B61 RAILWAYS
Description
B61 encompasses the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of railway systems and infrastructure. This classification covers railway tracks, rail vehicles (locomotives, carriages, wagons), signalling and safety systems, coupling devices, and associated mechanical and electrical equipment for ground-based rail transport. It includes both conventional railways and specialized rail systems such as rack railways, funicular railways, and monorails, but excludes air-cushion vehicles and magnetic levitation systems which fall under separate transport classifications.
Filing statistics
CPC B61 recorded 110,944 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023, summed across its 9 subclasses. Annual filings grew from 5,622 in 2013 to 8,670 in 2023 (+54%), peaking at 12,854 applications in 2018. The most active applicants in class B61 are SIEMENS MOBILITY (2,967 applications), SIEMENS (2,133 applications) and ALSTOM TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGIES (1,691 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
9 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- B61B RAILWAY SYSTEMS; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (lifts or hoists, elevators, escalators, moving walkways B66B)
- B61C LOCOMOTIVES; MOTOR RAILCARS (vehicles in general B60; frames or bogies B61F; special railroad equipment for locomotives B61J, B61K)
- B61D BODY DETAILS OR KINDS OF RAILWAY VEHICLES (vehicles in general B60; adaptation of vehicles to special systems B61B; underframes B61F)
- B61F RAIL VEHICLE SUSPENSIONS, e.g. UNDERFRAMES, BOGIES OR ARRANGEMENTS OF WHEEL AXLES; RAIL VEHICLES FOR USE ON TRACKS OF DIFFERENT WIDTH; PREVENTING DERAILING OF RAIL VEHICLES; WHEEL GUARDS, OBSTRUCTION REMOVERS OR THE LIKE FOR RAIL VEHICLES (for vehicles in general B60; axles or wheels B60B; vehicle tyres B60C)
- B61G COUPLINGS; DRAUGHT AND BUFFING APPLIANCES (vehicle connections in general B60D)
- B61H BRAKES OR OTHER RETARDING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR RAIL VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR DISPOSITION THEREOF IN RAIL VEHICLES (arrangements in rail vehicles for adjusting wheel-braking force to meet varying vehicular or permanent-way conditions B60T8/00; transmitting braking action from initiating means to ultimate brake actuator with power assistance or drive, brake systems incorporating such transmitting means, e.g. air-pressure brake systems, B60T13/00; construction, arrangement or operation of valves incorporated in power brake systems B60T15/00; component parts, details or accessories of brake systems B60T17/00)
- B61J SHIFTING OR SHUNTING OF RAIL VEHICLES (shifting vehicles in general B60S; marshalling systems B61B)
- B61K AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR RAILWAYS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B61L GUIDING RAILWAY TRAFFIC; ENSURING THE SAFETY OF RAILWAY TRAFFIC (brakes or auxiliary equipment B61H, B61K; point or crossing construction E01B)
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filings, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- SIEMENS MOBILITY DE 2,967
- SIEMENS DE 2,133
- ALSTOM TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGIES FR 1,691
- CRRC QINGDAO SIFANG COMPANY 1,100
- BOMBARDIER TRANSPORTATION DE 1,085
- MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION JP 880
- BYD COMPANY 821
- KRRI KR 761
- HITACHI JP 752
- CRRC ZHUZHOU LOCOMOTIVE COMPANY 721