PISTONS; CYLINDERS; PRESSURE VESSELS IN GENERAL; SEALINGS

Introduced: September 1968

Classification Context

Section:: MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Class:: ENGINEERING ELEMENTS OR UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
Subclass:: PISTONS; CYLINDERS; PRESSURE VESSELS IN GENERAL; SEALINGS

Description

F16J covers pistons, cylinders, pressure vessels, and sealing systems that function as fundamental mechanical components across diverse industrial applications. This subclass includes piston designs and piston rings, cylinder construction and linings, general-purpose pressure vessels, and various sealing mechanisms (gaskets, packings, dynamic and static seals). The classification addresses the mechanical engineering aspects of these components, excluding their application in specific machinery types, which are classified in their respective technical fields.

Filing statistics

IPC subclass F16J recorded 111,978 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 7,715 in 2013 to 10,517 in 2023 (+36%), peaking at 14,669 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class F16 are SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES & COMPANY (21,545 applications), ZAHNRADFABRIK FRIEDRICHSHAFEN (9,446 applications) and TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (7,215 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

Related Keywords

BELLOWS in generalGASKETS[= stuffing-boxes]LABYRINTH(S) packingsealing- PACKING(S) in generalPISTON(S) in generalPISTON(S) peculiar to engines or pumpsPISTON(S) rings in general

8 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

Navigate with arrow keys, Enter to open

F16J 1/00 Pistons; Trunk pistons; Plungers
F16J 10/00 Engine or like cylinders; Features of hollow, e.g. cylindrical, bodies in general
F16J 12/00 Pressure vessels in general
F16J 13/00 Covers or similar closure members for pressure vessels in general
F16J 15/00 Sealings
F16J 3/00 Diaphragms; Bellows; Bellows pistons
F16J 7/00 Piston-rods, i.e. rods rigidly connected to the piston
F16J 9/00 Piston-rings, seats therefor; Ring sealings of similar construction in general

Top Applicants

Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class F16, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES & COMPANY DE 21,545
ZAHNRADFABRIK FRIEDRICHSHAFEN DE 9,446
TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION 7,215
HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY KR 6,846
ROBERT BOSCH DE 6,106
NTN CORPORATION 5,305
SKF SE 4,219
KIA MOTORS CORPORATION KR 3,852
NSK 3,850
HONDA MOTOR COMPANY 3,639