B61 RAILWAYS
Classification Context
- Section:
- PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- Class:
- RAILWAYS
Description
B61 encompasses the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of railway systems and infrastructure. This classification covers railway tracks, rail vehicles (locomotives, carriages, wagons), signalling and safety systems, coupling devices, and associated mechanical and electrical equipment for ground-based rail transport. It includes both conventional railways and specialized rail systems such as rack railways, funicular railways, and monorails, but excludes air-cushion vehicles and magnetic levitation systems which fall under separate transport classifications.
Filing statistics
IPC B61 recorded 166,154 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023, summed across its 9 subclasses. Annual filings grew from 9,726 in 2013 to 15,511 in 2023 (+59%), peaking at 20,329 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class B61 are SIEMENS MOBILITY (2,749 applications), CRRC QINGDAO SIFANG COMPANY (2,215 applications) and SIEMENS (1,941 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
Related Keywords
9 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- B61B RAILWAY SYSTEMS; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B61C LOCOMOTIVES; MOTOR RAILCARS
- B61D BODY DETAILS OR KINDS OF RAILWAY VEHICLES
- B61F RAIL VEHICLE SUSPENSIONS, e.g. UNDERFRAMES, BOGIES OR ARRANGEMENTS OF WHEEL AXLES; RAIL VEHICLES FOR USE ON TRACKS OF DIFFERENT WIDTH; PREVENTING DERAILING OF RAIL VEHICLES; WHEEL GUARDS, OBSTRUCTION REMOVERS OR THE LIKE FOR RAIL VEHICLES
- B61G COUPLINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR RAILWAY VEHICLES; DRAUGHT OR BUFFING APPLIANCES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR RAILWAY VEHICLES
- B61H BRAKES OR OTHER RETARDING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR RAIL VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR DISPOSITION THEREOF IN RAIL VEHICLES
- B61J SHIFTING OR SHUNTING OF RAIL VEHICLES
- B61K AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR RAILWAYS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B61L GUIDING RAILWAY TRAFFIC; ENSURING THE SAFETY OF RAILWAY TRAFFIC
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filings, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- SIEMENS MOBILITY DE 2,749
- CRRC QINGDAO SIFANG COMPANY 2,215
- SIEMENS DE 1,941
- ALSTOM TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGIES FR 1,514
- BYD COMPANY 1,371
- CRRC CHANGCHUN RAILWAY VEHICLES COMPANY 1,205
- CRRC ZHUZHOU LOCOMOTIVE COMPANY 1,165
- CRRC TANGSHAN COMPANY 1,119
- BOMBARDIER TRANSPORTATION DE 1,001
- SOUTHWEST JIAOTONG UNIVERSITY 958