IPC Definitions - January 01, 2012

F24F - Definition fr

Definition statement

This subclass covers:

Methods and apparatus for air-conditioning, i.e. the supply of air to rooms or spaces by means which provide for the treatment of the air in at least two of the following ways:

Methods and apparatus for humidification of air for rooms or spaces

Methods and apparatus for supplying air or extracting air from rooms or spaces, either by forced movement (for example by fans) or by natural effects (for example convection)

Methods and apparatus for circulating air within rooms or spaces, either by forced movement (for example by fans) or by natural effects (for example convection)

Methods and apparatus for use of air currents for screening, for example of entrances of buildings or of areas where particular operations are performed

Use of energy recovery systems in air conditioning, ventilation or screening

Details, for example control arrangements, safety arrangements, ducting arrangements or air flow control members, which are specially adapted for the methods or apparatus specified above

Relationship between large subject matter areas

As regards air-conditioning, air-humidification and ventilation, this subclass is an application-oriented place that covers methods or apparatus for these processes when specially adapted for rooms or spaces that are primarily intended as dwelling or working-spaces for human beings.

Air-treatment or ventilation that is specially adapted for particular processes or for other particular environments, for example for industrial processes or for housing of animals, is covered in the places for those processes or environments. For examples of such places see the section "Examples of places where the subject matter of this class is covered when specially adapted, used for a particular purpose, or incorporated in a larger system" below.

With the exception of humidification, this subclass does not cover the mere treatment of air being supplied to, extracted from, or circulated within, rooms or spaces. Such treatment of air in general, for example heating, cooling, heat-exchange or filtering, is covered in several different places of the IPC, see for example the entries under "Informative References" below.

This subclass does not cover elements or apparatus in general for transporting air or for regulating air flow, for example fans, ducts or valves. Such elements and apparatus are covered in several different places in the IPC, see for example the entries under "Informative References" below.

This subclass does not cover ventilation of garments or furniture or other devices, which is covered by the places for those devices, for example classes A41-A47 for garments and furniture and class H01 for electrical devices.

References relevant to classification in this subclass

This subclass does not cover:

Removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced

B08B 15/00

Vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings

E04F 17/02

Tops for ventilating shafts; Terminals for flues

F23L 17/02

Removing cooking fumes

F24C 15/20
Examples of places where the subject matter of this class is covered when specially adapted, used for a particular purpose, or incorporated in a larger system:

Ventilating arrangements for forage silos

A01F 25/22

Devices for ventilating greenhouses

A01G 9/24

Ventilation in animal husbandry

A01K

Controlling humidity in incubators for poultry

A01K 41/04

Treatment rooms with artificial climate for medical purposes

A61G 10/02, A61G 13/00

Devices for reconditioning breathing air in sealed rooms

A62B 11/00

Devices for ventilating gas-proof shelters

A62B 13/00

Containers or portable cabins for affording breathing protection with devices for reconditioning the breathing air or for ventilating

A62B 31/00

Dust-free rooms or enclosures for laboratories

B01L 1/04

Ventilation, air-conditioning, or cooling, specially adapted for passenger or goods spaces of vehicles

B60H

Air curtains at doors or windows of vehicles

B60J 9/04

Ventilation of driving cabins or engine rooms of locomotives or motor railcars

B61C 17/04

Heating, cooling, ventilating, or air-conditioning, specially adapted for rail vehicles

B61D 27/00

Adaptations of ventilation, cooling, heating, or air-conditioning for submarines or other underwater vessels

B63G 8/36

Arrangements of ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning specially adapted for ships or other waterborne vessels

B63J 2/00

Arrangements or adaptations of air-treatment apparatus for crew, passenger or freight spaces in aircraft

B64D 13/00

Arrangements or adaptations of devices for treatment of the atmosphere in cosmonautic vehicles

B64G 1/46

Drying cabinets or drying chambers having heating or ventilating means

D06F 58/10

Special arrangement or operation of ventilating devices in lavatories

E03D 9/04

Drying building constructions in general or keeping them dry, e.g. by air vents

E04B 1/70

Special adaptations of floors for incorporating ventilation ducts

E04B 5/48

Ceilings having means for ventilation

E04B 9/02

Ventilation of roof coverings

E04D 13/17

Ventilation of tents

E04H 15/10

Ventilation in doors or windows

E06B 7/02

Ventilation of mines or tunnels

E21F 1/00

Cooling or drying of air in mines or tunnels

E21F 3/00

Arrangements for supplying or controlling air or gases for drying solid materials or objects

F26B 21/00

Cooling, ventilating or heating of electric apparatus

H05K 7/20

Informative references

Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:

Disinfecting or sterilising of air

A61L

Filtering, washing or drying of gases

B01D

Mixing gases with vapours or liquids in general

B01F 3/02

Transportable units for separating dispersed particles from air by electrostatic effect

B03C 3/32

Spraying

B05B, B05D

Production of ozone

C01B 13/10

Heat, sound or noise insulation, absorption, or reflection

E04B 1/74

Air-ducts or air channels in buildings

E04F 17/04

Chimney stacks or similar ducts

E04H 12/28

Fans in general, details of fans

F04D

Pumping installations for air

F04D 25/08, F04D 29/00

Valves in general

F16K

Pipes in general, joints, fittings or supports therefor

F16L

Noise absorbers for ducting

F16L 55/02

Thermal insulation for ducting

F16L 59/00

Devices for venting or aerating enclosures in general

F16K 24/00

Devices for conducting smoke or fumes, e.g. flues

F23J 11/00

Domestic stoves

F24B, F24C

Hot air central heating systems

F24D 5/00

Air heaters having heat generating means

F24H 3/00

Refrigeration in general, details of refrigeration systems

F25B

Combined heating and refrigeration systems

F25B 29/00

Production, working, storing or distribution of ice

F25C

Cold rooms

F25D

Heat exchange apparatus in general, details of heat exchangers

F28C, F28D, F28F

Measuring temperature or quantity of heat in general

G01K

Testing apparatus not otherwise provided for

G01M

Control of flow in general

G05D 7/00

Control of humidity in general

G05D 22/00

Control of temperature in general

G05D 23/00

Ion sources

H01J 27/02, H01J 37/08

Arrangements for cooling, heating or ventilation of semiconductor or other solid state devices

H01L 23/34, H01L 31/024

Generating ions to be introduced into non-enclosed gases

H01T 23/00

Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems in general

H04Q 9/00

Special rules of classification

Air-humidification as auxiliary treatment in air-conditioning, i.e. in units wherein the air is also either cooled or heated, is covered by groups F24F 1/00 or F24F 3/14, while air-humidification per se, e.g. "room humidifiers", is covered by group F24F 6/00.

Glossary of terms

In this subclass, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:

Air-conditioning

Supply of air to rooms or spaces by means which provide for the treatment of the air in at least two of the following ways:

Heating

Cooling

Any other kind of treatment, e.g. humidification

Ventilation

Supply of air to rooms or spaces, extraction of air from rooms or spaces, or circulation of air within rooms or spaces