F01M - Definition 
Definition statement
This subclass covers:
Lubrication of machines or engines in general, where the lubrication system, or device for lubricating parts of the machine or engine, does not form part of the structure of the machine or engine.
Pressure lubrication, e.g. using pressure from pumps, crankcase pressure or the like to circulate the lubricant; including provision of lubricant passageways in crankshafts or conecting rods.
Lubrication specially adapted for engines with crankcase compression of fuel/air mixtures, or for engines in which lubricant is contained in fuel, combustion air or fuel/air mixture (e.g. two-stroke engines).
Heating, cooling or controlling temperature of lubricant.
Lubrication means facititating engine starting, e.g. by conditioning or heating the lubricant.
Lubrication means specially adapted for facilitating the running-in or breaking-in of machines or engines.
Lubricating means having other significant or pertinent characteristics, e.g. introducing additives to lubricant, using fuel as lubricant, dip, splash or drip lubrication, non-pressurised lubrication.
Details, parts or accessories of lubricating, including controlling lubricant level or pressure, arrangement of lubricant conduits, purifying lubricant, filling or draining lubricant.
Indicating or safety features, e.g. to render machine or engine inoperative or idling on lubricant pressure failure.
Crankcase ventilating or breathing, e.g. breather valves or inlet air filters.
Relationship between large subject matter areas
Lubricating in general is covered by F16N. In relation to F16N, F01M is an application-oriented subclass, in respect of machines and engines as defined in the glossary below.
Lubricating subject-matter proper to F01M is classified there irrespective of its stated application, unless the classifiable features are peculiar to its stated application, in which case the subject-matter is classified only in the relevant subclass of classes F01-F04.
References relevant to classification in this subclass
This subclass does not cover:
Arrangement of lubricant coolers in engine cooling systems | F01P 11/08 |
Lubrication of steam engines | F01B 31/10 |
Lubrication of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston machines or engines | F01C 21/04 |
Lubrication of non-positive displacementmachines or engines, e.g. steam turbines | F01D 25/18 |
Lubrication of gas-turbine plants | F02C 7/06 |
Lubrication of cylinders of combustion engines | F02F 1/20 |
Lubrication of pumps for elastic fluids | F04B 39/02 |
Lubrication of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston pumps for elastic fluids | F04C 29/02 |
Lubrication of non-positive displacementpumps | F04D 29/04 |
Informative references
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Measuring fluid-pressure in general | G01L |
Fluid level indicators in general | G01F 23/00 |
Crankshafts, connecting rods per se | F16C |
Glossary of terms
In this subclass, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:
| Lubrication | Apparatus, arrangements or methods for introducing or applying a thin layer of a discrete lubricant between two or more relatively-moving adjacent solid surfaces of a device or apparatus, for the specific purpose of reducing friction, heat or wear between the adjacent surfaces. |
| Lubricant | Any fluid (e.g. water, oil), fluent material (e.g. particulate graphite), semi-fluid material (e.g. oil with thickener), or semisolid material (e.g. grease), or any mixture of such types of substance, which is used for the specific purpose of lubrication. |
| Engine | A device for continuously converting fluid energy into mechanical power. Thus, this term includes, for example, steam piston engines or steam turbines per se, or internal-combustion piston engines, but it excludes single-stroke devices. |
| Pump | A device for continuously raising, forcing, compressing or exhausting fluid by mechanical or other means. Thus, this term includes fans or blowers. This term also includes methods of operation, unless otherwise specifically provided for. |
| Machine | A device which could equally be an engine or a pump, but not a device which is restricted to an engine or one which is restricted to a pump. |
| Positive displacement | The way the energy of a working fluid is transformed into mechanical energy, in which variations of volume created by the working fluid in a working chamber produce equivalent displacements of the mechanical member transmitting the energy, the dynamic effect of the fluid being of minor importance, and vice-versa. |
| Non-positive displacement | The way the energy of a working fluid is transformed into mechanical energy, by transformation of the energy of the working fluid into kinetic energy, and vice-versa. |
| Working fluid | The driven fluid in a pump or the driving fluid in an engine. The working fluid may be in a gaseous state, i.e. compressible, or liquid. In the former case coexistence of two states is possible. |