Definition

GENERAL STATEMENT OF CLASS SUBJECT MATTER

This is the residual class for thermolytic distillation processes not otherwise provided for. For purposes of this class thermolytic distillation is limited to the heating of a solid carbonaceous material (distilland) to vaporize the portion volatile under the conditions employed and to cause a compound or compounds in the material to undergo chemical decomposition (thermolysis) to form different chemical substances, at least some of which are volatile under the condition employed and an unvaporized solid carbonaceous material (residue). At least a part of the vaporized material is usually condensed to a liquid (distillate). See Lines With Other Classes, below, for lines between this class (201) and other classes having processes including thermolysis of carbonaceous material.

Solid carbonaceous materials within the purview of this class (201) include (exemplary but not limiting) such minerals as coal and oil shale and substances of an organic nature such as organic wastes and wood. Inorganic carbonates are excluded.

Lines with other classes and within this class

LINES WITH CHEMICAL COMPOSITION CLASSES

(1) Product whether claimed in terms of their composition or claimed in terms of the process of making are classified in the appropriate composition class even if the process merely recites a thermolytic distillation operation.

(2) Processes for heating solid, carbonaceous material to cause decomposition of compounds therein and to produce a solid, carbonaceous residue are classified here only if not otherwise provided for.

(a) Processes of thermolytically decomposing a carbonaceous material to produce carbon black, graphite, or other purified carbon are classified elsewhere. See References to Other Classes, below, for specific classes/subclasses.

(b) Processes for carbonizing a solid carbonaceous material to produce an electrically conductive product are classified elsewhere. A carbonized composition (e.g., activated carbon) claimed or disclosed solely as a sorbent or catalyst or a method of making such composition is classified elsewhere. See References to Other Classes, below, for specific classes/subclasses.

(c) The line between processes in this class (201) and Class 44, Fuel and Related Compositions, is that this class (201) takes a carbonization process wherein the carbonization is specified as being complete or a vaporized component is intended to be recovered, while Class 44 takes a process wherein the extent of carbonization is not specified or the disposition of any vaporized component is irrelevant to the process, only the final solid fuel product being of concern.

(d) Class 48, Gas: Heating and Illuminating, takes processes and apparatus for making heating and illuminating gases when no solid carbonaceous residue is left.

(e) The line between this class (201) and Class 208, Mineral Oils: Processes and Products, is (1) thermolytic distillation of a distilland consisting predominately of solid carbonaceous material and a minor amount of a mineral oil material to produce a char is in this class (201), (2) thermolytic distillation of a distilland consisting predominately of a mineral oil material and a minor amount of a previously charred material is classified in Class 208, (3) for processes including extracting mineral oils from natural, solid, carbonaceous material as well as the digestion or conversion of the same as the digestion or conversion of the same to obtain mineral oils see Class 208, Mineral Oils: Processes and Products, subclass 8 for the line.

PROCESSES INCLUDING EVAPORATION

Processes for evaporating without a condensing step are generally excluded from this class. For specific lines between the processes of this class and other processes including an evaporating step, see below.

(1) This class (201) is distinguished from Class 34, Drying and Gas Or Vapor Contact With Solids, in that the material herein is a solid or semi-solid which is chemically changed by the heating step so as to yield volatile substances containing condensable or absorbable components, while the material of Class 34 is a solid or semi-solid from which it is desired to remove an extraneous liquid, leaving the residue chemically unchanged, even though the volatile material be condensed.

(2) Class 134, Cleaning and Liquid Contact With Solids, takes claimed combinations of work handling or supporting means or steps with means or steps to apply a liquid to the work, as by spraying or immersion, where said liquid is distilled or evaporated, whether or not the resulting vapor is (1) directly contacted with the work or (2) condensed for re-use to contact the work. When only the liquid distillation subcombination or the vapor-phase work contact subcombination has been claimed, see above for the line between Class 201 and Class 34.

(3) Evaporation Processes

Processes in which volatile components of the material being heated are removed as vapor without at least a portion of the vapor being condensed to a liquid are not within the purview of this class (201). See References to Other Classes, below, for some classes which provide for processes that include an evaporating or concentrating step.

CLASS 201 IS SUPERIOR TO CLASS 203, DISTILLATION: PROCESSES, SEPARATORY.