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CPC Definition - Subclass B61C

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Last Updated Version: 2022.01
B61C
LOCOMOTIVES; MOTOR RAILCARS (vehicles in general B60; frames or bogies B61F; special railroad equipment for locomotives B61J, B61K)
Definition statement

This place covers:

General design features or items of locomotives and motor railcars, and non-electric features of electric locomotives. Locomotive or motor railcars are vehicles that pulls other vehicles and are provided with a drive unit.

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Frames or bogies

B61F

Special railroad equipment for locomotives

B61J, B61K

Informative references

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

Vehicles in general

B60

Steam locomotives or railcars (engines F01; characterised by power transmissions B61C 9/00; boilers F22B)
Definition statement

This place covers:

Improvement of devices of the steam-driven locomotive and motor railcars.

Typical examples are:

  • Improvements of steam-driven locomotives to allow better articulation.
  • Improvements of the locomotive boiler.
  • Improvements of the throttle valves for high pressure steam locomotives.
  • Arrangement of locomotive parts to improve visibility of the driver.

Following drawing shows one example:

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References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

characterised by power transmissions

B61C 9/00

Informative references

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

Locomotives with combined steam and other types of engine, e.g. IC engine

B61C 7/04

Engines

F01

Steam engine plants

F01K15/02B

Boilers

F22B

Electric locomotives or railcars (characterised by power transmission B61C 9/00; electrical features B60L; H02)
Definition statement

This place covers:

General design of locomotives of the electric type, and electric locomotives with battery power.

Following drawing shows an example:

media1.jpg

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

characterised by power transmission

B61C 9/00

Informative references

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

Electrical features

B60L, H02

Electric propulsion, e.g. circuits, devices

B60L 15/00

For tramway

B61D 13/00

Locomotives or motor railcars with IC engines or gas turbines (characterised by power transmission B61C 9/00; engines F02)
Definition statement

This place covers:

General design and improvements aspects of locomotives with IC (Internal combustion engine) or gas turbine.

Following drawing shows one example:

media2.jpg

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

characterised by power transmission

B61C 9/00

Informative references

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

Filtering, cooling, or silencing cooling air

F01P 11/12

Engines

F02

Arrangement or disposition of intakes and apparatus for supplying, circulating, and filtering air for combustion and engine-cooling purposes
Definition statement

This place covers:

Arrangement or disposition of air intakes for combustion or engine-cooling;

Arrangement or disposition of apparatus for supplying, circulating or filtering of air for combustion or engine-cooling

Example (US2666497):

Arrangement of a ventilating and filtering system for a diesel-electric driven locomotive.

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References
Informative references

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

Arrangement or disposition of driving cabins, footplates or engine room

B61C 17/04

Other locomotives or motor railcars characterised by the type of motive power plant used; Locomotives or motor railcars with two or more different kinds or types of motive power
Definition statement

This place covers:

Locomotives or motor railcars that are not of the steam or electric type or not provided with an IC (internal combustion) engines or gas turbines.

Such locomotives could be:

  • Hybrid locomotives with regenerative energy storage system.
  • Locomotives comprising a main driving engine and an additional driving engine of a different type.
  • Locomotives drived by compressed air.
  • Flywheel energy strorage combined with a prime motor.
References
Informative references

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

Hybrid propulsion systems

B60K 6/00

Filling stations for steam- or pneumatic-accumulator locomotives or motor railcars
Definition statement

This place covers:

Devices specially adapted for emptying, washing-out or refilling locomotives boilers.

Following drawing shows one example:

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Locomotives or motor railcars characterised by the type of transmission system used; Transmission systems specially adapted for locomotives or motor railcars (machine elements F16)
Definition statement

This place covers:

Transmission systems of locomotives of the steam or electric type or locomotives provided with an IC

engines or gas turbines. This main-group covers apparatus and methods to determine the transfer of power from the motor unit to the driven wheels. Such apparatus are for example:

  • Gear units for locomotives.
  • Direct drive electric motor for wheelset.
  • Electrohydraulic railway vehicle drive.
  • Elastic drive coupling for drive wheel.

Following drawings show two examples:

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References
Informative references

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

Machine elements

F16

Combination of mechanical gearing with fluid gearing

F16H 47/00

Motor engine

H02K

Locomotives or motor railcars characterised by the type of means applying the tractive effort; Arrangement or disposition of running gear other than normal driving wheel (constructions wheels B60B)
Definition statement

This place covers:

Locomotives or motor railcars wherein the tractive effort is not directly applied on normal driving wheels.

Typical examples are:

  • Transportation system using magnetic belt propulsion.

Following drawings show two examples:

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References
Informative references

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

Constructions wheels

B60B

Racks

F16H 55/26

Locomotives or motor railcars characterised by their application to special systems or purposes (B61C 11/00 takes precedence; self-propelled scaffold cars, break-down cranes, inspection trolleys B61D 15/00; general design of track recording vehicles B61K 9/00)
Definition statement

This place covers:

Locomotives or motor railcars that are not of the conventional type, thus for special applications.

Typical examples are:

  • Locomotives for towing ships.
  • Article sorter with self-driving transport base.

Following drawing shows one example:

media9.jpg

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Locomotives or motor railcars characterised by the type of means applying tractive effort

B61C 11/00

Self-propelled scaffold cars, break-down cranes, inspection trolleys

B61D 15/00

General design of track recording vehicles

B61K 9/00

Maintaining or augmenting the starting or braking power by auxiliary devices and measures; Preventing wheel slippage; Controlling distribution of tractive effort between driving wheels (propelling locomotives or motor railcars by special means B61C 11/00; driving wheels with non-slipping devices B60B; brakes B61H; wetting or lubricating rails B61K)
Definition statement

This place covers:

All devices and methods to improve the rail-wheel contact of a locomotive or motor railcar.

Typical examples are:

  • Devices for spraying antislip material.
  • Piston control for sanding systems.
  • System preventing a wheel flat.
  • Friction control between wheel and rail.
  • Magnet coil assembly for increasing the traction.

Following drawing shows one example:

media10.jpg

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Propelling locomotives or motor railcars by special means

B61C 11/00

Wetting or lubricating rails

B61K

Informative references

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

Driving wheels with non-slipping devices

B60B

Brakes

B61H

Arrangement or disposition of parts; Details or accessories not otherwise provided for; Use of control gear and control systems
Definition statement

This place covers:

Arrangement or disposition of mechanical or electric parts in the locomotive. This main-group includes also methods and systems for controlling the locomotive.

Typical examples are:

  • Locomotive engine housing arrangement.
  • Radio control systems for locomotives.
  • Ventilation grille for railway vehicle engine.
  • Comfort improvement of the driver cabin.
  • Battery mounting structure, hybrid propulsion.
  • Fuel efficiency improvements for locomotives.

Following drawing shows one example:

media11.jpg

References
Informative references

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

Tanks for vehicles

B60K 15/00

Dead-man's devices

B60L 3/02

Remote controlling of the vehicle

B60L 5/32, B60L 15/40

Installation of electric cables

H02G 3/00

TV systems and cameras

H04N 7/18

Cooling

H05K 7/00

Arrangement or disposition of driving cabins, footplates or engine rooms; Ventilation thereof (driving cabins and accessories B61D)
Definition statement

This place covers:

  • the location as the composition of the driving cabin in the locomotive or motor railcar;
  • the construction of floors or steps on the locomotive or motor railcar;
  • the design of engine rooms;
  • the ventilation of the driving cabin or the engine rooms.

Example (DE20111859U): Arrangement of a driver's stand

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Example (EP0783987): Ventilation of the driver's cabin

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Example (US4067264): Locomotive having doors (24) with access to a footplate (21) along the length of each side of the engine compartment.media17.png

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Driving cabins and accessories

B61D

Informative references

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

Supplying, circulating, and filtering air for combustion and engine-cooling purposes

B61C 5/02

Engine rooms

B60K

Lubrication systems (in general F16N)
Definition statement

This place covers:

Lubrication systems specially adapted for rail vehicles

Example (US2738242): Lubricators for traction motor suspension bearings of diesel locomotives.

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References
Informative references

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

Wetting or lubricating rails or wheel flanges

B61K 3/00

Lubrication in general

F16N

Control gear; Arrangements for controlling locomotives from remote points in the train or when operating in multiple units (control from points outside the train B61L 3/00; fluid-actuated telemotors, servomotors F15B; control devices in general G05)
Definition statement

This place covers:

Remote control of locomotives, e.g. in a switchyard;

Control of multiple remote units by a single control device or by multiple control devices.

Example (US2005205720): Remotely controlled locomotive in a switchyard using radio transmitting devices for remote control by rail yard personnel.

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Example:

Control lever (2) which can be moved to one of several different positions to control the traction and braking unit of the railway.

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References
Informative references

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

Arrangement or mounting of propulsion units or of transmissions in vehicles

B60K

Control from points outside the train

B61L 3/00

Fluid-actuated telemotors, servomotors

F15B

Control devices in general

G05