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IPC Subclass
F23N

REGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION

Introduced: September 1968

Classification Context

Section:
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Class:
COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
Subclass:
REGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION

Description

F23N covers devices and methods for regulating and controlling combustion processes in furnaces, boilers, burners, and other combustion apparatus. The classification includes fuel supply control systems, air/oxygen supply regulation, flame monitoring and safety devices, and automatic control mechanisms that adjust combustion parameters to maintain stable operation. Typical applications encompass ignition control, fuel flow modulation, excess air management, and feedback systems for industrial heating equipment. This class excludes the combustion apparatus itself (covered in F23D, F23H) and specific fuel supply systems when not integrated with combustion control (covered in F23K).

Filing statistics

IPC subclass F23N recorded 15,400 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 1,304 in 2013 to 1,445 in 2023 (+11%), peaking at 1,624 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class F23 are GE (GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY) (2,124 applications), XIAN THERMAL POWER RESEARCH INSTITUTE COMPANY (1,369 applications) and NINGBO FOTILE KITCHENWARE COMPANY (1,363 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

In class comparison

F23N ranks 8th of 12 subclasses with filings in F23, with 15,400 applications between 2013 and 2023, 5.1% of the class. Annual filings grew 11% from 2013 to 2023, below the class as a whole (+76%).

Top 10 of 12 subclasses of class F23 by patent applications, 2013–2023
RankSubclassTitleApplicationsShare
1F23J, Removal or Treatment of Combustion Products or Combustion Residues; FluesRemoval or Treatment of Combustion Products or Combustion Residues; Flues62,84520.9%
2F23G, Cremation Furnaces; Consuming Waste or Low Grade Fuels by CombustionCremation Furnaces; Consuming Waste or Low Grade Fuels by Combustion62,60520.8%
3F23D, BurnersBurners48,00815.9%
4F23L, Supplying Air or Non-Combustible Liquids or Gases to Combustion Apparatus in General; Valves or Dampers Specially Adapted for Controlling Air Supply or Draught in Combustion Apparatus; Inducing Draught in Combustion Apparatus; Tops for Chimneys or Ventilating Shafts; Terminals for FluesSupplying Air or Non-Combustible Liquids or Gases to Combustion Apparatus in General; Valves or Dampers Specially Adapted for Controlling Air Supply or Draught in Combustion Apparatus; Inducing Draught in Combustion Apparatus; Tops for Chimneys or Ventilating Shafts; Terminals for Flues24,2798.1%
5F23C, Methods or Apparatus for Combustion Using Fluid Fuel or Solid Fuel Suspended in AirMethods or Apparatus for Combustion Using Fluid Fuel or Solid Fuel Suspended in Air19,3046.4%
6F23R, Generating Combustion Products of High Pressure or High Velocity, e.g. Gas-Turbine Combustion ChambersGenerating Combustion Products of High Pressure or High Velocity, e.g. Gas-Turbine Combustion Chambers17,4585.8%
7F23K, Feeding Fuel to Combustion ApparatusFeeding Fuel to Combustion Apparatus17,2285.7%
8F23NRegulating or Controlling Combustion15,4005.1%
9F23Q, Ignition; Extinguishing DevicesIgnition; Extinguishing Devices12,4424.1%
10F23B, Methods or Apparatus for Combustion Using Only Solid FuelMethods or Apparatus for Combustion Using Only Solid Fuel9,9433.3%

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

Related Keywords

regulating or controlling AIR supply in combustion in generalregulating or controlling COMBUSTION in generalregulating or controlling FUEL(S) supply in combustion in general

3 direct subcodes

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Top Applicants

Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class F23, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

  1. GE (GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY) US 2,124
  2. XIAN THERMAL POWER RESEARCH INSTITUTE COMPANY 1,369
  3. NINGBO FOTILE KITCHENWARE COMPANY 1,363
  4. SIEMENS DE 997
  5. UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION (UTC) US 937
  6. GE (GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY) 898
  7. VATTI 815
  8. CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 719
  9. RINNAI COMPANY 708
  10. MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS 670