E21C MINING OR QUARRYING
Introduced: September 1968
Classification Context
- Section:
- FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- Class:
- EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- Subclass:
- MINING OR QUARRYING
Description
E21C covers extraction methods and equipment for removing minerals, coal, ore, stone, and other solid materials from the earth through mining and quarrying operations. This subclass encompasses surface and underground extraction techniques, including opencast mining, underground mining systems, and quarrying methods for construction materials. Related specialized equipment such as mineral beneficiation, ore dressing, and sorting of extracted materials at the extraction site fall within this classification, while processing of minerals after extraction and beneficiation plant design are generally covered by other sections.
Related Keywords
14 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- E21C 25/00 Cutting machines, i.e. for making slits approximately parallel or perpendicular to the seam
- E21C 27/00 Machines which completely free the mineral from the seam
- E21C 29/00 Propulsion of machines for slitting or completely freeing the mineral from the seam
- E21C 31/00 Driving means incorporated in machines for slitting or completely freeing the mineral from the seam
- E21C 33/00 Trucks or other devices for transporting machines for slitting or completely freeing the mineral from the seam
- E21C 35/00 Details of, or accessories for, machines for slitting or completely freeing the mineral from the seam, not provided for in groups , or
- E21C 37/00 Other methods or devices for dislodging with or without loading
- E21C 39/00 Devices for testing the hardness or other properties of minerals, e.g. for giving information as to the selection of suitable mining tools
- E21C 41/00 Methods of underground or surface mining; Layouts therefor
- E21C 45/00 Methods of hydraulic mining; Hydraulic monitors
- E21C 47/00 Machines for obtaining, or the removal of, materials in open-pit mines
- E21C 49/00 Obtaining peat; Machines therefor
- E21C 50/00 Obtaining minerals from underwater, not otherwise provided for
- E21C 51/00 Apparatus for, or methods of, winning materials from extraterrestrial sources
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class E21, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES GROUP US 26,607
- PETROCHINA COMPANY 14,382
- SINOPEC (CHINA PETROCHEMICAL CORPORATION) 10,137
- CNPC (CHINA NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION) 6,517
- BAKER HUGHES US 6,269
- SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY US 5,929
- SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY SA 5,880
- SOUTHWEST PETROLEUM UNIVERSITY 4,477
- CHINA UNIVERSITY OF MINING AND TECHNOLOGY 4,357
- SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY NL 4,219