CPC Definition - Subclass E01B

Last Updated Version: 2017.01
PERMANENT WAY; PERMANENT-WAY TOOLS; MACHINES FOR MAKING RAILWAYS OF ALL KINDS (derailing or rerailing blocks on track, track brakes or retarders B61K)
Definition statement

This place covers:

Structure of stationary tracks on which propelled vehicles run for the transportation of passengers or freights;

Tools and machines specially designed for making, maintaining, renewing or taking-up the track.

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Model railways

A63H 19/00

Wetting or lubricating rails

B61K 3/00

Track brakes fixed to permanent way

B61K 7/00

Devices along the track for guiding or ensuring the safety of railway traffic

B61L

Foundation for paving

E01C 3/00

Bridges in general

E01D

Removing undesirable matter from the permanent way (cleaning)

E01H 8/00

Foundations in general

E02D

Making tunnels

E21D

Cable through

H02G 9/04

Informative references

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

Railway systems including the vehicle

B61B

Synonyms and Keywords

In patent documents, the following words/expressions are often used with the meaning indicated:

"Permanent way"

" Railway, railroad"

Ballastway; Other means for supporting the sleepers or the track; Drainage of the ballastway (draining by trenches, culverts, or conduits E01F 5/00)
Definition statement

This place covers:

Continuous load bearing bedding for supporting the sleepers or the track, e.g. ballast or concrete slab;

Drainage of the ballastway or the ballastless bedding

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Slabs as such for supporting the rails

E01B 3/14, E01B 3/24, E01B 3/40

Draining of tramway rails

E01B 21/02

Placing, working or taking-up the ballast

E01B 27/00

Making of concrete parts of the track in situ

E01B 29/005

Means for temporarily supporting the sleeper or the track

E01B 29/40

Fastening railway sleepers to bridges

E01D 19/12

Draining the sub-base of railways by trenches, culverts or conduits

E01F 5/00

Informative references

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

Draining of streets

E01C 11/224

Draining of sport grounds

E01C 13/00, E01C 13/02

Draining arrangements for bridges

E01D 19/086

Drainage of soils in general

E02B 11/00

General structure of permanent way (railway networks B61B 1/00; foundations for pavings E01C 3/00; foundations in general E02D)
Definition statement

This place covers:

General structure of the track, e.g. on bridges or in tunnels, foundations for the track.

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Track superstructure adapted for tramways in paved streets

E01B 21/00

Tracks for special kinds of railways

E01B 25/00

General arrangements of stations, e.g. platforms

B61B 1/00

Informative references

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

Foundation for pavings

E01C 3/00

Foundations in general

E02D

Transverse or longitudinal sleepers (for switches or crossings E01B 7/22); Other means resting directly on the ballastway for supporting rails
Definition statement

This place covers:

Sleepers and other means for supporting rails, e.g. concrete slabs, regardless of the substructure, the sleepers being parallel or orthogonal to the rails.

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Sleeper shoes for ballastless track

E01B/00C2

Sleepers for switches or crossings

E01B 7/22

Sleepers for shiftable tracks for heavy loads

E01B 23/12

Manufacturing of concrete sleepers

B28B

Synonyms and Keywords

Sleeper

Tie, crosstie

Rails; Guard rails (manufacture of rails B21B); Distance-keeping means for them
Definition statement

This place covers:

Rails for carrying vehicles with their centre of gravity above or suspended from the rail; guard rails, guide rails to prevent derailing; distance keeping means.

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Tie-rods for sleepers

E01B 3/00

Rail parts for switches or crossings

E01B 7/00

Rail anchors preventing shifting of the track

E01B 13/02

Tie-rods for tramway rails

E01B 21/04

Laying, re-building or taking-up the rails

E01B 29/00

Working rails in or on the line

E01B 31/02

Manufacture of rails

B21B

Synonyms and Keywords

Guard rail

Check rail

Switches; Crossings (operating mechanisms B61L)
Definition statement

This place covers:

Mechanical installation enabling trains to be guided from one track to another at a railway junction; crossing of tracks.

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Guard rails

E01B 5/18

Turntables

B61J 1/00

Lubricating of rails

B61K 3/00

Operating mechanisms

B61L

Informative references

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

Switches for easy dismountable tracks

E01B 23/06, E01B 23/16

Switches for special kinds of railways

E01B 25/00

Fastening rails on sleepers, or the like (fastening rails to bridges E01D 19/12)
Definition statement

This place covers:

Fastening means and other track components, e.g. tie-plates, sole-plates, pads or the like, used for attaching rails on their support.

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Fastening switches or crossings on special sleepers

E01B 7/22

Rail anchors

E01B 13/02

Apparatus for fixing or removing fastening means or track components

E01B 29/24, E01B 29/32

Fastening rails to bridges

E01D 19/12

Informative references

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

Fastening means in general

F16B

Fastening rails, tie-plates, or chairs directly on sleepers or foundations; Means therefor
Definition statement

This place covers:

Means for fastening rails directly on sleepers or foundations, even if the rails rest on sole-plates or pads;

Means for fastening tie plates or chairs directly on sleepers or foundations.

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Tie plates per se

E01B 9/40

Fastening the rail on the tie-plate

E01B 9/44

Rail chairs per se

E01B 9/54

Fastening the rail in the chair

E01B 9/58

Special rail fastenings

E01B 9/60, E01B 9/62, E01B 9/64, E01B 9/66

Rail joints (electrical connection of the rail B60M 5/00)
Definition statement

This place covers:

Dismountable or non-dismountable rail joints, e.g. by using fishplates or made by welding.

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Undetachably joining in or on the track, e.g. welding

E01B 29/42

Electrical connections of the rail

B60M 5/00

Informative references

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

Welding in general

B23K

Locking means in general

F16B

Arrangements preventing shifting of the track
Definition statement

This place covers:

Arrangements, e.g. rail anchors, preventing shifting such as longitudinal rail movement, which typically occurs during acceleration or deceleration of vehicles, or during expansion and contraction due to temperature change.

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Machines or devices for shifting tracks

E01B 33/00

Guards for preventing a person's foot being trapped in grooved rails
Definition statement

This place covers:

Arrangements to avoid a person's foot to get stuck in the gap formed along a rail by grooved rails.

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Safety means (in general) for rail/road crossing traffic

B61L 29/00

Cattle guards connected to the permanent way (grids in general for preventing cattle from straying A01K 3/00)
Definition statement

This place covers:

Arrangements connected to the installations of the railroad preventing cattle or cattle-like animals (whether domesticated or not), such as horses, sheep or deer, from straying on or walking along railways, or preventing intrusion in tunnels.

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Grids in general for preventing for preventing cattle from straying

A01K 3/00

Guards or obstacles for preventing access to the route

B61L 29/02

Informative references

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

Means for fixing fences or the like to rails

E01B 26/005

Snow fences

E01F 7/02

Protection of permanent way against development of dust or against the effect of wind, sun, frost, or corrosion; Means to reduce development of noise (snow fences E01F 7/02, snow-ploughs E01H 8/02, watering E01H 11/00)
Definition statement

This place covers:

Protective means of the permanent way against weather influences incorporated in the track;

Means for protecting the underground against spillage;

Means to reduce noise incorporated in the track

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Snow fences

E01F 7/02

Snow ploughs

E01H 8/02

Control of undesirable vegetation on permanent ways of railways

E01H 11/00

Informative references

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

Spillage retaining means for large containers

B65D 90/24

Protection against snow, sand wind or falling rocks in general

E01F 7/00

Noise absorbing or reflecting arrangements for railways

E01F 8/00

Removing snow or ice from roads

E01H 5/00

Track superstructure adapted for tramways in paved streets (paving E01C 9/04, E01C 9/06)
Definition statement

This place covers:

Embedded rail systems, where the traffic area of rail vehicles needs to be shared with road users of private transport, such as cars, trucks or bikes and pedestrians.

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Paving for railroad level crossings

E01C 9/04

Paving adjacent tramway rails

E01C 9/06

Informative references

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

Bedding e.g. ballast or concrete

E01B 1/00

Drainage of the track

E01B 1/008

Easily dismountable or movable tracks, e.g. temporary railways; Details specially adapted therefor
Definition statement

This place covers:

Light railways such as field, colliery or mine use, temporary railways, as well as shiftable tracks for heavy loads.

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Model or toy railways

A63H 19/00, A63H 21/00

Runway or tracks for trolleys or cranes

B66C 7/00

Rails of supporting structures for mobile scaffolds provided on roofs

E04G 3/34

Informative references

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

Propelled stands or trestles, e.g. on tracks, as supports for apparatus placed thereon

F16M 11/42

Tracks for special kinds of railways (systems B61B; wheel tracks on roads E01C 9/02)
Definition statement

This place covers:

Special kinds such as rack railways, mono rails, cable-drawn, stationary aerial rope, supporting rails for suspended vehicles, tracks for guiding vehicles, magnetic suspension.

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Slaughterhouse conveying track

A22B 7/001

Overhead rail system for handicapped persons

A61G 7/1042

Electric propulsion

B60L 13/00

Suspended load carriers movable by hand or gravity

B65G 9/008

Wheel tracks

E01C 9/02

Informative references

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

Rope railway systems using cables as traction means

B61B 7/00

Funicular systems

B61B 9/00

Other railway systems

B61B 13/00

Not vehicle mounted steering control for guiding road vehicles, e.g. in urban networks.

B62D 1/26

Placing, renewing, working, cleaning, or taking-up the ballast, with or without concurrent work on the track; Devices therefor; Packing sleepers
Definition statement

This place covers:

Placing, redistributing, levelling, loosening the ballast; removing or taking-up ballast; renewing or cleaning the ballast in situ, with or without taking-up or lifting the track; compacting the ballast with or without introducing additional fresh material under the sleepers.

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

General body details of railway vehicles, e.g. working platform

B61D

Removing undesirable matter from the permanent way

E01H 8/00

Glossary of terms

In this place, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:

Packing sleepers

Locally compacting the ballast in the vicinity of the sleepers

Laying, rebuilding, or taking-up tracks; Tools or machines therefor (E01B 27/00, E01B 31/00 take precedence)
Definition statement

This place covers:

Transporting, laying, removing or renewing rails, sleepers or lengths of assembled track;

Lifting or levelling of tracks; installing or removing fastening means or other track components, e.g. rail clips, sole-plates;

Undetachably joining or fastening track components in or on the track, e.g. by welding; Sealing rail joints.

References
Informative references

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

Welding in general

B23K

Fastening tools in general

B25B

Hand held nailing or stapling tools

B25C

Devices for moving or tilting heavy loads

B65G 7/00

Cranes mounted on railway vehicles

B66C 23/50

Lifting devices in general

B66F

Glueing metal parts in general

F16B 11/00

Glossary of terms

In this place, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:

Ribbon rails

Rails assembled into strings

Working rails, sleepers, baseplates, or the like, in or on the line; Machines, tools, or auxiliary devices specially designed therefor (characterised by features independent of use on assembled track B21, B23 - B25, B27)
Definition statement

This place covers:

Working such as reconditioning, repairing or treating track components in or on the line and machines specially designed therefor.

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Working the ballast

E01B 27/00

Laying, rebuilding or taking up tracks or track components

E01B 29/00

Undetachably joining or fastening track components

E01B 29/42

Machines or devices for shifting tracks, with or without lifting, e.g. for aligning track, for shifting excavator track (combined with sleeper packing machines E01B 27/17)
References
Informative references

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

Machines combined with sleeper packing machines

E01B 27/17

Applications of measuring apparatus or devices for track-building purposes (apparatus on locomotives or cars to indicate or record bad track sections B61K 9/00; measuring angles, linear dimensions, or irregularities in general G01B, G01C)
Definition statement

This place covers:

Measuring for track building, maintaining or renewing purposes.

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Apparatus on locomotives or cars to indicate or record bad track sections

B61K 9/00

Devices along the track for guiding or ensuring the safety of railway traffic

B61L

Informative references

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

Measuring angles, linear dimensions, or irregularities in general

G01B, G01C