LUBRICATING

Introduced: September 1968

Description

F16N covers systems, methods, and devices for lubricating mechanical machinery and components to reduce friction and wear. This subclass encompasses lubricant application techniques, lubrication circuits, automatic lubrication systems, and related mechanical arrangements designed to deliver lubricants to moving parts in engines, transmissions, bearings, and industrial equipment. The classification includes both manual and automated lubrication mechanisms but excludes the chemical composition of lubricants themselves, which are addressed in C10M.

Additional Content IPC

Glossary

lubrication apparatus, arrangements or methods for introducing or applying a thin layer of a discrete lubricant between two or more relatively-moving adjacent solid surfaces of a device or apparatus, for the specific purpose of reducing friction, heat or wear between the adjacent surfaces. lubricant lubricants any fluid (e.g. water, oil), fluent material (e.g. particulate graphite), semi-fluid material (e.g. oil with thickener), or semisolid material (e.g. grease), or any mixture of such types of substance, which is used for the specific purpose of lubrication.

Limiting references

Lubricating compositions; Selection of particular substances as lubricants Processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to a surface, to obtain an anti-friction surface Manufacture of articles or materials containing macromolecular substances and having reduced friction

Application references

Lubrication of harvesters or mowers Lubrication of mandrels for metal tube rolling mills Lubrication of rolls for metal rolling mills Lubrication of tools for machines for working metal without removing material Lubricating during forging or pressing Lubrication of moulds for continuous casting of metals Lubrication of milling-cutters Lubrication of metal saws , Lubrication of machine-tools , Lubrication of portable power-driven percussive tools Lubrication of hair-clippers or dry-shavers Lubrication of band saw blades for wood or the like Arrangements or adaptations of lubricating systems or devices in vehicles Lubrication of cable systems for railways Lubrication systems for railway locomotives Axle-box lubrication for rail vehicles Lubrication of rail or wheel flanges of railways Vehicle endless-track units with lubrication means Lubrication of cycles Lubrication of conveyers Lubrication of ropes, cables or guides of elevators Lubrication of spindles of machines for spinning or twisting threads or fibres Lubrication of knitting-machines Lubrication of sewing-machines Lubrication of embroidering-machines Lubrication of switches for railways Lubricating devices for locks Lubricating arrangements for hinges Lubricating details of roller drill bits for earth drilling Lubrication of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston machines or engines Lubrication of non-positive displacement machines or engines, e.g. steam turbines Lubrication of machines or apparatus working under extreme conditions, at high temperature, of turbines Lubrication of gas-turbine plants Lubrication of cylinders of combustion engines Lubrication of evacuating pumps Lubrication of pumps for elastic fluids Lubrication of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston pumps for elastic fluids Lubrication of non-positive displacement pumps Lubrication of flexible shafts Lubrication of sliding-contact bearings Lubrication of ball or roller bearings Lubrication of springs Lubrication of transmissions Oil separators for separating oil from exhaust steam Lubrication of refrigerating machines Lubrication of smallarms or ordnance Lubrication of clocks Lubrication of rotary anodes of X-ray tubes Lubrication of rotary current collectors, distributors or interrupters

Of 28 combined children, 21 exist in both systems.

7 codes are CPC-only extensions.

Note: 7 CPC extensions are marked as secondary classification only.

12 shared codes have differing titles between IPC and CPC.

Child Classifications

Navigate with arrow keys, Enter to open

F16N 1/00 Constructional modifications of parts of machines or apparatus for the purpose of lubrication IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
F16N 11/00 Arrangements for supplying grease from a stationary reservoir or the equivalent in or on the machine or member to be lubricated; Grease cups IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
F16N 13/00 Lubricating-pumps (oil cans with pump F16N3/08; pumps for liquids in general F04) +2 CPC IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
F16N 15/00 Lubrication with substances other than oil or grease; Lubrication characterised by the use of particular lubricants in particular apparatus or conditions (F16N17/00 takes precedence; lubricating compositions, selection of particular substances as lubricants in general C10M) IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
F16N 17/00 Lubrication of machines or apparatus working under extreme conditions (additives to lubricating oil or lubricating grease C10M) IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
F16N 19/00 Lubricant containers for use in lubricators or lubrication systems +2 CPC IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
F16N 21/00 Conduits; Junctions (in general F16L); Fittings for lubrication apertures +1 CPC IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
F16N 2200/00 Condition of lubricant 2nd only +10 CPC CPC only CPC only
F16N 2210/00 Applications 2nd only +18 CPC CPC only CPC only
F16N 2230/00 Signal processing 2nd only +5 CPC CPC only CPC only
F16N 2250/00 Measuring 2nd only +12 CPC CPC only CPC only
F16N 2260/00 Fail safe 2nd only +7 CPC CPC only CPC only
F16N 2270/00 Controlling 2nd only +5 CPC CPC only CPC only
F16N 2280/00 Valves 2nd only +2 CPC CPC only CPC only
F16N 23/00 Special adaptations of check valves (check valves in general F16K) IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
F16N 25/00 Distributing equipment IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
F16N 27/00 Proportioning devices (liquid meters G01F) +1 CPC IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
F16N 29/00 Special means in lubricating arrangements or systems providing for the indication or detection of undesired conditions; Use of devices responsive to conditions in lubricating arrangements or systems IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
F16N 3/00 Devices for supplying lubricant by manual action (draining equipment for liquid containers B65D) IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
F16N 31/00 Means for collecting, retaining, or draining-off lubricant in or on machines or apparatus (oil separators for separating oil from exhaust steam F22G) +3 CPC IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC

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