B61L GUIDING RAILWAY TRAFFIC; ENSURING THE SAFETY OF RAILWAY TRAFFIC (brakes or auxiliary equipment B61H, B61K; point or crossing construction E01B)
Description
B61L covers railway traffic control systems, signaling mechanisms, and safety devices designed to guide train movements and prevent accidents. This includes automatic and manual signaling systems, interlocking apparatus, level crossing protection, train detection systems, and speed control devices. The classification encompasses both infrastructure-based control technologies and on-board safety equipment that collectively manage train routing, spacing, and operational safety on railway networks.
Filing statistics
CPC subclass B61L recorded 30,426 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 1,487 in 2013 to 3,008 in 2023 (+102%), peaking at 3,463 applications in 2019. 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
20 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- B61L 1/00 Devices along the route controlled by interaction with the vehicle or train (detonators B61L5/20; operation of points or signals by passage of the vehicle B61L11/00, B61L13/00; operation of gates, or gates and signals, by approaching vehicle B61L29/18)
- B61L 11/00 Operation of points from the vehicle or by the passage of the vehicle
- B61L 13/00 Operation of signals from the vehicle or by the passage of the vehicle
- B61L 15/00 Indicators provided on the vehicle or train for signalling purposes
- B61L 17/00 Switching systems for classification yards
- B61L 19/00 Arrangements for interlocking between points and signals by means of a single interlocking device
- B61L 21/00 Station blocking between signal boxes in one yard
- B61L 2201/00 Control methods
- B61L 2205/00 Communication or navigation systems for railway traffic
- B61L 2207/00 Features of light signals
- B61L 2210/00 Vehicle systems
- B61L 23/00 Control, warning or like safety means along the route or between vehicles or trains
- B61L 25/00 Recording or indicating positions or identities of vehicles or trains or setting of track apparatus
- B61L 27/00 Central railway traffic control systems; Trackside control; Communication systems specially adapted therefor
- B61L 29/00 Safety means for rail/road crossing traffic
- B61L 3/00 Devices along the route for controlling devices on the vehicle or train, e.g. to release brake or to operate a warning signal
- B61L 5/00 Local operating mechanisms for points or track-mounted scotch-blocks; Visible or audible signals; Local operating mechanisms for visible or audible signals (B61L11/00 takes precedence)
- B61L 7/00 Remote control of local operating means for points, signals, or track-mounted scotch-blocks (B61L11/00, B61L13/00 take precedence; interlocking arrangements B61L19/00)
- B61L 9/00 Illumination specially adapted for points, form signals, or gates
- B61L 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class B61, 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