MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

Description

Class F03 encompasses machines and engines that convert energy from liquids, wind, springs, or weights into mechanical power or propulsive thrust, covering technologies not classified elsewhere in mechanical engineering. This includes hydraulic and pneumatic motors, wind turbines, water wheels, tide and wave energy converters, spring-based mechanisms, and gravitational force engines. The class also encompasses reactive propulsion systems and related equipment for generating or controlling mechanical motion through these non-traditional energy sources. Adjacent classes F01–F02 cover internal combustion engines and turbines respectively, making F03 the residual category for alternative and renewable energy conversion devices.

Filing statistics

CPC F03 recorded 138,653 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023, summed across its 5 subclasses. Annual filings grew from 11,272 in 2013 to 12,276 in 2023 (+9%), peaking at 14,342 applications in 2018. The most active applicants in class F03 are VESTAS (3,718 applications), WOBBEN PROPERTIES (3,602 applications) and SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY (3,016 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings