B61C LOCOMOTIVES; MOTOR RAILCARS
Introduced: September 1968
Classification Context
- Section:
- PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- Class:
- RAILWAYS
- Subclass:
- LOCOMOTIVES; MOTOR RAILCARS
Description
B61C covers the design, construction, and mechanical systems of locomotives and self-propelled rail vehicles used for hauling trains. This includes steam locomotives, diesel locomotives, electric locomotives, and motor railcars—whether powered by internal combustion engines, electric motors, or other propulsion systems. The classification encompasses structural components, driving mechanisms, boiler systems, fuel systems, transmission systems, and auxiliary equipment integral to locomotive operation. Related track infrastructure and coupling systems are classified elsewhere in B61, as are signaling, braking control systems addressed as separate functional domains.
Filing statistics
IPC subclass B61C recorded 15,748 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 1,008 in 2013 to 1,373 in 2023 (+36%), peaking at 1,902 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
In class comparison
B61C ranks 5th of 9 subclasses with filings in B61, with 15,748 applications between 2013 and 2023, 9.5% of the class. Annual filings grew 36% from 2013 to 2023, below the class as a whole (+59%).
| Rank | Subclass | Title | Applications | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B61D, Body Details or Kinds of Railway Vehicles | Body Details or Kinds of Railway Vehicles | 44,184 | 26.6% |
| 2 | B61L, Guiding Railway Traffic; Ensuring the Safety of Railway Traffic | Guiding Railway Traffic; Ensuring the Safety of Railway Traffic | 37,431 | 22.5% |
| 3 | B61B, Railway Systems; Equipment Therefor Not Otherwise Provided for | Railway Systems; Equipment Therefor Not Otherwise Provided for | 19,400 | 11.7% |
| 4 | 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 | 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 | 17,602 | 10.6% |
| 5 | B61C | Locomotives; Motor Railcars | 15,748 | 9.5% |
| 6 | B61K, Auxiliary Equipment Specially Adapted for Railways, Not Otherwise Provided for | Auxiliary Equipment Specially Adapted for Railways, Not Otherwise Provided for | 15,143 | 9.1% |
| 7 | B61H, Brakes or Other Retarding Devices Specially Adapted for Rail Vehicles; Arrangement or Disposition Thereof in Rail Vehicles | Brakes or Other Retarding Devices Specially Adapted for Rail Vehicles; Arrangement or Disposition Thereof in Rail Vehicles | 8,841 | 5.3% |
| 8 | B61G, Couplings Specially Adapted for Railway Vehicles; Draught or Buffing Appliances Specially Adapted for Railway Vehicles | Couplings Specially Adapted for Railway Vehicles; Draught or Buffing Appliances Specially Adapted for Railway Vehicles | 6,602 | 4.0% |
| 9 | B61J, Shifting or Shunting of Rail Vehicles | Shifting or Shunting of Rail Vehicles | 1,203 | 0.7% |
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
Related Keywords
10 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- B61C 1/00 Steam locomotives or railcars
- B61C 11/00 Locomotives or motor railcars characterised by the type of means applying the tractive effort; Arrangement or disposition of running gear other than normal driving wheels
- B61C 13/00 Locomotives or motor railcars characterised by their application to special systems or purposes
- B61C 15/00 Maintaining or augmenting the starting or braking power by auxiliary devices and measures; Preventing wheel slippage; Controlling distribution of tractive effort between driving wheels
- B61C 17/00 Arrangement or disposition of parts; Details or accessories not otherwise provided for; Use of control gear and control systems
- B61C 3/00 Electric locomotives or railcars
- B61C 5/00 Locomotives or motor railcars with IC engines or gas turbines
- B61C 7/00 Other locomotives or motor railcars characterised by the type of motive power plant used; Locomotives or motor railcars with two or more different kinds or types of motive power
- B61C 8/00 Filling stations for steam- or pneumatic-accumulator locomotives or motor railcars
- B61C 9/00 Locomotives or motor railcars characterised by the type of transmission system used; Transmission systems specially adapted for locomotives or motor railcars
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class B61, 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