The indexing scheme of IPC [5] associated with group B62D 6/00, relating to driving conditions sensed and responded to are not used in CPC.

Means for initiating a change of driving direction of vehicles

Other electric devices integrated in the steering wheel, e.g. microphones, vibrating means, (pressure) sensors, lamps, information screens.

For the characteristics of the electric devices per se, see the relevant groups for the device as such.

Special features of steering columns; bearing and bearing arrangements therefor

Systems of actively moving steering columns in a better position to fire the airbag.

Clarification of the definition scope; initially this group involved the movement of the steering wheel for "in case of accident". Modern activation of airbags requires a similar design/motion of the steering column and so such systems are also classified in this group.

Means to convert the steering control input motion to final output motion at the wheels, .e.g. rack and pinion gear or the like

Mechanical steering angle limiters, e.g. catch or block to limit output movement

"Steering wheel" means any input element.

Mechanism or control to achieve change of transfer ratio

Calculating of desired steering angle to be reached by e.g. a superposition mechanism are classified in B62D 6/002

Single drive for a single wheel, e.g. one right steering motor and one left steering motor.

Combined driving and steering units for industrial trucks.

Combined driving and steering units for industrial trucks should be also classified in B62D 7/02 and relevant subgroups

Mechanical overload clutches for suppressing torque peaks.

"Freewheeling clutches", e.g. operated by the power steering motor or the driver's torque.

Calibrating of electric steering systems as such.

Switching off of electric power steering if not needed, e.g. standstill, see for example GB2269568.

Control of electric power steering motor during the time of returning the steering wheel, e.g. inertia compensation.

Blocking of the steered wheel due to catches, stops or curb stone

Reducing vehicle induced disturbances, e.g. braking, unbalanced wheels, "torque steer", etc

Counterbalancing by an additional motor (which can be the "normal" power steering motor) the reaction forces of a steering angle ratio change mechanism

Recovery from (detected) failures, e.g. fixing or bridging a loose contact.

Detecting failure of the motor drive means, e.g. in the H-bridge.

Parametrising of hydraulic power steering systems,.

Also pump directly connected with the steering motors, e.g. reversible pump to cylinder.

Control of electric motor driving a pump directly connected with the steering motors (hydraulic gear), see also B62D 5/046 and subgroups.

This group includes controls of the hydraulic fluid supply which adjusts the pressure to facilitate the required pressure demands by the external environment, e.g. when driving on a mountainous road.

Supply of pressurized fluid for other consumers and also supplying the steering means

Not only "limiting", but also influencing the deflection angle, e.g. for automatic steering.

See also B62D 6/02, especially for documents published before 2003.

Measuring or estimating the road friction coefficient using the steering system or values derived from within the steering system.

Means on vehicle to deflect wheels, e.g. changing the steered wheel angle in relation to chassis or vehicle body

Steering linkage, stub axles and their mountings are the means which allow to deflect the wheels.

Residual group for subject matter not covered by previous main groups

Using differential driving or braking to deflect steered wheels

Not only using brakes, but also using torque differences on wheels driven by electric motors.

Steering of e.g. tanks or slip-steered wheeled vehicles or control thereof

Stability systems for tractor-trailer combinations, e.g. counter steering or braking.

Passive indicator, "aiming" means, e.g. fingers in the car to drive along compared with a line in the outside world.

Combinations of steering angle sensors and rotary connectors in close proximity to steering wheel and column

This group only covers rotary connectors when the rotary connector is combined with the steering angle with close proximity to the steering wheel and column.

Measuring steering angle on the king pin at the deflectable wheel or on the turn-table between tractor and trailer

Determination of absolute angles, e.g. absolute steering wheel angle with a relative sensor, measuring e.g. between -90° and +90°

Not allowing steering in the direction of obstacles.

Minimizing damages by steering in not avoidable accident

Automatic or guided parking as such see the relevant subgroups

Haptically or any other means

"Automatic parking" is also, if only the steering is done automatically.

Projections in the windscreen or on the street ahead

Means or tools located on the vehicle to adjust the different angles of a wheel support, e.g. camber, castor or toe-in and toe-out, see examples

Levers or linkages for supporting a wheel.

Said support of wheels is considered as subject matter related to the suspension of a vehicle. Hence this group is no longer used for classifying. Classification should be given in subclass B60G instead.

Chassis built from frame members where the vehicle body will be mounted on, e.g.:

This group does not cover subject matter primarily relating to the suspension with only a nominal recitation of frame structure, i.e. the inventive subject matter is related to suspension features and are covered by subclass B60G.

Sub-frames for mounting engines or suspension means are classified in B62D 21/11.

In order to get a classification in B62D 21/15, the understructure should have features, e.g. crush zones, crash boxes etc. which enable it to deform in a controlled fashion. If the structure is merely reinforced, then it should be given the relevant classifications elsewhere.

Beam elements which form part of a self supporting vehicle body are referred out of this group to B62D 25/00, e.g. B62D 25/082 for longitudinal beams in the engine bay to which sub-frames are attached.

Fixing means for connecting vehicle body to the vehicle frame, e.g. by vibration absorbing mountings like rubber pads

WARNING: Group B62D 24/00 and subgroups are not complete; see also other groups of B62D

Subunits for superstructures, e.g.

The references to other areas are particularly helpful here, particularly take note of those in B62D 25/10 and B62D 25/12 for how to treat bonnet hinges, bonnet stays, openers, etc. Cabins or superstructure of the (open or closed) load compartments of utility vehicles are classified in B62D 33/00. Mudguards do not include mudguards for cycles but do include mudguards of utility vehicles.

Structures (e.g. bonnet, wing mounts) intended to deform or collapse to absorb impact forces from a non-occupant of the vehicle (e.g. pedestrian) should also be considered for classification in B60R 21/00 or indented groups.

Deformable bonnets are usually for motor cars - such documents should be classified in B62D 25/105 even if the application it is not specifically mentioned. Active protection devices which do not serve to alter the structural properties (e.g. airbags, bonnet lifters) are not classified in this group, they should be classified in B60R 21/34 and subgroups. For vehicle doors, including rear hatchback tailgates, see B60J 5/00.

The group B62D 25/085 is intended to mean front-end modules of engine compartments.

The IPC group B62D25/22 "Running-boards, steps, or the like, as superstructure sub-unit" is not used in CPC; these sub-units are referred out to group B60R 3/00 (see limiting reference in main group title).

Rigid, resilient or readily releasable (e.g. using screwthreads) connections between super- or understructure sub-units

Please be aware that groups here should not be used for documents concerning connectors and connections in general, see subclass F16B. Documents concerning the building up of individual components (e.g. the welding of sheets to form a panel) are not classified here; neither are documents concerning the attachment components which are not part of the vehicle structure, e.g. fuel tanks.

Joining trim elements (e.g. headliners) to the vehicle are in the relevant subgroups of B60R 13/00; attachments of bumpers are in the group B60R 19/00.

Subgroup B62D 27/023 is especially directed towards structural nodes - e.g. several elements joined together by connecting means.

Documents concerning the production of the material itself, or the moulding process, or metal-working process would not be given a classification here unless component details are specified.

This main group does not include railway carriages or motorized wheelchairs or the like. Please note the definition of cycle as being a vehicle on which the operator sits (e.g. on a saddle) and has direct steering, e.g. using a steering handle.

Vehicle cabs, load compartments etc. are classified in this main group, but load carrying floors for commercial vehicles are classified in group B62D 25/2054. Bonnets or lids are classified in B62D 25/10 or B62D 25/12; mudguards in B62D 25/168 or B62D 25/188.

See also B60P 1/00 - B60P 7/00 concerning adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects.

Cabins for dredging or soil shifting machines (often called work machines) should be classified in E02F 9/16; other parts of the structure of soil shifting machines in group E02F 9/08.

Spoilers which have a stabilizing function should also be classified in B62D 37/02.

Devices to control or modify the boundary layer should be classified in B62D 35/00, and should be considered for further classification in the group for influencing flow of fluid F15D 1/00.

Stabilising a vehicle body by forces generated with aerodynamic means (e.g. spoilers) or by movable masses, e.g. by using gyroscopes

Devices to prevent vehicles toppling over are classified according to vehicle type:

for tractors B62D 49/08; for work machines E02F 9/18; for cranes B66C 23/72.

Electronic stability control operating on brakes B60T 8/1755. Stabilising means using the control of wheel suspension are not covered by this group.

If a document concerns a spoiler which has, explicitly, a stabilizing function, then it should be given classification in B62D 37/02 as well as in B62D 35/00

Bodies for emergency vehicles or special vehicle bodies not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Devices or methods to indicate that a vehicle has been involved in a crash, the kind of crash and where the damage occurred on the vehicle. Crash recorders are not classified in this group.

If the document concerns adaptation to the vehicle structure, a further classification may also be required in B62D 25/087 and/or B62D 25/2027.

B62D 47/003 means that the structure should be convertible to modify the number of seats; not that the seats should simply be removable (for removable vehicle seats see B60N 2/00). Documents which are more general and do not concern the understructure or superstructure per se or particular part thereof should be classified in this group.

Vehicles structures, which could be changed to allow different numbers of seats. Subject matter where the seats are simply removable are not covered by this group.

Tractors for pushing or pulling

Tractors for semi-trailers

Tractors adapted for multi-purpose use

Tractors for all kind of tasks, e.g. modified to take lifting devices

Tractors having means for preventing overturning or tipping

Generally, connections between tractors and agricultural equipment or implements are classified in A01B 59/04 and subgroups. The term "Tractors" in this group is not limited to agricultural vehicles.

Specialist tractors, e.g. street cleaning tractors, snow clearance vehicles, will be classified elsewhere according to their function.

Agricultural machines or the like where the driver walks behind the tool, e.g. lawn mower, rotary cultivator, would not typically be given a classification here, classification would be given in the related application groups for the machines. For motorised hand carts see B62B 1/00 and B62B 5/0026. For electric wheel-barrows see B62B 1/18 and B62B 5/0026.

Tractor-trailer combinations comprising an uniaxle tractor unit and an uniaxle trailer unit

Tractor-trailer combinations where one unit supports an essential part of the other unit's load, e.g. semi-trailers

Fifth wheel traction couplings

Documents concerning road trains, i.e. tractor plus two or more trailers, are classified in B62D 53/005. B62D 53/125 should concern automatic coupling of the service lines happening during automatic coupling of the fifth-wheel coupling. For all other couplings of service lines see B60D 1/62 and B62D1/64.

Regarding subgroup B62D 53/068: if the load distribution is modified by operating on the vehicle suspension (without lifting a wheel set), then the document should be classified in the relevant groups of B60G.

These endless track vehicles are also called caterpillar or crawler vehicles

If a vehicle merely has tracks, this is not a sufficient reason for classifying in B62D 55/00. For example, a mono-tracked snow mobile would only be given the classification B62D 55/07 if there were details shown of the track or track unit. Traction increasing devices which fit over individual tyres such as snow-chains are not classified here, see B60C 27/00.

Group B62D 55/253 covers flexible tracks with discrete track elements interconnected by cables or the like. Continuous tracks with embedded cables are classified in group B62D 55/242.

Humanoid robots are not systematically classified in this group. Possible areas for this subject matter are program controlled manipulators B25J 9/00; gripping heads in B25J 15/00; manipulators in general B25J.

If necessary it is permissible to classify a document in both B62D 55/00 and B62D 57/00.

Please note that there are some documents concerning tracked vehicles with walking members to assist ascending stairs. These would not be classified in B62D 57/00, but in B62D 55/075 because the primary propulsion is by tracks, and due to the reference in B62D 57/024 pointing to group B62D 55/075.

The ground engaging propulsion means (e.g. walking members) are classified in the subgroup B62D 57/02.

Trailers with driven ground wheels or tracks, the propulsion unit being arranged either on the trailer or remote from the trailer

B62D 59/00 concern trailers with driven wheels for moving the trailer when uncoupled from the tractor, e.g. for parking, manoeuvring. However, in some documents the driven trailer means are used as an auxiliary drive or alternative drive and should be (also) classified in

Motor vehicles or trailers characterised by the arrangement or number of wheels not covered by previous groups, e.g. with variable number of ground engaging wheels or with more than four wheels

This group does not include cycles or motorised wheelchairs or the like. Please note the definition of cycle as being a vehicle on which the operator sits (e.g. on a saddle) and has direct steering, e.g. bicycle, tricycle or quad.

Motor vehicles: modular vehicles does not mean vehicle with exchangeable modules for repair or change in function of the vehicle.

Very important is the residual character of this group "not otherwise provided for". Documents concerning the assembly or production or formation of individual components, e.g. doors, roofs, side panels, bonnets, engines, gearboxes, etc. should not be classified here, but their attachment to the body shell. This group concerns further the positioning and assembling of the body shell to the chassis.

For management of production lines, e.g. for resource allocation, planning or scheduling G06Q 10/083 ; for inventory, storage or labelling of parts, ordering of new parts, Just-In-Time delivery G06Q 10/087 .

For control of productions lines [i.e. direct connections to machines] see G05B 19/418 or see the relevant technology, for instance B23 or B05, and as well for the details of the processes.

Concerning B62D 65/024 "Positioning of sub-units or components with respect to body shell or other sub-units or components": when the centring is achieved by features of the component itself, then the document should be classified according to the component; the classification B62D 65/024 and lower is given in addition to the groups B62D 65/04 - B62D 65/16 where the component is specified.

The IPC group B62D65/08 (IPC 7) 'Weather strips or seals' is not used in ECLA. The documents are classified in application group B60J 10/45.

Disassembly lines or processes in reverse, not for recycling of individual components or recycling of construction materials.