F17 STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
Description
F17 encompasses systems, apparatus, and methods for the storage, handling, and distribution of gases and liquids under pressure or at cryogenic temperatures. This class covers gas cylinders, pressure vessels, pipelines, valves, regulators, safety devices, and integrated distribution networks for industrial, commercial, and domestic applications. Technologies include liquefied gas storage (such as LPG and cryogenic liquids), gas purification systems, and pressure control mechanisms. The class excludes specific applications of stored gases or liquids (such as fuel systems for internal combustion engines or refrigeration cycles, which are classified elsewhere) and focuses instead on the containment and flow management infrastructure itself.
Filing statistics
CPC F17 recorded 71,505 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023, summed across its 3 subclasses. Annual filings grew from 4,246 in 2013 to 8,538 in 2023 (+101%). The most active applicants in class F17 are GAZ TRANSPORT ET TECHNIGAZ (1,718 applications), L'AIR LIQUIDE SOCIETE ANONYME POUR L'ETUDE ET L'EXPLOITATION DES PROCEDES GEORGES CLAUDE (1,633 applications) and DAEWOO SHIPBUILDING & MARINE ENGINEERING COMPANY (1,570 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
3 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- F17B GAS-HOLDERS OF VARIABLE CAPACITY (self-acting gas cut-off devices A47J27/62, G05D; flame traps A62C4/00; gas mixers B01F, F16K11/00, G05D11/00; construction or assembling of bulk storage containers employing civil-engineering techniques E04H7/00, gas compressors F04; valves F16K; damping pulsations in valves or pipes F16K, F16L; pipes F16L; stopping devices for gas mains F16L55/10; vessels adapted for storing compressed, liquefied, or solidified gases F17C; gas distribution systems F17D1/04; detecting leakage F17D5/02, G01M; supervising or alarm devices F17D5/02, G08B; control of combustion in burners F23N; gas flow or pressure regulators G05D)
- F17C VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES (storing fluids in natural or artificial cavities or chambers in the earth B65G5/00; construction or assembling of bulk storage containers employing civil-engineering techniques E04H7/00; variable-capacity gas-holders F17B; liquefaction or refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25)
- F17D PIPE-LINE SYSTEMS; PIPE-LINES (pumps or compressors F04; fluid dynamics F15D; valves or the like F16K; pipes, laying pipes, supports, joints, branches, repairing, work on the entire line, accessories F16L; steam traps or the like F16T; fluid-pressure electric cables H01B9/06)
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filings, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- GAZ TRANSPORT ET TECHNIGAZ FR 1,718
- L'AIR LIQUIDE SOCIETE ANONYME POUR L'ETUDE ET L'EXPLOITATION DES PROCEDES GEORGES CLAUDE FR 1,633
- DAEWOO SHIPBUILDING & MARINE ENGINEERING COMPANY KR 1,570
- SAMSUNG HEAVY INDUSTRIES KR 1,174
- HYUNDAI HEAVY INDUSTRIES COMPANY KR 988
- LINDE DE 757
- ROBERT BOSCH DE 696
- BMW (BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE) DE 523
- TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION JP 515
- KAWASAKI HEAVY IND JP 456