B04C
Apparatus using free vortex flow
Official title: APPARATUS USING FREE VORTEX FLOW, e.g. CYCLONES ({centrifugal separation of water from steam B01D45/12;} jet mills B02C19/06; {wind sifters B07B7/00;} cyclonic type combustion apparatus F23; {vortex burners for cyclone-type combustion apparatus F23D1/02; cyclonic type combustion apparatus for gas turbines F23R3/00})
B04C (Apparatus using free vortex flow) appears on 2,572 US grants and 2,048 published applications in this corpus.
Search patents in B04C- Granted patents
- 2,572
- Published applications
- 2,048
- Assignees
- 1,294
- Inventors
- 4,151
- Latest grant
- 29 Sep 2026
Filings by year
| Year | Granted patents | Published applications |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 28 | 0 |
| 1977 | 21 | 0 |
| 1978 | 24 | 0 |
| 1979 | 37 | 0 |
| 1980 | 40 | 0 |
| 1981 | 56 | 0 |
| 1982 | 34 | 0 |
| 1983 | 34 | 0 |
| 1984 | 38 | 0 |
| 1985 | 26 | 0 |
| 1986 | 43 | 0 |
| 1987 | 53 | 0 |
| 1988 | 43 | 0 |
| 1989 | 49 | 0 |
| 1990 | 40 | 0 |
| 1991 | 43 | 0 |
| 1992 | 43 | 0 |
| 1993 | 43 | 0 |
| 1994 | 33 | 0 |
| 1995 | 28 | 0 |
| 1996 | 21 | 0 |
| 1997 | 21 | 0 |
| 1998 | 26 | 0 |
| 1999 | 44 | 0 |
| 2000 | 35 | 0 |
| 2001 | 45 | 18 |
| 2002 | 44 | 29 |
| 2003 | 49 | 46 |
| 2004 | 45 | 54 |
| 2005 | 38 | 66 |
| 2006 | 29 | 77 |
| 2007 | 35 | 62 |
| 2008 | 55 | 62 |
| 2009 | 52 | 72 |
| 2010 | 55 | 78 |
| 2011 | 66 | 54 |
| 2012 | 55 | 65 |
| 2013 | 58 | 63 |
| 2014 | 50 | 90 |
| 2015 | 72 | 93 |
| 2016 | 68 | 84 |
| 2017 | 74 | 98 |
| 2018 | 73 | 123 |
| 2019 | 92 | 141 |
| 2020 | 121 | 146 |
| 2021 | 122 | 105 |
| 2022 | 99 | 110 |
| 2023 | 84 | 94 |
| 2024 | 84 | 86 |
| 2025 | 64 | 63 |
| 2026 | 40 | 69 |
By publication year. Applications have been published since 2001. 2026 runs to 8 Oct.
Main groups
Granted patents with any code in the group
- B04C 5/00Apparatus in which the axial direction of the vortex is reversed1,817
- B04C 9/00Combinations with other devices849
- B04C 3/00Apparatus in which the axial direction of the vortex flow following a688
- B04C 11/00Accessories257
- B04C 7/00Apparatus not provided for in group b04c1/00, b04c3/00, or b04c5/00156
- B04C 1/00Apparatus in which the main direction of flow follows a flat spiral75
Recent patents
- Inducer assembly for a turbine engine29 Sep 2026US 12,746,491 B2General Electric Company
- Vapor-liquid separator and systems including same29 Sep 2026US 12,747,897 B2Copeland Corporation
- Apparatus and process for separating components of a multiphase hydrocarbon stream15 Sep 2026US 12,734,531 B2Omv Downstream GmbH
- Hydrocyclone15 Sep 2026US 12,735,333 B2Sandcatch Solutions AS
- Surface cleaning apparatus8 Sep 2026US 12,727,731 B2Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
- Multi-cyclonic separator assembly8 Oct 2026US 2026/0307084 A1FMC Separation Systems, BV
- Treatment device8 Oct 2026US 2026/0307095 A1Toyota Shatai Kabushiki Kaisha
- Cleaning Device and Dust Collecting Method1 Oct 2026US 2026/0294188 A1Shenzhen Chenbei Technology Co., Ltd.
- Filter device for removing particles from a fluid1 Oct 2026US 2026/0295603 A1Mst Nl B.V.
- Cleaner1 Oct 2026US 2026/0295604 A1LG Electronics Inc.
Most cited
By later US patents
- Process and apparatus for separating diluents from solid polymers utilizing a two-stage flash and a cyclone separator494US 5,575,979 APhillips Petroleum Company · 1996
- Vacuum cleaner having a cyclone type dust collecting apparatus333US 6,406,505 B1Samsung Kwangju Electronics Co., Ltd. · 2002
- Shroud330US 5,078,761 ANotetry Limited · 1992
- Upright vacuum cleaner with cyclonic air flow295US 6,782,585 B1Fantom Technologies Inc. · 2004
- Apparatus and method for separating particles from a cyclonic fluid flow270US 6,251,296 B1G. B. D. Corp. · 2001