F23Q IGNITION (devices or installations peculiar to internal-combustion engines F02P; of cigarettes or tobacco A24F; compositions therefor, chemical igniters C06C); EXTINGUISHING-DEVICES
Description
Ignition and extinguishing devices for combustion apparatus, including spark plugs, igniters, pilot lights, and flame-initiation systems used in furnaces, boilers, engines, and other combustion equipment. Also covers fire suppression and extinguishing mechanisms integrated with combustion installations, as well as control systems for managing combustion startup and shutdown sequences. This subclass excludes general electrical ignition apparatus (covered in H05) and standalone fire-fighting equipment not directly associated with combustion apparatus.
Filing statistics
CPC subclass F23Q recorded 4,974 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings declined from 507 in 2013 to 347 in 2023 (-32%), peaking at 559 applications in 2016. The most active applicants in class F23 are GE (GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY) (2,581 applications), UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION (UTC) (1,180 applications) and SIEMENS (1,157 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
11 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- F23Q 1/00 Mechanical igniters (lighters containing fuel F23Q2/00; matches C06F)
- F23Q 11/00 Arrangement of catalytic igniters (catalytic igniters per se C06C)
- F23Q 13/00 Igniters not otherwise provided for
- F23Q 2/00 Lighters containing fuel, e.g. for cigarettes
- F23Q 21/00 Devices for effecting ignition from a remote location
- F23Q 23/00 Testing of ignition installations (peculiar to internal-combustion engines F02P17/00)
- F23Q 25/00 Extinguishing-devices, e.g. for blowing-out or snuffing candle flames (for cigarettes A24F)
- F23Q 3/00 Igniters using electrically-produced sparks (sparking-plugs H01T13/00)
- F23Q 5/00 Make-and-break ignition, i.e. with spark generated between electrodes by breaking contact therebetween (specially adapted for internal-combustion engines F02P15/00)
- F23Q 7/00 Incandescent ignition; Igniters using electrically-produced heat, e.g. lighters for cigarettes (circuits therefor H01T15/00); Electrically-heated glowing plugs
- F23Q 9/00 Pilot flame igniters
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class F23, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- GE (GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY) US 2,581
- UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION (UTC) US 1,180
- SIEMENS DE 1,157
- GE (GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY) 994
- XIAN THERMAL POWER RESEARCH INSTITUTE COMPANY 769
- MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES JP 701
- MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS JP 695
- RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION US 587
- NINGBO FOTILE KITCHENWARE COMPANY 543
- GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY CH 490