US PATENT CLASS 431
Class Notes
Current as of: June, 1999
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DEFINITION
Classification: 431/
This is the residual class for processes of combustion or combustion starting, and for apparatus peculiarly adapted to burn or ignite materials.
NOTES TO THE CLASS DEFINITION
(1) Note. A fuel discharge nozzle is a subcombination of basic subject matter of this class if it is specialized for use in combustion solely (1) by discrete means transmitting flame between distinct fuel discharge areas; (2) by flashback preventing or controlling structure (3) by an incandescing component; (4) by means maintaining a reigniting flame; or (5) by flame enclosing, protecting or stabilizing structure.
(2) Note. Patents issued prior to 1940 have not in all instances been classified by their claimed disclosure so the placement of these patents does not necessarily indicate lines of classification.
LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES
See References To Other Classes, below, for information about lines with other classes.
REFERENCES TO OTHER CLASSES
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS 44, Fuel and Related Compositions,
507+, for a match structure; subclass 643 for a residual match striking surface, per se; subclasses 530+ for fuel product of defined shape or structure; and subclasses 542+ for fuel products coated or impregnated for easier ignition.
48, Gas: Heating and Illuminating, appropriate subclass, for an apparatus or process for the manufacture, purification, mixing, distribution or storage of heating or illuminating gas without combustion thereof. Also, when a portion of the generated gas is burned to generate the gas and another portion of the generated gas is purified, fixed or stored, classification is in Class 48.
60, Power Plants,
39.01+, for a combustion product generator, per se, or subcombination thereof peculiarly adapted for power generation, or solely disclosed for such purpose; and appropriate subclasses for a residual device producing mechanical power or thrust from fuel.
102, Ammunition and Explosives,
283+, for a shaped thermic or explosive charge; subclasses 335+ for a device other than a photos:graphic flash device burning a packaged charge containing both fuel and oxidizer for display, amusement flashlight or signal purposes, e.g., flare, etc.; subclasses 335+ for an explosive or thermic charge within a casing; and subclasses 464+ for a fuse, primer or igniter for igniting a thermic or explosive charge. See (1) Note of the class definition of Class 102 for a statement of the types of material used in the devices of this class.
110, Furnaces, appropriate subclass for process of burning solid fuel even though the solid fuel be combined with a gas or liquid fuel, the line between Classes 110 and 431 relative to combustion apparatus is: Class 110 takes solid fuel burners that have a feature specialized to the burning of such fuel, e.g., a grate, solid fuel preparer or treater other than a mere preheater, a slag or ash remover, a mechanical feeder such as a conveyor, etc. Class 431 takes gaseous and liquid fuel combustion apparatus and burners utilizing a finely divided fuel dispersed in air in which the mixture merely acts as a fluid fuel stream, even though it is defined by terms such as solid fuel burner, fuel suspension burner, etc. Class 431 also takes candles, jelled fuel burners, magnesium strip burners and illuminating flash devices of the combustion type. Combustion apparatus for or a method of burning liquid waste material, however, is proper in Class 110. Also, search Class 110 for the following
furnace elements, subcombinations or appurtenances:
119+, for spark arrestors; subclasses 145+ for spark and smoke conductors; subclasses 147+ for draft regulators for a furnace; subclasses 165+ for an ash receiving or handling device; subclass 172 for a furnace front; subclasses 173+ for a door specialized for use in a furnace; subclass 181 for a casing or arch specialized for use in a furnace door; subclasses 182.5+ for a conduit specialized to feeding air to a furnace; subclass 184 for a metal smoke stack specialized for use with a locomotive or portable boiler.
122, Liquid Heaters and Vaporizers, appropriate subclasses for a heat generator, (e.g., fuel burner, etc.) specifically related to a closed holder of liquid to be heated, or combined with a specific closed liquid holder. However, when the liquid heated is fed to the burner head of a burner assembly and the closed chamber or conduit is merely an element of the burner assembly, classification is in Class 431.
123, Internal-Combustion Engines, appropriate subclass for a device specialized to the production of power in which fuel is burned in an expansible chamber. 126, Stoves and Furnaces, for the apparatus for the application of heat, and for the stove and furnace elements specifically provided for in the various subclasses; see particularly
144+, for a firepot or lining, subclasses 285+ for a damper, and subclasses 307+ for a stove pipe.
136, Batteries: Thermoelectric and Photoelectric,
217+, for a residual thermoelectric generator heated by a pilot burner.
137, Fluid Handling, appropriate subclass for a residual fluid handling or feeding invention of general utility. The recitation that a fuel is handled or that the invention comprises a burner does not bar classification in Class 137 where no particulars of a flame holding element nor significant relationship of a flame holder and fuel handler based upon the combustibility of the fuel fed to the flame holder is involved.
149, Explosive and Thermic Compositions or Charges, appropriate subclass for an explosive or thermic composition, or charge, e.g., match composition, etc.
206, Special Receptacle or Package,
85+, for a tobacco container with an igniter for said content and subclasses 96+ for a match packet, container or holder.
219, Electric Heating,
260+, for an incandescent type of electrically operated igniter, per se.
221, Article Dispensing, 136+, for an article dispenser combined with an ignition means.
236, Automatic Temperature and Humidity Regulation, appropriate subclass for a control system regulating the temperature of a chamber or material where no more of the structure of the means supplying or removing heat is included than is necessary to bring out its relationship to the control system. It is noted that for Class 236 an igniter, flame sensor or pilot burner is a part of the control structure rather than of the controlled temperature modifying burner. It is also noted that a residual apparatus specialized to combustion and having either a broad or specific burner is classified in Class 431 where the operation of the temperature modifying burner is simply initiated or terminated by a broad "off and on" thermostat sensing and responding to the temperature of the chamber or material heated by the burner.
239, Fluid Sprinkling, Spraying, and Diffusing, appropriate subclass for subject matter relating to the emission from a fluid handling system in modified flow, of fluid or slurry, and for the emitter member, per se. An indication that a fuel is handled or that the emitted material is burned (e.g., named welding torch, etc.) does not bar classification in Class 239 in the absence of a feature or structure dependent upon the combustion or combustibility of the fuel specializing the invention to combustion.
The structure listed in Notes to the Class Definition (1) Note above and the following features or elements are among those that distinguish a specialized fuel discharger classifiable in Class 431 from a Class 239 structure: (1) A device for starting combustion at the discharger such as a pilot or igniter even nominally recited. (2) A sensor of combustion heat in, or burner flame at the discharger, controlling feed to the discharger.
313, Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices, appropriate subclass for an air gap discharge device (e.g., spark plug etc.), per se.
361, Electricity: Electrical Systems and Devices,
247+, for a residual electrical igniting system.
362, Illumination, appropriate subclasses for an illumination device comprising a light source, e.g., a burner etc., combined (1) with a device that encloses the light source and transmits the light therefrom or (2) with a light distributor. However, patents issued prior to 1940, having a
conventionally shown light transmitting or distributing device and specific burner structure have been placed in the appropriate burner subclass in Class 431.
417, Pumps,
73+, for a pumping system operated by combustion displacement of the liquid and appropriate subclass for a pumping system that may handle fuel where combustion of the material handled is not involved.
422, Chemical Apparatus and Process Disinfecting, Deodorizing, Preserving, or Sterilizing, appropriate subclasses for apparatus for generating a treating agent by burning a combustible material, a combustion or reaction device for purifying a gas, or with means for recovering, mixing, separating, or otherwise handling as a product material formed in the device or residual chemical apparatus. 423, Chemistry of Inorganic Compounds, appropriate subclass, for inorganic compounds and nonmetallic elements including their manufacture by chemical reaction, and note especially
212+, for exhaust gas purification or separation.
429, Chemistry: Electrical Current Producing Apparatus, Product, and Process,
12+, for a battery generating current by feeding a gas into a cell to react with fluids in the cell, (e.g., fuel cell, etc.).
432, Heating, appropriate subclass, for a residual method or apparatus for generating heat and applying it to materials.
588, Hazardous or Toxic Waste Destruction or Containment, appropriate subclasses for the methods of combustion of hazardous or toxic waste, from any source where a useful product is not produced or obtained.
GLOSSARY:
BURNER
Term generic to "burner assembly", "burner head" and "flame holder".
BURNER ASSEMBLY
A unitary device or fixture including a flame holder and associated feeding or supporting elements.
BURNER HEAD A device by which fluent fuel is passed to a combustion space where it forms a flame projecting from the device.
CLEANING
The dislodging of extraneous matter or incrustations.
COMBUSTION
The direct combination of oxygen gas and a burnable substance.
FLAME HOLDER
Generic term for the part of a combustion device confining the flame or supporting the base of a flame. It includes burner heads, the flame supporting portion of wicks, the pots of pot type burners, etc.
FLASH BACK
The spread of flame from a combustion area into a feed passage of a burner head.
FLINT
A body of material that produces igniting sparks when struck. It is generally made of an alloy of iron and cerium. PILOT BURNER
A small auxiliary unit used to ignite a principal flame holder.
PURGING
The removal of unwanted material.
RETARDER
A device that provides for the delay of completion of performance of an operation after its initiating signal has been given, e.g., dashpot, time delay switch, etc.
SCAVENGING
The flushing out of unwanted gas or gas mixture by another gas or gas mixture.
SHUTDOWN
The term is used in this class to indicate that a combustion device has been stopped and that it cannot be made to operate except by manual intervention.