A vacuum cylinder is a device used to create an airtight seal between two surfaces. 

Cylinder vacuums are the most popular type of bagless vacuum cleaners. Their suckable cylinders are transparent and can be removed from the cleaner when full. While cylinder vacuums are typically upright, the Dyson Big Ball Animal 2+ Cylinder Vacuum Cleaner is an exception. In addition to the vacuum cylinder, many of the newer cylinder models have fancy accessories, including a telescopic extendable tube that helps clean a large room.

A power sweeper includes a frame, a rotatably driven broom, and a vacuum lift. A vacuum cylinder connects to each of the cylinders, while a manifold and shut-off valves connect to the vacuum source. The Vacuum lift uses a cylinder and a piston. The cylinder connects to a vacuum source on the frame and to the supporting ends of the broom.

When the vacuum braking system first became popular, drivers preferred it over compressed air. The driver adjusted the Vacuum Brake System by opening and closing a valve in the "head end" of the train's pipe. This allowed the driver to set the level of vacuum that he desired, while admitting air as needed. In contrast, air brake systems were more sophisticated and developed later. They are often the preferred choice for steam locomotives.