B60L - Definition 
Definition statement
This subclass covers:
Supply of electric power to auxiliary equipment of electically-propelled vehicles, e.g. electric heating or lighting circuits.
Current-collectors and arrangements thereof on electrically-propelled vehicles, e.g. rollers in contact with trolley wire, pantographs or third-rail current-collectors.
Electrodynamic brake systems for vehicles in general, e.g. electric resistor braking, electric regenerative braking or eddy-current braking.
Electric propulsion of vehicles with power supply external to the vehicle or supplied within the vehicle.
Electric propulsion of vehicles with power supply from force of nature, e.g. sun or wind.
Electric propulsion for monorail vehicles, suspension vehicles or rack railways.
Magnetic suspension or levitation for vehicles.
Methods, circuits or devices for controlling the propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles.
Monitoring operating variables, e.g. speed, deceleration or power consumption.
Electric devices on electrically-propelled vehicles for safety purposes, e.g. dead-man’s devices, devices for limiting the current under mechanical overload conditions or for preventing excessive speed of the vehicle.
Adaptation of control equipment on electrically-propelled vehicles for remote actuation from a stationary place, from alternative parts of the vehicle or from alternative vehicles in the same vehicle train.
Relationship between large subject matter areas
This subclass is the general place for subject-matter relating to the propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles, for control of the propulsion and for collecting electrical power therefor. However conjoint control of two or more vehicle subunits, one of which may be an electrical propulsion unit, and subject-matter relating to control of hybrid vehicles comprising an internal-combustion motor and an electric motor, are covered in subclass B60W Further subject-matter relating to arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units, electric gearings or auxiliary drives in vehicles, are covered in subclass B60K Electrically-powered cycles are covered in subclass B62M
This subclass is also the application-oriented place for subject-matter relating to electrodynamic or dynamo-electric braking systems for vehicles. The function-oriented places for such systems are subclasses H02Kand H02P
References relevant to classification in this subclass
This subclass does not cover:
Electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles | B60D 1/62 |
Electric heating for vehicles | B60H 1/00 |
Arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units in vehicles | B60K 1/00 |
Arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime movers for mutual or common propulsion, e.g. hybrid propulsion systems | B60K 6/00 |
Arrangements or mounting of electric gearing in vehicles | B60K 17/12, B60K 17/14 |
Arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general | B60Q |
Power-driven ground-engaging fittings for manoeuvring the vehicle | B60S 9/205 |
Conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function, including control of electrical propulsion units | B60W 10/00 |
Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles | B60W 20/00 |
Preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles | B61C 15/08 |
Dynamo-electric machines,e.g. dynamo-electric brakes | H02K, H02K 49/00 |
Starting, controlling, braking of electric machines or converters in general | H02P |
Informative references
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Auxiliary drives on vehicles | B60K 25/00 |
Power supply lines for supplying power to electrically-propelled vehicles | B60M |
Electric locomotives or railcars | B61C 3/00 |
Railway track circuits in general | B61L |
Lighting in general | F21, H05B |
Switches in general | H01H |
Coupling devices for electric connections in general | H01R |
Conversion of electric power | H02M |
Electric heating in general | H05B |
Glossary of terms
In this subclass, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:
| Electrodynamic braking system | An electric machine that acts as a brake. Braking is accomplished by reversing the electric fields on the machine, effectively turning it into a generator. The usage of the generated power, either in useful applications or as dissipation of heat, restrains the motor-generator and provides a braking action. As such, this term is virtually coterminous with "dynamo-electric braking system" (see below). However the term "electrodynamic" on its own is broader and less clear than the term "dynamo-electric". It means "pertaining to electric current, electricity in motion and the effects of magnetism and induction", and could theoretically encompass electrical devices other than dynamo-electric devices. |
| Dynamo-electric braking system | A dynamo-electric machine is a device for converting electrical energy into mechanical energy or mechanical energy into electrical energy or combinations thereof, which involve electromagnetic induction. In respect of brakes, a braking effect could be produced by converting the kinetic energy of a vehicle into electrical energy, for dissipation (e.g. by resistors or as eddy-currents) or for storage (e.g. by regenerative braking). Alternatively, electrical energy could be supplied to the device to drive it into reverse, thereby producing a braking effect. |
| Vehicle | This term has been used with the following two variations in meaning within this subclass: (1) all varieties of apparatus (e.g. automobiles) intended to carry people or goods significant distances (e.g. between cities, to or from separate building complexes) across land or over water, except those restricted to one of the following types: rail vehicles, waterborne vessels, aircraft, space vehicles, hand carts, cycles, animal-drawn vehicles or sledges, which are covered by the relevant subclasses of B61-B64. Moreover the term "vehicle" also includes (i) vehicular characteristics which are common to more than one of the above-listed types of vehicles, and (ii) certain characteristics restricted to automobiles, road trailers or cross-country trailers.(2) In some instances of this definition, the term "vehicle" has been qualified by another word which takes its meaning outside the scope of (1) above (e.g. "rail vehicle"); in such cases the word "vehicle" takes its broader dictionary meaning.The reader can determine from the context whether an occurrence of the word "vehicle" in this definition falls within the meaning stated in (1) or (2). |
Synonyms and Keywords
In patent documents the following abbreviations are often used:
| Maglev | Magnetic levitation vehicle |