CPC Definition - Subclass F03C
This place covers:
Engines with reciprocating pistons or rotary or oscillating pistons wherein the working fluid is a liquid.
Related subclasses F04B, F01C and F04C cover the same type of apparatus using reciprocating, rotary or oscillating pistons for positive displacement.
F04B covers machines or pumps with reciprocating pistons, or other kinds of positive displacement mechanisms with the exception of rotary or oscillating piston type machines or pumps.
Regarding the machines with rotary or oscillating pistons, the distinguishing characteristic used for classifying the machines, i.e. devices which could be equally be an engine or pump, is the working fluid used. Machines with rotary or oscillating pistons for working fluids containing elastic fluids, e.g. a combination of liquids and elastic fluids are classified in F01C. Internal combustion piston engines or combustion engines in general, where the driving forces are generated by expansion of gases due to combustion are classified in F02B. If only liquid is used as working fluid for these machines with rotary or oscillating pistons they are classified in F04C. However, devices with rotary or oscillating pistons that are only pumps, i.e. cannot be used as engines, are classified in F04C, irrespective of the working fluid.
Subject matter like cyclically operating valves, lubricating or cooling are classified in subclasses F01L, F01M, F01P irrespective of their stated application, unless their novel and non-obvious features are peculiar to their application, in which case they are classified only in the relevant subclass of F04. The subclasses F01L, F01M, F01P do not cover pump or machine features per se.
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Rotary-piston or oscillating piston machines for elastic fluids | |
Rotary-piston or oscillating piston machines for liquids and elastic fluids | |
Cyclically operating valves for machines or engines | |
Lubrication of machines or engines in general | |
Cooling of machines or engines in general | |
Internal combustion piston engines or combustion engines in general | |
Fuel injection apparatus | |
Positive displacement machines for liquids, or pumps in which the working-fluid is displaced by one or more reciprocating pistons or by flexible working members | |
Rotary-piston or oscillating piston machines for liquids | |
Rotary-piston or oscillating piston pumps for elastic fluids | |
Fluid pressure actuators | |
Rotary fluid gearing using pumps and motors of the volumetric type for conveying rotary motion | |
Sealing in general | |
Means for thermal insulation in general | |
Refrigeration machines, plants or systems | |
Dynamo electric machines |
Reciprocating piston type:
Documents indicating that the machine may be operated both as a hydraulic engine and/or as a pump are classified in F03C and in F04B.
In cases were a control or a material is of special interest, the document should be classified by using the corresponding Indexing Code of F04B and F05C.
Rotary or oscillating piston type:
As a general rule a complete classification will contain at least one class specifying the type of engine concerned, combined with at least one class out of the control group F04C 14/00 or of the accessory group F04C 15/00.
In cases were a control or a "Details, component, parts, or accessories" has to be classified which can be used in a number of different types of engines which would be covered by different subgroups, the type of engine considered in the document should be classified by using the corresponding subclass.
In this place, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:
Pump | Device for continuously raising, forcing, compressing, or exhausting fluid by mechanical means |
Machine | Device that could equally be both an engine and a pump and not a device which is restricted to an engine or one which is restricted to a pump |
Positive displacement pumps | Pumps using pistons or other mechanical members to displace a working fluid in a working chamber, the dynamic effect on the fluid being of minor importance |
Positive displacement engines | The energy of a working fluid is transformed into mechanical energy, in which variations of volume created by the working fluid in a working chamber produce equivalent movement of mechanical members, e.g. pistons transmitting the energy, the dynamic effect of the fluid being of minor importance |
Oscillating piston machine | Positive-displacement machine in which a fluid-engaging, work-transmitting member oscillates, e.g. a vane piston swinging back and forth about a fixed axis |
Reciprocating piston | Fluid-engaging, work-transmitting member of an reciprocating-piston type machine or pump that slides alternately back and forth usually along a straight line or path |
Rotary piston | Fluid engaging, work-transmitting member of a rotary-piston machine or pump that can completely rotate about a fixed axis or about an axis moving along a circular or similar orbit when operating, e.g. rotor having vanes or teeth |
Free-piston machine | A linear , "crankless" reciprocating piston machine in which the piston motion is not controlled by a crankshaft but determined by the interaction forces from the fluid pressure in the working chamber, a rebound device (e.g. a piston in a closed cylinder) and a load device (e.g. a gas compressor or a linear alternator) |
Rotary piston machine | Positive-displacement machine in which a liquid-engaging, work-transmitting member rotates about a fixed axis or about an axis moving along a circular or similar orbit, e.g. machine with a rotor having vanes or teeth |
Cooperating members | The "oscillating piston" or "rotary piston" and another member, e.g., the working-chamber wall, which assists in the pumping action or machine's action |
Movement of the cooperating members | To be interpreted as relative, i.e. one of the "cooperating members" may be stationary, even though reference may be made to its rotational axis, or both may move |
Teeth or tooth equivalents | Includes lobes, projections or abutments |
Internal axis type | The rotational axes of the inner and outer co-operating members remain at all times within the outer member, e.g., in a similar manner to that of a pinion meshing with the internal teeth of a ring gear |
Working fluid | The driven fluid in a pump or driving or driven liquid in a machine. The working fluid can be in a compressible, gaseous state, e.g. steam, called elastic fluid, a liquid state, or a state where there is coexistence of elastic fluid and liquid state |
This place covers:
Hydraulic motors wherein an axial or radial piston reciprocates inside a working chamber.
This place covers:
Methods and means for controlling the reciprocating piston movement, such as e.g. piston speed-control or piston stroke-control.
This place does not cover:
Controlling specifically related to multiple-cylinder hydraulic motors having cylinders in tsar or fan arrangement | |
Controlling specifically related to multiple-cylinder hydraulic motors having cylinders with axes generally coaxial with, or parallel or inclined to, main shaft axis |
This place covers:
Hydraulic motors which are primarily defined by their use, or their specific combination, with an other apparatus, e.g. for driving said apparatus.
This place covers:
Hydraulic motors wherein the rotary-piston moves in a single direction inside the working chamber including "cat and mouse" type hydraulic motors.
This place does not cover:
Rotary-piston engines in which the liquid exclusively displaces one or more piston reciprocating in rotary cylinders |
This place covers:
Hydraulic motors in which the rotary-piston moves back and forth inside the working chamber.
This place covers:
Hydraulic motors having flexible working members, such as membranes, diaphragm, or flexible tubes, e.g. peristaltic motors.
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Machines, pumps, or pumping installations having flexible working members; Pumps or pumping installations specially adapted for elastic fluids | |
Pumps or pumping installations having flexible working members and specially adapted for elastic fluids |
This place covers:
Hydraulic motors having working principles not provided for in other groups, and components or parts specifically adapted for hydraulic motors.
This place covers:
Linear fluid engines, in which the piston motion is determined only by the interaction of fluid forces within a cylinder, rebound means and/or a load means, but without mechanical connection between the piston and a crankshaft.
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Free-piston engines | |
Free-piston pumps and systems incorporating such pumps |