IPC Publication

Note(s)

• The following notes are meant to assist in the use of this part of the classification scheme; they must not be read as modifying in any way the elaborations.
  • In this sub-section, the separation of different materials, e.g. of different matter, size, or state, is predominantly found in the following subclasses:
    • B01D
    • B03B, B03C, B03D
    • B04B, B04C
    • B07B, B07C.
  • The classifying characteristics of these subclasses are:
    • the physical state of the matter to be separated;
    • the principle of the process used;
    • particular kinds of apparatus.

    The first of these characteristics involves six different aspects, assembled in three groups:

    • liquid/liquid or liquid/gas and gas/gas;
    • solid/liquid or solid/gas;
    • solid/solid.

  • These subclasses are to be used according to the following general rules:
    • B01D is the most general class as far as separation other than solids from solids is concerned.
    • Apparatus for separating solids from solids are covered by B03B when the process concerned is regarded as the equivalent of "washing" in the sense of the mining art, even if such apparatus is a pneumatic one, especially pneumatic tables or jigs. Screens per se are not covered by this subclass but are classified in B07B, even if they are being used in a wet process. All other apparatus for the separation of solids from solids according to dry methods are classified in B07B.
    • If the separation takes place as a result of the detection or measurement of some feature of the material or articles to be sorted it is classified in B07C.
    • It should also be noted that the separation of isotopes of the same chemical element is covered by B01D 59/00, whatever process or apparatus is employed.

Note(s) [2009.01]

• In this class, the following term is used with the meaning indicated:
  • "vehicle" means all vehicles except those restricted to one of the following types of vehicles: rail vehicles, waterborne vessels, aircraft, space vehicles, hand carts, cycles, animal-drawn vehicles, and sledges, which are covered by the relevant subclasses of B61-B64.
    • Thus the term "vehicle" includes:
      • vehicular characteristics which are common to more than one of the above-listed types;
      • certain characteristics restricted to automobiles, road or cross-country trailers.
      • The following exceptions to the above should be noted:
        • subclass B60B or B60C embrace all vehicle wheels and tyres, except wheels for roller skates A63C 17/22, wheels for model railway vehicles A63H 19/22, and special adaptations of wheels or tyres for aircraft B64C 25/36;
        • subclass B60C embraces the connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies in general, and in this respect it is not limited to vehicles;
        • subclass B60L embraces certain electric equipment of all electrically-propelled vehicles;
        • subclass B60M embraces certain power supply equipment for, but external to, any kind of electrically-propelled vehicle;
        • subclass B60R embraces safety belts or body harnesses used in all types of land vehicles;
        • subclass B60S relates to all kinds of vehicles, except the servicing of rail locomotives B61K 11/00, ground equipment for aircraft B64F, or cleaning apparatus peculiar to waterborne vessels B63B 57/00, B63B 59/00;
        • subclass B60T includes brake control systems of general applicability, and in this respect it is not limited to vehicles. It also includes rail-vehicle power-brake systems and some other features of rail-vehicle brake systems;
        • subclass B60V embraces air-cushion vehicles per se and land vehicles, waterborne vessels or aircraft combined with features allowing them to alternatively operate as air-cushion vehicles or to be partially supported by an air cushion.

Note(s)

• Attention is drawn to the Note following the title of class B60.