F
SECTION F — MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  
ENGINES OR PUMPS
 F01 - 
F04

Note(s)

Guide to the use of this subsection (classes F01-F04)

The following notes are meant to assist in the use of this part of the classification scheme.

  1. In this subsection, subclasses or groups designating "engines" or "pumps" cover methods of operating the same, unless otherwise specifically provided for.
  2. In this subsection, the following terms or expressions are used with the meanings indicated:
    • "engine" means a device for continuously converting fluid energy into mechanical power. Thus, this term includes, for example, steam piston engines or steam turbines, per se, or internal-combustion piston engines, but it excludes single-stroke devices. "Engine" also includes the fluid-motive portion of a meter unless such portion is particularly adapted for use in a meter;
    • "pump" means a device for continuously raising, forcing, compressing, or exhausting fluid by mechanical or other means. Thus, this term includes fans or blowers;
    • "machine" means a device which could equally be an engine and a pump, and not a device which is restricted to an engine or one which is restricted to a pump;
    • "positive displacement" means the way the energy of a working fluid is transformed into mechanical energy, in which variations of volume created by the working fluid in a working chamber produce equivalent displacements of the mechanical member transmitting the energy, the dynamic effect of the fluid being of minor importance, and vice versa;
    • "non-positive displacement" means the way the energy of a working fluid is transformed into mechanical energy, by transformation of the energy of the working fluid into kinetic energy, and vice versa;
    • "oscillating-piston machine" means a positive-displacement machine in which a fluid-engaging work-transmitting member oscillates. This definition applies also to engines and pumps;
    • "rotary-piston machine" means a positive-displacement machine in which a fluid-engaging work-transmitting member rotates about a fixed axis or about an axis moving along a circular or similar orbit. This definition applies also to engines and pumps;
    • "rotary piston" means the work-transmitting member of a rotary-piston machine and may be of any suitable form, e.g., like a toothed gear;
    • "cooperating members" means the "oscillating piston" or "rotary piston" and another member, e.g., the working-chamber wall, which assists in the driving or pumping action;
    • "movement of the co-operating members" is to be interpreted as relative, so that one of the "co-operating members" may be stationary, even though reference may be made to its rotational axis, or both may move;
    • "teeth or tooth equivalents" include lobes, projections or abutments;
    • "internal-axis type" means that the rotational axes of the inner and outer co-operating members remain at all times within the outer member, e.g., in a similar manner to that of a pinion meshing with the internal teeth of a ring gear;
    • "free piston" means a piston of which the length of stroke is not defined by any member driven thereby;
    • "cylinders" means positive-displacement working chambers in general. Thus, this term is not restricted to cylinders of circular cross-section;
    • "main shaft" means the shaft which converts reciprocating piston motion into rotary motion or vice versa;
    • "plant" means an engine together with such additional apparatus as is necessary to run the engine. For example, a steam engine plant includes a steam engine and means for generating the steam;
    • "working fluid" means the driven fluid in a pump and the driving fluid in an engine. The working fluid may be in a gaseous state, i.e., compressible, or liquid. In the former case coexistence of two states is possible;
    • "steam" includes condensable vapours in general, and "special vapour" is used when steam is excluded;
    • "reaction type" as applied to non-positive-displacement machines or engines means machines or engines in which pressure/velocity transformation takes place wholly or partly in the rotor. Machines or engines with no, or only slight, pressure/velocity transformation in the rotor are called "impulse type".
  3. In this subsection:
  4. For use of this subsection with a good understanding, it is essential to remember, so far as subclasses F01B, F01C, F01D, F03B, and F04B, F04C, F04D, which form its skeleton, are concerned:
    • the principle which resides in their elaboration,
    • the classifying characteristics which they call for, and
    • their complementarity.
      1. Principle

        This concerns essentially the subclasses listed above. Other subclasses, notably those of class F02, which cover better-defined matter, are not considered here.

        Each subclass covers fundamentally a genus of apparatus (engine or pump) and by extension covers equally "machines" of the same kind. Two different subjects, one having a more general character than the other, are thus covered by the same subclass.

        Subclasses F01B, F03B, F04B, beyond the two subjects which they cover, have further a character of generality in relation to other subclasses concerning the different species of apparatus in the genus concerned.

        This generality applies as well for the two subjects dealt with, without these always being in relation to the same subclasses.

        Thus, subclass F03B, in its part dealing with "machines", should be considered as being the general class relating to subclasses F04B, F04C, and in its part dealing with "engines" as being general in relation to subclass F03C.

      2. Characteristics
        1. The principal classifying characteristic of the subclass is that of genera of apparatus, of which there are three possible:

          Machines; engines; pumps.

        2. As stated above, "machines" are always associated with one of the other two genera. These main genera are subdivided according to the general principles of operation of the apparatus:

          Positive displacement; non-positive displacement.

        3. The positive displacement apparatus are further subdivided according to the ways of putting into effect the principle of operation, that is, to the kind of apparatus:

          Simple reciprocating piston; rotary or oscillating piston; other kind.

        4. Another classifying characteristic is that of the working fluid, in respect of which three kinds of apparatus are possible, namely:

          Liquid and elastic fluid; elastic fluid; liquid.

      3. Complementarity

        This resides in association of pairs of the subclasses listed above, according to the characteristics under consideration in respect of kind of apparatus or working fluid.

        The subclasses concerned with the various principles, characteristics and complementarity are shown in the subsection index below.

It is seen from this index that:

 F01 - 
F04
Subsection index
MACHINES
positive displacement
rotary or oscillating piston
liquid and elastic fluid or elastic fluidF01C
liquid onlyF04C
reciprocating piston or other
liquid and elastic fluid or elastic fluidF01B
liquid onlyF04B
non-positive displacement
liquid and elastic fluid or elastic fluidF01D
liquid onlyF03B
ENGINES
positive displacement
rotary or oscillating piston
liquid and elastic fluid or elastic fluidF01C
liquid onlyF03C
reciprocating piston or other
liquid and elastic fluid or elastic fluidF01B
liquid onlyF03C
non-positive displacement
liquid and elastic fluid or elastic fluidF01D
liquid onlyF03B
PUMPS
positive displacement
rotary or oscillating pistonF04C
reciprocating piston or otherF04B
non-positive displacementF04D
 F01
MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL (combustion engines F02; machines for liquids F03, F04); ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
 F01L
CYCLICALLY OPERATING VALVES FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES (valves in general F16K)
 F01L

Note(s)

  1. Attention is drawn to the Notes preceding class F01, especially Note (3).
  2. As regards the above-mentioned Note (3), attention is drawn to F01B 3/10, F01B 15/06, F01C 20/20, F01C 21/18, F02B 53/06, F03C 1/08, F04B 1/18, F04B 7/00, F04B 39/08, F04B 39/10, F04C 14/00, F04C 15/06, F04C 28/00 and F04C 29/12.
 F01L
Subclass index
VALVE-GEAR OR VALVE ARRANGEMENTS IN GENERAL
General features 1/00
Operation
mechanical 1/00
non-mechanical 9/00
Lift valves 3/00
Slide valves 5/00, 7/00
Arrangements in piston or piston-rod 11/00
Modified to facilitate engine operations 13/00
VALVE-GEAR OR VALVE ARRANGEMENTS FOR VARIABLE WORKING-FLUID DISTRIBUTION
General features 1/00
With slide valves
surrounding cylinder or piston 17/00
with rotary or oscillatory motion; combined 33/00; 19/00
other features 15/00
With lift valves 35/00
Arrangements with particular characteristics; reversing gear 21/00 - 27/00; 29/00
Other valve-gear or valve arrangements 15/00
Drive, control, or adjustment 25/00, 31/00
 F01L 1/00 - 
F01L 13/00
Valve-gear for internal-combustion piston engines or for other machines or engines with positive working-fluid displacement (valve-gear specially for steam engines or specially for other machines or engines with variable fluid distribution F01L 15/00-F01L 35/00)
P:60 F01L 1/00
Valve-gear or valve arrangements, e.g. lift-valve gear (lift valve and valve seat assemblies per se F01L 3/00; slide-valve gear F01L 5/00; actuated non-mechanically F01L 9/00; valve arrangements in working piston or piston-rod F01L 11/00; modifications of valve-gear to facilitate reversing, braking, starting, changing compression ratio, or other specific operations F01L 13/00)
 F01L 1/02
·  Valve drive (transmitting-gear between valve drive and valve F01L 1/12)
 F01L 1/04
·  ·  by means of cams, camshafts, cam discs, eccentrics, or the like (F01L 1/10 takes precedence)
 F01L 1/047
·  ·  ·  Camshafts  [6]
 F01L 1/053
·  ·  ·  ·  overhead type  [6]
 F01L 1/06
·  ·  ·  the cams, or the like, rotating at a higher speed than that corresponding to the valve cycle, e.g. operating four-stroke engine valves directly from crankshaft
 F01L 1/08
·  ·  ·  Shape of cams
 F01L 1/10
·  ·  by means of crank- or eccentric-driven rods
 F01L 1/12
·  Transmitting-gear between valve drive and valve (simultaneously operating two or more valves F01L 1/26)
 F01L 1/14
·  ·  Tappets; Push-rods
 F01L 1/16
·  ·  ·  Silencing impact; Reducing wear
 F01L 1/18
·  ·  Rocking arms or levers
 F01L 1/20
·  Adjusting or compensating clearance, i.e. lash adjustment
 F01L 1/22
·  ·  automatically
 F01L 1/24
·  ·  ·  by fluid means, e.g. hydraulically
 F01L 1/245
·  ·  ·  ·  Hydraulic tappets  [6]
 F01L 1/25
·  ·  ·  ·  ·  between cam and valve stem  [6]
 F01L 1/255
·  ·  ·  ·  ·  between cam and rocker arm  [6]
 F01L 1/26
·  characterised by the provision of two or more valves operated simultaneously by same transmitting-gear; peculiar to machines or engines with more than two lift valves per cylinder (with coaxial valves F01L 1/28)
 F01L 1/28
·  characterised by the provision of coaxial valves; characterised by the provision of valves co-operating with both intake and exhaust ports
 F01L 1/30
·  characterised by the provision of positively opened and closed valves, i.e. desmodromic valves
 F01L 1/32
·  characterised by the provision of means for rotating lift valves, e.g. to diminish wear
 F01L 1/34
·  characterised by the provision of means for changing the timing of the valves without changing the duration of opening
 F01L 1/344
·  ·  changing the angular relationship between crankshaft and camshaft, e.g. using helicoidal gear  [6]
 F01L 1/348
·  ·  ·  by means acting on timing belts or chains  [6]
 F01L 1/352
·  ·  ·  using bevel or epicyclic gear  [6]
 F01L 1/356
·  ·  ·  making the angular relationship oscillate  [6]
 F01L 1/36
·  peculiar to machines or engines of specific type other than four-stroke cycle
 F01L 1/38
·  ·  for engines with other than four-stroke cycle, e.g. with two-stroke cycle (F01L 1/26, F01L 1/28 take precedence)
 F01L 1/40
·  ·  for engines with scavenging charge near top dead-centre position, e.g. by overlapping inlet and exhaust time (scavenging aspects F02B)
 F01L 1/42
·  ·  for machines or engines characterised by cylinder arrangement, e.g. star or fan
 F01L 1/44
·  Multiple-valve gear or arrangements, not provided for in preceding subgroups, e.g. with lift and different valves
 F01L 1/46
·  Component parts, details, or accessories, not provided for in preceding subgroups
P:50 F01L 3/00
Lift valves, i.e. cut-off apparatus with closure members having at least a component of their opening and closing motion perpendicular to the closing faces; Parts or accessories thereof
 F01L 3/02
·  Selecting particular materials for valve members or valve seats; Valve members or valve seats composed of two or more materials
 F01L 3/04
·  ·  Coated valve members or valve seats
 F01L 3/06
·  Valve members or valve seats with means for guiding or deflecting the medium controlled thereby, e.g. producing a rotary motion of the drawn-in cylinder charge (for rotating lift valves F01L 1/32)
 F01L 3/08
·  Valve guides; Sealing of valve stem, e.g. sealing by lubricant
 F01L 3/10
·  Connecting springs to valve members
 F01L 3/12
·  Cooling of valves
 F01L 3/14
·  ·  by means of a liquid or solid coolant, e.g. sodium, in a closed chamber in a valve
 F01L 3/16
·  ·  by means of a fluid flowing through or along valve, e.g. air (for sealing only F01L 3/08)
 F01L 3/18
·  ·  ·  Liquid cooling of valve
 F01L 3/20
·  Shapes or constructions of valve members, not provided for in preceding subgroups of this group
 F01L 3/22
·  Valve seats not provided for in preceding subgroups of this group; Fixing of valve seats
 F01L 3/24
·  Safety means or accessories, not provided for in preceding subgroups of this group
P:30 F01L 5/00
Slide-valve gear or valve arrangements (with pure rotary or oscillatory movement F01L 7/00)
 F01L 5/02
·  with other than cylindrical, sleeve, or part-annularly-shaped valves, e.g. with flat-type valves
 F01L 5/04
·  with cylindrical, sleeve, or part-annularly-shaped valves
 F01L 5/06
·  ·  surrounding working cylinder or piston
 F01L 5/08
·  ·  ·  Arrangements with several movements or several valves, e.g. one valve inside the other (with part-annularly-shaped valves F01L 5/12)
 F01L 5/10
·  ·  ·  ·  with reciprocating and other movement of same valve
 F01L 5/12
·  ·  ·  Arrangements with part-annularly-shaped valves
 F01L 5/14
·  characterised by the provision of valves with reciprocating and other movements (surrounding working cylinder or piston F01L 5/06)
 F01L 5/16
·  ·  with reciprocating and other movement of same valve, e.g. longitudinally and in cross direction of working cylinder
 F01L 5/18
·  ·  with reciprocatory valve and other slide valve
 F01L 5/20
·  specially for two-stroke engines (F01L 5/06, F01L 5/14 take precedence)
 F01L 5/22
·  Multiple-valve arrangements (with valves surrounding working cylinder or piston F01L 5/06; with reciprocatory and other slide valves F01L 5/18; specially for two-stroke engines F01L 5/20)
 F01L 5/24
·  Component parts, details, or accessories, not provided for in preceding subgroups of this group
P:40 F01L 7/00
Rotary or oscillatory slide-valve gear or valve arrangements (slide valves with combined rotary and non-rotary movements, combinations of rotary and non-rotary slide valves F01L 5/00)
 F01L 7/02
·  with cylindrical, sleeve, or part-annularly-shaped valves (of disc type F01L 7/06; of conical type F01L 7/08)
 F01L 7/04
·  ·  surrounding working cylinder or piston
 F01L 7/06
·  with disc-type valves
 F01L 7/08
·  with conically- or frusto-conically-shaped valves
 F01L 7/10
·  with valves of other specific shape, e.g. spherical
 F01L 7/12
·  specially for two-stroke engines (F01L 7/04 takes precedence)
 F01L 7/14
·  Multiple-valve arrangements (with valves surrounding working cylinder or piston F01L 7/04; specially for two-stroke engines F01L 7/12)
 F01L 7/16
·  Sealing or packing arrangements specially therefor
 F01L 7/18
·  Component parts, details, or accessories, not provided for in preceding subgroups of this group
P:20 F01L 9/00
Valve-gear or valve arrangements actuated non-mechanically
 F01L 9/02
·  by fluid means, e.g. hydraulic
 F01L 9/04
·  by electric means
P:10 F01L 11/00
Valve arrangements in working piston or piston-rod
 F01L 11/02
·  in piston
 F01L 11/04
·  ·  operated by movement of connecting-rod
 F01L 11/06
·  ·  ·  operating oscillatory valve
P:0 F01L 13/00
Modifications of valve-gear to facilitate reversing, braking, starting, changing compression ratio, or other specific operations
 F01L 13/02
·  for reversing
 F01L 13/04
·  for starting by means of fluid pressure
 F01L 13/06
·  for braking
 F01L 13/08
·  for decompression, e.g. during starting; for changing compression ratio
 F01L 15/00 - 
F01L 31/00
Valve-gear or valve arrangements, e.g. with reciprocatory slide valves, specially for steam engines, or specially for other machines or engines with variable working-fluid distribution
 F01L 15/00 - 
F01L 31/00

Note(s)

  1. Groups F01L 15/00-F01L 31/00 cover:
    • valve drive or means external to valves for adjustment during operation;
    • tripping-gear;
    • reversing-gear;
    • use of pistons or piston-rods as valves or as valve-supporting elements;
    • valve-gear or valve arrangements peculiar to free-piston machines or engines.
  2. Groups F01L 15/00-F01L 31/00 do not fully cover subject matter restricted to rotary, oscillatory, or lift-valve gear or valve arrangements, which is covered by group F01L 33/00 or F01L 35/00.
P:140 F01L 15/00
Valve-gear or valve arrangements, e.g. with reciprocatory slide valves, other than provided for in groups F01L 17/00-F01L 29/00 (valve drive or external valve-adjustment during operation, see the relevant groups, e.g. F01L 31/00; tripping-gear or tripping of valves F01L 31/00)
 F01L 15/02
·  with valves other than cylindrical, sleeve, or part-annularly-shaped, e.g. flat D-valves
 F01L 15/04
·  ·  main valve being combined with auxiliary valve (of drag-valve type F01L 15/10)
 F01L 15/06
·  ·  ·  of Meyer or Rider type, i.e. in which the expansion is varied at the expansion valve itself
 F01L 15/08
·  with cylindrical, sleeve, or part-annularly-shaped valves; Such main valves combined with auxiliary valves
 F01L 15/10
·  with main slide valve and auxiliary valve dragged thereby
 F01L 15/12
·  characterised by having means for effecting pressure equilibrium between two different cylinder spaces at idling
 F01L 15/14
·  Arrangements with several co-operating main valves, e.g. reciprocatory and rotary
 F01L 15/16
·  ·  with reciprocatory slide valves only
 F01L 15/18
·  Valve arrangements not provided for in preceding subgroups of this group
 F01L 15/20
·  Component parts, details, or accessories, not provided for in preceding subgroups of this group
P:70 F01L 17/00
Slide-valve gear or valve arrangements with cylindrical, sleeve, or part-annularly-shaped valves surrounding working cylinder or piston
 F01L 17/02
·  Drive, or adjustment during operation, peculiar thereto, e.g. for reciprocating and oscillating movements or for several valves one inside the other
P:80 F01L 19/00
Slide-valve gear or valve arrangements with reciprocatory and other movement of same valve, other than provided for in group F01L 17/00, e.g. longitudinally and in cross direction of working cylinder
 F01L 19/02
·  Drive, or adjustment during operation, peculiar thereto
P:90 F01L 21/00
Use of working pistons or piston-rods as fluid-distributing valves or as valve-supporting elements, e.g. in free-piston machines
 F01L 21/02
·  Piston or piston-rod used as valve member
 F01L 21/04
·  Valves arranged in or on piston or piston-rod
P:100 F01L 23/00
Valves controlled by impact of piston, e.g. in free-piston machines
P:110 F01L 25/00
Drive, or adjustment during operation, of distribution or expansion valves by non-mechanical means
 F01L 25/02
·  by fluid means
 F01L 25/04
·  ·  by working fluid of machine or engine, e.g. free-piston machine
 F01L 25/06
·  ·  ·  Arrangements with main and auxiliary valves, at least one of them being fluid-driven
 F01L 25/08
·  by electric or magnetic means
P:120 F01L 27/00
Distribution or expansion-valve gear peculiar to free-piston machines or engines and not provided for in groups F01L 21/00-F01L 25/00
 F01L 27/02
·  the machine or engine having rotary or oscillatory valves
 F01L 27/04
·  Delayed-action controls, e.g. of cataract- or dash-pot-type
P:130 F01L 29/00
Reversing-gear (equally usable for control of degree of working fluid admission, and reversing being of secondary importance F01L 31/00)
 F01L 29/02
·  by displacing eccentric
 F01L 29/04
·  by links or guide rods
 F01L 29/06
·  by interchanging inlet and exhaust ports
 F01L 29/08
·  specially for rotary or oscillatory valves
 F01L 29/10
·  Details, e.g. drive
 F01L 29/12
·  ·  Powered reverse gear
P:150 F01L 31/00
Valve drive, valve adjustment during operation, or other valve control, not provided for in groups F01L 15/00-F01L 29/00 (sensing elements measuring the variable or condition to be controlled or regulated F01B)
 F01L 31/02
·  with tripping-gear (for oscillatory valves F01L 31/06); Tripping of valves
 F01L 31/04
·  ·  with positively-driven trip levers
 F01L 31/06
·  with tripping-gear specially for oscillatory valves; Oscillatory tripping-valves, e.g. of Corliss type
 F01L 31/08
·  Valve drive or valve adjustment, apart from tripping aspects; Positively-driven gear
 F01L 31/10
·  ·  the drive being effected by eccentrics (F01L 31/14 takes precedence)
 F01L 31/12
·  ·  ·  Valve adjustment by displacing eccentric
 F01L 31/14
·  ·  Valve adjustment by links or guide rods, e.g. in valve-gears with eccentric drive
 F01L 31/16
·  ·  the drive being effected by specific means other than eccentric, e.g. cams; Valve adjustment in connection with such drives
 F01L 31/18
·  ·  specially for rotary or oscillatory valves
 F01L 31/20
·  ·  ·  Valve adjustment
 F01L 31/22
·  ·  specially for lift valves
 F01L 31/24
·  ·  ·  Valve adjustment
 F01L 33/00 - 
F01L 35/00
Rotary or oscillatory slide-valve gear or lift-valve gear or such valve arrangements specially for steam engines or specially for other machines or engines with variable working-fluid distribution (drive, adjustment during operation, tripping-gear, reversing-gear, use of working pistons or piston-rods as valves or as valve-supporting elements, valve-gear or valve arrangements peculiar to free-piston machines or engines F01L 15/00-F01L 31/00)
P:160 F01L 33/00
Rotary or oscillatory slide-valve gear or valve arrangements
 F01L 33/02
·  rotary
 F01L 33/04
·  oscillatory
P:170 F01L 35/00
Lift-valve gear or valve arrangements
 F01L 35/02
·  Valves
 F01L 35/04
·  Arrangements of valves in the machine or engine, e.g. relative to working cylinder