STEAM TRAPS OR LIKE APPARATUS FOR DRAINING-OFF LIQUIDS FROM ENCLOSURES PREDOMINANTLY CONTAINING GASES OR VAPOURS

Description

F16T covers steam traps and similar drainage devices designed to remove condensed liquids (primarily water) from vessels, pipelines, or equipment spaces that operate under steam or vapor atmospheres. These devices employ various operating principles—such as thermostatic, mechanical float, inverted bucket, or thermodynamic mechanisms—to selectively discharge condensate while preventing loss of the working steam or gas. Applications include steam heating systems, steam distribution networks, industrial process equipment, and air/vapor-handling installations. This classification excludes general valve designs (F16K) and liquid-handling apparatus without the specific function of steam trap operation.

Filing statistics

CPC subclass F16T recorded 1,483 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 89 in 2013 to 109 in 2023 (+22%), peaking at 235 applications in 2017. The most active applicants in class F16 are SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES & COMPANY (22,817 applications), ZAHNRADFABRIK FRIEDRICHSHAFEN (10,523 applications) and HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY (7,933 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings