Note(s) [2009.01]

• In this class, the following term is used with the meaning indicated:
  • "vehicle" means all vehicles except those restricted to one of the following types of vehicles: rail vehicles, waterborne vessels, aircraft, space vehicles, hand carts, cycles, animal-drawn vehicles, and sledges, which are covered by the relevant subclasses of B61-B64.
    • Thus the term "vehicle" includes:
      • vehicular characteristics which are common to more than one of the above-listed types;
      • certain characteristics restricted to automobiles, road or cross-country trailers.
      • The following exceptions to the above should be noted:
        • subclass B60B or B60C embrace all vehicle wheels and tyres, except wheels for roller skates A63C 17/22, wheels for model railway vehicles A63H 19/22, and special adaptations of wheels or tyres for aircraft B64C 25/36;
        • subclass B60C embraces the connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies in general, and in this respect it is not limited to vehicles;
        • subclass B60L embraces certain electric equipment of all electrically-propelled vehicles;
        • subclass B60M embraces certain power supply equipment for, but external to, any kind of electrically-propelled vehicle;
        • subclass B60R embraces safety belts or body harnesses used in all types of land vehicles;
        • subclass B60S relates to all kinds of vehicles, except the servicing of rail locomotives B61K 11/00, ground equipment for aircraft B64F, or cleaning apparatus peculiar to waterborne vessels B63B 57/00, B63B 59/00;
        • subclass B60T includes brake control systems of general applicability, and in this respect it is not limited to vehicles. It also includes rail-vehicle power-brake systems and some other features of rail-vehicle brake systems;
        • subclass B60V embraces air-cushion vehicles per se and land vehicles, waterborne vessels or aircraft combined with features allowing them to alternatively operate as air-cushion vehicles or to be partially supported by an air cushion.

Note(s) [2006.01]

• Main groups B60W 10/00 and B60W 30/00-B60W 50/00 do not cover the control of a single sub-unit; such control is classified in the relevant place for the sub-unit, e.g. F02D, F16H. Where a single sub-unit is controlled by means of signals or commands from other sub-units, the control of this single sub-unit is classified in the relevant place for this sub-unit. For example, the control of variable-ratio gearing by means of signals from the engine or the accelerator is classified in the subclass for gearing, F16H.
• Conjoint control of driveline units, e.g. engines, and variable-ratio gearing occurring only transiently during ratio shift and being also characterised by the control of the gearing is also classified in the subclass for gearing, F16H.
• When classifying in group B60W 10/00, classification must also be made in groups B60W 20/00-B60W 50/00 in order to identify the purpose or use of the control.
• In this subclass, the following terms are used with the meanings indicated:
  • "conjoint control" means that a programmed or condition-responsive automatic controller on board the vehicle, embodying control logic for vehicle sub-units of different type or different function, sends control signals to actuators of two or more vehicle sub-units, so that the sub-units act together to solve a particular problem or in response to a particular driving condition;
  • "drive control system" means an electronic system in a road vehicle for automatically controlling the movement of that vehicle in order to take certain actions;
  • "road vehicle" means a vehicle normally under the control of a human driver for transportation on roads, e.g. an automobile, truck or bus;
  • "sub-unit" means one of the following vehicle systems: propulsion system, clutch system, change-speed gearing system, system for distributing drive torque between front and rear axles, axle differential system, brake system, steering system, suspension system, energy storage means, fuel cells or auxiliary equipment.

Note(s) [2006.01]

• When classifying in this group, each controlled sub-unit must be separately identified by a classification in a relevant place in this group.