B61L GUIDING RAILWAY TRAFFIC; ENSURING THE SAFETY OF RAILWAY TRAFFIC
Introduced: September 1968
Classification Context
- Section:
- PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- Class:
- RAILWAYS
- Subclass:
- GUIDING RAILWAY TRAFFIC; ENSURING THE SAFETY OF RAILWAY TRAFFIC
Description
B61L covers railway traffic control systems, signaling mechanisms, and safety devices designed to guide train movements and prevent accidents. This includes automatic and manual signaling systems, interlocking apparatus, level crossing protection, train detection systems, and speed control devices. The classification encompasses both infrastructure-based control technologies and on-board safety equipment that collectively manage train routing, spacing, and operational safety on railway networks.
Filing statistics
IPC subclass B61L recorded 37,431 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 2,164 in 2013 to 4,116 in 2023 (+90%), peaking at 4,220 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
B61L ranks 2nd of 9 subclasses with filings in B61, with 37,431 applications between 2013 and 2023, 22.5% of the class. Annual filings grew 90% from 2013 to 2023, above 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 | 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 | 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
Additional Content
Glossary
scotch-block scotch-blocks a wedge to prevent the movement of an opening switch rail of a set of points or of stationary vehicles.
Limiting references
Railway vehicle brakes or other retarding apparatus Derailing or re-railing blocks on the track, and for railway stops, scotch-blocks, track brakes or retarders fixed to the permanent way Detectors indicating the overheating of railway vehicle axle bearings Rail, switch, point or crossing construction Rail joints Electrically insulated rail joints Cattle guards fixed to the permanent way
Related Keywords
16 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- B61L 1/00 Devices along the route controlled by interaction with the vehicle or train
- B61L 11/00 Operation of points from the vehicle or by the passage of the vehicle
- B61L 13/00 Operation of signals from the vehicle or by the passage of the vehicle
- B61L 15/00 Indicators provided on the vehicle or train for signalling purposes
- B61L 17/00 Switching systems for classification yards
- B61L 19/00 Arrangements for interlocking between points and signals by means of a single interlocking device
- B61L 21/00 Station blocking between signal boxes in one yard
- B61L 23/00 Control, warning or like safety means along the route or between vehicles or trains
- B61L 25/00 Recording or indicating positions or identities of vehicles or trains or setting of track apparatus
- B61L 27/00 Central railway traffic control systems; Trackside control; Communication systems specially adapted therefor
- B61L 29/00 Safety means for rail/road crossing traffic
- B61L 3/00 Devices along the route for controlling devices on the vehicle or train, e.g. to release brake or to operate a warning signal
- B61L 5/00 Local operating mechanisms for points or track-mounted scotch-blocks; Visible or audible signals; Local operating mechanisms for visible or audible signals
- B61L 7/00 Remote control of local operating means for points, signals, or track-mounted scotch-blocks
- B61L 9/00 Illumination specially adapted for points, form signals, or gates
- B61L 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
- 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