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IPC Subclass
F01C

ROTARY-PISTON OR OSCILLATING-PISTON MACHINES OR ENGINES

Introduced: September 1968

Classification Context

Section:
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Class:
MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
Subclass:
ROTARY-PISTON OR OSCILLATING-PISTON MACHINES OR ENGINES

Description

F01C encompasses rotary-piston and oscillating-piston machines that convert fluid pressure or thermal energy into mechanical motion through rotational or reciprocating movement of pistons around a central axis or pivot point. This subclass covers various positive-displacement pump and motor designs, including Wankel engines, rotating vane machines, radial and axial piston units, and swashplate mechanisms. It excludes reciprocating engines with linear piston motion (classified in F01B) and turbomachines (classified in F01D), but includes both compressors and expanders operating on these piston principles across hydraulic, pneumatic, and internal combustion applications.

Related Keywords

SCREW(S) motors actuated by fluids

11 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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  • F01C 11/00 Combinations of two or more machines or engines, each being of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston type
  • F01C 7/00 Rotary-piston machines or engines with fluid ring or the like
  • F01C 9/00 Oscillating-piston machines or engines

Top Applicants

Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class F01, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

  1. GE (GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY) US 8,496
  2. UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION (UTC) US 7,291
  3. SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES FR 5,503
  4. TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION 4,556
  5. SIEMENS DE 3,992
  6. HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY KR 3,929
  7. RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION US 3,534
  8. FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES US 3,407
  9. TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION JP 3,042
  10. WEICHAI POWER COMPANY 2,888