F02 COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
Classification Context
- Section:
- MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- Class:
- COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
Description
F02 covers internal combustion engines and external combustion systems that generate mechanical power from fuel combustion or hot gases. This includes reciprocating piston engines (spark-ignition and compression-ignition), rotary engines, gas turbines, and steam plants powered by combustion heat. The class encompasses engine design, fuel systems, ignition/injection mechanisms, cooling and lubrication systems, and exhaust treatment technologies, but excludes prime movers driven by non-combustion sources such as electric motors or hydraulic systems.
Filing statistics
IPC F02 recorded 468,876 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023, summed across its 9 subclasses. Annual filings declined from 48,783 in 2013 to 27,710 in 2023 (-43%), peaking at 51,460 applications in 2016. The most active applicants in class F02 are TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (8,687 applications), ROBERT BOSCH (8,328 applications) and FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES (7,423 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
Related Keywords
9 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- F02B INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL
- F02C GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS
- F02D CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES
- F02F CYLINDERS, PISTONS, OR CASINGS FOR COMBUSTION ENGINES; ARRANGEMENTS OF SEALINGS IN COMBUSTION ENGINES
- F02G HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT ENGINE PLANTS; USE OF WASTE HEAT OF COMBUSTION ENGINES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F02K JET-PROPULSION PLANTS
- F02M SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
- F02N STARTING OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; STARTING AIDS FOR SUCH ENGINES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F02P IGNITION, OTHER THAN COMPRESSION IGNITION, FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES; TESTING OF IGNITION TIMING IN COMPRESSION-IGNITION ENGINES
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filings, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION 8,687
- ROBERT BOSCH DE 8,328
- FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES US 7,423
- GE (GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY) US 5,732
- UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION (UTC) US 5,592
- HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY KR 4,699
- TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION JP 4,541
- DENSO CORPORATION 3,711
- WEICHAI POWER COMPANY 3,486
- SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES FR 3,249