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IPC Subclass
B61J

SHIFTING OR SHUNTING OF RAIL VEHICLES

Introduced: September 1968

Classification Context

Section:
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Class:
RAILWAYS
Subclass:
SHIFTING OR SHUNTING OF RAIL VEHICLES

Description

B61J covers apparatus and methods for shifting, moving, or shunting individual rail vehicles or trains within rail yards, depots, and sidings. This includes mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical systems for coupling, uncoupling, and repositioning rail cars, as well as specialized equipment such as retarders, buffers, and propulsion devices used in marshalling operations. The classification excludes general railway vehicle design (B61D) and track-switching mechanisms (B61L), focusing specifically on the equipment and techniques that facilitate the tactical movement of rolling stock.

Filing statistics

IPC subclass B61J recorded 1,203 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 103 in 2013 to 129 in 2023 (+25%), peaking at 146 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

B61J ranks 9th of 9 subclasses with filings in B61, with 1,203 applications between 2013 and 2023, 0.7% of the class. Annual filings grew 25% from 2013 to 2023, below the class as a whole (+59%).

Subclasses of class B61 by patent applications, 2013–2023
RankSubclassTitleApplicationsShare
1B61D, Body Details or Kinds of Railway VehiclesBody Details or Kinds of Railway Vehicles44,18426.6%
2B61L, Guiding Railway Traffic; Ensuring the Safety of Railway TrafficGuiding Railway Traffic; Ensuring the Safety of Railway Traffic37,43122.5%
3B61B, Railway Systems; Equipment Therefor Not Otherwise Provided forRailway Systems; Equipment Therefor Not Otherwise Provided for19,40011.7%
4B61F, 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 VehiclesRail 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 Vehicles17,60210.6%
5B61C, Locomotives; Motor RailcarsLocomotives; Motor Railcars15,7489.5%
6B61K, Auxiliary Equipment Specially Adapted for Railways, Not Otherwise Provided forAuxiliary Equipment Specially Adapted for Railways, Not Otherwise Provided for15,1439.1%
7B61H, Brakes or Other Retarding Devices Specially Adapted for Rail Vehicles; Arrangement or Disposition Thereof in Rail VehiclesBrakes or Other Retarding Devices Specially Adapted for Rail Vehicles; Arrangement or Disposition Thereof in Rail Vehicles8,8415.3%
8B61G, Couplings Specially Adapted for Railway Vehicles; Draught or Buffing Appliances Specially Adapted for Railway VehiclesCouplings Specially Adapted for Railway Vehicles; Draught or Buffing Appliances Specially Adapted for Railway Vehicles6,6024.0%
9B61JShifting or Shunting of Rail Vehicles1,2030.7%

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

Related Keywords

shifting or shunting of RAILWAY(S),RAILROAD(S) vehiclesSHIFTING of railway vehiclesSHUNTING of railway vehiclesshifting or shunting of railway VEHICLESshifting or shunting of railway WAGONS

3 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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  • B61J 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Top Applicants

Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class B61, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

  1. SIEMENS MOBILITY DE 2,749
  2. CRRC QINGDAO SIFANG COMPANY 2,215
  3. SIEMENS DE 1,941
  4. ALSTOM TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGIES FR 1,514
  5. BYD COMPANY 1,371
  6. CRRC CHANGCHUN RAILWAY VEHICLES COMPANY 1,205
  7. CRRC ZHUZHOU LOCOMOTIVE COMPANY 1,165
  8. CRRC TANGSHAN COMPANY 1,119
  9. BOMBARDIER TRANSPORTATION DE 1,001
  10. SOUTHWEST JIAOTONG UNIVERSITY 958