F
SECTION F — MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
 F01 - 
F42

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. Mmachines 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

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

        Machines; engines; pumps.

        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.

        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.

        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 following table:

It is seen from this table that:

  
LIGHTING; HEATING
 F25
REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION OR SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
 F25B
REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS, OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS (pumps, compressors F04; use of heat pumps for domestic or space-heating or for domestic hot-water supply F24D; air-conditioning, air-humidification F24F; fluid heaters using heat pumps F24H)
 F25B

Note(s)

  1. Attention is drawn to Note (2) following the title of subclass F24F[5]
  2. When classifying heat pump circuits or systems, groups F25B 1/00-F25B 25/00 and F25B 29/00 take precedence over group F25B 30/00[5]
 F25B
Subclass index
MODE OF OPERATION
Compression type
characterised by the cycle 1/00, 13/00
characterised by the arrangement
self-contained rotary; with several evaporation circuits; with several condenser circuits; with cascade operation 3/00; 5/00; 6/00; 7/00
characterised by the refrigerant 9/00
using turbines 11/00
Sorption type 15/00, 17/00
Other types having a single mode of operation, using: evaporation without recovery; electric or magnetic effects; other effect 19/00; 21/00; 23/00
Combinations: of above modes of operation; of heating and refrigerating 25/00; 29/00
Heat pumps 30/00
Using special energy source 27/00
DETAILS, ARRANGEMENTS, OR COMPONENTS
Components: boilers, analysers, rectifiers; boiler-absorbers; absorbers, adsorbers; evaporators, condensers; subcoolers, desuper- heaters, superheaters 33/00; 35/00; 37/00; 39/00; 40/00
Arrangements
compressor arrangement; fluid circulation; separating or purifying gases 31/00; 41/00; 43/00
for charging or discharging refrigerant; for combating corrosion or deposits 45/00; 47/00
Mounting of control and safety devices 49/00
 F25B 1/00 - 
F25B 13/00
Compression machines, plant, or systems
 F25B 1/00
Compression machines, plant or systems with non-reversible cycle (F25B 3/00, F25B 5/00, F25B 6/00, F25B 7/00, F25B 9/00 take precedence)  [5]
 F25B 1/02
·  with compressor of reciprocating-piston type (F25B 1/10 takes precedence)
 F25B 1/04
·  with compressor of rotary type (F25B 1/10 takes precedence)
 F25B 1/047
·  ·  of screw type  [5]
 F25B 1/053
·  ·  of turbine type  [5]
 F25B 1/06
·  with compressor of jet type, e.g. using liquid under pressure (F25B 1/10 takes precedence)
 F25B 1/08
·  ·  using vapour under pressure
 F25B 1/10
·  with multi-stage compression (with cascade operation F25B 7/00)
 F25B 3/00
Self-contained rotary compression machines, i.e. with compressor, condenser, and evaporator rotating as a single unit
 F25B 5/00
Compression machines, plant, or systems, with several evaporator circuits, e.g. for varying refrigerating capacity (with cascade operation F25B 7/00)
 F25B 5/02
·  arranged in parallel  [5]
 F25B 5/04
·  arranged in series  [5]
 F25B 6/00
Compression machines, plant, or systems, with several condenser circuits  [5]
 F25B 6/02
·  arranged in parallel  [5]
 F25B 6/04
·  arranged in series  [5]
 F25B 7/00
Compression machines, plant, or systems, with cascade operation, i.e. with two or more circuits, the heat from the condenser of one circuit being absorbed by the evaporator of the next circuit (F25B 9/00 takes precedence)
 F25B 9/00
Compression machines, plant, or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point
 F25B 9/02
·  using Joule-Thompson effect; using vortex effect
 F25B 9/04
·  ·  using vortex effect  [5]
 F25B 9/06
·  using expanders (F25B 9/10 takes precedence)  [5]
 F25B 9/08
·  using ejectors (F25B 9/10 takes precedence)  [5]
 F25B 9/10
·  with several cooling stages  [5]
 F25B 9/12
·  using 3He-4He dilution  [5]
 F25B 9/14
·  characterised by the cycle used, e.g. Stirling cycle  [5]
 F25B 11/00
Compression machines, plant, or systems, using turbines, e.g. gas turbines
 F25B 11/02
·  as expanders (F25B 9/06 takes precedence)  [5]
 F25B 11/04
·  ·  centrifugal type  [5]
 F25B 13/00
Compression machines, plant, or systems, with reversible cycle (defrosting cycles F25B 47/02)
 F25B 15/00 - 
F25B 17/00
Sorption machines, plant, or systems
 F25B 15/00
Sorption machines, plant, or systems, operating continuously, e.g. absorption type
 F25B 15/02
·  without inert gas (F25B 15/12, F25B 15/14, F25B 15/16 take precedence)
 F25B 15/04
·  ·  the refrigerant being ammonia evaporated from aqueous solution
 F25B 15/06
·  ·  the refrigerant being water vapour evaporated from a salt solution, e.g. lithium bromide
 F25B 15/08
·  ·  the refrigerant being sulfuric acid
 F25B 15/09
·  ·  the refrigerant being hydrogen desorbed from a hydride  [5]
 F25B 15/10
·  with inert gas (F25B 15/12, F25B 15/14, F25B 15/16 take precedence)
 F25B 15/12
·  with resorber (F25B 15/14 takes precedence)
 F25B 15/14
·  using osmosis
 F25B 15/16
·  using desorption cycle
 F25B 17/00
Sorption machines, plant, or systems, operating intermittently, e.g. absorption or adsorption type
 F25B 17/02
·  the absorbent or adsorbent being a liquid, e.g. brine (F25B 17/10 takes precedence)
 F25B 17/04
·  ·  with two or more boilers operating alternately
 F25B 17/06
·  ·  with the boiler and evaporator built-up as a unit in a tiltable or revolving arrangement
 F25B 17/08
·  the absorbent or adsorbent being a solid, e.g. salt (F25B 17/12 takes precedence)  [5]
 F25B 17/10
·  using the endothermic solution of salt
 F25B 17/12
·  using desorption of hydrogen from a hydride  [5]
 F25B 19/00 - 
F25B 23/00
Machines, plant, or systems, with a single mode of operation, not covered by groups F25B 1/00-F25B 17/00
 F25B 19/00
Machines, plant, or systems, using evaporation of a refrigerant but without recovery of the vapour
 F25B 19/02
·  using fluid jet, e.g. of steam
 F25B 19/04
·  ·  using liquid jet, e.g. of water
 F25B 21/00
Machines, plant, or systems, using electric or magnetic effects
 F25B 21/02
·  using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect (thermoelectric elements H01L 35/00, H01L 37/00)
 F25B 21/04
·  ·  reversible  [5]
 F25B 23/00
Machines, plant, or systems, with a single mode of operation not covered by groups F25B 1/00-F25B 21/00, e.g. using selective radiation effect
 F25B 25/00
Machines, plant, or systems, using a combination of modes of operation covered by two or more of the groups F25B 1/00-F25B 23/00 (combinations of two or more modes of operation covered by a single main group, see the relevant group)
 F25B 25/02
·  Compression-sorption machines, plants, or systems
 F25B 27/00
Machines, plant, or systems, using particular sources of energy (F25B 30/06 takes precedence)
 F25B 27/02
·  using waste heat, e.g. from internal-combustion engines
 F25B 29/00
Combined heating and refrigeration systems, e.g. operating alternately or simultaneously  [5]
 F25B 30/00
Heat pumps  [5]
 F25B 30/02
·  of the compression type  [5]
 F25B 30/04
·  of the sorption type  [5]
 F25B 30/06
·  characterised by the source of low potential heat  [5]
 F25B 31/00 - 
F25B 49/00
Component parts or details
 F25B 31/00
Compressor arrangements (compressors per se F04)
 F25B 31/02
·  of motor-compressor units
 F25B 33/00
Boilers; Analysers; Rectifiers (boiler-absorbers F25B 35/00)
 F25B 35/00
Boiler-absorbers, i.e. boilers usable for absorption or adsorption
 F25B 35/02
·  using a liquid as sorbent, e.g. brine
 F25B 35/04
·  using a solid as sorbent
 F25B 37/00
Absorbers; Adsorbers (boiler-absorbers F25B 35/00; separating processes involving the treatment of liquids with adsorbents B01D 15/00; separation of gases or vapours by adsorption B01D 53/02; separation of gases or vapours by absorption B01D 53/14; investigating using adsorption or absorption G01N 30/00)
 F25B 39/00
Evaporators; Condensers
 F25B 39/02
·  Evaporators
 F25B 39/04
·  Condensers
 F25B 40/00
Subcoolers, desuperheaters or superheaters  [5]
 F25B 40/02
·  Subcoolers  [5]
 F25B 40/04
·  Desuperheaters  [5]
 F25B 40/06
·  Superheaters  [5]
 F25B 41/00
Fluid-circulation arrangements, e.g. for transferring liquid from evaporator to boiler (pumps per se, sealings therefor F04)
 F25B 41/02
·  using electro-osmosis
 F25B 41/04
·  Disposition of valves (valves per se F16K)
 F25B 41/06
·  Flow restrictors, e.g. capillary tubes; Disposition thereof
 F25B 43/00
Arrangements for separating or purifying gases or liquids (in analysers or rectifiers F25B 33/00); Arrangements for vaporising the residuum of liquid refrigerant, e.g. by heat (F25B 40/00 takes precedence)  [5]
 F25B 43/02
·  for separating lubricants from the refrigerant
 F25B 43/04
·  for withdrawing non-condensible gases
 F25B 45/00
Arrangements for charging or discharging refrigerant
 F25B 47/00
Arrangements for preventing or removing deposits or corrosion, not provided for in another subclass
 F25B 47/02
·  Defrosting cycles  [5]
 F25B 49/00
Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices (testing refrigerators G01M; control in general G05)
 F25B 49/02
·  for compression type machines, plant or systems  [5]
 F25B 49/04
·  for sorption type machines, plant or systems  [5]