Skip to content
Search Classifications
Search for IPC and CPC classification codes or keywords
CPC Subclass Not Allocatable
E02B

HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING (ship-lifting E02C; dredging E02F)

Description

E02B covers the design, construction, and maintenance of hydraulic structures and water management systems. This includes dams, locks, weirs, sluices, breakwaters, seawalls, and coastal defense installations, as well as dredging equipment and sediment control systems. The subclass addresses both civil engineering works for water control and flood prevention, and structures for navigation and harbor development. Related structural foundations and earthworks are classified separately under E02D.

Filing statistics

CPC subclass E02B recorded 50,164 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 2,727 in 2013 to 4,705 in 2023 (+73%), peaking at 6,438 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class E02 are KOMATSU (3,939 applications), CATERPILLAR (3,490 applications) and HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY COMPANY (2,553 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

11 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

Navigate with arrow keys, Enter to open

Top Applicants

Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class E02, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

  1. KOMATSU JP 3,939
  2. CATERPILLAR US 3,490
  3. HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY COMPANY JP 2,553
  4. KOMATSU 1,789
  5. JOHN DEERE US 1,277
  6. HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY COMPANY 1,102
  7. KOBELCO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY COMPANY JP 1,014
  8. HOHAI UNIVERSITY 975
  9. CHINA MCC17 GROUP COMPANY 810
  10. VOLVO CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT SE 787