IPC Definitions - January 01, 2012
B04B - Definition
This subclass covers:
Centrifuges that are intended for separating, mixing, drying, extracting, purifying or other ways of treating mixtures composed of matter in the following physical states:
Such centrifuges may comprise centrifuges with rotary bowls provided with solid jackets for separating predominantly liquid mixtures with or without solid particles; centrifuges with rotary bowls in which solid particles or bodies become separated by centrifugal force and simultaneously sifted or filtered; or other centrifuges including radial chamber apparatus such as butyrometers or counter-current apparatus.
Elements or accessories of centrifuges such as casings, lids, rotary bowls, drives, gearing, suspending or balancing of rotary bowls, feeding, charging or discharging of bowls, control arrangements, heating, cooling or suppressing the formation of foam.
Relationship between large subject matter areas
Separation of isotopes of the same chemical element is covered by B01D 59/00, whatever process or apparatus is employed. Processes for separation of different isotopes of the same chemical element by centrifuging are covered by B01D 59/20.
Processes in general that use centrifugal force for separating, extracting or purifying components of mixtures are covered in subclasses B01D and B07B, and not in subclass B04B with the apparatus for accomplishing these processes. Examples of such processes can be found in the "References relevant to classification in this subclass" section below, in the subsection entitled "Examples of places where the subject matter of this subclass is covered when specially adapted, used for a particular purpose, or incorporated in a larger system".
References relevant to classification in this subclass
This subclass does not cover:
High-speed drum mills | B02C 19/11 |
Cyclone separators | B04C |
Centrifuges for producing filtered coffee | A47J 31/22 |
Dental appliances for receiving spittle, with or without rinsing means therefore, e.g. dental basins, spittoons or cuspidors | A61C 17/14 |
Suction or pumping devices for medical purposes, other treatment of blood in a by-pass of the natural circulatory system | A61M 1/36 |
Processes for separation of non-miscible liquids by centrifugal force | B01D 17/038 |
Processes for using centrifuges for separating sediment | B01D 21/26 |
Processes for separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours by gravity, inertia or centrifugal forces | B01D 45/00, B01D 45/12 |
Processes for separation of gases or vapours or for recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases by centrifugal force | B01D 53/24 |
Processes using centrifugal force for selective separation of solid materials carried by, or dispersed in, gas currents | B07B 7/08 |
Centrifugal casting machines | B22D |
Treatment of water, waste water or sewage by centrifugal separation | C02F 1/38 |
Domestic spin dryers | D06F |
Lubrication of machines or engines in general, details of lubricant purifying means | F01M 11/03 |
Exhaust or silencing apparatus for machines or engines having means for removing solid constituents of exhaust, using inertial or centrifugal separators | F01N 3/037 |
Drying solid material by using centrifuges | F26B 5/08 |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Filters in general | B01D |
Separation in general | B01D |
Magnetic or electrostatic separators | B03C |
Sieves in general | B07B |
Shock absorbers, vibration dampers | F16F |
Analysing materials by determining their physical or chemical properties e.g. during centrifuging | G01N |
In this subclass, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:
Centrifuge | Machine or apparatus for separating, mixing, drying, extracting, purifying, or like treating in which centrifugal effects are generated by rotary bowls or other rotors. Where such a machine or apparatus involves pumping effects, such effects must be incidental or subsidiary to the treating. |