US PATENT CLASS 336
Class Notes
Current as of: June, 1999
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DEFINITION
Classification: 336/
This is the generic class for the structure of inductor devices of the passive type.
LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES
A. INDUCTOR DEVICES HAVING CAPACITANCE OR RESISTANCE:
1. With Capacitance:
As pointed out above, this class provides for inductor devices wherein the inherent capacitive reactance of the inductor does not resonate with the inductance of the inductor within the frequency range of the electric current adapted to flow therethrough. Where the inductance of the inductor resonates with its inherent capacitive reactance, the device is excluded from this class and will be found in Class 333, Wave Transmission Lines and Networks, subclasses 24+, as a coupling network, (e.g., filter, delay networks, equalizers, coupling transformers), or in Class 334, Tuners, appropriate subclasses as a tuner.
2. With Resistance:
This class provides for all inductor devices having appreciable inductive reactance regardless of the value of the inherent resistance of the device within the frequency range of the electric current adapted to flow therethrough. This class does not provide for resistors which may have an incidental or undesired inherent inductive reactance and which are designed to be used only as resistive impedances. For such excluded resistors, see Class 338, Electrical Resistors, especially subclasses 61+ for resistors with inductance reducing means.
3. Inductor Devices in Combination with Separate Capacitors or Resistors: This class does not provide for the combination of inductor devices and separate capacitors and/or resistors irrespective of whether such combined devices are in mere structural arrangement or in circuit arrangement with each other. For the excluded subject matter, see Class 361, Electricity: Electrical Systems and Devices, subclasses 268+, especially subclass 270 for the combination of a transformer and capacitor, subclasses 331+ for the structure of switchboards and analogous devices including the structural combination of plural diverse impedance elements, e.g., inductors and capacitors, inductors and resistors, capacitors and resistors or any combination of two or more of such elements for which provision has not been made elsewhere. See also the search notes below for other classes providing for inductor, inductor and capacitor or resistor combinations.
B. INDUCTOR DEVICE STRUCTUIRE CLASSIFIED ELSEWHERE:
1. Stationary Inductor Devices:
Inductor device coil and core structure will be found in Class 361, Electricity: Electrical Systems and Devices, subclasses 268+ for induction or spark coils with capacitors and/or circuit makers and breakers of the periodically operated type, subclasses 331+.
2. Transmission Line Sections with Distributed Parameters:
Transmission line sections where the line has distributed inductance and capacity with or without effective distributed resistance are classified in Class 333, Wave Transmission Lines and Networks, subclasses 219+ and 245+. Note that in subclasses 245+ are resonant long line sections (i.e., with distributed inductance and capacity) which are designed to be operated at other than resonant frequency for producing the effect of an inductance. For example, a short-circuited quarter-wave length line operated at less than resonant frequency or an open-circuited line greater than a quarter-wave length but less than a half wave length of wave energy acts as an inductance. Also note that subclasses 24+ of Class 333 contains some patents relating to adjustable inductor devices which have an appreciable inherent capacity.
3. Electromagnets with Armatures:
Electromagnets of the tractive type which include an armature for converting electrical energy into mechanical work through the agency of electromagnetic induction are classified in Class 335, Electricity: Magnetically Operated Switches, Magnets, and Electromagnets, subclasses 220+ for electromagnets with armatures. Note that also, Class 335, Electricity: Magnetically Operated Switches, Magnets, and Electromagnets, subclasses 2+ provides for electromagnetically actuated electric switches.
4. Loading Coils:
Class 178, Telegraphy, subclass 46, provides for inductor coil structure designed for use in long electric wave transmission lines to modify the electric wave propagation characteristics of the lines.
5. Telephone Inductor Coils: Class 379, Telephonic Communications, subclasses 443+ and the subclasses specified in the notes thereto provide for inductor coils combined with the structure of telephone instruments.
6. Loop Antennas:
Class 343, Communications: Radio Wave, subclasses 700+, and especially subclasses 726, 728, 741+, 748, 764, 788, 842, 855, and 866+, provides for the structure of inductor coil devices for radiating or intercepting radio wave energy in free space.
7. Dynamo Electric Machines:
Class 310, Electrical Generator or Motor Structure, appropriate subclasses for the structure of electric motors and generators including synchronous condensers, synchronous
motors, induction motors, dynamotors, rotary converters, metadynes, balancer sets and the like.
8. Electromagnetic Electro-acoustical Wave Transducers and Sound Pick-ups:
Devices which include an electromagnetic device for converting electrical energy to sound energy, or vice versa, or which are used in electrically recording and/or reproducing sound records or which are used to convert the vibrations of a musical instrument into modified electric currents, are classified as follows:
Music instrument transducers, Class 84, Music, subclasses 725 to 729.
Audible electrical signal producers such as bells, whistles, etc., Class 340, Communications: Electrical, subclasses 384+.
Magnetic recording or reproducing devices, Class 360, Dynamic Magnetic Information Storage or Retrieval, subclasses 110+.
Electro-mechanical sound recording and/or reproducing devices having a stylus for actuating, or actuated by, the electromagnetic device, Class 369, Dynamic Information Storage or Retrieval, subclasses 146+. Telephone transmitters and/or receivers, Class 379, Telephonic Communications, subclasses 102.07, 110.01, 112, and 114+.
9. Signal Transmitters Using Variable Inductor Devices:
For devices designed to be selectively actuated to transmit an undulating current for signaling purpose and which include means, such as a pendulum, reed, or similar vibrating member to vary the inductance of a variable inductor device, see References to Other Classes, below.
10. Goniometers:
For Gonionmeters see Class 343 in References to Other Class, below.
11. Inductor Devices with Rotatable Element Recited By Name Only in Combination with Positioning Means:
Class 74, subclasses 10+ and the subclasses specified in the notes thereto provides for the combination of a transformer or inductive reactor having an element (e.g., coil or core) designed to be angularly movable in combination with specific mechanical means for rotating a shaft for positioning the movable element, where no significant structure of the transformer or reactor other than that it has an angularly movable part is recited in the claim. Where the means for moving the shaft is not solely mechanical see the search
notes to subclass 10 of Class 74 for the other classes which provide for the combination. Where significant reactor or transformer structure is claimed, classification is in this class (336).
12. Inductor Devices or Systems Utilizing High Temperature Superconducting Material:
For Inductor Devices or Systems Utilizing High Temperature Superconducting Material, see Class 505 in References to Other Classes, below.
C. PATTERN CONTROLLED VARIABLE INDUCTOR DEVICES AND PATTERN TRACING DEVICES WHICH ACTUATE VARIABLE INDUCTOR DEVICES:
In many of the arts, especially in the machine tool arts, there are machines and apparatus designed to be controlled in accordance with a pattern. The control pattern may be facsimile of the article to be made or may be a code-type pattern or other type of record. Many of these apparatuses and machines disclose that the pattern actuates a variable inductor device to modify the electric current in the control system. A substantially complete listing of all the arts which involve pattern control may be found in the search notes to Class 178, Telegraphy, subclass 3. Also see this class definition with reference to variable inductor devices designed for use in reproducing sound records (e.g., phonograph pick-ups). See References to Other Classes, below, for classes and subclasses that are considered to be most likely to include pattern controlled variable inductors. D. VARIABLE INDUCTOR DEVICES OPERATED BY A CONDITION SENSITIVE MEANS:
This class provides for adjustable inductor devices where the movement of the inductance varying means is operated by a device which responds to a condition, such as pressure responsive inductor devices, temperature responsive inductor devices, etc., in subclasses 30+.
There are many classes which provide for such condition responsive devices in combination with the electrical system. See above for the classification of adjustable inductor devices which have their inductance varied in response to sound waves or which are designed for use in reproducing sound from a sound record, or which are designed to convert the vibrations of a musical instrument to modified electric current. Also see above for a reference to pattern controlled variable inductor devices.
For other classes which should be searched for condition responsive inductor device systems see References to Other Classes, below.
E. ELECTROMAGNETS AND PERMANENT MAGNETS:
Electromagnets and permanent magnets of general application and electromagnet coils and cores, per se, are classified in Class 335, Electricity: Magnetically Operated Switches, Magnets, and Electromagnets, subclasses 209+ for general application of magnets and electromagnets, electromagnetic coils and cores, per se, subclasses 285+ for lifting and holding electro and permanent magnets (e.g., magnetic chucks). See 414, Material or Article Handling, subclasses 606 and 737 for the provision of a load-engaging magnet on certain types of load raising or lowering devices, and Class 294, Handling: Hand and Hoist-Line Implements, subclass 65.5 for hand and hoist-line implements having a magnetic means for holding or attaching the material to be lifted to the lifting handle or hoist-line.
Electromagnetic devices for heating (e.g., by induction heating) are classified in Class 373, Industrial Electric Heating Furnaces, subclasses 138+ when combined with furnace structure, and Class 219, Electric Heating, subclasses 600+ for inductive heating, subclasses 678+ for microwave heating, and subclasses 764+ for capacitive dielectric heating.
Class 128, Surgery, subclasses 1.3+ provides for electromagnetic devices for surgical purposes, including magnetic probes and such magnetic devices as are designed to induce electric currents in the human body.
F. INDUCTOR DEVICE SYSTEMS:
1. Current, Voltage And/Or Phase Control Systems:
This class does not provide for systems which include an inductive regulator device as a part thereof. Class 323, Electricity: Power Supply or Regulation Systems, is the generic class for systems for controlling the voltage and/or current in the system and/or for systems for controlling the phase angle between the voltage or current in the system. See the search notes to the class definition of Class 323 for the other classes which provide for electrical regulating systems and for systems which include as a part thereof a regulating device. 2. Miscellaneous Transformer and Inductor Device Systems:
Class 323, Electricity: Power Supply or Regulation Systems, is the generic class for transformer and impedance systems. See subclass 355 and the subclasses specified in the notes thereto for the miscellaneous inductive reactor device systems.
3. Inductive Loaded Transmission Lines:
Class 178, Telegraphy, subclass 45 is the miscellaneous subclass for inductivity loaded transmission line systems of the type used signaling systems, and Class 379, Telephonic Communications, subclasses 414+ provide for inductively loaded telephone lines.
4. Inductively Coupled Signaling Systems:
For signaling systems provided with means for transmitting the signaling energy through space by electromagnetic induction (e.g., using transformer coils) see References to Other Classes, below.
5. Transmitting Power To Vehicles:
For transmitting power to vehicles, see References to Other Classes, below.
G. ANTI-INDUCTIVE DEVICES AND SYSTEMS:
For Anti-Inductive Devices and Systems, see References to Other Classes, below.
REFERENCES TO OTHER CLASSES
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS
72, Metal Deforming,
7, for a metal shaping machine controlled by a pattern-actuated senser means, and subclass 81 for a direct pattern controlled sheet metal spinning machine. (Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, C, Pattern Controlled Variable Inductor Devices and Pattern Tracing Devices Which Actuate Variable Inductor Devices, above.)
73, Measuring and Testing, appropriate subclasses, for miscellaneous apparatus and systems for making nonelectrical, nonchemical and nonoptical measurements and tests. In Class 73, the sensing or measuring means may actuate an electrical device, as a resistance or inductor device. In Class 73, the apparatus and systems are classified on the basis of the measurement or test made rather than upon the basis that electrical means are used. See
763+, for stress or strain measuring apparatus wherein the value of an electric current is modified (such as by varying an adjustable inductor), particularly subclass 779 for such apparatus with specified inductive sensor structure, subclass 301 for liquid level or depth gauges of the hydrostatic pressure type having an electrical means (such as a variable inductor) actuated by the pressure, subclass 308 for float type liquid level or depth gauges which actuate an electro-responsive device, subclass 313 for other type liquid level or depth gauges which actuate an electro responsive device, subclasses 722 and 728 for fluid pressure gauges which include pressure responsive means for actuating a variable inductor device. (See Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, D, Variable Inductor Devices Operated By a Condition Sensitive Means, above.)
74, Machine Element or Mechanism,
5.6, for gyroscopes with means (including electrical devices) controlled by the gyroscope for sensing the position of the gyroscope and/or its gimbals. (See Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, D, Variable Inductor Devices Operated By a Condition Sensitive Means, above.)
82, Turning,
11.1+, for pattern controlled turning apparatus (e.g., lathes). (Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, C, Pattern Controlled Variable Inductor Devices and Pattern Tracing Devices Which Actuate Variable Inductor Devices, above.) 83, Cutting,
71, for cutting machine control devices which are responsive to tape or card-carried indicia. (See Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, D, Variable Inductor Devices Operated By a Condition Sensitive Means, above.)
102, Ammunition and Explosives, appropriate subclasses for firing devices for explosive devices which are actuated by the effect of a magnetic field, see
390+, for marine type drop bombs with such ignition means, subclasses 416+ for marine mines with such firing devices, subclass 427 for other mines with such firing devices and subclasses 209 and 211 for the miscellaneous explosive devices with such firing devices. (See Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, D, Variable Inductor Devices Operated By a Condition Sensitive Means, above.)
118, Coating Apparatus,
211+, and 323 for pattern controlled coating apparatus. (Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, C, Pattern Controlled Variable Inductor Devices and Pattern Tracing Devices Which Actuate Variable Inductor Devices, above.)
142, Wood Turning, the subclasses indented under the title "copying" and
21, 22, 24, 27+, 30, 37, 38+, 41, and 43+ for pattern controlled wood-turning machines. (Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, C, Pattern Controlled Variable Inductor Devices and Pattern Tracing Devices Which Actuate Variable Inductor Devices, above.)
144, Woodworking,
144.1+, and 145.1+ for a pattern controlled wood working machine.
174, Electricity: Conductors and Insulators, 32+, for conductor systems having means for reducing or preventing the detrimental effects due to either the self inductance of a single conductor or mutual inductance between plural conductors. See the search notes to these subclasses for related fields of search.(Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, G, Anti-Inductive Devices and Systems)
178, Telegraphy,
69, for telegraph systems with means, such as an inductor device, to prevent or reduce inductive effects.(Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, G, Anti-Inductive Devices and Systems)
178, Telegraphy,
43, for telegraph systems. (See Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, Inductor Devices Systems, 4, above.)
178, Telegraphy,
47+, for such devices used in telegraph multiplex systems and for the multiplex systems. (See Lines With Other Classes, Signal Transmitters Using Variable Inductor Devices.)
191, Electricity: Transmission to Vehicles,
10, for induction systems for transmitting electric power to a vehicle. (See Lines With Other Classes, F, Inductor Device Systems, above.)
209, Classifying, Separating, and Assorting Solids,
212, and 213+ for apparatus for separating solid materials and assorting or segregating them according to their diamagnetic or magnetic properties, see subclass 212 for the apparatus designed to operate due to the diamagnetic properties and subclasses 213+ for the apparatus designed to operate due to the magnetic properties. (See Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, D, Variable Inductor Devices Operated By a Condition Sensitive Means, above.)
246, Railway Switches and Signals, 8, 63, 194, for railway switch and signal systems having inductive means for transmitting the signals to or from moving trains.(See Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, Inductor Devices Systems, 4, above.)
266, Metallurgical Apparatus,
58+, for pattern controlled metal cutting torches (e.g., oxy-acetylene torches). (Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, C, Pattern Controlled Variable Inductor Devices and Pattern Tracing Devices Which Actuate Variable Inductor
Devices, above.)
307, Electrical Transmission or Interconnection Systems,
89+, for systems having means for preventing induction or coupling with other electrical systems.(Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, G, Anti-Inductive Devices and Systems)
324, Electricity: Measuring and Testing,
1+, for electrically operated ore detectors (e.g., explosive mine detectors) which use an inductor device as the sensing means (e.g., the inductance is varied by the presence of a magnetic body), and subclasses 34+ and 59 for miscellaneous electrical testing apparatus using a variable inductor device as the sensing element (e.g., the material to be tested varies the inductance of the inductor device and magnetic field strength testing). (See Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, D, Variable Inductor Devices Operated By a Condition Sensitive Means, above.)
333, Wave Transmission Lines and Networks,
213+, for reactance networks, which may be inductive, of the active element type.
340, Communications: Electrical,
195+, for telemetering systems utilizing variable inductor devices (e.g., flux valve) as condition sensing or transmitter means, and subclasses 500+ for signaling systems (e.g., alarms) automatically responsive to a condition. (See Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, D, Variable Inductor Devices Operated By a Condition Sensitive Means, above.) 340, Communications: Electrical,
825, for selective signaling systems, some of which (note particularly Classes 825.70-825.78) may utilize variable inductor devices as transmitters, and subclasses 870.31+ for telemetering systems which utilize variable inductor devices. (See Lines With Other Classes, Signal Transmitters Using Variable Inductor Devices.)
343, Communications: Radio Wave Antennas,
431, and 441 for goniometer devices for use in direction finding radio systems. A goniometer is an inductor device with three windings, two of which are fixed, and one of which is movable, so that the two fixed coils may induce a current into the movable coil. See this Class, 336, subclasses 115+ for similar devices used as induction regulators. (See Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, Goniomters.)
374, Thermal Measuring and Testing,
184, for a thermometer having a reactive sensing element, and subclass 188 for thermometer with a mechanical sensor varying an electrical signal. (See Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, D, Variable Inductor Devices Operated By a Condition Sensitive Means, above.)
379, Telephonic Communications,
251+, and 352+ for such devices designed for use as calling devices for telephone systems. (See Lines With Other Classes, Signal Transmitters Using Variable Inductor Devices.)
379, Telephonic Communications,
55.1, for telephone systems.(See Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, Inductor Devices Systems, 4, above.)
379, Telephonic Communications, 398, and 415 for telephone systems having means, such as an inductor device, to prevent or reduce inductive effects.(Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, G, Anti-Inductive Devices and Systems)
409, Gear Cutting, Milling, or Planing,
2+, for a pattern controlled gear cutting machine; subclasses 79+ for a pattern controlled milling machine; subclasses 125+ for a templet or tracer adapted to be used with a milling machine; and subclasses 289+ for a pattern controlled planing machine. (Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, C, Pattern Controlled Variable Inductor Devices and Pattern Tracing Devices Which Actuate Variable Inductor Devices, above.)
428, Stock Material or Miscellaneous Articles,
544+, for stock materials, e.g., of indefinite length, which are all metal or have adjacent metal components, particularly subclasses 592 for stock material in the form of a helix or having a helical component.
446, Amusement Devices: Toys,
129+, for a toy which involves magnetic phenonmena in its operation.
451, Abrading,
237, for a pattern controlled, rotary type of abrading machine. (Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, C, Pattern Controlled Variable Inductor Devices and Pattern Tracing Devices Which Actuate Variable Inductor Devices, above.)
455, Telecommunications,
67.1+, for measuring a testing devices used for testing the operating conditions of the systems; and subclass 226 for measuring or testing devices for particular use with radio receivers. (See Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, D, Variable Inductor Devices Operated By a Condition Sensitive Means, above.) 505, Superconductor Technology: Apparatus, Material, Process,
150+, for devices or systems utilizing high temperature (Tc > 30 K) superconducting material, particularly subclasses 211+ for inductors using high temperature superconducting material.
600, Surgery,
407+, for electric diagnostic instruments for use with humans and which include an inductor device designed to have its inductance varied by a condition. (See Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, D, Variable Inductor Devices Operated By a Condition Sensitive Means, above.)
GLOSSARY:
ADJUSTABLE INDUCTOR
A passive inductor wherein the inductor device includes a movable element which may be adjusted to different positions or adjusted to vary its physical dimensions to change the effective inductance from one value to another.
Examples of such movable elements are: a tap changing switch, a distortable coil or core, coil length varying means, a movable core and movable coupled coils.
Inductor devices designed to change inductance (1) as a function of the current flowing through the inductor winding, or (2) in accordance with a magnetic bias applied to the core of the device, or (3) as a function of the ambient temperature of the device, and wherein no physical elements of the inductor are moved to effect such change in inductance, are not considered adjustable under the above definition. Such variable inductors will be found in subclasses 155+ of this class for magnetically saturable or high leakage reactance type devices and subclass 179 of this class for devices responsive to changes in ambient temperature.
CLOSED COIL
is a coil which is not designed to be connected to an external source or to a circuit, but which has the ends of the coil connected together so that a magnetic field can induce current therein which current flows in the closed path
formed by the closed coil and generates a magnetic field in opposition to the current inducing field. COIL
A conductor which creates a magnetic field due to the flow of current therein. It may be formed into one or more convolutions or turns, or have only a partial turn, or be straight.
COIL AXIS
That path along which a unit magnetic pole would experience a maximum force when a current is caused to flow in the coil conductor. For example, in a long, uniform, single layer cylindrical coil, the coil axis corresponds to the geometrical axis of the coil.
CONDUCTOR
A body designed to have an electric current flowing therein. For the purpose of classification, a magnetic core is distinguished from a conductor. A conductor is designed to be connected to a source of electromotive force, or to have induced therein a voltage by inductive coupling from a current carrying conductor. A conductor, when used as a coil, and connected either directly or by mutual inductance to a source of electromotive force, creates a magnetic field due to the flow of current in the conductor. See the definition of core.
CORE
A magnetic or magnetizable body having a magnetic permeability greater than one. The proximate purpose of a core is to increase the inductance of an associated coil by increasing the number of magnetic flux interlinkages of the coil. Although the material of the core is electrically conductive such electrical conductivity is usually minimized by using magnetic material of high resistivity in the form of bundles of fine wires, stacks of thin laminations insulated from each other or a suspension of iron powder in an electrically insulating binder.
INDUCTIVE COUPLING
The coupling between separate coils or windings due to the electromagnetic induction between the coils or windings.
INDUCTOR
An impedance device comprising a coil means with or without core means for introducing inductance into an electric circuit and wherein the inherent capacitive reactance thereof does not resonate with the inductance of the coil within the frequency range of the electric current adapted to flow therethrough. Both transformers and inductive reactors are included within the meaning of "inductor". Excluded are inductor devices that are designed to do more than introduce inductance into a circuit. Examples are: inductor devices particularly designed to produce a magnetic field which radiates energy which is not returned to the device, or devices designed to produce external mechanical work by electromagnetic action.
MAGNETIC BODY
Same as "CORE" above.
PASSIVE INDUCTOR
An inductor device which contains no source or sink of energy (i.e., an active element). A "sink of energy" as used in this definition is an element or network which is designed to absorb energy, by converting electrical energy into another form of energy. Excluded, therefore, are variable or adjustable inductance devices in which the change in inductance is effected, at least in part, by an active element such as, by way of example, continuously rotating machinery (i.e., synchronous or asynchronous phase modifier or phase advancer machines) or reactance tube systems having space discharge devices with electrode biasing potential sources.
TRANSFORMER
An inductor having a plurality of coils or windings in mutually inductive relation.
WINDING
A coil or plurality of coils which are interconnected, or designed to be interconnected, having terminal means adapted to be connected to an external source of current, to an output or load circuit, or to some other circuit.