cpc field-specific training - e-learning · the field covers apparatus and processes in general,...

CPC field-specific training

B01J3-B01J19 "Reactors"

Philippe Thomasson June 2018Examiner, European Patent Office

European Patent Office 2

Table of contents

▪ Our team

▪ Introduction to the field

− neighbouring fields

− main areas of B01J3-B01J19

− fields not covered

▪ Additional codes

▪ Specific aspects of B01J3-

B01J19

▪ Examples


Our team

▪ About me

− working in B01J3-B01J19 since 2001

− Classification Quality Nominee for B01J3-B01J19

▪ Four other EPO classifiers work in B01J3-B01J19


Table of contents

▪ Our team







B01J19

▪ Examples


Introduction to the field

Chemical or physical processes; their relevant apparatus.

The field covers apparatus and processes in general, mainly those

used in the chemical industry.

Any apparatus or process which is used in a very specific technical

field should not be classified in B01J3-B01J19 but in the appropriate

specific class (e. g. distillation: B01D).



Neighbouring fields

Polymerisation

documents relating to this subject area should be classified in B01J3-

B01J19 if the apparatus used for polymerisation is disclosed in details.

The process should be classified in the polymerisation classes (e. g.

C08G)

Reforming

documents relating to this subject area should be classified in B01J3-

B01J19 if the apparatus used for reforming is disclosed in details. The

process should be classified in the reforming classes (e. g. C01B)

Water treatment (C02F)

if the claims of a patent document classified in C02F do not specify

which kind of fluid is treated, the document should be classified in

B01J3-B01J12, B01J14-B01J19, especially with respect to apparatus

features (UV radiation means, baffles ...).


Table of contents

▪ Our team







B01J19

▪ Examples



Main areas of B01J3 – B01J19

B01J8

with solid particles

B01J19

without solid particles



B01J8 (1)

The condition for classifying a document in B01J8 is that solid particles,

especially catalytic particles, should be always present, at the

beginning of the reaction. If a process leads to the formation of some

solid particles (e. g. polymerisation process), and no solid particles were

present at the beginning of the process, the document should not be

classified in B01J8.

Furthermore the feature "solid particles" does not apply only to small

(catalytic or non-catalytic) particles, but also to random packing

elements (e. g. Raschig rings). Random packings as such should be

classified in B01J19/30 and additionally in B01J8 if an apparatus which

contains these random packings is disclosed.



B01J8 (2)

B01J8/02 or

B01J8/04

B01J8/18

B01J8/24

Fixed-bed

Fluidised particles

Fluidised-bed



Fluidised particles: B01J8/18



Fluidised-bed: B01J8/24



B01J8/002: feeding of the particles in the reactor

with a moving instrument



B01J8/0045: feeding of the particles in the reactor

by means of a rotary device in the flow channel



B01J19 (1)

The most important aspect of B01J19 is the fact, that it covers

general chemical and/or physical processes or apparatus,

used in chemistry and/or physico-chemistry.



B01J19 (2)

Devices for specific applications are normally (unless some

agreements are provided between technical fields) to be classified in

these more specific application fields, especially where these fields

foresee classes for devices (for example devices for combustion,

pyrolysis, gasification, manufacturing of semi-conductors etc.).

Consequently processes or apparatus for specific applications should

be at a first stage classified in the relevant specific classes for these

processes or apparatus. If specific aspects of these processes or

apparatus could be generalised and could then be of interest for search

purposes, B01J classes can also be used at a second stage.



B01J19 (3)

B01J19/18

B01J19/24

B01J19/0093

Reactor with moving parts

Reactor without moving parts

Micro-reactors

B01J19/249

B01J19/30 & /32

Plate-type reactors

Packing elements


Table of contents

▪ Our team







B01J19

▪ Examples

European Patent Office


Fields not covered (1)

B01L

G01N

C23C

Laboratory equipment

Analysing devices

CVD processes

H01L

B01L

Surface treatment of semi-conductors

Lab-on-a-chip

B01J19/0046

C12M

Combinatorial chemistry

Bioreactors



Fields not covered (2)

Furthermore B01J3-B01J19 does not cover technical fields which

relate to physical processes without any chemical aspect (for

example separation processes like filtration, surface treatment of solids,

mixing ...).

For example:

F28D9, F28F3Heat exchange

F26B

B01F3-B01F15

Drying solids

Mixing


Table of contents

▪ Our team







B01J19

▪ Examples


Additional codes (1)

Used for providing additional information:


Table of contents

▪ Our team







B01J19

▪ Examples


Specific aspects of B01J3 – B01J19

B01J3: high-pressure processes

This class does not cover:

▪ Apparatus for compacting or sintering of metal powders (B22F3/00).

▪ Pressure vessels for containing or storing compressed, liquefied or

solidified gases (F17C1).

▪ Pressure vessels for nuclear reactors (G21C).

▪ Pressure vessels or autoclaves for laboratory purposes (B01L).

▪ Pressure vessels or autoclaves for sterilisation (A61K).

▪ Making single crystals (C30B).

▪ Coating metallic material (C23C).



B01J4: feed or outlet devices

This class does not cover:

▪ Feed or outlet devices for pressure vessels (B01J3/02); feeding of

particles into and evacuation of particles out of the reactor

(B01J8/0015).

▪ This group covers the feeding devices of the reactors which are

classified in B01J19/00 and subgroups. A feeding device for feeding

reactive fluids in a reactor classified in B01J8/00 and subgroups

should not be classified under B01J4/00 but only under B01J8/00.

▪ If the feeding device comprises a nozzle element, it should be

classified in B01J4/002. B01J19/26 should be used if the reaction

takes place in the nozzle device (the nozzle device is not only used

for feeding purposes but also for reacting purposes).



▪ B01J6/00 and subgroups:

Heat treatments such as calcining or fusing

This class does not cover: pyrolysis (C10B53, C10J3, C10G1);

furnaces (F27D).

▪ B01J7/00:

Apparatus for generating gases

For generating gases in air bags on vehicles: B60R21.



B01J7/00: are the therapeutics gases such as oxygen, nitric oxide,

nitrous oxide classified in B01J19/14?

The answer is NO; for such specific gases, B01J19/14 is not used but

the corresponding CPC-symbol (e. g. C01B ...), which relates to this

specific gas, should be used.



B01J10, 12, 14, 15, 16:

L/G, G/G, L/L processes with/without

catalytically active bodies (porous plates)

If a document discloses a process which should be classified under one

of B01J10, B01J12, B01J14, B01J15 and B01J16, the apparatus used

in this process, if disclosed in detail, should also be classified in the

B01J19.



B01J19/00: What is the distinction between B01J19/00 and filters,

membranes covered in B01D/C02F for water purification?

Membranes and filters as such should be classified in the specific

place of the CPC-Scheme (e. g. B01D, C02F) corresponding to these

devices.

If a membrane or a filter is used within a chemical reactor,

it should also be classified in B01J19 (e. g. B01J19/2475: membrane

reactors).



▪ Micro reactors should be only classified in B01J19/0093;

no mixing between B01J19/0093 and other B01J3-B01J19 classes

should take place.

▪ The same principle applies for processes employing electric

or wave energy, or particle radiation: only B01J19/08,

or the corresponding sub-classes, should be used.


Table of contents

▪ Our team







B01J19

▪ Examples


Examples

B01J3/04 or A61L2/07: Autoclave for chemical

processes or for Sterilisation?

An improved mobile apparatus for sterilising surgical trays serves as a

self-contained autoclave, allowing sterilisation of the interior of the

apparatus and its contents. A method of sterilisation using the apparatus

is presented as well.

By means of a dedicated transfer and storage system, the apparatus,

integrable with respect to a transfer cart and a lift device, may be moved

easily between a location of sterilisation, a storage area, and an

operating room, and more than one such apparatus may be stacked

vertically for storage to enhance storage efficiency.


Examples

B01J8/02 or B01J19/249: Fixed-bed with

heat-exchange means or plate-type reactor?


Examples

B01J8/24 or C10G11/18: Fluidised-bed or

Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC)?

▪ PROCESS FOR CRACKING HYDROCARBONS WITH RECYCLED

CATALYST

▪ PROCÉDÉ DE CRAQUAGE D'HYDROCARBURES À L'AIDE D'UN

CATALYSEUR RECYCLÉ

▪ A process and apparatus is for recycling LCO and/or HCO to an FCC

unit to recover additional distillate. Spent catalyst recycle in the FCC

unit may be used to improve distillate yield. A hydroprocessing zone

may saturate cycle oil aromatics for cracking in an FCC unit. The

recycle cracked stream may be recycled to a downstream

hydroprocessing zone to avoid a first hydroprocessing zone for

hydrotreating feed to the FCC unit. Additional recovery of cycle oil for

recycle is obtained by heating slurry oil prior to vacuum separation.


Examples

B01J19/18 or B01L: reactor with moving means

or laboratory apparatus?


For more detailed information:

CPC definitions

http://www.cpcinfo.org/


Thank you for your attention!

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