US PATENT SUBCLASS 60 / 200.1
REACTION MOTOR (E.G., MOTIVE FLUID GENERATOR AND REACTION NOZZLE, ETC.)

Current as of: June, 1999
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60 /   HD   POWER PLANTS

200.1REACTION MOTOR (E.G., MOTIVE FLUID GENERATOR AND REACTION NOZZLE, ETC.) {28}
201  DF  .~> Rotating or cyclic movement during axial thrust
202  DF  .~> Ion motor
203.1  DF  .~> Electric, nuclear, or radiated energy fluid heating means
204  DF  .~> Method of operation {1}
221  DF  .~> Motive fluid principally liquid {1}
223  DF  .~> With destruction sensing and preventing means
224  DF  .~> Interrelated reaction motors {2}
227  DF  .~> Motive fluid principally steam
228  DF  .~> With thrust direction modifying means {3}
233  DF  .~> Condition responsive thrust varying means {6}
244  DF  .~> Motive fluid from diverse generators alternatively ejected through outlet {1}
246  DF  .~> Turborocket
247  DF  .~> Intermittent combustion {2}
250  DF  .~> Plural propellants to burn sequentially
251  DF  .~> Solid and fluid propellant
252  DF  .~> Gel propellant
253  DF  .~> Solid propellant {3}
257  DF  .~> Liquid oxidizer {3}
261  DF  .~> Including afterburner
262  DF  .~> Air passage bypasses combustion chamber
263  DF  .~> Plural motive fluid generating means or plural outlets
264  DF  .~> Including motive fluid treating means
265  DF  .~> Means to flow film on surface
266  DF  .~> Including heat exchange means {1}
268  DF  .~> Including counter rotating rotors
269  DF  .~> Including mechanical air compressor or air flow inducing means
270.1  DF  .~> Air supplied by ram effect
271  DF  .~> Motive fluid outlet means

DEFINITION

Classification: 60/200.1

REACTION MOTOR (E.G., MOTIVE FLUID GENERATOR AND REACTION NOZZLE, ETC.):

(under the class definition) Apparatus or process for producing a useful thrust in one direction by the expulsion of a motive fluid therefrom in a opposite direction comprising a means for or step of producing said motive fluid and a means for or step of ejecting said motive fluid.

(1) Note. See (1) Note in subclass 205 for a glossary of terms used in the titles and definitions of subclass 200.1 and indented subclasses.

(2) Note. This definition includes electronic propulsion devices commonly known as "ion motors" wherein a thrust is obtained in one direction by the ejection in the opposite direction of ions accelerated electronically or by other means and expelled into the ambient.

(3) Note. The "means for or step of producing said motive fluid" in the definition may be, for example, any means for imparting energy to the motive fluid such as a heating means, an ion accelerating means, a combustion chamber, a source of

such motive fluid such as a tank or merely a pump, and the "means for ejecting said motive fluid" may be merely a pipe, though it is usually a nozzle.

(4) Note. Apparatus under this definition is usually used to cause motion of a vehicle to which it is attached but it may be used to cause merely a thrust without producing movement. Many apparatuses inherently cause a thrust while accomplishing some other function and comprise a pressure fluid producing means and a fluid ejecting means. Such apparatuses are not classified under this definition but in appropriate other classes based on the disclosed function, e.g., Class 239, Fluid Sprinkling, Spraying, and Diffusing, would be the locus for a system comprising a pump connected to a nozzle used primarily to spray water and not to produce a thrust. On the other hand, a device comprising merely a pump and an output pipe which would normally be classified in Class 417, Pumps, or Class 418, Rotary Expansible Chamber Devices, is classifiable under this definition if the disclosure is limited to the use of a device as a reaction motor, e.g., to drive a boat. An exception to the above described use classification is made in the case of those power plants classifiable in Class 60, subclasses 39.01. Even if the sole disclosure of such a power plant is to produce a thrust it is not classifiable under this definition unless the nozzle is specifically described in the claim.

(5) Note. This class provides for the combination of a reaction propulsion device and a vehicular device wherein no more structure of the vehicular device is claimed than is necessary to mount the propulsion device. Any additional significantly claimed vehicle structure will require classification in the proper vehicle class.

(A) In the following instances, the structure of the vehicle was considered not to be significantly claimed: (a) The vehicle is included in the combination by name only (e.g., the vehicle is not modified, other than that required to accommodate the reaction motor, or identified as to any designation of the general class to which the vehicle belongs. (b) The location of the reaction motor or any part thereof, on the vehicle is defined merely by stating a relationship between the vehicle, as a unit, and the reaction motor (e.g., the motor is located at the front, rear, right, left, top, bottom, within or outside the vehicle, bow, stern, at the water line, center of gravity, or center line.

(B)

In the following instances, the structure of the vehicle was considered to be significantly claimed: (a) The location of the reaction motor or motors or any part or parts thereof on the vehicle is defined by stating a plurality of relationships, anyone of which alone would be considered insignificant (e.g., one reaction motor on each side, or a

reaction motor mounted within the vehicle rearwardly of the center of gravity). (b) The location of the reaction motor or any part thereof, on the vehicle is defined by stating a relationship between a specific part of the vehicle and the motor (e.g., motor located on the wing, keel or rudder of a ship). (c) The structure of the vehicle is modified to an extent greater than that required to position or support the reaction motor or its parts (e.g., claiming the shape of the hull of a ship). (d) The vehicle is provided with means for guiding, deflecting, or reacting with the propulsion fluid subsequent to its discharge from the nozzle of the reaction motor (e.g., the motor is located in an open channel or adjacent a rudder of a ship).

(6) Note. A component part of an apparatus under this definition necessary for its operation often is a motor, which, for example, may drive a compressor furnishing air to a combustion products generator which supplies motive fluid to a means (nozzle) for ejecting the fluid. Such motor may have a shaft output for an external load and the load on the shaft, e.g., a propeller, may even be nominally claimed and the apparatus will still be classified under this definition. However, if an apparatus under this definition has combined therewith an added motor used only for an external load, the whole apparatus is considered a combined reaction motor and other type motor for classification in subclasses 200.1+.

(7) Note. Under this definition the motive fluid generating means, as claimed, may itself be a motor having a transmission means and a nominal load.

(8) Note. Dual Use Disclosure Patents which claim an apparatus having means to pressurize a fluent and a means through which the pressurized fluent may be ejected and which disclose a dual use for said apparatus, one of the uses being to produce a thrust, (e.g., pump a fluid and produce a thrust) are classified as follows: If the apparatus, in addition to the thrust producing use, is disclosed as used as an electrical energy discharge device, classification is in Class 60. Otherwise, patents are placed in Class 60 only if the sole disclosed use of the apparatus claimed is to produce a thrust or wherein combustion products are generated for use as motive power. Classification of apparatus, for example, which may be used to produce a thrust and also used as a pump is in Classes 415, 416, 417, or 418, or if also used to produce hot gas by a means which burns a fuel in Class 431, or if also used to distribute a hot gas is in Class 239.

SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:

39.01+, for power plants employing combustion products as the motive fluid and disclosed as being used with a reaction nozzle means to produce a thrust but not specifically claiming the nozzle means.

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS

44, Fuel and Related Compositions, appropriate subclasses for a solid or liquid fuel composition including petroleum fuels, such as gasoline, admixed with other materials. The lines between Class 44 and this class are: (1) A patent containing a fuel composition claim and a claim to broadly creating propulsion by burning the fuel is classified in Class 44 and cross-referenced to this class. (2) A patent containing only process claims even if they merely recite burning a definite fuel to broadly produce thrust is classified in this class. 73, Measuring and Testing,

116+, for motor and engine testing and subclass 147 for wind tunnel; aerodynamic wing and propeller study.

86, Ammunition and Explosive-Charge Making,

1, and 20 for apparatuses and processes for filling or loading a casing with propellant.

102, Ammunition and Explosives, for devices disclosed as explodable projectiles having an explosive or explosive carrying compartment and having a propelling charge. See in particular

347+, for skyrockets having explosive charges to give visual effects, flight control means, ground support illuminating means, etc., subclasses 374+ for projectiles having jet reaction propulsion means, subclasses 334 and 366+ for shells adapted to emit an incendiary or smoky substance during flight, subclasses 200+ for fuses, primers and igniting devices, subclass 458 for tracer shells and subclasses 283+ for the shape or structure of powder grains, sticks or bars of an explosive substance arranged for the purpose of modifying the rate or manner of burning or exploding.

105, Railway Rolling Stock,

26, for jet propelled rail vehicles.

110, Furnaces, for a combustion chamber structure of general utility or a method of operating the same with means to burn a solid fuel or solid fuel with auxiliary gas or liquid fuel and with or without means to feed said fuel to the burner means. These furnaces may also convert from a solid fuel burner to a gas or liquid fuel burner.

114, Ships,

20+, for self-propelled torpedoes, and subclasses 150+ for ships having steering means involving fluid pressure and jet means.

137, Fluid Handling, for fluid distribution systems for control of a motor means. Control of a reaction motor disclosed as the type classified in Class 60 would be classified in Class 60 if the reaction motor is claimed specifically or broadly. To claim, for example, merely a housing or chamber for a reaction motor would not preclude classification from Class 137. However, patents claiming specific motor structure and fuel control means for said motor, structural means interconnecting a motor and fuel control means, or a fuel control means broadly or specifically responsive to a motor condition are classified in Class 60. See

15.1+, for jet engine intake means, per se, having means to handle fluid therein.

138, Pipes and Tubular Conduits, for tubular members of definite or indefinite length and especially

40+, for pipes having variable or nonvariable means (e.g., reaction motor diffusers) to restrict the flow of fluid therethrough, subclasses 89+ for a pipe with a closure and subclasses 111+ for plural ducting in a single pipe.

149, Explosive and Thermic Compositions or Charges, appropriate subclasses for propellant compositions containing a fuel and an oxidizer. The lines between Class 149 and this class are: (1) A patent containing a propellant composition claim and a claim broadly creating propulsion by burning the propellant is classified in Class 149 and cross-referenced to this class. (2) A patent containing only process claims even if they merely recite burning a definite propellant to broadly produce thrust are classified in this class.

165, Heat Exchange,

51+, for heat exchangers associated with an engine.

175, Boring or Penetrating the Earth,

11+, and in particular subclass 14 for devices for boring earth in situ employing a combustion product generator and a nozzle means to accelerate said products. Also see Note V of the class definition of Class 175 particularly as it refers to Class 125, Stone Working.

180, Motor Vehicles,

7, for a motor vehicle having a special device (e.g., a reaction motor for propelling it; and subclasses 116+ for a motor vehicle having means for maintaining a working fluid mass between a surface of the vehicle and a reaction supporting surface.

220, Receptacles, 581+, for a high-pressure-gas tank, subclass 13 for receptacles having water jackets and subclasses 265+ for containers having frangible type closures.

222, Dispensing,

251+, for means to dispense material with discharge assistant means (e.g., impeller, pump, etc.)

227, Elongated-Member-Driving Apparatus, for means to cause engagement between an elongated member and another member.

239, Fluid Sprinkling, Spraying, and Diffusing, appropriate subclass for a terminal flow modifying means, e.g., nozzle for a fluid, especially

127.1+, and 265.11+ for a reaction motor discharge nozzle, per se, or such nozzle claimed in combination with a mere combustion chamber or other means imparting energy to a fluid in the absence of specific details of the energy imparting means or a specific relationship between the means and the terminal means. Devices claiming specific means by which combustion products are produced in a combustion chamber to be used solely in a motor or thrust device (e.g., fuel injector, solid fuel and, etc.), or specific means by which a pressure is maintained on a stored fluid (e.g., contractible chamber) together with a nozzle for the production of a thrust are, however, classified in Class 60. Condition responsive means controlling flow through a nozzle is classified in Class 239 regardless of the parameter sensed.

244, Aeronautics, for machines adapted to be sustained by air or propelled through air, and devices such as air foils which react with the atmosphere for controlling or sustaining flight. See in particular

1, for space craft, subclasses 3.1+ for an aerial missile (including a projectile) with means to stabilize or affect the trajectory or course of the missile, subclasses 7, 12.1+, 14, 15, and 23 for aircraft using jet reaction devices principally to assist in vertical lift, subclass 52 for aircraft having jet reaction devices for steering and propulsion, subclasses 73 and 74 for aircraft having jet reaction propulsion means, subclass 78 for aircraft controlled by jet reaction devices, and subclass 113 for aircraft provided with jet reaction means to retard motion.

248, Supports,

637+, for machinery supports.

261, Gas and Liquid Contact Apparatus, appropriate subclasses, for the oxidizer and fuel mixing subcombinations of reaction motors. 299, Mining or In Situ Disintegration of Hard Material,

14, for processes involving the use of a fluid unconfined jet stream to comminute hard material (e.g., rock) in situ.

415, Rotary Kinetic Fluid Motors or Pumps,

80+, for a motor runner having a reaction type jet discharge for causing rotation about an axis.

416, Fluid Reaction Surfaces (i.e., Impellers), for vehicular propulsion devices having significantly claimed propeller structure and broadly recited reaction nozzle means distinct from the propeller for the production of a reaction thrust. On the other hand, the combination of a nominally claimed propeller and a reaction motor is classifiable under this definition. When the propeller and a reaction motor are significantly claimed and the reaction motor produces a thrust which does not drive the propeller, the device is considered a combined type power plant for Class 60,

6+, However, where the propeller and jet reaction device form a unitary structure or are otherwise structurally related so that substantially all of the output of the reaction device directly or indirectly rotates the propeller, classification is in Class 416, see in particular subclasses 20+.

417, Pumps, for pump details, and particularly

73+, for pumps of the type in which fluid is pumped by the combustion of a motivating fluid in contact with the pumped fluid, and subclasses 321+ for motor driven pumps, including those in which the pump output is disclosed but not claimed as being delivered to the drive motor (e.g., supercharger) and those wherein the compressor output is claimed as being delivered to the motor and is tapped for use externally of the motor-pump combination, and also pumps having an output which is disclosed as being discharged for a purpose other than that of producing thrust.

418, Rotary Expansible Chamber Devices, for rotary expansible chamber devices, per se.

431, Combustion, for combustion products generators not disclosed for any particular use or disclosed for use other than for external power purposes. A claimed means controlling a Combustion products generator which is responsive to a combustion products actuated motor condition such as speed, thrust, acceleration, etc., is considered to be tantamount to claiming the motor and causes classification in Class 60 rather than in Class 431. See also (8) Note under this subclass concerning dual use disclosures.

440, Marine Propulsion, 38+, for a boat or ship propelled or steered by a reaction motor.