Steam traps or like apparatus for draining-off liquids from enclosures predominantly containing gases or vapours, e.g. gas lines, steam lines, containers

Introduced: September 1968

Last revised: January 2006

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:: STEAM TRAPS OR LIKE APPARATUS FOR DRAINING-OFF LIQUIDS FROM ENCLOSURES PREDOMINANTLY CONTAINING GASES OR VAPOURS

Filing statistics

IPC F16T 1/00 belongs to the parent subclass F16T, which recorded 3,463 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 206 in 2013 to 396 in 2023 (+92%), peaking at 450 applications in 2021. 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

6 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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F16T 1/02 with valves controlled thermally
F16T 1/12 with valves controlled by excess or release of pressure
F16T 1/2 with valves controlled by floats
F16T 1/34 without moving parts other than hand valves, e.g. labyrinth type
F16T 1/36 specially adapted for steam lines of low pressure
F16T 1/38 Component parts; Accessories

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