MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE

Introduced: September 1968

Last revised: January 1985

Classification Context

Section:: PHYSICS
Class:: MEASURING; TESTING
Subclass:: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE

Description

G01L covers instruments and methods for quantifying mechanical forces, stresses, torques, and related quantities in physical systems. This subclass encompasses load cells, pressure transducers, dynamometers, strain gauges, and force sensors used across industrial, scientific, and engineering applications. The classification includes devices for measuring static and dynamic mechanical parameters, as well as those determining mechanical work, power output, and efficiency in mechanical systems. Related pressure measurement technologies, particularly for fluids, fall within this scope, while purely electrical power measurement is excluded.

Filing statistics

IPC subclass G01L recorded 145,069 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 8,073 in 2013 to 16,364 in 2023 (+103%), peaking at 17,249 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class G01 are SGCC(STATE GRID CORPORATION OF CHINA) (41,447 applications), CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (32,952 applications) and ROBERT BOSCH (16,470 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

In class comparison

G01L ranks 9th of 18 subclasses with filings in G01, with 145,069 applications between 2013 and 2023, 3.1% of the class. Annual filings grew 103% from 2013 to 2023, below the class as a whole (+138%).

Top 10 of 18 subclasses of class G01 by patent applications, 2013–2023
Rank	Subclass	Title	Applications	Share
1	G01N, Investigating or Analysing Materials by Determining Their Chemical or Physical Properties	Investigating or Analysing Materials by Determining Their Chemical or Physical Properties	1,640,918	34.9%
2	G01R, Measuring Electric Variables; Measuring Magnetic Variables	Measuring Electric Variables; Measuring Magnetic Variables	598,083	12.7%
3	G01B, Measuring Length, Thickness or Similar Linear Dimensions; Measuring Angles; Measuring Areas; Measuring Irregularities of Surfaces or Contours	Measuring Length, Thickness or Similar Linear Dimensions; Measuring Angles; Measuring Areas; Measuring Irregularities of Surfaces or Contours	395,662	8.4%
4	G01S, Radio Direction-Finding; Radio Navigation; Determining Distance or Velocity by Use of Radio Waves; Locating or Presence-Detecting by Use of the Reflection or Reradiation of Radio Waves; Analogous Arrangements Using Other Waves	Radio Direction-Finding; Radio Navigation; Determining Distance or Velocity by Use of Radio Waves; Locating or Presence-Detecting by Use of the Reflection or Reradiation of Radio Waves; Analogous Arrangements Using Other Waves	358,214	7.6%
5	G01M, Testing Static or Dynamic Balance of Machines or Structures; Testing of Structures or Apparatus, Not Otherwise Provided for	Testing Static or Dynamic Balance of Machines or Structures; Testing of Structures or Apparatus, Not Otherwise Provided for	339,843	7.2%
6	G01C, Measuring Distances, Levels or Bearings; Surveying; Navigation; Gyroscopic Instruments; Photogrammetry or Videogrammetry	Measuring Distances, Levels or Bearings; Surveying; Navigation; Gyroscopic Instruments; Photogrammetry or Videogrammetry	271,474	5.8%
7	G01D, Measuring Not Specially Adapted for a Specific Variable; Arrangements for Measuring Two or More Variables Not Covered by a Single Other Subclass; Tariff Metering Apparatus; Transferring or Transducing Arrangements Not Specially Adapted for a Specific Variable; Measuring or Testing Not Otherwise Provided for	Measuring Not Specially Adapted for a Specific Variable; Arrangements for Measuring Two or More Variables Not Covered by a Single Other Subclass; Tariff Metering Apparatus; Transferring or Transducing Arrangements Not Specially Adapted for a Specific Variable; Measuring or Testing Not Otherwise Provided for	207,395	4.4%
8	G01F, Measuring Volume, Volume Flow, Mass Flow, or Liquid Level; Metering by Volume	Measuring Volume, Volume Flow, Mass Flow, or Liquid Level; Metering by Volume	157,084	3.3%
9	G01L	Measuring Force, Stress, Torque, Work, Mechanical Power, Mechanical Efficiency, or Fluid Pressure	145,069	3.1%
10	G01K, Measuring Temperature; Measuring Quantity of Heat; Thermally-Sensitive Elements Not Otherwise Provided for	Measuring Temperature; Measuring Quantity of Heat; Thermally-Sensitive Elements Not Otherwise Provided for	118,108	2.5%

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

Additional Content

Limiting references

Weighing

Application references

Measuring blood pressure for diagnostic purposes Measuring fluid pressure within the human body other than blood pressure for diagnostic purposes Measuring muscular strength or the force of a muscular blow for diagnostic purposes Measuring tension, compression or roll-force specially adapted for metal-rolling mills , Devices for measuring, signalling, controlling, or distributing tyre pressure specially adapted for being mounted on vehicles Applications of tensometers to sewing machine elements Measuring pressure in boreholes or wells Levelling between separate points or surveyors' levels by using barometric means Measuring volume flow, mass flow or volume of fluid by measuring pressure or differential pressure , , Measuring or indicating level of liquid or fluent material by measurement of pressure Weighing apparatus wherein the balancing is effected by fluid action, with means for measuring the pressure imposed by the load on a liquid Testing of engines by monitoring pressure in cylinders or fluid ducts Meteorology Converting a pattern of forces into electrical signals

Related Keywords

ANEMOMETERSBAROMETERSelectro-kinetic CELLS for measuring pressure or forcemeasuring CENTRIFUGAL forcemeasuring mechanical EFFICIENCYmeasuring mechanical ENERGYmeasuring power, torque or efficiency of ENGINE(S)measuring FLUID(S) pressuremeasuring FORCEGAUGE(S) for measuring pressuremeasuring HORSE-POWERMANOMETERSmeasuring efficiency, power or torque of MOTOR(S)measuring mechanical POWERmeasuring PRESSUREPRESSURE -sensitive membersmeasuring muscular STRENGTHmeasuring TENSIONmeasuring THRUSTmeasuring TORQUEmeasuring WORK done

14 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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G01L 1/00 Measuring force or stress, in general
G01L 11/00 Measuring steady or quasi-steady pressure of a fluid or a fluent solid material by means not provided for in group or
G01L 13/00 Devices or apparatus for measuring differences of two or more fluid pressure values
G01L 15/00 Devices or apparatus for measuring two or more fluid pressure values simultaneously
G01L 17/00 Devices or apparatus for measuring tyre pressure or the pressure in other inflated bodies
G01L 19/00 Details of, or accessories for, apparatus for measuring steady or quasi-steady pressure of a fluent medium insofar as such details or accessories are not special to particular types of pressure gauges
G01L 21/00 Vacuum gauges
G01L 23/00 Devices or apparatus for measuring or indicating or recording rapid changes, such as oscillations, in the pressure of steam, gas, or liquid; Indicators for determining work or energy of steam, internal-combustion, or other fluid-pressure engines from the condition of the working fluid
G01L 25/00 Testing or calibrating of apparatus for measuring force, torque, work, mechanical power, or mechanical efficiency
G01L 27/00 Testing or calibrating of apparatus for measuring fluid pressure
G01L 3/00 Measuring torque, work, mechanical power, or mechanical efficiency, in general
G01L 5/00 Apparatus for, or methods of, measuring force, work, mechanical power, or torque, specially adapted for specific purposes
G01L 7/00 Measuring the steady or quasi-steady pressure of a fluid or a fluent solid material by mechanical or fluid pressure-sensitive elements
G01L 9/00 Measuring steady or quasi-steady pressure of a fluid or a fluent solid material by electric or magnetic pressure-sensitive elements; Transmitting or indicating the displacement of mechanical pressure-sensitive elements, used to measure the steady or quasi-steady pressure of a fluid or fluent solid material, by electric or magnetic means

Top Applicants

Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class G01, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

SGCC(STATE GRID CORPORATION OF CHINA) 41,447
CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 32,952
ROBERT BOSCH DE 16,470
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS COMPANY KR 10,052
SINOPEC (CHINA PETROCHEMICAL CORPORATION) 9,573
ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY 9,529
GUANGDONG POWER GRID CORPORATION 8,615
TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY 7,805
HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES GROUP US 7,796
QUALCOMM US 7,171