification within 8414.10.00.00 relies on identifying the primary function as vacuum creation and ensuring the pump is not otherwise specifically classified under a more particular heading or subheading, such as those for refrigerating equipment. Classification is determined by the inherent design and purpose of the machinery.