DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 8/7/2026 has been entered.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claim(s) 1 and 11-13 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Wang (CN 110579123 A) in view of Yajima (JP 2000-71751 A) and Yano (US PGPub No. 2020/0018553).
Regarding claim 1, Wang (Fig. 5) discloses a heat exchanger (A heat exchanger having a stack of plates in Fig. 5) comprising:
a plurality of first flow path members (a plurality of first planar structures formed by plates 1 and partitions 4), each first flow path member including a first plate (each plate 1 and partition 4) having a first flow path portion providing a plurality of flow paths (grooves 2 collectively over the plate 1) through which a first fluid flows (fluid A, see paragraph 0045), and a first bonding plate (partition 4) diffusion-bonded to the first plate to cover the first flow path portion (noted that the “diffusion-bonded” is product-by-process limitation, and the patentability of a product does not depend on its method of production, see MPEP 2113. “diffusion-bonded” does not imply a distinct structure to the “first flow path member” itself. Under broadest reasonable interpretation, “diffusion-bonded” in claims 1-3 is construed to bear a structure of a connected joint between two respective elements. Wang discloses a connected joint between the two plates 1 and 2, see Fig. 5); and
a plurality of second flow path members (a plurality of second planar structures formed by blocks 7 and fins 6), each second flow path member including a second plate (each planar structure formed by blocks 7 and fins 6) having a second flow path portion providing a plurality of flow paths (fluid channels between fins 6) through which a second fluid (fluid B, see paragraph 0045) for exchanging heat with the first fluid flows,
wherein the first flow path portion includes a plurality of first transfer flow paths (a section of the grooves 2 in the cross-section shown in Fig. 5) through which the first fluid flows to exchange heat with the second fluid (the section of the grooves 2 performs heat exchange with adjacent fluid channels between fins 6),
wherein the first flow path member and the second flow path member are diffusion-bonded to each other (every plate 1, partition 4, block 7 and fin 6 are joined and have connected joints between them, as shown in the Fig. 5),
wherein the second flow path member is disposed between two first flow path members which are adjacent to the second flow path member (the planar structure formed by blocks 7 and fins 6 is disposed between and adjacent two first planar structures),
wherein an opening is formed in the second flow path portion of the second plate (opening formed horizontally between two lateral blocks 7 and vertically between plate 1 and partition 4. The opening has fins 6 provided within) in a stacking direction in which the two first flow path members and the second flow path member are disposed (the plate 1, the two lateral blocks 7, and the partition 4 are disposed in vertical or stacking direction, from top to bottom of Fig. 5),
the opening being closed by the two first flow path members, preventing the second fluid from being discharged in the stacking direction, and
wherein one surface of the second flow path member is diffusion-bonded to one surface of the first plate of one of the adjacent first flow path members (top surface of the planar structure formed by blocks 7 and fins 6 is bonded to an adjacent plate 1 of one first planar structure, see Fig. 5) and the other surface of the second flow path member is diffusion-bonnded to the first bonding plate of the other of the adjacent first flow path members (bottom surface of the planar structure formed by blocks 7 and fins 6 is bonded to an adjacent partition 4 of another first planar structure).
Wang only discloses a cross-section of the stack of plates in Fig. 5, so that it fails to disclose wherein the first flow path portion includes a plurality of first inflow paths, a plurality of first discharge flow paths, and a first connection flow path communicating the plurality of first discharge flow paths with the plurality of first transfer flow paths,
wherein the first connection flow path has a flow area in which a width of the flow area, being perpendicular to a direction in which the plurality of first transfer flow paths extend and parallel to a surface of the first plate, is greater than a length of the flow area perpendicular to the width of the flow area, so that the first fluid introduced from the plurality of first inflow paths is distributed to the first connection flow path,
wherein the second flow path portion includes a second inflow path and a second discharge flow path, which are formed on a surface of the second plate, and
wherein the second fluid is introduced toward the opening through the second inflow path and discharged from the opening through the second discharge flow path, and the second fluid flows in the opening in a direction perpendicular to a direction that the second fluid is discharged, the opening being closed by the two first flow path members, preventing the second fluid from being discharged in the stacking direction.
Yano discloses wherein the first flow path portion (channels 17 of plate 7, Fig. 2) includes a plurality of first inflow paths (introduction port 20 of the channels 17), a plurality of first transfer flow paths through which the first fluid flows to exchange heat with the second fluid (a section of the channels 17 at locations of annotations “17” in Fig. 2), a plurality of first discharge flow paths (a section of the channels 17 adjacent to communication flow channel 23), and a first connection flow path (communication flow channel 23) communicating the plurality of first discharge flow paths with the plurality of first transfer flow paths (the communication flow channel 23 fluidly communicates all the aforementioned sections of the channels 17),
wherein the first connection flow path (23) has a flow area (a rectangular area) in which a width of the flow area (a width of the rectangular area in x direction of Fig. 2), being perpendicular to a direction in which the plurality of first transfer flow paths extend (the x direction is parallel to y direction where the channels 17 extend) and parallel to a surface of the first plate (the width is parallel to a surface of the plate in the x direction), is greater than a length of the flow area perpendicular to the width of the flow area (the width is greater than a length of the rectangular area in y direction perpendicular to the width in x direction), so that the first fluid introduced from the plurality of first inflow paths is distributed to the first connection flow path (the fluid flows from the introduction port 20 to the channel 23 through the channels 17).
Therefore, the flow pattern of plate 1 in Wang may be replaced with the flow pattern of the plate 7 of Yano.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have provided wherein the first flow path portion includes a plurality of first inflow paths, a plurality of first discharge flow paths, and a first connection flow path communicating the plurality of first discharge flow paths with the plurality of first transfer flow paths,
wherein the first connection flow path has a flow area in which a width of the flow area, being perpendicular to a direction in which the plurality of first transfer flow paths extend and parallel to a surface of the first plate, is greater than a length of the flow area perpendicular to the width of the flow area, so that the first fluid introduced from the plurality of first inflow paths is distributed to the first connection flow path in Wang as taught by Yano in order to, for example, satisfy a specific installation of the heat exchanger that requires the first fluid to be supplied parallel to the first fluid flowing over the plate 1 and discharged perpendicular to the first fluid flowing over the plate 1.
Yajima Fig. 3 discloses the second flow path portion (frame 3) includes a second inflow path (intake port 43) and a second discharge flow path (exhaust 44), which are formed on a surface of the second plate (the intake port 43 and exhaust port 4 are formed on top surface of the frame 3),
wherein the second fluid (air) is introduced toward the opening through the second inflow path (into the intake port 43) and discharged from the opening through the second discharge flow path (discharge from hole 41a to the exhaust port 44), and the second fluid flows in the opening in a direction (the air flows in the hole 41a in length direction of the frame 3) perpendicular to a direction that the second fluid is discharged (perpendicular to the air discharging to the exhaust port 44 in width direction of the frame 3), the opening being closed by the two first flow path members (the hole 41a is closed by two adjacent sheets 6), preventing the second fluid from being discharged in the stacking direction (the sheets 6 prevent the air flowing in vertical direction Fig. 3).
Paragraph 0024 in the translation of Yajima further discloses that intake port 43 and the direction of gas exhaust from the exhaust port 44 be substantially perpendicular and opposite to the longitudinal direction of the frame 3.
Therefore, the two lateral blocks 7 of Wang may be replaced with the frame 3 of Yajima, so that the fluid may be supplied to and discharged from opposite long sides of the heat exchanger stack (inlet and outlet are parallel); or the fluid may be supplied to a long side and discharged from a short side (inlet and outlet are perpendicular).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have provided wherein the second flow path portion includes a second inflow path and a second discharge flow path, which are formed on a surface of the second plate, and
wherein the second fluid is introduced toward the opening through the second inflow path and discharged from the opening through the second discharge flow path, and the second fluid flows in the opening in a direction perpendicular to a direction that the second fluid is discharged, the opening being closed by the two first flow path members, preventing the second fluid from being discharged in the stacking direction in Wang as taught by Yajima in order to, for example, satisfy a specific installation of the heat exchanger that requires the second fluid to be supplied and discharged parallel or perpendicular directions in the heat exchanger stack.
Regarding claim 11, Wang as modified further discloses wherein directions in which the second fluid is introduced into and discharged from the second plate are parallel to each other (Wang in view of Yajima has both the suppling and discharging fluids in the width direction, which are parallel to each other).
Regarding claim 12, Wang as modified further discloses wherein directions in which the second fluid is introduced into and discharged from the second plate are perpendicular to each other (Wang in view of Yajima may also have the suppling and discharging fluids perpendicular to each other).
Regarding claim 13, Wang as modified further discloses wherein the second flow path portion includes a second transfer flow path formed in a middle of the opening, thereby dividing the opening into two sections (Wang in view of Yajima has the blocks 7 replaced by frame 3 of Yajima. The plurality of second planar structures formed by the frame 3 and fins 6 has the fins 6 that divide the opening in the frame 3 including a flow path in a middle of the frame 3).
Claim(s) 4 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Wang (CN 110579123 A) in view of Yajima (JP 2000-71751 A) Yano (US PGPub No. 2020/0018553) as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Conn (US Patent No. 4,043,498).
Regarding claim 4, Wang fails to disclose wherein a surface of the first flow path member and a surface of the second flow path member are deoxidized or processed to remove an oxide layer that is formed when the first plate and the first bonding plate are diffusion-bonded or when the second plate and the second bonding plate are diffusion-bonded.
Conn discloses a diffusion bond joint requires that the surfaces to be joined are clean, free of surface oxides and other foreign contaminants, organic and otherwise (col. 14, lines 4-7).
Therefore, the diffusion bonded plates 1, partition 4, blocks 7 and fins 6 in Wang (paragraph 0047) may each have a bonding surface that is deoxidized and has an oxide layer removed.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have provided wherein a surface of the first flow path member and a surface of the second flow path member are deoxidized or processed to remove an oxide layer that is formed when the first plate and the first bonding plate are diffusion-bonded or when the second plate and the second bonding plate are diffusion-bonded in Wang as taught by Conn in order to allow intersurface diffusion to be completed (col. 11, line 1).
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1 (regarding the limitation of the first flow path portion of claim 1) have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument (the teaching reference Yano, US PGPub No. 2020/0018553).
Applicant's arguments filed 8/7/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
In response to applicant’s argument that the heat exchangers of Wang and Yajima are directed to different technical fields and replacing the metallic blocks in Wang for plastic frame 3 of Yajima defeat high pressure capability in Wang (first and second arguments on page 11 of remarks), it is noted that the metallic blocks in Wang used in high pressure applications are not directly being replaced by the low pressure plastic frame 3 of Yajima used in low pressure applications. Instead, the teaching of Yajima is relied upon the inlet/outlet layout or pattern of the frame 3 that the inlet/outlet may be parallel (shown in Fig. 3) or perpendicular (Paragraph 0024 in the translation of Yajima). The inlet/outlet layout or pattern of the frame 3 in Yajima may be provided in Wang in order to meet different orientations of the inlet/outlet. Therefore, such modification is unrelated to different field of applications of the heat exchangers and does not defeat the device of Wang as a result.
In response to applicant’s argument that the S shaped hole of Yajima is distinct from the opening in which the second fluid flows perpendicular to the discharge direction of the second fluid in claim 1 (third argument on page 11 of remarks), the S shaped hole shown in Fig. 3 of Yajima includes a mid section at the location of “41a” between the inlet and outlet where the fluid flows along a long side of the frame 3. The fluid flow gradually turns downstream at a curve of the S shape to the exhaust 44, which is perpendicular to the fluid flow direction at the location of “41a”. Therefore, Yajima teaches the requirement of the second fluid flow as set forth in claim 1.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Simpelaar (US 2,782,010 A) discloses corrugated strips 50 defining a plurality of first discharge flow paths and provided at discharge side of the frame 36a (Figs. 6 and 8).
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/JIANYING C ATKISSON/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3763
/F.K.L/Examiner, Art Unit 3763
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