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DIFF Subclass Not Allocatable
F16C

SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS

Introduced: September 1968

Description

F16C covers shafts, bearings, pivots, and rotary support elements that enable mechanical power transmission and rotation in machinery. The class encompasses rigid and flexible shafts, crankshaft components, pivotal connections, and all bearing types designed to support rotational or oscillating motion. Notably excluded are gearing, couplings, clutches, and brakes, which fall under separate classifications despite their role in power transmission systems. This subclass forms the structural foundation for rotating machinery across industrial, automotive, and mechanical engineering applications.

Title

Titles differ between systems:

IPC: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; MECHANICAL MEANS FOR TRANSMITTING MOVEMENT IN A FLEXIBLE SHEATHING; ELEMENTS OF CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; PIVOTS; PIVOTAL CONNECTIONS; ROTARY ENGINEERING ELEMENTS OTHER THAN GEARING, COUPLING, CLUTCH OR BRAKE ELEMENTS; BEARINGS

CPC: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS

Full Title

Full titles differ between systems:

IPC:

SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; MECHANICAL MEANS FOR TRANSMITTING MOVEMENT IN A FLEXIBLE SHEATHING; ELEMENTS OF CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; PIVOTS; PIVOTAL CONNECTIONS; ROTARY ENGINEERING ELEMENTS OTHER THAN GEARING, COUPLING, CLUTCH OR BRAKE ELEMENTS; BEARINGS

CPC:

SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS

Additional Content IPC

Glossary

rotary engineering element rotary engineering elements any engineering element, other than a rotating element used in gearing, clutches, couplings or brakes, which rotates so far as its features are affected only by the fact that it rotates. bearing bearings a component of a machine or mechanism that is positioned between two relatively movable elements of the machine or mechanism and that has a surface formed for sliding or rolling contact with these elements when they move relative to each other for the sole function of reducing the friction that would otherwise result from their relative movement. connecting-rod or link pivoted at both ends a reciprocating or oscillating elongated member of a machine or mechanism that is intended to be pivotally connected to and positioned between two relatively movable elements of the machine or mechanism for the purpose of transmitting force or conveying motion between the elements when it reciprocates or oscillates. crankshaft crankshafts a shaft with one or more cranks for turning reciprocating or oscillating motion into rotary motion. flexible shaft flexible shafts an elongated member, normally a cylindrical rod, that is bendable along its length and rotates about its longitudinal axis to transmit torque or convey motion. Bowden cable Bowden cables a control cable consisting of an elongated member enclosed within a housing and that is bendable along its length and shifts along its longitudinal axis relative to its housing to transmit motion or force. roll, drum, disc roll drum disc rolls drums discs an element of a machine or mechanism in the form of a roller that has a generally curved surface that contacts work and revolves about its axis when the work shifts relative to it. shaft shafts an elongated member, normally a cylindrical rod, that rotates about its longitudinal axis to transmit torque or convey motion from a gear or other rotary body supported by it to another part of its machine or mechanism.

Limiting references

Piston-rods, i.e. rods rigidly connected to the piston Control cables for flexible medical endoscopes Control cables for flexible technical endoscopes Connecting-rods . Connecting-rods for driving wheels of railway locomotives Pivotal connection of pistons with connecting-rods Shafts, crank shafts . Arrangement or mounting of transmissions in vehicles characterised by arrangement, location, or type of main drive shafting, e.g. cardan shaft Axle-boxes for rail vehicles Propeller shafts or paddle-wheel shafts for ships Flexible shafts . Flexible shafts in dental machines Mechanical means for transmitting movement in a flexible sheathing . Control cables for change-speed gearing control Control cables for actuating brakes , Control cables for brake-actuating mechanisms specially adapted for cycles Control cables for gearing speed-change mechanisms specially adapted for cycles Pivots and pivotal connections . Arrangements of steering linkage connections Hinges for doors, windows, or wings Rotary engineering elements other than gearing, coupling, clutch or brake elements . Guide rollers in feeding webs Calender rolls, bearings therefor Flywheels Correcting- or balancing-weights or equivalent means for balancing rotating bodies Rotary drums or rollers for heat-exchange or heat-transfer apparatus Applications of bearings . Bearings for agricultural machines Bearings for threshing machines Bearings for drawers for furniture Adaptation of roll bearings for metal-rolling mills Bearings for movable or adjustable work or tool supports Hubs for vehicles Axle units; Parts thereof A mountings for shafting in vehicles Bearings for connecting-rods for driving wheels of railway locomotives Axle-boxes for rail vehicles with roller, needle, ball or journal bearings Bearings for steering heads Spindle-bearings for spinning or twisting arrangements Bearings or hinges of bridges Bearings allowing movement of building constructions Bearings specially adapted for roller shutters or for roller blinds , Bearings for drill bits Arrangement of bearings in rotary-piston machines or engines Arrangement of bearings in non-positive displacement machines or engines Arrangement of bearings in gas-turbine plants Bearings for joint couplings Bearings for gyroscopes Bearings or suspensions for moving parts of measuring instruments Arrangements of bearings in weighing apparatus Testing of bearings Arrangements of bearings in instruments for measuring electric variables Arrangements of bearings for apparatus for measuring time integral of electric power or current Bearings for clockwork Shock-damping bearings for watches or clocks Bearings in dynamo-electric machines , Structural association with bearings of dynamo-electric machines

CPC subdivides this area 2x more granularly than IPC with 31 additional codes.

31 codes are CPC-only extensions.

Note: 31 CPC extensions are marked as secondary classification only.

17 shared codes have differing titles between IPC and CPC.

Child Classifications

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  • F16C 15/00 Construction of rotary bodies to resist centrifugal force (flywheels, correction weights F16F15/30, F16F15/32) IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
  • F16C 2229/00 Setting preload 2nd only CPC only CPC only
  • F16C 2231/00 Running-in; Initial operation 2nd only CPC only CPC only
  • F16C 2233/00 Monitoring condition, e.g. temperature, load, vibration 2nd only CPC only CPC only
  • F16C 2235/00 Cleaning 2nd only CPC only CPC only

Top Applicants

Top Applicants (IPC)

Class F16,2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

  1. SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES & COMPANY DE 21,545
  2. ZAHNRADFABRIK FRIEDRICHSHAFEN DE 9,446
  3. TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION 7,215
  4. HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY KR 6,846
  5. ROBERT BOSCH DE 6,106
  6. NTN CORPORATION 5,305
  7. SKF SE 4,219
  8. KIA MOTORS CORPORATION KR 3,852
  9. NSK 3,850
  10. HONDA MOTOR COMPANY 3,639

Top Applicants (CPC)

Class F16,2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

  1. SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES & COMPANY DE 22,817
  2. ZAHNRADFABRIK FRIEDRICHSHAFEN DE 10,523
  3. HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY KR 7,933
  4. ROBERT BOSCH DE 7,059
  5. KIA MOTORS CORPORATION KR 4,867
  6. SKF SE 4,729
  7. TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION JP 4,111
  8. FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES US 3,838
  9. GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS US 3,575
  10. TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION 3,499