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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election of Group I, claims 1, 2, 5-8, 11, and 12, in the reply filed on December 16, 2025 is acknowledged. Because applicant did not distinctly and specifically point out the supposed errors in the restriction requirement, the election has been treated as an election without traverse (MPEP § 818.01(a)). Claims 14-18, 20-28, 30-32, 34, and 36 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim.
Claim Objections
Claims 11 and 12 are objected to because of the following informalities:
In claim 11, at line 2: “in inserted” should be changed --is inserted--.
In claim 12, at line 2: “tow liner” should be changed to --tow line--.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claim 2 and 5-8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Regarding claim 2, the recitation of “the weighted tow lines” (plural, at line 1) lacks proper positive antecedent basis. Claim 1 merely recites “a weighted tow line” (singular, at line 6), and therefore, it appears that the recitation should be changed to --the weighted tow line--.
Regarding claim 5, the limitation “wherein the weight is configured to have a length greater than a length of one catalyst carrier, optionally greater than a length of two catalyst carriers, optionally greater than a length of three catalyst carriers; and in step iii) the weight is inserted into the inner channel of the uppermost one, optionally uppermost two, optionally uppermost three catalyst carriers” is considered indefinite because there is ambiguity as to the alternatives being covered by the claim.
Also, claim 1 sets forth “a stack of catalyst carriers” (at line 3), wherein a stack of catalyst carriers necessarily comprises two catalyst carriers. However, the further recitation of “three catalyst carriers” lacks proper positive antecedent basis. For the same reason, the recitations of the “uppermost two” and the “uppermost three” catalyst carriers are unclear.
Regarding claim 6, the limitation “wherein the thermocouple is configured to have a tip portion having a length greater than a length of one catalyst carrier, optionally greater than a length of two catalyst carriers, optionally greater than a length of three catalyst carriers; and in step vi) the tip portion of the thermocouple is fed into the inner channel of the uppermost one, optionally uppermost two, optionally uppermost three catalyst carriers” is considered indefinite because there is ambiguity as to the alternatives being covered by the claim.
Also, claim 1 sets forth “a stack of catalyst carriers” (at line 3), wherein a stack of catalyst carriers necessarily comprises two catalyst carriers. However, the further recitation of “three catalyst carriers” lacks proper positive antecedent basis. For the same reason, the recitations of the “uppermost two” and the “uppermost three” catalyst carriers are unclear.
The remaining claims are also rejected because they depend from a rejected base claim.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 1 is allowed. Claims 2 and 5-8 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action. Claims 11 and 12 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the claim objections set forth in this Office action.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
The closest prior art to Gray (US 2016/0325254 A1) discloses a method of installing a thermocouple in a reactor tube of a tubular reactor (i.e., “… a process for loading catalyst carriers into a reactor tube comprising inserting the catalyst carriers into the reactor tube and then feeding the temperature measuring means into the carriers,” see paragraph [0064]), the method comprising the steps of:
i) providing a stack of catalyst carriers 1 within the reactor tube 15 of the tubular reactor (see FIG. 3-5 and 9-10; paragraphs [0107]-[0113]), each catalyst carrier 1 comprising an inner channel that extends from a top to a bottom of the catalyst carrier (i.e., an inner channel through a tube 5 defined by an inner perforated wall 3, the tube having an opening at its upper end and drain hole 11 at its bottom end); and
vi) engaging the thermocouple T into the top of the reactor tube 15 within the inner channel 5 of the upper most catalyst carrier 1 of the stack (i.e., the thermocouple T is inserted into the upper most catalyst carrier 1 via a region shaped to assist the user in guiding the thermocouple into the catalyst carrier 1; see paragraphs [0062]-[0063]; FIG. 9-10).
In addition, Gray discloses that the method comprises the further step of guiding the thermocouple T down the reactor tube 15 through the inner channels 5 of the stack of catalyst carriers 1 into a desired installation portion of the thermocouple (i.e., thermocouple T is passed through the uppermost catalyst carrier 1 to a point of exit via the drain hole 11 at its bottom end, so that the thermocouple T may then be inserted into the inner channel 5 of the next catalyst carrier 1; the catalyst carriers 1 may include shaping at the point of exit which in use will serve to guide the thermocouple T as it exits one catalyst carrier 1 and direct it in the correct orientation for entry to the next catalyst carrier 1; see paragraph [0063]; FIG. 9-10).
Gray, however, fails to disclose or adequately suggest the claimed method in which the installation of the thermocouple T in the reactor tube 15 is further assisted by the provision of a weighted tow line attached at its trailing end to the thermocouple, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:
ii) providing a weighted tow line comprising a weight and a tow line that trails from the weight;
iii) inserting the weight into a top of the reactor tube 15 and into the inner channel 5 of an uppermost catalyst carrier of the stack 1;
iv) lowering the weighted tow line under gravity through the inner channel 5 of the uppermost catalyst carrier 1 and thereafter through the inner channels 5 of each of the remaining catalyst carriers 1 of the stack until the weighted tow line emerges from a bottom of the reactor tube 15;
v) attaching the thermocouple T to a trailing end of the tow line;
vi) engaging the thermocouple T into the top of the reactor tube 15 within the inner channel 5 of the uppermost catalyst carrier 1 of the stack; and
vii) pulling on the tow line from below the reactor tube 15 to pull the thermocouple T down the reactor tube 15 through the inner channels 5 of the stack of catalyst carriers 1 into a desired installation position of the thermocouple T.
The following references are also cited to further illustrate the state of the art:
Park et al. (US 2007/0116090 A1) discloses a method of installing a thermocouple in a reactor tube of a tubular reactor (see FIG. 8; paragraphs [0075]-[0083]), wherein the method comprises the steps of providing a guide structure 300 within the reactor tube 200 of the tubular reactor (see paragraph [0076]), wherein the guide structure 300 comprises inner channels (i.e., guide tubes 1; see FIG. 6) for centering a thermocouple within the reactor tube 200; inserting a thermocouple (i.e., a temperature sensor 100) into the top of the reactor tube 200 and guiding the thermocouple through the inner channels 1 of the guide structure 300; filling the reactor tube 200 with catalyst particles to form a catalyst-filled bed and moving the guide structure 300 upwards in the axial direction in accordance to a height of the catalyst-filled bed being formed by the filling process (see paragraph [0080]); and removing the guide structure 300 from the reactor tube 200 after the completion of filling process.
Mekler et al. (US 2,369,478) discloses a reactor (see FIG. 1) comprising a stack of catalyst carriers (i.e., a plurality of catalyst trays 12) provided within a cylindrical outer shell 1 of the reactor, wherein each catalyst carrier 12 comprises and inner channel (i.e., a central conduit 18) that extends from a top to a bottom of the catalyst carrier. Mekler et al. further discloses that each or several of the catalyst carriers 12 is provided with a thermocouple well comprising a tubular member 36 attached to and extending through an outer wall structure of the respective catalyst carrier 12 into the space occupied by the catalyst, within which a thermocouple sheath 38 is inserted (see page 3, column 2, lines 60-72).
Ha (US 2006/0284723 A1) discloses a tubular reactor 20 (see FIG. 1, 3, 4; paragraph [0037]) comprising a reactor tube 10 filled with catalyst; a thermo-well tube 5 positioned within the reactor tube; and temperature measuring means installed within the thermo-well tube 5 for measuring the temperature of the catalyst; wherein the temperature measuring means comprises a first thermocouple 1 having a sensor 2, a second thermocouple 3 having a sensor 4, and a positioning system (i.e., including a pulley 6 for supporting the first thermocouple 1, a pulley 8 for supporting the second thermocouple 3, and winders 7,9 for respectively winding and drawing the first thermocouple 1 and the second thermocouple 3) for adjusting the position of the first and second thermocouples within the thermo-well tube.
Walton (US 2,646,681) discloses a reactor (see FIG. 2; column 3, line 52, to column 4, line 20) comprising a reaction vessel 33; a thermocouple well 30 positioned within the reaction vessel; a thermocouple assembly comprising a plurality of thermocouples 11, 12, 13 fixedly mounted on a housing or block 14 having a shape and size adapted to pass through the thermocouple well 30; and an electrical cable 42 would around a drum 44 at one end thereof and connected to the thermocouple assembly at an opposite end therefor; wherein the thermocouple assembly is configured to be raised or lowered within the thermocouple well 30 by regulating the amount of electrical cable 42 that is unwound from the drum 44.
Springfield (US 3,637,438) discloses a reactor comprising a vessel 10; a well 20 comprising a tube inserted into the vessel; and a thermocouple assembly 30 to be inserted into the well 20; wherein the thermocouple assembly comprises a hollow tubular central support member 31, a plurality of spaced apart spider or positioning means 40, and a plurality of thermocouple cable guides 51 each having a thermocouple junction, wrapped around the central support member 31. Springfield (US 3,263,502) also discloses a similar reactor having an alternative configuration of the spider or positioning means (i.e., means 20, see FIG. 4-5).
The cited references fail to disclose or adequately teach the instantly claimed method of installing a thermocouple in a reactor tube of a tubular reactor.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JENNIFER A LEUNG whose telephone number is (571)272-1449. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM EST.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, CLAIRE X WANG can be reached at (571)270-1051. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/JENNIFER A LEUNG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1774