H
SECTION H — ELECTRICITY
 H

Note(s)

These Notes cover the basic principles and general instructions for use of section H.

  1. Section H covers:
    1. basic electric elements, which cover all electric units and the general mechanical structure of apparatus and circuits, including the assembly of various basic elements into what are called printed circuits and also cover to a certain extent the manufacture of these elements (when not covered elsewhere);
    2. generation of electricity, which covers the generation, conversion and distribution of electricity together with the controlling of the corresponding gear;
    3. applied electricity, which covers:
      1. general utilisation techniques, viz. those of electric heating and electric lighting circuits;
      2. some special utilisation techniques, either electric or electronic in the strict sense, which are not covered by other sections of the Classification, including:
        1. electric light sources, including lasers;
        2. electric X-ray technique;
        3. electric plasma technique and the generation and acceleration of electrically charged particles or neutrons;
    4. basic electronic circuits and their control;
    5. radio or electric communication technique;
    6. the use of a specified material for the manufacture of the article or element described. In this connection, paragraphs 57 to 59 of the Guide should be referred to.
  2. In this section, the following general rules apply:
    1. Subject to the exceptions stated in I(c), above, any electric aspect or part peculiar to a particular operation, process, apparatus, object or article, classified in one of the sections of the Classification other than section H, is always classified in the subclass for that operation, process, apparatus, object or article. Where common characteristics concerning technical subjects of similar nature have been brought out at class level, the electric aspect or part is classified, in conjunction with the operation, process, apparatus, object or article, in a subclass which covers entirely the general electrical applications for the technical subject in question;
    2. The electrical applications referred to under (a), above, either general or particular, include:
      1. the therapeutic processes and apparatus, in class A61;
      2. the electric processes and apparatus used in various laboratory or industrial operations, in classes B01 and B03 and in subclass B23K;
      3. the electricity supply, electric propulsion and electric lighting of vehicles in general and of particular vehicles, in the subsection "Transporting" of section B;
      4. the electric ignition systems of internal-combustion engines, in subclass F02P, and of combustion apparatus in general, in subclass F23Q;
      5. the whole electrical part of section G, i.e. measuring devices including apparatus for measuring electric variables, checking, signalling and calculating. Electricity in that section is generally dealt with as a means and not as an end in itself;
    3. All electrical applications, both general and particular, presuppose that the "basic electricity" aspect appears in section H (see I(a), above) as regards the electric "basic elements" which they comprise. This rule is also valid for applied electricity, referred to in I(c), above, which appears in section H itself.
  3. In this section, the following special cases occur:
    1. Among the general applications covered by sections other than section H, it is worth noting that electric heating in general is covered by subclasses F24D or F24H or class F27, and that electric lighting in general is partly covered by class F21, since in section H (see I(c), above) there are places in H05B which cover the same technical subjects;
    2. In the two cases referred to under (a), above, the subclasses of section F, which deal with the respective subjects, essentially cover in the first place the whole mechanical aspect of the apparatus or devices, whereas the electrical aspect, as such, is covered by subclass H05B;
    3. In the case of lighting, this mechanical aspect should be taken to cover the material arrangement of the various electric elements, i.e., their geometrical or physical position in relation to one another; this aspect is covered by subclass F21V, the elements themselves and the primary circuits remaining in section H. The same applies to electric light sources, when combined with light sources of a different kind. These are covered by subclass H05B, whereas the physical arrangement which their combination constitutes is covered by the various subclasses of class F21;
    4. As regards heating, not only the electric elements and circuitry designs, as such, are covered by subclass H05B, but also the electric aspects of their arrangement, where these concern cases of general application; electric furnaces being considered as such. The physical disposition of the electric elements in furnaces is covered by section F. If a comparison is made with electric welding circuits, which are covered by subclass B23K in connection with welding, it can be seen that electric heating is not covered by the general rule stated in II, above.

 H01
BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
 H01

Note(s)

Processes involving only a single technical art, e.g. drying, coating, for which provision exists elsewhere are classified in the relevant class for that art.

 H01M
PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY (electrochemical processes or apparatus in general C25; semiconductor or other solid state devices for converting light or heat into electrical energy H01L, e.g. H01L 31/00, H01L 35/00, H01L 37/00)  [2]
 H01M

Note(s)

  1. This subclass covers galvanic primary or secondary cells or batteries, fuel cells or batteries.
  2. Processes using enzymes or micro-organisms in order to:
    1. liberate, separate or purify a pre-existing compound or composition, or to
    2. treat textiles or clean solid surfaces of materials
    are further classified in subclass C12S[5]
 H01M
Subclass index
CELLS ACCORDING TO TYPE
Primary cells 6/00
Fuel cells 8/00
Secondary cells 10/00
Hybrid cells; electrochemical generators not provided for otherwise; combinations of different types of electrochemical generators 12/00; 14/00; 16/00
DETAILS COMMON TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF CELLS
Details, processes of manufacture of the non-active parts 2/00
Electrodes 4/00
 H01M 2/00
Constructional details, or processes of manufacture, of the non-active parts  [2]
 H01M 2/02
·  Cases, jackets, or wrappings (working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29)  [2]
 H01M 2/04
·  ·  Lids or covers  [2]
 H01M 2/06
·  ·  Arrangements for introducing electric connectors into or through cases  [2]
 H01M 2/08
·  ·  Sealing materials  [2]
 H01M 2/10
·  Mountings; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders (structural combination of accumulators with charging apparatus H01M 10/46)  [2]
 H01M 2/12
·  Vent plugs or other mechanical arrangements for facilitating escape of gases  [2]
 H01M 2/14
·  Separators; Membranes; Diaphragms; Spacing elements  [2]
 H01M 2/16
·  ·  characterised by the material  [2]
 H01M 2/18
·  ·  characterised by the shape  [2]
 H01M 2/20
·  Current-conducting connections for cells  [2]
 H01M 2/22
·  ·  Fixed connections, i.e. not intended for disconnection  [2]
 H01M 2/24
·  ·  ·  Intercell connections through partitions, e.g. in a battery case  [2]
 H01M 2/26
·  ·  ·  Electrode connections  [2]
 H01M 2/28
·  ·  ·  ·  for lead-acid accumulators  [2]
 H01M 2/30
·  ·  Terminals  [2]
 H01M 2/32
·  ·  Methods or arrangements for affording protection against corrosion; Selection of materials therefor  [2]
 H01M 2/34
·  ·  with provision for preventing undesired use or discharge  [2]
 H01M 2/36
·  Arrangements for filling, topping-up or emptying cases with or of liquid, e.g. for filling with electrolytes, for washing-out  [2]
 H01M 2/38
·  Arrangements for moving electrolytes  [2]
 H01M 2/40
·  ·  with external circulating path (H01M 8/04 takes precedence)  [2]
 H01M 4/00
Electrodes (electrodes for electrolytic processes C25)  [2]
 H01M 4/00

Note(s)

In classifying electrodes of hybrid cells, the individual half-cells of the hybrid cell are considered separately, e.g. an electrode in the primary half of a primary/fuel type hybrid cell is considered to be a primary-cell electrode covered by H01M 4/06[2]

 H01M 4/02
·  Electrodes composed of, or comprising, active material  [2]
 H01M 4/04
·  ·  Processes of manufacture in general  [2]
 H01M 4/06
·  ·  Electrodes for primary cells  [2]
 H01M 4/08
·  ·  ·  Processes of manufacture  [2]
 H01M 4/10
·  ·  ·  ·  of pressed electrodes with central core, i.e. dollies  [2]
 H01M 4/12
·  ·  ·  ·  of consumable metal or alloy electrodes (use of alloy compositions as active materials H01M 4/38)  [2]
 H01M 4/14
·  ·  Electrodes for lead-acid accumulators  [2]
 H01M 4/16
·  ·  ·  Processes of manufacture  [2]
 H01M 4/18
·  ·  ·  ·  of Plante electrodes  [2]
 H01M 4/20
·  ·  ·  ·  of pasted electrodes  [2]
 H01M 4/21
·  ·  ·  ·  ·  Drying of pasted electrodes  [2]
 H01M 4/22
·  ·  ·  ·  Forming of electrodes  [2]
 H01M 4/23
·  ·  ·  ·  ·  Drying or preserving electrodes after forming  [2]
 H01M 4/24
·  ·  Electrodes for alkaline accumulators  [2]
 H01M 4/26
·  ·  ·  Processes of manufacture  [2]
 H01M 4/28
·  ·  ·  ·  Precipitating active material on the carrier  [2]
 H01M 4/29
·  ·  ·  ·  ·  by electrochemical methods  [2]
 H01M 4/30
·  ·  ·  ·  Pressing  [2]
 H01M 4/32
·  ·  ·  Nickel oxide or hydroxide electrodes  [2]
 H01M 4/34
·  ·  ·  Silver oxide or hydroxide electrodes  [2]
 H01M 4/36
·  ·  Selection of substances as active materials, active masses, active liquids  [2]
 H01M 4/38
·  ·  ·  of elements or alloys  [2]
 H01M 4/40
·  ·  ·  ·  Alloys based on alkali metals  [2]
 H01M 4/42
·  ·  ·  ·  Alloys based on zinc  [2]
 H01M 4/44
·  ·  ·  ·  Alloys based on cadmium  [2]
 H01M 4/46
·  ·  ·  ·  Alloys based on magnesium or aluminium  [2]
 H01M 4/48
·  ·  ·  of inorganic oxides or hydroxides  [2]
 H01M 4/50
·  ·  ·  ·  of manganese  [2]
 H01M 4/52
·  ·  ·  ·  of nickel, cobalt, or iron  [2]
 H01M 4/54
·  ·  ·  ·  of silver  [2]
 H01M 4/56
·  ·  ·  ·  of lead  [2]
 H01M 4/57
·  ·  ·  ·  ·  of "grey lead", i.e. powders containing lead and lead oxide  [2]
 H01M 4/58
·  ·  ·  of inorganic compounds other than oxides or hydroxides  [2]
 H01M 4/60
·  ·  ·  of organic compounds  [2]
 H01M 4/62
·  ·  Selection of inactive substances as ingredients for active masses, e.g. binders, fillers  [2]
 H01M 4/64
·  ·  Carriers or collectors  [2]
 H01M 4/66
·  ·  ·  Selection of materials  [2]
 H01M 4/68
·  ·  ·  ·  for use in lead-acid accumulators  [2]
 H01M 4/70
·  ·  ·  characterised by shape or form  [2]
 H01M 4/72
·  ·  ·  ·  Grids  [2]
 H01M 4/73
·  ·  ·  ·  ·  for lead-acid accumulators, e.g. frame plates  [2]
 H01M 4/74
·  ·  ·  ·  ·  Meshes or woven material; Expanded metal  [2]
 H01M 4/75
·  ·  ·  ·  Wires, rods, or strips  [2]
 H01M 4/76
·  ·  ·  ·  Containers for holding the active material, e.g. tubes, capsules  [2]
 H01M 4/78
·  ·  ·  ·  Shapes other than plane or cylindrical, e.g. helical  [2]
 H01M 4/80
·  ·  ·  ·  Porous plates, e.g. sintered carriers  [2]
 H01M 4/82
·  ·  ·  Multi-step processes for manufacturing carriers for lead-acid accumulators (single-step processes, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. B21D, B22D)  [2]
 H01M 4/84
·  ·  ·  ·  involving casting  [2]
 H01M 4/86
·  Inert electrodes with catalytic activity, e.g. for fuel cells  [2]
 H01M 4/88
·  ·  Processes of manufacture  [2]
 H01M 4/90
·  ·  Selection of catalytic material  [2]
 H01M 4/92
·  ·  ·  Metals of platinum group (H01M 4/94 takes precedence)  [2]
 H01M 4/94
·  ·  Non-porous diffusion electrodes, e.g. palladium membranes, ion exchange membranes  [2]
 H01M 4/96
·  ·  Carbon-based electrodes  [2]
 H01M 4/98
·  ·  Raney-type electrodes  [2]
 H01M 6/00
Primary cells; Manufacture thereof  [2]
 H01M 6/00

Note(s)

In this group, primary cells are electrochemical generators in which the cell energy is present in chemical form and is not regenerated. [2]

 H01M 6/02
·  Details (of non-active parts H01M 2/00, of electrodes H01M 4/00)  [2]
 H01M 6/04
·  Cells with aqueous electrolyte  [2]
 H01M 6/06
·  ·  Dry cells, i.e. cells wherein the electrolyte is rendered non-fluid  [2]
 H01M 6/08
·  ·  ·  with cup-shaped electrodes  [2]
 H01M 6/10
·  ·  ·  with wound or folded electrodes  [2]
 H01M 6/12
·  ·  ·  with flat electrodes  [2]
 H01M 6/14
·  Cells with non-aqueous electrolyte  [2]
 H01M 6/16
·  ·  with organic electrolyte (H01M 6/18 takes precedence)  [2]
 H01M 6/18
·  ·  with solid electrolyte  [2]
 H01M 6/20
·  ·  ·  working at high temperature (deferred-action thermal cells H01M 6/36)  [2]
 H01M 6/22
·  Immobilising of electrolyte  [2]
 H01M 6/24
·  Cells comprising two different electrolytes  [2]
 H01M 6/26
·  Cells without oxidising active material, e.g. Volta cells  [2]
 H01M 6/28
·  Standard cells, e.g. Weston cells  [2]
 H01M 6/30
·  Deferred-action cells  [2]
 H01M 6/32
·  ·  activated through external addition of electrolyte or of electrolyte components  [2]
 H01M 6/34
·  ·  ·  Immersion cells, e.g. sea-water cells  [2]
 H01M 6/36
·  ·  containing electrolyte and made operational by physical means, e.g. thermal cells (thermoelectric solid state devices H01L 35/00, H01L 37/00)  [2]
 H01M 6/38
·  ·  ·  by mechanical means  [2]
 H01M 6/40
·  Printed batteries  [2]
 H01M 6/42
·  Grouping of primary cells into batteries (H01M 6/40 takes precedence)  [2]
 H01M 6/44
·  ·  of tubular or cup-shaped cells  [2]
 H01M 6/46
·  ·  of flat cells  [2]
 H01M 6/48
·  ·  ·  with bipolar electrodes  [2]
 H01M 6/50
·  Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance, e.g. maintaining operating temperature  [2]
 H01M 6/52
·  Reclaiming serviceable parts of waste cells or batteries  [2]
 H01M 8/00
Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof  [2]
 H01M 8/00

Note(s)

In this group, fuel cells are electrochemical generators wherein the reactants are supplied from outside. [2]

 H01M 8/02
·  Details (of non-active parts H01M 2/00, of electrodes H01M 4/00)  [2]
 H01M 8/04
·  Auxiliary arrangements or processes, e.g. for control of pressure, for circulation of fluids  [2]
 H01M 8/06
·  Combination of fuel cell with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues (regenerative fuel cells H01M 8/18; production of reactants per se, see sections B or C)  [2]
 H01M 8/08
·  Fuel cells with aqueous electrolytes  [2]
 H01M 8/10
·  Fuel cells with solid electrolytes  [2]
 H01M 8/12
·  ·  operating at high temperature, e.g. with stabilised ZrO2 electrolyte  [2]
 H01M 8/14
·  Fuel cells with fused electrolytes  [2]
 H01M 8/16
·  Biochemical fuel cells, i.e. cells in which micro-organisms function as catalysts  [2]
 H01M 8/18
·  Regenerative fuel cells  [2]
 H01M 8/20
·  Indirect fuel cells, e.g. redox cells (H01M 8/18 takes precedence)  [2]
 H01M 8/22
·  Fuel cells in which the fuel is based on materials comprising carbon or oxygen or hydrogen and other elements; Fuel cells in which the fuel is based on materials comprising only elements other than carbon, oxygen, or hydrogen  [2]
 H01M 8/24
·  Grouping of fuel cells into batteries, e.g. modules  [2]
 H01M 10/00
Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof  [2]
 H01M 10/00

Note(s)

In this group, secondary cells are accumulators receiving and supplying electrical energy by means of reversible electrochemical reactions. [2]

 H01M 10/02
·  Details (of non-active parts H01M 2/00, of electrodes H01M 4/00)  [2]
 H01M 10/04
·  Construction or manufacture in general (H01M 10/12, H01M 10/28, H01M 10/38 take precedence)  [2]
 H01M 10/06
·  Lead-acid accumulators (semi-lead accumulators H01M 10/20)  [2]
 H01M 10/08
·  ·  Selection of materials as electrolytes  [2]
 H01M 10/10
·  ·  ·  Immobilising of electrolyte  [2]
 H01M 10/12
·  ·  Construction or manufacture  [2]
 H01M 10/14
·  ·  ·  Assembling a group of electrodes or separators  [2]
 H01M 10/16
·  ·  ·  Suspending or supporting electrodes or groups of electrodes in the case  [2]
 H01M 10/18
·  ·  with bipolar electrodes  [2]
 H01M 10/20
·  Semi-lead accumulators, i.e. accumulators in which only one electrode contains lead  [2]
 H01M 10/22
·  ·  Selection of materials as electrolytes  [2]
 H01M 10/24
·  Alkaline accumulators  [2]
 H01M 10/26
·  ·  Selection of materials as electrolytes  [2]
 H01M 10/28
·  ·  Construction or manufacture  [2]
 H01M 10/30
·  ·  Nickel accumulators (H01M 10/34 takes precedence)  [2]
 H01M 10/32
·  ·  Silver accumulators (H01M 10/34 takes precedence)  [2]
 H01M 10/34
·  Gastight accumulators  [2]
 H01M 10/36
·  Accumulators not provided for in groups H01M 10/06-H01M 10/34  [2]
 H01M 10/38
·  ·  Construction or manufacture  [2]
 H01M 10/39
·  ·  working at high temperature  [2]
 H01M 10/40
·  ·  with organic electrolytes  [2]
 H01M 10/42
·  Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells  [2]
 H01M 10/44
·  ·  Methods for charging or discharging (circuits for charging H02J 7/00)  [2]
 H01M 10/46
·  ·  Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus (circuits for charging H02J 7/00)  [2]
 H01M 10/48
·  ·  Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing, or indicating condition, e.g. level or density of the electrolyte (indicating or measuring level of liquid in general G01F 23/00; measuring density G01N, e.g. G01N 9/00; measuring electric variables G01R)  [2]
 H01M 10/50
·  ·  Heating or cooling or regulating temperature (control of temperature in general G05D 23/00)  [2]
 H01M 10/52
·  ·  Removing gases inside the secondary cell, e.g. by absorption (vent plugs or other mechanical arrangements for facilitating escape of gases H01M 2/12)  [2]
 H01M 10/54
·  Reclaiming serviceable parts of waste accumulators  [2]
 H01M 12/00
Hybrid cells; Manufacture thereof  [2]
 H01M 12/00

Note(s)

In this group, hybrid cells are electrochemical generators having two different types of half-cells, the half-cell being an electrode-electrolyte combination of either a primary, a secondary, or a fuel cell. [2]

 H01M 12/02
·  Details (of non-active parts H01M 2/00, of electrodes H01M 4/00)  [2]
 H01M 12/04
·  composed of a half-cell of the fuel-cell type and of a half-cell of the primary-cell type (methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance H01M 6/50)  [2]
 H01M 12/06
·  ·  with one metallic and one gaseous electrode  [2]
 H01M 12/08
·  composed of a half-cell of a fuel-cell type and a half-cell of the secondary-cell type (methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance, e.g. for charging, H01M 10/42)  [2]
 H01M 14/00
Electrochemical current or voltage generators not provided for in groups H01M 6/00-H01M 12/00  [2]
 H01M 16/00
Structural combinations of different types of electrochemical generators  [2]