F16D COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
Introduced: September 1968
Description
F16D encompasses mechanical devices that connect rotating shafts, control torque transmission, and dissipate rotational energy in machinery. This subclass covers rigid and flexible couplings, universal joints, clutches for engaging/disengaging drive trains, and braking systems that arrest or regulate motion. Applications span automotive transmissions, industrial machinery, power transmission equipment, and mechanical control systems. Adjacent classes F16C (bearing and lubrication) and F16G (springs) address related but distinct mechanical functions.
Additional Content IPC
Glossary
actuator actuators a component of a mechanism that causes movement of a motion-conveying component or motion-inhibiting component but does not itself directly convey or inhibit motion. brake brakes a mechanism with at least one component that is moved by an actuator to selectively or automatically engage or stop a member with respect to a stationary part. clutch clutches a mechanism with at least two relatively movable components that are selectively or automatically engaged with each other by control means, e.g. an actuator, to transmit mechanical power or convey motion from a first member to a second member or disengaged by control means to stop transmitting mechanical power or conveying motion. coupling for transmitting rotation couplings for transmitting rotation a mechanism that transmits torque or conveys rotary motion from a first shaft to a second shaft or other rotating member and that either does not include relatively moving components or, if it has relatively moving components, the components move without the use of control means.
Limiting references
Electrodynamic brake systems for vehicles in general Vehicle brake control systems Conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function, e.g. when at least one sub-unit is a clutch or a brake Fluid gearings , , Combinations of fluid gearings with clutches or couplings Combinations of mechanical gearings with fluid clutches Differential gearings, e.g. with freewheels or other clutches Dynamo-electric brakes, e.g. of the Eddy-current hysteresis type Clutches or holding devices using electrostatic attraction, e.g. using Johnson-Rahbek effect
Application references
Couplings . Couplings for metal-rolling mills Couplings for drilling rods Attachment of marine propellers on shafts Clutches . Clutches of harvesters or mowers for grass, cereals or other crops Clutches in dental machines for boring or cutting Clutches specially adapted for presses Arrangement or location of clutches in vehicles Arrangement or mounting of control devices for main transmission clutches in vehicles Cycle brakes controlled by back-pedalling Details of rotary fluid gearing of the hydrokinetic type Clutches for apparatus for transmitting or receiving coded digital information Brakes . Brakes of harvesters or mowers for grass, cereals or other crops Brakes for threshing machines Brakes for swings Brakes specially adapted for presses Braking devices for ribbon-feed devices in selective printing mechanisms Brakes peculiar to rail vehicles Braking mechanisms for hand carts Braking mechanisms for children's carriages or perambulators Braking mechanisms for animal-drawn vehicles Cycle brakes Braking devices for lifting or hoisting gear Brakes for electric motors, generators, or dynamo-electric converters
Of 55 combined children, 39 exist in both systems.
10 codes are CPC-only extensions, 6 exist only in IPC.
Note: 10 CPC extensions are marked as secondary classification only.
29 shared codes have differing titles between IPC and CPC.
Child Classifications
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- F16D 1/00 Couplings for rigidly connecting two coaxial shafts or other movable machine elements (attachment of wheels to axles for railway carriages B60B; for attachment of cranks to their shafts F16C3/10) IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
- F16D 11/00 Clutches in which the members have interengaging parts (arrangements for synchronisation F16D23/02) +4 CPC IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
- F16D 13/00 Friction clutches (arrangements for synchronisation F16D23/02) IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
- F16D 131/00 Overall arrangement of the actuators or their elements, e.g. modular construction since 2012 −1 IPC IPC only IPC only
- F16D 15/00 Clutches with wedging balls or rollers or with other wedgeable separate clutching members (freewheels, freewheel clutches F16D41/00) IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
- F16D 17/00 Clutches in which the drive is transmitted solely by virtue of the eccentricity of the contacting surfaces of clutch members which fit one around the other IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
- F16D 19/00 Clutches with mechanically-actuated clutching members not otherwise provided for IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
- F16D 21/00 Systems comprising a plurality of actuated clutches (for synchronisation F16D23/04) IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
- F16D 2131/00 Overall arrangement of the actuators or their elements, e.g. modular construction 2nd only +1 CPC CPC only CPC only
Top Applicants
Top Applicants (IPC)
Class F16,2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES & COMPANY DE 21,545
- ZAHNRADFABRIK FRIEDRICHSHAFEN DE 9,446
- TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION 7,215
- HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY KR 6,846
- ROBERT BOSCH DE 6,106
- NTN CORPORATION 5,305
- SKF SE 4,219
- KIA MOTORS CORPORATION KR 3,852
- NSK 3,850
- HONDA MOTOR COMPANY 3,639
Top Applicants (CPC)
Class F16,2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES & COMPANY DE 22,817
- ZAHNRADFABRIK FRIEDRICHSHAFEN DE 10,523
- HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY KR 7,933
- ROBERT BOSCH DE 7,059
- KIA MOTORS CORPORATION KR 4,867
- SKF SE 4,729
- TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION JP 4,111
- FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES US 3,838
- GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS US 3,575
- TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION 3,499