Patents > Guidance, Tools, and Manuals >> Classification >>> Class Definition

Class Numbers & Titles   | Class Numbers Only   | USPC Index   | International   | HELP

You are viewing a Class definition.

CLASS 432,	HEATING
Click here for a printable version of this file

SECTION I - CLASS DEFINITION

This is the residual class for apparatus and related methods for the generation of heat and its application to materials; and for subcombinations and adjuncts specialized to such heating.

Note. Patents issued prior to 1945 have not in all instances been classified by their claimed disclosure so the placement of these older patents does not necessarily indicate lines of classification.

SECTION II - LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES AND WITHIN THIS CLASS

A. HEATING FURNACES (I.E., CHAMBER FOR RECEIVING MATERIAL TO BE HEATED AND SUPPLIED WITH HEAT INDEPENDENTLY OF THE CHARGE) AND HEATING FURNACE COMBINATION:

1. Class 266, Metallurgical Apparatus takes the following combinations of a heating furnace with additional structure for a metallurgical purpose:

a. A heating furnace with additional structure for cooling or quenching a solid metal object after heating is in Class 266 if the disclosure is limited to the metallurgical treatment of metals. If the disclosure is generic to metals and nonmetals or if the material has not been specified, Classification is in Class 432. It is noted that glass and ceramic article are commonly "annealed". Accordingly, a disclosure of "annealing" without a specification of material is in Class 432.

b. Those heating furnaces which are limited by disclosure to heating solid metal articles and which have structure for supplying or producing a special atmosphere either protective or treating, are in Class 266. Furnaces not elsewhere provided for having gas supplying or producing means will be found in this (432) Class.

c. A heating furnace in which material is melted having additional structure for the collection of flow, separation, dispensing or mixing of melted metal is in Class 266 when the sole disclosure relates to the handling of metal.

d. A heating furnace in combination with a fume arrester in which the sole disclosure relates to the arresting of metallurgical fume, i.e. of condensate of metallic vapor generated from a charge of metal ore or intermediate metal product, is in Class 266. A residual heating furnace with means separating dust or slag from the furnace discharge is classifiable in Class 432, subclasses 67+.

2. A residual heating furnace not specialized to metallurgical use as indicated above is in Class 432. It is noted that a "reverbatory" furnace or a furnace in which a steel making crucible is heated may be a Class 432 heating subcombination of general utility even though the disclosed charge includes metal or metal ore with reactive ingredients combined therewith or separately fed into the heating chamber.

B. OXYGEN REACTION FURNACES:

A furnace heated by reacting a charge of solid material with gaseous oxygen to produce heat and a chemical transformation of charge material and not having a separate heat generator is in Class 266 when the sole disclosed specific use of the apparatus is to produce metal or an intermediate metal product. It is considered that a "blast furnace," a "cupola furnace," and a "converter" are this type of Class 266 apparatus unless there is a positive indication that the apparatus may be used to treat a specific nonmetal. Also, in the absence of a disclosure that the apparatus of utility in treating nonmetal producing materials, the term "sintering" applied to a furnace treating bulk particulate material with gas is considered to indicate metallurgical apparatus for Class 266.

SECTION III - REFERENCES TO OTHER CLASSES

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:

SUBCLASSES

1	PROCESSES OF HEATING OR HEATER OPERATION
	This subclass is indented under the class definition.  Processes of heating or heating apparatus operation under the ... . SEE OR SEARCH CLASS: 29,  Metal Working,   subclasses 592+ for a process of mechanical manufacture involving metal working that may include heating of the work. 65,  Glass Manufacturing,   subclasses 17.1+ for a process including the working of a glass type material after it has been softened or melted by heating. 106,  Compositions: Coating or Plastic,   subclasses 100+ for a process specialized to Portland type cement material. 134,  Cleaning and Liquid Contact With Solids,   subclasses 19+ for a process of cleaning including (1) contacting the work by hot products of combustion or (2) heating the work in any way other than or in addition to contacting the work with heated cleaning or liquid contact agents. 148,  Metal Treatment,   appropriate subclasses for processes of heat treating metal to modify or maintain the internal physical structure (i.e., microstructure) or chemical properties of metal. If metal casting, fusion bonding, machining, or working is involved, there is a requirement of significant heat treatment as described in the Class Definition for Class 148. 159,  Concentrating Evaporators,   subclasses 47.1+ for a process of concentrating a liquid by evaporating one of the constituents. 165,  Heat Exchange,   subclasses 58+ and 201+ for a process involving both heating and cooling and in which the cooling accomplishes more than the return of the temperature of heated work to room temperature. 166,  Wells,   subclasses 302+ for a process of heating or cooling a well formation. 175,  Boring and Penetrating the Earth,   subclasses 11+ for a process of boring the earth by directly applying heat to the formation material. 201,  Distillation: Processes, Thermolytic,   appropriate subclass for a process comprising heating a carbonaceous material to vaporize a volatile material and to break down the substance into other chemical substances. 203,  Distillation: Processes, Separatory,   appropriate subclass for a process involving the heating of a liquid mixture to drive off one constituent and the condensing of the expelled constituent. 237,  Heating Systems,   subclass 12 , for an automatic control process in a heating system, and subclass 81 for a process for heating a house, room or other enclosure by a heat distributing system. 373,  Industrial Electrical Heating Furnaces,   subclasses 85 , 102+, 116, 135+, 146, and 149+ for processes of operating or manipulating an electric furnace and for merely heating by means of an electric furnace. 427,  Coating Processes,   subclasses 223+ for coating processes including flame contact. 431,  Combustion,   subclasses 2+ for a process of combustion not involving the application of the generated heat to external material.

2	Including apparatus purging, cleaning or accretion preventing
	This subclass is indented under subclass 1.  Process including a procedure for flushing out, dislodging, or preventing collection of undesirable material in heating apparatus. SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS: 50, for apparatus under the class definition including a protector, cleaner or support for a condition sensor: subclass 74 for heating apparatus with a drip, spill or leakage collector: and subclass 75 for heating apparatus having cleaning means. SEE OR SEARCH CLASS: 110,  Furnaces,   subclasses 341+ for method of operating solid fuel furnaces or refuse incinerators. 134,  Cleaning and Liquid Contact With Solids,   subclasses 1 through 42for a residual process of cleaning, or contacting a solid with a liquid. 165,  Heat Exchange,   subclass 5 for the cleaning of a regenerator. 201,  Distillation: Processes, Thermolytic,   subclass 2 for a process including a step of cleaning an apparatus in which a solid carbonaceous material is heated. 431,  Combustion,   subclass 2 for a process of decarbonizing, cleaning or purging a combustion device.

3	Including repairing, converting or assembling apparatus
	This subclass is indented under subclass 1.  Process in which a step of repairing, converting or assembling is an integral part of a heating procedure or in which repairing or assembling of the apparatus is effected in part by the heat incident to the operation of the apparatus. SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS: 76, for heating apparatus having structural elements provided for use in repair or assembly of the apparatus. SEE OR SEARCH CLASS: 52,  Static Structures (e.g., Buildings),   subclasses 741.1+ and 745.06+ for a process of forming or assembling a structure in situ. 264,  Plastic and Nonmetallic Article Shaping or Treating: Processes,   subclass 30 for a process of repairing or forming a furnace lining and see the extensive collected search class notes of this Class 264 subclass.

4	Including apparatus heat-up, cool-down or protection
	This subclass is indented under subclass 1.  Process including (1) a step or procedure for preventing damage to a heating device or (2) a procedure effective to bring a heating device up to or to lower its temperature from operating temperature. SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS: 35, for a heating apparatus having a frangible or fusible safety relief or shutdown means. 38, for a condition responsive control of apparatus protecting fluid or means: 116, for a rotary drum furnace having protective cooling means. 233+, for a heating apparatus element having protective cooling structure. 248, for a melt holding section of a furnace having a protected section. 251, for furnace structure having expansion, absorbing or relieving means. SEE OR SEARCH CLASS: 164,  Metal Founding,   subclass 121 for a process in which founding apparatus is readied for casting.

5	Including preparing or arranging work for heating
	This subclass is indented under subclass 1.  Process including a manipulation of, or an operation on the work prior to the application of heat, that conditions the work for receiving heat or that places it in position to be heated. SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS: 87, for heating apparatus having means supplying work to its work feeder. SEE OR SEARCH CLASS: 201,  Distillation: Processes, Thermolytic,   subclass 6 for the distilling of solid carbonaceous material involving a step of shaping the material prior to heating; subclass 8 for a process of distilling solid carbonaceous material involving grinding the material prior to charging it into the carbonizing zone; and subclass 40 for distillation of solid carbonaceous material with a step of arranging the material to be heated. 264,  Plastic and Nonmetallic Article Shaping or Treating: Processes,   subclasses 57+ for a process of vitrifying or sintering a preform to make an inorganic article (e.g., ceramic etc.) involving the particular positioning, arranging or conveying of articles during heating.

6	Stacking or aligning objects
	This subclass is indented under subclass 5.  Processes including positioning a plurality of objects in an orderly arrangement for exposure to heat. SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS: 253+, for a structure in which material is placed or arranged for holding work within a furnace during heating. SEE OR SEARCH CLASS: 34,  Drying and Gas or Vapor Contact With Solids,   subclass 518 for a drying process involving piling or arranging the material treated. 264,  Plastic and Nonmetallic Article Shaping or Treating: Processes,   subclasses 605+ for a process of stacking or arranging plural preformed articles for vitrifying or sintering by heating.

7	Forming a permeable layer or sheet
	This subclass is indented under subclass 5.  Process in which the arranging of the work material includes spreading out particulate material to form a porous sheet of relatively small transverse dimension.

8	Continous strip, strand or web passed longitudinally through heating zone
	This subclass is indented under subclass 1.  Process including the step of passing a continuous strip, strand, web or sheet longitudinally through a heating zone. SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS: 59, for heating structure with means winding, coiling or flexing a longitudinally moving sheet, web or strand. 122, for heating structure including means for manipulating, orienting, segregating or topically heating an individual article; and 231, for heating apparatus including a heat generator and means engaging and retaining an article in a desired relationship to the heat generator. SEE OR SEARCH CLASS: 34,  Drying and Gas or Vapor Contact With Solids,   subclasses 444+ for a process of drying a sheet, web or strand by contact with gas or vapor and subclasses 519+ for a process of drying a sheet, web or strand by radiant or conducted heat. 148,  Metal Treatment,   appropriate subclasses for processes of heat treating metal to modify or maintain the internal physical structure (i.e., microstructure) or chemical properties of metal. If metal casting, fusion bonding, machining, or working is involved, there is a requirement of significant heat treatment as described in the Class 148 Class Definition. Class 148 subclass 568 , 576, and 595 through 600 relate to treatment of wire and subclasses 601 through 603, 657, and 661 relate to treatment of strips.

9	Treating an article, container, batch or body as a unit
	This subclass is indented under subclass 1.  Process peculiarly adapted to individually treat a work entity identifiable as an article, batch, or body. SEE OR SEARCH CLASS: 65,  Glass Manufacturing,   subclass 120 for a process of treating a glass preform by flame. 219,  Electric Heating,   appropriate subclass for a process of heating an article electrically. 264,  Plastic and Nonmetallic Article Shaping or Treating: Processes,   subclasses 603+ for a process of heating a preform to a vitrifying or sintering temperature to produce an inorganic article, e.g., ceramic etc.

10	Localized treating or shielding of work area
	This subclass is indented under subclass 9.  Process in which heating, cooling or other treatment is concentrated on a section of the entity; or a section of the entity is shielded from heating, cooling or other treatment. SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS: 62, for a heater having a mask, baffle, or conductor concentrating heat on, or protecting a section of an article. 123, for a work handler outside a heating chamber supporting work partially within the chamber. 184, for a heating chamber having an opening through which an article is partially inserted into the chamber to be heated. 225, for a heat applicator mounted on or assembled about a work article. SEE OR SEARCH CLASS: 53,  Package Making,   subclass 477 for a process involving closing a package and heat sealing it at a localized area. 83,  Cutting,   subclass 16 for a cutting process having an ancillary heating of a localized area. 148,  Metal Treatment,   particularly subclasses 194+ for processes of chemical heat-removing (e.g., flame-cutting, etc.) or burning of metal, subclasses 210+ for processes of carburizing or nitriding of a selected area or zone of metal, or subclass 627 and subclasses 639-644 for localized or zone heating of iron base alloys.

11	Moving unit through or within treating zone during treating
	This subclass is indented under subclass 9.  Process in which the work entity is moved through a heating zone or past heating means while the heat is acting upon the article.

12	Modulating, varying or augmenting heat supply during heat-up period
	This subclass is indented under subclass 9.  Process in which the work unit has heat applied to it (1) at a varying or stepped rate as it approaches a desired temperature, or (2) at a higher rate during a period at which it is being raised to a desired temperature than the rate at which it is supplied while the temperature is being maintained.

13	Including melting, vaporizing, sintering, expanding comminuting, or classifying work material
	This subclass is indented under subclass 1.  Process in which the work undergoes a change of phase, is comminuted, is sintered, or is classified in the course of treatment. SEE OR SEARCH CLASS: 23,  Chemistry: Physical Processes,   subclass 308 for a process of melting out a fusible solid from a less fusible material. 34,  Drying and Gas or Vapor Contact With Solids,   subclasses 519+ for a process of drying by heating. 75,  Specialized Metallurgical Processes, Compositions for Use Therein, Consolidated Metal Powder Compositions, and Loose Metal Particulate Mixtures,   subclasses 343+ for processes of producing or purifying free metal powder and subclasses 414+ for producing metal or treating molten metal at 300 degrees or greater. 148,  Metal Treatment,   subclasses 194+ for processes of chemical-heat removing (e.g., flame cutting, etc.) or burning of metal. Class 148 for processes of heat treating metal to modify or maintain the internal physical structure (i.e., microstructure) or chemical properties of metal. If metal casting, fusion bonding, machining, or working is involved, there is a requirement of significant heat treatment as described in the Class 148 Class Definition. 156,  Adhesive Bonding and Miscellaneous Chemical Manufacture,   subclasses 81+ for the melting or gasification of solid material in situ in an air tight cavity; subclasses 89.11+ for surface bonding with verification or firing of ceramic material. 159,  Concentrating Evaporators,   subclasses 47.1+ for a process of concentrating a material in a liquid by evaporating a constituent of the liquid. 164,  Metal Founding,   subclasses 1+ for process of casting metal. 203,  Distillation: Processes, Separatory,   appropriate subclass for a process involving the vaporization of a liquid from a mixture and the condensation of the vaporized liquid. 239,  Fluid Sprinkling, Spraying, and Diffusing,   subclasses 79+ for a device melting solid spray material at a nozzle and spraying it from the nozzle. 241,  Solid Material Comminution or Disintegration,   subclass 23 for a process of comminuting solid material having ancillary heating. 264,  Plastic and Nonmetallic Article Shaping or Treating: Processes,   appropriate subclass for a process of shaping or treating a plastic, nonmetallic article generally involving the application of heat. 373,  Industrial Electric Heating Furnaces,   subclasses 85 , 102+, 116, 135+, 146, and 149+ for a process of manipulating an electrical melting furnace. 419,  Powder Metallurgy Processes,   appropriate subclasses, particularly subclasses 1+ for processes for making articles from metal containing particulate material involving the use of pressure and heat.

14	Including passing, treating or conveying gas into or through particulate work
	This subclass is indented under subclass 1.  Process including a step in which a temperature modifying gas traverses a mass or stream of particulate work. SEE OR SEARCH CLASS: 34,  Drying and Gas or Vapor Contact With Solids,   subclasses 443+ for a process of drying involving gas or vapor contact with the material being dried.

15	Including maintenance of fluidized bed
	This subclass is indented under subclass 14.  Process in which the operation is such that the work particles are so suspended in the gaseous current that the mixture of the gas and particles act like a liquid in forming a surface level, in flowing, and in supporting by buoyancy. SEE OR SEARCH CLASS: 34,  Drying and Gas or Vapor Contact With Solids,   subclass 359 for a drying process or a residual process of contacting Solids with a gas involving fluidization of the solid material. 201,  Distillation: Processes, Thermolytic,   subclass 31 for a process of heating carbonaceous material in a fluidized bed for distillation. 502,  Catalyst, Solid Sorbent, or Support Therefor: Product or Process of Making,   for a composition comprising a catalyst or sorbent, per se, and see especially subclasses 20+ for processes of regenerating such a composition which may use a fluidized suspension of particles in a gas.

16	Including a dust control or particle separation step
	This subclass is indented under subclass 14.  Process involving the separation of work particles from withdrawn treating gas.

17	Including modulation of flow rate of gas or treated material
	This subclass is indented under subclass 14.  Process in which the procedure includes continuously adjusting the flow of work particles or treating gas to maintain or establish steady flow conditions. SEE OR SEARCH CLASS: 34,  Drying and Gas or Vapor Contact With Solids,   subclasses 446+ for a process of drying by gas or vapor contact including temperature control or varying.

18	Subjecting work to diverse treatments or graduated temperatures
	This subclass is indented under subclass 1.  Process in which work is (1) moved along a path traversing zones of diverse characteristics or a zone having an increasing or decreasing temperature along its length; or (2) has applied to it successive treatments different in kind or (3) has its temperature changed by successive or progressive heat treatments.

19	Controlling flame position or work atmosphere
	This subclass is indented under subclass 1.  Process including a step of forming, maintaining or circulating atmosphere in a heating chamber or about work material. SEE OR SEARCH CLASS: 264,  Plastic and Nonmetallic Article Shaping or Treating: Processes,   for sintering or vitrifying of shaped bodies, particularly, subclasses 646+ or 674+ with controlling of gas composition of the heating chamber, subclasses 653+ with plural heating steps, subclasses 664+ or 667+ with specified gas pressure in the heating chamber, or subclasses 677+ with controlling or directing heated gas or exhaust within a heating chamber. 431,  Combustion,   subclass 8 for a combustion process involving flame shaping or distributing components in a combustion zone.

20	Providing flame or high luminosity
	This subclass is indented under subclass 19.  Process in which the heat radiation characteristics of the work atmosphere are controlled by providing an additive or adjusting combustion to produce a flame of high luminosity. SEE OR SEARCH CLASS: 431,  Combustion,   for a combustion process including the feeding of a flame modifying additive.

21	Including recycling work atmosphere
	This subclass is indented under subclass 19.  Process in which the atmosphere is controlled by recycling withdrawn material back to the work zone. SEE OR SEARCH CLASS: 431,  Combustion,   subclass 9 for a combustion process involving whirling, recycling material, or reversing flow in an enclosed flame zone.

22	Establishing strata, layer or curtain
	This subclass is indented under subclass 19.  Process in which a heating device is operated to establish a body of gas in the form of a sheet within or forming the boundary of a heating zone. SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS: 64, for a furnace chamber port or work path having a fluid curtain.

23	Establishing or maintaining composition of atmosphere bathing work
	This subclass is indented under subclass 19.  Process including a procedure by which a desired chemical makeup of the gaseous material surrounding the work is adjusted or established. SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS: 37, for apparatus under the class definition comprising automatic control means including an analyzer or composition sensor of work, work atmosphere or exhaust gas.

24	Modulating or stabilizing pressure or temperature
	This subclass is indented under subclass 19.  Process including a step changing an operational parameter to produce or maintain a desired pressure in the work zone, or temperature of the work or its surrounding atmosphere.

25	Providing pulsed or periodically reversed atmosphere
	This subclass is indented under subclass 19.  Process in which the atmosphere surrounding the work is caused to reverse its direction of flow periodically or is given periodic or rhythmical pressure waves or impulses. SEE OR SEARCH CLASS: 431,  Combustion,   subclass 1 for combustion bursts or flareups in pulses or in serial pattern.

26	By mode of admission of treating or protecting fluid
	This subclass is indented under subclass 19.  Process in which the control of the environment is accomplished by adjusting the rate, direction, or position of feed of a component of the work atmosphere.

27	Including the flowing or circulating of particulate heat carrier
	This subclass is indented under subclass 1.  Process including a step of moving particulate heat storage material as a flowing stream. SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS: 215, for apparatus in which a heat generator heats a fluent mass of solid heat carrying or storing pebbles or particles. SEE OR SEARCH CLASS: 208,  Mineral Oils: Processes and Products,   subclass 127 for mineral oil cracking process using a suspension system of inert materials and subclasses 146+ for a process of chemical conversion of mineral oil involving solids contacting and mixing. See the collected notes of this subclass for related fields for search.

28	Of operating a furnace utilizing a heat storage mass
	This subclass is indented under subclass 1.  Process involving the application of heat to work in a chamber, oven, or retort in which a heat storage mass or body is used.

29	Of heating a fluid
	This subclass is indented under subclass 1.  Process for heating fluid work or providing a high temperature fluid stream.

30	Utilizing a heat storage mass
	This subclass is indented under subclass 29.  Process in which a body of material is caused to receive and temporarily retain sensible or latent heat.

31	Heating of or by wall or radiant surface
	This subclass is indented under subclass 1.  Process for heating work by radiation or conduction or for heating a heating surface.

32

WITH INDICATOR, ILLUMINATOR OR INSPECTION MEANS

This subclass is indented under the class definition.  Apparatus including structure (1) indicating a condition of the work or apparatus, (2) providing for the inspection of the work or apparatus; or (3) providing illumination. SEE OR SEARCH CLASS: 34,  Drying and Gas or Vapor Contact With Solids,   subclass 88 for a drier having a display, inspecting or indicating means and subclass 89 for a drier having indicating or testing means. 116,