CPC Definition - Subclass E02F

Last Updated Version: 2019.01
DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING (winning peat E21C 49/00)
Definition statement

This place covers:

  • Primarily working vehicles or vessels (and occasionally stationary installations) for excavating or loosening earth and/or for moving loose earth on the ground or underwater, such as excavators, backhoes, loaders, graders, bulldozers, cable scrapers, bucket cars, suction dredgers, trenchers, and their methods of operation.
  • In other rarer cases, similar working vehicles or vessels for working similarly on other materials, such as excavators with other kinds of tools such as breaking jaws, hammers, compactors, etc... instead of buckets, and such as rippers, and their methods of operation.
  • Almost all the aspects of those particular working vehicles or vessels as defined above; the mechanical structures such as work implements, cabins, upper-structures, undercarriages, floating structures and drives: hydraulic, electric or in form of a combustion engine, and their control systems.
References
Informative references

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

Tractors (e.g. implements, couplers for tools)

A01B

Harvesting (e.g. hydraulic drive systems)

A01D

Manipulators (e.g. arms, control systems)

B25J

Vehicles in general (e.g. propulsion units, control thereof)

B60

Motor vehicles (e.g. undercarriages, super structures, cabins)

B62D

Tractors

B62D 49/00

Cranes (e.g. grapples, counterweights, hydraulic drive systems)

B66C

Fork lift trucks (e.g. hydraulic drive systems)

B66F

Machines for construction of roads (e.g. graders)

E01C 19/00, E01C 21/00, E01C 23/00

Street cleaning (e.g. graders for snow removal)

E01H

Stream regulation

E02B 3/02

Foundation slots, embankments

E02D

Drilling (e.g. particular work tools)

E21B

Mining (e.g. particular work tools)

E21C

Military vehicles (e.g. graders)

F41H

Control in general

G05

Special rules of classification

Some applications relating to soil-shifting as such, are also of interest for their general aspects and need to be classified there in addition to the classification in E02F. Examples are:

  • hydraulic drive system, classification also in F15B
  • combustion engine control, classification also in F02D
  • joint control of different sub-units of vehicles in general, classification also in B60K, B60W
  • pivot joint, classification also in F16C
  • superstructures, cabins, classification also in B62D 25/00 or B62D 33/00
  • gearings, classification also in F16H.

Some documents (example: "working/industrial/construction machine such as excavators, cranes, fork lift trucks, tractors..."), with several application oriented disclosures, need to be classified in all the application subclasses (in the general subclass if appropriate, see paragraph above). Examples are:

  • agricultural tractors or vehicles, classification also in A01B
  • street cleaning (snow removal), classification also in E01H (E01H 5/00)
  • cranes, classification also in B66C (cranes with a beam or boom B66C 23/00)
  • fork lift trucks, classification also in B66F.
Glossary of terms

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

Work implement

those parts that actually carry out the work of shifting soil and are attached to the vehicle or vessel body. For example: boom + dipper-arm + bucket.

General working methods with dredgers or soil-shifting machines (methods for making embankments E02D 17/18; methods for mining E21C)
Definition statement

This place covers:

This group has to be considered as residual to all the other groups and subgroups of E02F. This group is very rarely used to classify documents.

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines

E02F 3/00

Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes

E02F 5/00

Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines (for special purposes E02F 5/00; other machines or apparatus for mining E21C; tunnelling E21D)
Definition statement

This place covers:

the following vehicles or vessels, with their corresponding methods, their particular components and the drives and control systems specially adapted for each of those particular vehicles:

With digging screws (E02F 3/06)

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WO2004/043832

With digging elements on an endless chain (E02F 3/08)

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US3813125

With digging wheels turning round an axis (E02F 3/18)

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FR1267198

With a pair of digging wheels, slotting machines (E02F 3/205)

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EP1630301

With digging tools mounted on a single (bucket-) arm (E02F 3/283)

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EP0445933

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EP1294993

With digging tools mounted on a dipper-arm pivoted on a boom (E02F 3/30)

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EP2141289

With digging tools mounted on a pair of bucket-arms (E02F 3/34)

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GB859309 (pair of arms - 50 and 52)

With bucket-arms being pivoted at the rear of the vehicle chassis, skid steer loader (E02F 3/3414)

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WO2009020509

With reciprocating digging or scraping elements moved by cables or hoisting ropes (E02F 3/46) with following subgroups:

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EP1950353

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WO2004067856

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US4134221

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US4184958

Bucket cars, i.e. having scraper bowls (E02F 3/64)

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DE2352214

Graders, bulldozers (E02F 3/76) with the following subgroups:

  • with the scraper blade mounted forwardly of the tractor on a pair of pivoting arms which are linked to the side of the tractors (E02F 3/7609)
  • with the scraper blade mounted on a frame to be hitched to the tractor by bars, arms, chains or the like, the frame having no ground supporting means of its own (E02F 3/7622)
  • with the scraper blade mounted under the tractors chassis (E02F 3/7636)
  • with the scraper blade mounted under a frame supported by wheels (the frame being towed by a vehicle) (E02F 3/7663)

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GB1080317

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in exploded view

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US2011067892 (arms 3, frame 4, blade 5)

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DE2707006

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GB2065749

With arrangements acting by a sucking or forcing effect, e.g. suction dredgers (E02F 3/88)

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CA2285196

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US6857207

Special rules of classification

Boom or cantilever beam

dipper-arm

bucket or shovel

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EP2141289 (boom 7, dipper-arm 8, bucket 9)

Bucket-arm(s)

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WO2009020509 (bucket-arm(s) 24 could be single or double, with one on the other side of the vehicle)

This subgroup is of rare use. The spades and rakes for agriculture or gardening purposes are to be classified in A01B and not in this subgroup. Some documents overlap with E01H (street cleaning) or other subclasses.

for machines specialised in making foundation slots or making walls of concrete in situ:

  • if the machine alone is described, the document is to be classified only in E02F 3/205.
  • if the walls or foundations are defined and described too, the documents are also to be classified in E02D 17/13 or E02D 5/18.

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Backhoe, construction machines wherein the tool mounted at the end of the dipper-arm and boom is pulled towards the machine (E02F 3/32)

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EP2141289

Machine with a dipper-arm and boom working outwardly (E02F 3/308)

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US6032093

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EP1775389

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DE112007001547T

Classification in subgroup(s) of this group is preferred above classification in this group.

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WO03069077 (assembly 60 - 63)

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WO2011019143

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WO2011019143 (locking element - which is also a hook - 13 acts on the pin 22)

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EP1033447 (longitudinal locking element 11)

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DE10200836 (hook 15 and transversal locking element 5 which enters 13 for locking)

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EP2206837 (four movable pins - 16, 17)

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CA2546034 (wedge 222')

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US7086821 (snap-on function of locking element 40 because of the spring)

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EP1033447 (first latching means 11 and second or redundant latching means 14)

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DE102004014823 (hydraulic lines couplers 40 - at the right of the picture)

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CN101268234

Buckets with integrated means for processing the soil are to be classified in E02F 3/407 and E02F 7/06, such as the following one:

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EP2204501 (screening, crushing or mixing bucket)

Buckets with the particular integrated means "jaw crusher" for processing the soil are to be classified in E02F 3/407 and E02F 7/06 and E02F 3/965, such as the following one:

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WO2011145233 (jaws 5 and 6)

Classification in subgroup(s) of this group is preferred above classification in this group.

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GB2349399

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DE102004043081

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WO9527832 (with jets)

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WO2004065700 (with propeller)

suction wheels (E02F 3/9212 and subgroups)

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WO2007100250 (with suction pipe 4 behind the wheel)

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WO9844078 (suction head 130)

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NL7905169

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FR2866362

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US2007289172

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US5054958

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US2009008490

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WO9824984

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EP2123831

Glossary of terms

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

Slidable vs telescopic (E02F 3/304, E02F 3/305, E02F 3/306)

- slidable: an arm or a boom glides or slides as a whole piece along the axis of a support- telescopic: an arm or a boom is composed of several elements sliding within each other so that the arm or boom becomes longer or shorter

with digging elements on an endless chain (conveyors B65G)
References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Conveyors

B65G

Informative references

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

For digging trenches or ditches

E02F 5/06

Cutting machines for mining or quarrying

E21C 25/22

Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes
Definition statement

This place covers:

Machines used for uncovering conduits (E02F 5/003)

Trenchers (E02F 5/02 and subgroups)

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US2007286681

Machines for making embankments or backfilling (E02F 5/22)

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US4782606

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US5097610

Machines for cleaning watercourses or other ways (E02F 5/28)

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EP0259472

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FR2789414

Rippers (E02F 5/32)

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WO2007022579

References
Informative references

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

Embankments

E02D

Laying pipes, making pipes in situ

F16L

Laying electric cables

H02G 1/06

Special rules of classification

for machines specialised in making embankments:

  • if the machine alone is described, the document is to be classified only in E02F 5/22.
  • if the embankment itself is defined, the document is also to be classified in E02D.

The documents concerning laying pipes, respectively laying electric cables are to be classified in F16L, respectively in H02G too. But the documents for laying drainage devices are only to be classified in E02F 5/10 or E02F 5/101 and not in E02B 11/02.

Equipment for conveying or separating excavated material (barges adapted for carrying-away material from floating dredgers B63B 35/28)
Definition statement

This place covers:

  • conveying equipment, such as pipelines, conveyor belts or conveyor screws, etc, and delivery chutes or screening plants such as sieves, mixing machines, etc directly linked with excavation or dredging or soil-shifting machines.
  • loading devices such as hoppers mounted on dredgers or excavators.
References
Informative references

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

Separating solid from solid materials by sieving, screening

B07B

Conveyors, delivery chutes

B65G

Pipes in general

F16L

{conveying material from the underwater bottom (by pipelines E02F 7/10; suction dredgers E02F 3/88)}
Definition statement

This place covers:

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with a closer view of M below

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US4010560

(often in combination with other classes, like subclasses of E02F 3/88 or here in combination with subclasses of E02F 3/08: "with digging elements on an endless chain")

Conveying equipment mounted on a dredger (conveyors in general B65G)
References
Informative references

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

In combination with digging elements mounted on an endless chain

E02F 3/082, E02F 3/083

In combination with rotating digging wheels

E02F 3/181

In combination with bucket-arms

E02F 3/348

In combination with graders or bulldozers

E02F 3/7695

Conveyors in general

B65G

{mounted on machines equipped with dipper- or bucket-arms}
Definition statement

This place covers:

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US4196800

conveyor assembly 11 with front and rear sections 29 and 30 mounted on a machine equipped with a dipper arm structure 12

Loading devices mounted on a dredger or an excavator (loading devices in general B65G ){hopper dredgers, also equipment for unloading the hopper}
Definition statement

This place covers:

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NL2005268C

Hopper dredger

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US6171030

the soil hopper 30 is a loading device for the excavated soil (note: the document is also classified in E02F 7/026, as 33 is a conveying discharging soil means and in E02F 7/06 as 20 is a processing trough)

Delivery chutes or screening plants {or mixing plants} mounted on dredgers or excavators ({for back-filling E02F 5/226 takes precedence}; separating equipment in general B03; delivery chutes in general B65G)
Definition statement

This place covers:

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US6171030

the processing trough 20 mixes excavated soil - from hopper 30 - and an additive - from hopper 50 (note: the document is also classified in E02F 7/026, as 33 is a conveying discharging soil means and in E02F 7/04 as 30 is a hopper for loading excavated soil)

Pipelines for conveying excavated materials (pipes in general F16L; pipe-lines systems F17D {; conveying by liquid pressure B65G 53/30})
Definition statement

This place covers:

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WO9844207

conveyor pipeline for dumping dredged materials (note: the document is also classified in E02F 7/023 conveying equipment mounted on a floating dredger)

Component parts of dredgers or soil-shifting machines, not restricted to one of the kinds covered by groups E02F 3/00 - E02F 7/00 (laying-out or take-up devices for trailing electric cables B66C)
Definition statement

This place covers:

More particularly the devices for transporting the machines, and the following elements mounted on dredgers and soil-shifting machines not otherwise provided for in E02F 3/00, E02F 5/00 and E02F 7/00 and subgroups:

  • pivot joint assemblies
  • travelling-gear or undercarriages, for caterpillars for instance
  • floating substructures
  • superstructures and their supports
  • slewing or traversing gears, such as turntables
  • cabins
  • counterweights
  • drives, control systems of particular purposes, electric or hydraulic or pneumatic control devices not covered by other groups in E02F
  • safety devices not covered by other groups in E02F
  • indicating devices, like displays
  • small wearing parts, like teeth or tips.
References
Informative references

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

Travelling gears, caterpillars, undercarriages

B60B, B61F, B62D

Suspensions in vehicles

B60G

Control of several sub-units in vehicles

B60K, B60W

Engine control

F02D

Control of hydraulic pumps

F04B

Hydraulic systems

F15B

Pivots, bearings

F16C

Gearings

F16H

Special rules of classification

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WO2004098985 (walking gears 4)

Spuds (E02F 9/062)

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WO2006130934 (spuds 3 and 4)

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US6041527

E02F 9/067 (to compensate the influence of the waves)

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GB1521185

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EP1384825 (ground supports 14)

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(traversing gear)

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All inventions disclosing hydraulic circuits have to be classified in one of the classes E02F 9/2203 - E02F 9/226 and in the appropriate subgroups of E02F 9/2278.

All inventions disclosing hydraulic circuits with one or more accumulators have to be classified in E02F 9/2217.

Glossary of terms

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

Slewing or revolving or swing structure

Part of the vehicle frame which rotate about a vertical axis

FOPS

Falling Object Protection Structure

ROPS

Roll Over Protection Structure