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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 May 14th, 2026 has been entered.
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see Pg. 10 (as numbered by Applicant) of the remarks filed May 14th, 2026, with respect to the drawing objection have been fully considered and are persuasive. The drawing objection has been withdrawn.
Applicant’s arguments, see Pg. 10-16 (as numbered by Applicant) of the remarks filed May 14th, specifically the arguments that the asserted combination lacks fluidically isolated and structurally separate first and second removal lines and that the asserted combination lacks common refueling device/common consumer connection branching architecture with respect to Claims 1 and 19 have been fully considered and are persuasive. The 35 U.S.C 103 rejections of Claims 1 and 19 have been withdrawn.
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities:
Pg. 9, paragraph 48: “the consumer device 10” should read “the consumer device”
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.
Claims 1, 3, 5, 7, 13, 19, 23 and 25 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.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the consumer device" in line 11. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. The Examiner recommends changing “the consumer device” in line 11 of claim 1 to “a consumer device”.
Claim 3 recites the limitation "the first consumer connection" in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. The Examiner recommends changing “the first consumer connection” in line 3 of claim 3 to “the common consumer connection”. For purposes of examination, the Examiner will interpret the first consumer connection and the common consumer connection to be the same components.
Claim 3 recites the limitation "the second consumer connection" in line 5. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. The Examiner recommends changing “the second consumer connection” in line 5 of claim 3 to “the common consumer connection”. For purposes of examination, the Examiner will interpret the second consumer connection and the common consumer connection to be the same components.
Claim 19 recites the limitation "the consumer device" in line 10. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. The Examiner recommends changing “the consumer device” in line 10 of claim 19 to “a consumer device”.
Claim 19, lines 36-38 recite, “a second internal tank heat exchanger arranged in the storage container at the second removal line and operable to heat the liquid form of the cryogenic medium in the storage container; and” which is unclear to the Examiner as to how the limitation further limits the claim as the recitation is duplicative of the recitation of lines 30-32 of claim 19. For purposes of examination, the Examiner will interpret the recitation of lines 36-38 to be purely duplicative of the recitation of lines 30-32. the Examiner recommends removing one of these duplicative limitations.
Claim 23, lines 3-5 recite, “a second gas line heat exchanger arranged internally in the storage container downstream of the first gas line heat exchanger and operable to heat the gaseous form of the cryogenic medium” which is unclear to the Examiner if the gaseous form of the cryogenic medium being heated is the gaseous form within the tank or the gaseous form within the gas line. This recitation is further unclear as per Fig. 1 and 4 (the elected embodiment) the internal heat exchangers are both depicted in the liquid phase of the storage container which means the gaseous form extracted in the gas line would be cooled by the liquid form within the tank and the liquid form within the tank would be heated. For purposes of examination, the Examiner will interpret the claim to read “a second gas line heat exchanger arranged internally in the storage container downstream of the first gas line heat exchanger and operable to heat the liquid form of the cryogenic medium in the storage container” which is consistent with what is claimed in claim 1 and 19 and depicted by the Figures. The Examiner recommends amending the claim to read as interpreted herein.
Claim 25, lines 3-5 recite, “a second liquid line heat exchanger arranged internally in the storage container downstream of the first liquid line heat exchanger and operable to heat the liquid form of the cryogenic medium” which is unclear to the Examiner if the liquid form of the cryogenic medium being heated is the liquid form within the tank or the liquid form within the gas line. This recitation is further unclear as per Fig. 1 and 4 (the elected embodiment) the internal heat exchangers are both depicted in the liquid phase of the storage container which means the liquid form extracted in the liquid line would be cooled by the liquid form after being heated in the first external heat exchanger within the tank and the liquid form within the tank would be heated by the partially evaporated liquid form within the liquid line. For purposes of examination, the Examiner will interpret the claim to read “a second liquid line heat exchanger arranged internally in the storage container downstream of the first liquid line heat exchanger and operable to heat the liquid form of the cryogenic medium in the storage container” which is consistent with what is claimed in claim 1 and 19 and depicted by the Figures. The Examiner recommends amending the claim to read as interpreted herein.
Claims 3, 5, and 7 are also rejected by virtue of their dependency on claim 1.
Claim 13 is also rejected by virtue of its dependency on claim 7.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1 and 19 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.
Regarding claim 1, the following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: The prior at does not anticipate nor render obvious the combination set forth in the independent claims, and specifically does not disclose the following: the second removal line, isolated from and not in fluid-conducting connection with the first removal line.
Although the closest prior art of record, Scocchi et al. (WO 2023274559), hereinafter Scocchi in view of Brunner et al. (US Patent No. 9,784,410), hereinafter Brunner and Allidieres (US 20240183497), hereinafter Allidieres disclose a storage system for storing a cryogenic medium that is partially in liquid form and partially in gaseous form (Fig. 1, liquid hydrogen fuel supply system 1; Pg. 8, paragraph 20, Figure 1 depicts schematically a fuel tank arrangement in a liquid hydrogen fuel supply system 1; Pg. 8, paragraph 21, In the embodiment of Fig 1 the tank 10 end of the inlet line 11 is branched 11a, 11b and the branches are provided with valves 11a1, 11b1 for selectable open and close the inlet line 11 end to a liquid space of the tank 10 or to a gas space of the tank 10), the storage system comprising:
a storage container operable to store the cryogenic medium (Fig. 1, tank 10);
gas lines (Fig. 1, inlet line 11, branch 11a, gas outlet line 12a)
a gas refueling line extending from the interior of the storage container to a common refueling device to facilitate the selective refueling of the storage container with the gaseous form of the cryogenic medium (Fig. 1, bunkering station connection B, inlet line 11, branch 11a; Pg. 8, paragraph 21, In the embodiment of Fig 1 the tank 10 end of the inlet line 11 is branched 11a, 11b and the branches are provided with valves 11a1, 11b1 for selectable open and close the inlet line 11 end to a liquid space of the tank 10 or to a gas space of the tank 10),
a gas supply line that delivers the gaseous form of the cryogenic medium to a common consumer connection for supply to the consumer device (Fig. 1, gas outlet line 12a, gas consumer 8; Pg. 9, paragraph 22, In this case the gas outlet line 12a may also be connected to a compressor Comp_in for pressurizing the gas and then led back from Comp_out to the consumer 8);
a first controllable line shut-off valve arranged in the gas lines and operable to selectively control flow of the gaseous form of the cryogenic medium from/to the storage container (Fig. 1, valve 111, valve 112, valve 11a1, valve 126);
liquid lines (Fig. 1, inlet line 11, branch 11b, liquid outlet line 12b);
a liquid refueling line extending from the interior of the storage container to the common refueling device to facilitate the selective refueling of the storage container with the liquid form of the cryogenic medium (Fig. 1, bunkering station connection B, inlet line 11, branch 11b; Pg. 8, paragraph 21, In the embodiment of Fig 1 the tank 10 end of the inlet line 11 is branched 11a, 11b and the branches are provided with valves 11a1, 11b1 for selectable open and close the inlet line 11 end to a liquid space of the tank 10 or to a gas space of the tank 10),
a liquid supply line that delivers the liquid form of the cryogenic medium to the common consumer connection for supply to the consumer device (Pg. 9, paragraph 22, The embodiment of Fig. 1 presents further a liquid outlet line 12b for supplying liquid fuel from the liquid space of the tank 10. A pump 153 may be used for providing the liquid fuel further. A gas outlet line 12a is for supplying gaseous fuel from the gas space of the tank 10. Liquid hydrogen is very prone in forming gas in the tank, so called boil-off gas, and that is also useful to be able to lead to a consumer 8, such as an engine or a fuel cell system and corresponding systems. A main gas evaporator 152 is connected to the liquid outlet line 12b for evaporating liquid fuel into gaseous form and supplying gaseous fuel for a consumer 8);
a second controllable line shut-off valve arranged in the liquid lines and operable to selectively control flow of the liquid form of the cryogenic medium from/to the storage container (Fig. 1, valve 111, valve 112, valve 11b1, valve 121);
However, Scocchi does not disclose the gas lines to be a single line used for both filling and removal of gaseous form of the cryogenic medium and the liquid lines to be a single line used for filling and removal of the liquid form of the cryogenic medium;
wherein the gas refueling line includes a portion that branches from the gas refueling line to return the gaseous form of the cryogenic medium to the storage container and then delivers the gaseous form of the cryogenic medium to a common consumer connection for supply to the consumer device;
wherein the liquid refueling line includes a portion that branches from the liquid refueling portion to return the liquid form of the cryogenic medium to the storage container and then deliver the liquid form of the cryogenic medium to the common consumer connection for supply to the consumer device;
a third external heat exchanger arranged in the liquid supply line external to the storage container, and operable to heat the liquid form of the cryogenic medium in the liquid removal line;
a second internal tank heat exchanger arranged in the storage container at the liquid supply line and operable to heat the liquid form of the cryogenic medium in the storage container; and
a fourth external heat exchanger arranged in the liquid supply line downstream of the second internal tank heat exchanger, external to the storage container, and operable to heat the liquid form of the cryogenic medium in the liquid supply line.
Brunner teaches a single line that is used for both filling and removal of the cryogenic medium that includes a portion that branches from the refueling portion to return the cryogenic medium to the storage container and then deliver the cryogenic medium to the common consumer connection for supply to the consumer device (Fig. 1, cryopressure tank 1, filling/removal line 23, supply line 6, consumer V; Col. 6, lines 4-7 and 10-15, The inner tank 1a can be filled with cryogenic hydrogen in the supercritical state via a combined and thus single-flow filling and removal line 23, and hydrogen can be removed from the inner tank 1a via this filling/removal line 23… For this, the valve unit 4 is connected to a first or external heat exchanger 5a through which, on the one side, a first heat transfer circuit 15 and secondly a supply line 6 are fed. The supply line 6 extends from the valve unit 4 and thereby connects to the filling/removal line 23 finally leads to the already mentioned consumer V);
a third external heat exchanger arranged in the liquid supply line external to the storage container, and operable to heat the liquid form of the cryogenic medium in the liquid removal line (Fig. 1, first heat exchanger 5a; Col. 6, lines 15-19, The supply line 6 is in heat-transferring communication with the first heat transfer circuit 15 via the heat exchanger 5a so that the hydrogen carried in the supply line 6 is heated in the external first heat exchanger 5a);
a second internal tank heat exchanger arranged in the storage container at the liquid supply line and operable to heat the liquid form of the cryogenic medium in the storage container (Fig. 1, second heat exchanger 9; Col. 6, lines 24-29, A branch line 8 branches off from the tank pressure control valve 7a, through which branch line 8 the hydrogen removed from the cryopressure tank 1 and heated in the first (external) heat exchanger 5a is fed into a second (internal) heat exchanger 9 provided within the inner tank la of the cryopressure tank 1.); and
a fourth external heat exchanger arranged in the liquid supply line downstream of the second internal tank heat exchanger, external to the storage container, and operable to heat the liquid form of the cryogenic medium in the liquid supply line (Fig. 1, third heat exchanger 5b; Col. 6, lines 34-40 This recirculation line 10 is first fed through a third (external) heat exchanger 5b, which is connected in parallel to the first (external) heat exchanger 5a and is supplied by the same heat transfer circuit 15. In the third (external) heat exchanger 5b, the hydrogen cooled in the second heat exchanger 9 is heated again through heat exchange with the mentioned heat transfer circuit 15).
Scocchi fails to teach the gas lines to be a single line used for both filling and removal of gaseous form of the cryogenic medium and the liquid lines to be a single line used for filling and removal of the liquid form of the cryogenic medium; wherein the gas refueling line includes a portion that branches from the gas refueling line to return the gaseous form of the cryogenic medium to the storage container and then delivers the gaseous form of the cryogenic medium to a common consumer connection for supply to the consumer device; wherein the liquid refueling line includes a portion that branches from the liquid refueling portion to return the liquid form of the cryogenic medium to the storage container and then deliver the liquid form of the cryogenic medium to the common consumer connection for supply to the consumer device; a third external heat exchanger arranged in the liquid supply line external to the storage container, and operable to heat the liquid form of the cryogenic medium in the liquid removal line; a second internal tank heat exchanger arranged in the storage container at the liquid supply line and operable to heat the liquid form of the cryogenic medium in the storage container; and a fourth external heat exchanger arranged in the liquid supply line downstream of the second internal tank heat exchanger, external to the storage container, and operable to heat the liquid form of the cryogenic medium in the liquid supply line, however Brunner teaches that it is a known method in the art of cryogenic storage systems to include a single line that is used for both filling and removal of the cryogenic medium that includes a portion that branches from the refueling portion to return the cryogenic medium to the storage container and then deliver the cryogenic medium to the common consumer connection for supply to the consumer device; a third external heat exchanger arranged in the liquid supply line external to the storage container, and operable to heat the liquid form of the cryogenic medium in the liquid removal line; a second internal tank heat exchanger arranged in the storage container at the liquid supply line and operable to heat the liquid form of the cryogenic medium in the storage container; and a fourth external heat exchanger arranged in the liquid supply line downstream of the second internal tank heat exchanger, external to the storage container, and operable to heat the liquid form of the cryogenic medium in the liquid supply line. This is strong evidence that modifying Scocchi as claimed would produce predictable results (i.e. ensuring the cryogenic medium is both stored and delivered with desired temperature and pressure conditions to improve overall system efficiency and safety). Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Scocchi by Brunner and arrive at the claimed invention since all claimed elements were known in the art and one having ordinary skill in the art could have combined the elements as claimed by known methods with no changes in their respective functions and the combination would have yielded the predictable result of ensuring the cryogenic medium is both stored and delivered with desired temperature and pressure conditions to improve overall system efficiency and safety.
Further, Scocchi as modified does not disclose a first external heat exchanger arranged in the gas line and external to the storage container;
a first internal tank heat exchanger arranged in the storage container at the gas supply line and operable to heat the liquid form of the cryogenic medium in the storage container; and
a second external heat exchanger arranged in the gas supply line downstream of the first internal tank heat exchanger and external to the storage container.
Allidieres teaches a first external heat exchanger arranged in the gas line and external to the storage container (Fig. 1, tank 2, withdraw line 3, upstream end 13, first heat exchanger 4; Pg. 2, paragraph 32, The first withdrawal line 3 comprises a first heating heat exchanger 4 located outside the tank 2 and a second heating heat exchanger 5 located inside the tank 2, preferably in the liquid part, that is to say in the lower part);
a first internal tank heat exchanger arranged in the storage container at the gas supply line and operable to heat the liquid form of the cryogenic medium in the storage container (Fig. 1, second heat exchanger 5; Pg. 2, paragraph 33, The withdrawal circuit comprises an assembly of one or more valves 6 that is configured to ensure the passage of a flow of fluid circulating from the first end 13 to the second end 23, in the process entering the first heat exchanger 4 and then the second heat exchanger 5 or in the process entering solely the first heat exchanger 4); and
a second external heat exchanger arranged in the gas supply line downstream of the first internal tank heat exchanger and external to the storage container (Fig. 1, third heat exchanger 12; Pg. 2, paragraph 36, As illustrated, the withdrawal circuit may have a third heat exchanger 12 disposed in series downstream of the second heat exchanger 5 such that the third heat exchanger 12 receives the flow that has passed into the first heat exchanger 4 and then into the second heat exchanger 5).
Scocchi as modified fails to teach a first external heat exchanger arranged in the gas line and external to the storage container; a first internal tank heat exchanger arranged in the storage container at the gas supply line and operable to heat the liquid form of the cryogenic medium in the storage container; and a second external heat exchanger arranged in the gas supply line downstream of the first internal tank heat exchanger and external to the storage container, however Allidieres teaches that it is a known method in the art of cryogenic storage systems to include a first external heat exchanger arranged in the gas line and external to the storage container; a first internal tank heat exchanger arranged in the storage container at the gas supply line and operable to heat the liquid form of the cryogenic medium in the storage container; and a second external heat exchanger arranged in the gas supply line downstream of the first internal tank heat exchanger and external to the storage container. This is strong evidence that modifying Scocchi as modified as claimed would produce predictable results (i.e. ensuring the cryogenic medium is both stored and delivered with desired temperature and pressure conditions to improve overall system efficiency and safety). Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Scocchi as modified by Allidieres and arrive at the claimed invention since all claimed elements were known in the art and one having ordinary skill in the art could have combined the elements as claimed by known methods with no changes in their respective functions and the combination would have yielded the predictable result of ensuring the cryogenic medium is both stored and delivered with desired temperature and pressure conditions to improve overall system efficiency and safety.
However, there is no teaching in the prior art of record that would, reasonably and absent impermissible hindsight, motivate one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the teachings of the prior art to provide the second removal line, isolated from and not in fluid-conducting connection with the first removal line, in combination with all other claimed features.
Regarding claim 19, the following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: The prior at does not anticipate nor render obvious the combination set forth in the independent claims, and specifically does not disclose the following: the second removal line, isolated from and not in fluid-conducting connection with the first removal line.
Although the closest prior art of record, Scocchi et al. (WO 2023274559), hereinafter Scocchi in view of Brunner et al. (US Patent No. 9,784,410), hereinafter Brunner and Allidieres (US 20240183497), hereinafter Allidieres disclose a storage system for storing a cryogenic medium that is partially in liquid form and partially in gaseous form (Fig. 1, liquid hydrogen fuel supply system 1; Pg. 8, paragraph 20, Figure 1 depicts schematically a fuel tank arrangement in a liquid hydrogen fuel supply system 1; Pg. 8, paragraph 21, In the embodiment of Fig 1 the tank 10 end of the inlet line 11 is branched 11a, 11b and the branches are provided with valves 11a1, 11b1 for selectable open and close the inlet line 11 end to a liquid space of the tank 10 or to a gas space of the tank 10), the storage system comprising:
a storage container operable to store the cryogenic medium (Fig. 1, tank 10);
gas lines (Fig. 1, inlet line 11, branch 11a, gas outlet line 12a)
a gas refueling line extending from the interior of the storage container to a common refueling device to facilitate the selective refueling of the storage container with the gaseous form of the cryogenic medium (Fig. 1, bunkering station connection B, inlet line 11, branch 11a; Pg. 8, paragraph 21, In the embodiment of Fig 1 the tank 10 end of the inlet line 11 is branched 11a, 11b and the branches are provided with valves 11a1, 11b1 for selectable open and close the inlet line 11 end to a liquid space of the tank 10 or to a gas space of the tank 10),
a gas supply line that delivers the gaseous form of the cryogenic medium to a common consumer connection for supply to the consumer device (Fig. 1, gas outlet line 12a, gas consumer 8; Pg. 9, paragraph 22, In this case the gas outlet line 12a may also be connected to a compressor Comp_in for pressurizing the gas and then led back from Comp_out to the consumer 8);
a first controllable line shut-off valve arranged in the gas lines and operable to selectively control flow of the gaseous form of the cryogenic medium from/to the storage container (Fig. 1, valve 111, valve 112, valve 11a1, valve 126);
liquid lines (Fig. 1, inlet line 11, branch 11b, liquid outlet line 12b);
a liquid refueling line extending from the interior of the storage container to the common refueling device to facilitate the selective refueling of the storage container with the liquid form of the cryogenic medium (Fig. 1, bunkering station connection B, inlet line 11, branch 11b; Pg. 8, paragraph 21, In the embodiment of Fig 1 the tank 10 end of the inlet line 11 is branched 11a, 11b and the branches are provided with valves 11a1, 11b1 for selectable open and close the inlet line 11 end to a liquid space of the tank 10 or to a gas space of the tank 10),
a liquid supply line that delivers the liquid form of the cryogenic medium to the common consumer connection for supply to the consumer device (Pg. 9, paragraph 22, The embodiment of Fig. 1 presents further a liquid outlet line 12b for supplying liquid fuel from the liquid space of the tank 10. A pump 153 may be used for providing the liquid fuel further. A gas outlet line 12a is for supplying gaseous fuel from the gas space of the tank 10. Liquid hydrogen is very prone in forming gas in the tank, so called boil-off gas, and that is also useful to be able to lead to a consumer 8, such as an engine or a fuel cell system and corresponding systems. A main gas evaporator 152 is connected to the liquid outlet line 12b for evaporating liquid fuel into gaseous form and supplying gaseous fuel for a consumer 8);
a second controllable line shut-off valve arranged in the liquid lines and operable to selectively control flow of the liquid form of the cryogenic medium from/to the storage container (Fig. 1, valve 111, valve 112, valve 11b1, valve 121);
However, Scocchi does not disclose the gas lines to be a single line used for both filling and removal of gaseous form of the cryogenic medium and the liquid lines to be a single line used for filling and removal of the liquid form of the cryogenic medium;
wherein the gas refueling line includes a portion that branches from the gas refueling line to return the gaseous form of the cryogenic medium to the storage container and then delivers the gaseous form of the cryogenic medium to a common consumer connection for supply to the consumer device;
wherein the liquid refueling line includes a portion that branches from the liquid refueling portion to return the liquid form of the cryogenic medium to the storage container and then deliver the liquid form of the cryogenic medium to the common consumer connection for supply to the consumer device;
a second internal tank heat exchanger arranged in the storage container at the liquid supply line and operable to heat the liquid form of the cryogenic medium in the storage container; and
a third external heat exchanger arranged in the liquid supply line external to the storage container, and operable to heat the liquid form of the cryogenic medium in the liquid removal line;
a second internal tank heat exchanger arranged in the storage container at the liquid supply line and operable to heat the liquid form of the cryogenic medium in the storage container; and
a fourth external heat exchanger arranged in the liquid supply line downstream of the second internal tank heat exchanger, external to the storage container, and operable to heat the liquid form of the cryogenic medium in the liquid supply line.
Brunner teaches a single line that is used for both filling and removal of the cryogenic medium that includes a portion that branches from the refueling portion to return the cryogenic medium to the storage container and then deliver the cryogenic medium to the common consumer connection for supply to the consumer device (Fig. 1, cryopressure tank 1, filling/removal line 23, supply line 6, consumer V; Col. 6, lines 4-7 and 10-15, The inner tank 1a can be filled with cryogenic hydrogen in the supercritical state via a combined and thus single-flow filling and removal line 23, and hydrogen can be removed from the inner tank 1a via this filling/removal line 23… For this, the valve unit 4 is connected to a first or external heat exchanger 5a through which, on the one side, a first heat transfer circuit 15 and secondly a supply line 6 are fed. The supply line 6 extends from the valve unit 4 and thereby connects to the filling/removal line 23 finally leads to the already mentioned consumer V);
a second internal tank heat exchanger arranged in the storage container at the liquid supply line and operable to heat the liquid form of the cryogenic medium in the storage container (Fig. 1, second heat exchanger 9; Col. 6, lines 24-29, A branch line 8 branches off from the tank pressure control valve 7a, through which branch line 8 the hydrogen removed from the cryopressure tank 1 and heated in the first (external) heat exchanger 5a is fed into a second (internal) heat exchanger 9 provided within the inner tank la of the cryopressure tank 1.); and
a third external heat exchanger arranged in the liquid supply line external to the storage container, and operable to heat the liquid form of the cryogenic medium in the liquid removal line (Fig. 1, first heat exchanger 5a; Col. 6, lines 15-19, The supply line 6 is in heat-transferring communication with the first heat transfer circuit 15 via the heat exchanger 5a so that the hydrogen carried in the supply line 6 is heated in the external first heat exchanger 5a);
a second internal tank heat exchanger arranged in the storage container at the liquid supply line and operable to heat the liquid form of the cryogenic medium in the storage container (Fig. 1, second heat exchanger 9; Col. 6, lines 24-29, A branch line 8 branches off from the tank pressure control valve 7a, through which branch line 8 the hydrogen removed from the cryopressure tank 1 and heated in the first (external) heat exchanger 5a is fed into a second (internal) heat exchanger 9 provided within the inner tank la of the cryopressure tank 1; As best understood, see 112(b) rejections above); and
a fourth external heat exchanger arranged in the liquid supply line downstream of the second internal tank heat exchanger, external to the storage container, and operable to heat the liquid form of the cryogenic medium in the liquid supply line (Fig. 1, third heat exchanger 5b; Col. 6, lines 34-40 This recirculation line 10 is first fed through a third (external) heat exchanger 5b, which is connected in parallel to the first (external) heat exchanger 5a and is supplied by the same heat transfer circuit 15. In the third (external) heat exchanger 5b, the hydrogen cooled in the second heat exchanger 9 is heated again through heat exchange with the mentioned heat transfer circuit 15).
Scocchi fails to teach the gas lines to be a single line used for both filling and removal of gaseous form of the cryogenic medium and the liquid lines to be a single line used for filling and removal of the liquid form of the cryogenic medium; wherein the gas refueling line includes a portion that branches from the gas refueling line to return the gaseous form of the cryogenic medium to the storage container and then delivers the gaseous form of the cryogenic medium to a common consumer connection for supply to the consumer device; wherein the liquid refueling line includes a portion that branches from the liquid refueling portion to return the liquid form of the cryogenic medium to the storage container and then deliver the liquid form of the cryogenic medium to the common consumer connection for supply to the consumer device; a second internal tank heat exchanger arranged in the storage container at the liquid supply line and operable to heat the liquid form of the cryogenic medium in the storage container; a third external heat exchanger arranged in the liquid supply line external to the storage container, and operable to heat the liquid form of the cryogenic medium in the liquid removal line; a second internal tank heat exchanger arranged in the storage container at the liquid supply line and operable to heat the liquid form of the cryogenic medium in the storage container; and a fourth external heat exchanger arranged in the liquid supply line downstream of the second internal tank heat exchanger, external to the storage container, and operable to heat the liquid form of the cryogenic medium in the liquid supply line, however Brunner teaches that it is a known method in the art of cryogenic storage systems to include a single line that is used for both filling and removal of the cryogenic medium that includes a portion that branches from the refueling portion to return the cryogenic medium to the storage container and then deliver the cryogenic medium to the common consumer connection for supply to the consumer device; a second internal tank heat exchanger arranged in the storage container at the liquid supply line and operable to heat the liquid form of the cryogenic medium in the storage container; a third external heat exchanger arranged in the liquid supply line external to the storage container, and operable to heat the liquid form of the cryogenic medium in the liquid removal line; a second internal tank heat exchanger arranged in the storage container at the liquid supply line and operable to heat the liquid form of the cryogenic medium in the storage container; and a fourth external heat exchanger arranged in the liquid supply line downstream of the second internal tank heat exchanger, external to the storage container, and operable to heat the liquid form of the cryogenic medium in the liquid supply line. This is strong evidence that modifying Scocchi as claimed would produce predictable results (i.e. ensuring the cryogenic medium is both stored and delivered with desired temperature and pressure conditions to improve overall system efficiency and safety). Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Scocchi by Brunner and arrive at the claimed invention since all claimed elements were known in the art and one having ordinary skill in the art could have combined the elements as claimed by known methods with no changes in their respective functions and the combination would have yielded the predictable result of ensuring the cryogenic medium is both stored and delivered with desired temperature and pressure conditions to improve overall system efficiency and safety.
Further, Scocchi as modified does not disclose a first internal tank heat exchanger arranged in the storage container at the gas supply line and operable to heat the liquid form of the cryogenic medium in the storage container; and
a second external heat exchanger arranged in the gas supply line downstream of the first internal tank heat exchanger and external to the storage container.
Allidieres teaches a first internal tank heat exchanger arranged in the storage container at the gas supply line and operable to heat the liquid form of the cryogenic medium in the storage container (Fig. 1, tank 2, withdraw line 3, upstream end 13, second heat exchanger 5; Pg. 2, paragraph 33, The withdrawal circuit comprises an assembly of one or more valves 6 that is configured to ensure the passage of a flow of fluid circulating from the first end 13 to the second end 23, in the process entering the first heat exchanger 4 and then the second heat exchanger 5 or in the process entering solely the first heat exchanger 4); and
a second external heat exchanger arranged in the gas supply line downstream of the first internal tank heat exchanger and external to the storage container (Fig. 1, third heat exchanger 12; Pg. 2, paragraph 36, As illustrated, the withdrawal circuit may have a third heat exchanger 12 disposed in series downstream of the second heat exchanger 5 such that the third heat exchanger 12 receives the flow that has passed into the first heat exchanger 4 and then into the second heat exchanger 5).
Scocchi as modified fails to teach a first external heat exchanger arranged in the gas line and external to the storage container; a first internal tank heat exchanger arranged in the storage container at the gas supply line and operable to heat the liquid form of the cryogenic medium in the storage container; and a second external heat exchanger arranged in the gas supply line downstream of the first internal tank heat exchanger and external to the storage container, however Allidieres teaches that it is a known method in the art of cryogenic storage systems to include a first external heat exchanger arranged in the gas line and external to the storage container; a first internal tank heat exchanger arranged in the storage container at the gas supply line and operable to heat the liquid form of the cryogenic medium in the storage container; and a second external heat exchanger arranged in the gas supply line downstream of the first internal tank heat exchanger and external to the storage container. This is strong evidence that modifying Scocchi as modified as claimed would produce predictable results (i.e. ensuring the cryogenic medium is both stored and delivered with desired temperature and pressure conditions to improve overall system efficiency and safety). Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Scocchi as modified by Allidieres and arrive at the claimed invention since all claimed elements were known in the art and one having ordinary skill in the art could have combined the elements as claimed by known methods with no changes in their respective functions and the combination would have yielded the predictable result of ensuring the cryogenic medium is both stored and delivered with desired temperature and pressure conditions to improve overall system efficiency and safety.
However, there is no teaching in the prior art of record that would, reasonably and absent impermissible hindsight, motivate one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the teachings of the prior art to provide the second removal line, isolated from and not in fluid-conducting connection with the first removal line, in combination with all other claimed features.
Claims 3, 5, 7, and 13 would be allowable if rewritten 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 21-22, and 24 are allowed.
Regarding claim 21, the following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: The prior at does not anticipate nor render obvious the combination set forth in the independent claims, and specifically does not disclose the following: the liquid line, isolated from and not in fluid-conducting connection with the gas line.
Although the closest prior art of record, Scocchi et al. (WO 2023274559), hereinafter Scocchi in view of Brunner et al. (US Patent No. 9,784,410), hereinafter Brunner disclose a system (Fig. 1, liquid hydrogen fuel supply system 1) comprising:
a storage container defining an interior operable to store a cryogenic medium that is partially in liquid form and partially in gaseous form (Fig. 1, tank 10; Pg. 8, paragraph 20, Figure 1 depicts schematically a fuel tank arrangement in a liquid hydrogen fuel supply system 1; Pg. 8, paragraph 21, In the embodiment of Fig 1 the tank 10 end of the inlet line 11 is branched 11a, 11b and the branches are provided with valves 11a1, 11b1 for selectable open and close the inlet line 11 end to a liquid space of the tank 10 or to a gas space of the tank 10), the storage system comprising:
a common refueling device configured to facilitate selective refueling of the storage container with the cryogenic medium (Fig. 1, bunkering station connection B; Pg. 8, paragraph 21, The fuel is supplied to the tank 10 from a source connectable to a bunkering station connection B, through an inlet line 11 for supplying fuel to the tank 10);
a common consumer connection operable to facilitate selective supply of a consumer device with the cryogenic medium (Fig. 1, gas consumer 8; Pg. 9, paragraph 22, In this case the gas outlet line 12a may also be connected to a compressor Comp_in for pressurizing the gas and then led back from Comp_out to the consumer 8));
gas lines (Fig. 1, inlet line 11, branch 11a, gas outlet line 12a)
a gas refueling line extending from the interior of the storage container to a common refueling device to facilitate the selective refueling of the storage container with the gaseous form of the cryogenic medium (Fig. 1, inlet line 11, branch 11a; Pg. 8, paragraph 21, In the embodiment of Fig 1 the tank 10 end of the inlet line 11 is branched 11a, 11b and the branches are provided with valves 11a1, 11b1 for selectable open and close the inlet line 11 end to a liquid space of the tank 10 or to a gas space of the tank 10),
a gas supply line that delivers the gaseous form of the cryogenic medium to a common consumer connection for supply to the consumer device (Fig. 1, gas outlet line 12a, gas consumer 8; Pg. 9, paragraph 22, In this case the gas outlet line 12a may also be connected to a compressor Comp_in for pressurizing the gas and then led back from Comp_out to the consumer 8);
liquid lines (Fig. 1, inlet line 11, branch 11b, liquid outlet line 12b);
a liquid refueling line extending from the interior of the storage container to the common refueling device to facilitate the selective refueling of the storage container with the liquid form of the cryogenic medium (Fig. 1, bunkering station connection B, inlet line 11, branch 11b; Pg. 8, paragraph 21, In the embodiment of Fig 1 the tank 10 end of the inlet line 11 is branched 11a, 11b and the branches are provided with valves 11a1, 11b1 for selectable open and close the inlet line 11 end to a liquid space of the tank 10 or to a gas space of the tank 10),
a liquid supply line that delivers the liquid form of the cryogenic medium to the common consumer connection for supply to the consumer device (Pg. 9, paragraph 22, The embodiment of Fig. 1 presents further a liquid outlet line 12b for supplying liquid fuel from the liquid space of the tank 10. A pump 153 may be used for providing the liquid fuel further. A gas outlet line 12a is for supplying gaseous fuel from the gas space of the tank 10. Liquid hydrogen is very prone in forming gas in the tank, so called boil-off gas, and that is also useful to be able to lead to a consumer 8, such as an engine or a fuel cell system and corresponding systems. A main gas evaporator 152 is connected to the liquid outlet line 12b for evaporating liquid fuel into gaseous form and supplying gaseous fuel for a consumer 8);
However, Scocchi does not disclose the gas lines to be a single line used for both filling and removal of gaseous form of the cryogenic medium and the liquid lines to be a single line used for filling and removal of the liquid form of the cryogenic medium;
wherein the gas refueling line includes a portion that branches from the gas refueling line to return the gaseous form of the cryogenic medium to the storage container and then delivers the gaseous form of the cryogenic medium to a common consumer connection for supply to the consumer device;
wherein the liquid refueling line includes a portion that branches from the liquid refueling portion to return the liquid form of the cryogenic medium to the storage container and then deliver the liquid form of the cryogenic medium to the common consumer connection for supply to the consumer device.
Brunner teaches a single line that is used for both filling and removal of the cryogenic medium that includes a portion that branches from the refueling portion to return the cryogenic medium to the storage container and then deliver the cryogenic medium to the common consumer connection for supply to the consumer device (Fig. 1, cryopressure tank 1, filling/removal line 23, supply line 6, consumer V; Col. 6, lines 4-7 and 10-15, The inner tank 1a can be filled with cryogenic hydrogen in the supercritical state via a combined and thus single-flow filling and removal line 23, and hydrogen can be removed from the inner tank 1a via this filling/removal line 23… For this, the valve unit 4 is connected to a first or external heat exchanger 5a through which, on the one side, a first heat transfer circuit 15 and secondly a supply line 6 are fed. The supply line 6 extends from the valve unit 4 and thereby connects to the filling/removal line 23 finally leads to the already mentioned consumer V).
Scocchi fails to teach the gas lines to be a single line used for both filling and removal of gaseous form of the cryogenic medium and the liquid lines to be a single line used for filling and removal of the liquid form of the cryogenic medium; wherein the gas refueling line includes a portion that branches from the gas refueling line to return the gaseous form of the cryogenic medium to the storage container and then delivers the gaseous form of the cryogenic medium to a common consumer connection for supply to the consumer device; wherein the liquid refueling line includes a portion that branches from the liquid refueling portion to return the liquid form of the cryogenic medium to the storage container and then deliver the liquid form of the cryogenic medium to the common consumer connection for supply to the consumer device, however Brunner teaches that it is a known method in the art of cryogenic storage systems to include a single line that is used for both filling and removal of the cryogenic medium that includes a portion that branches from the refueling portion to return the cryogenic medium to the storage container and then deliver the cryogenic medium to the common consumer connection for supply to the consumer device. This is strong evidence that modifying Scocchi as claimed would produce predictable results (i.e. ensuring the cryogenic medium is both stored and delivered with desired temperature and pressure conditions to improve overall system efficiency and safety). Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Scocchi by Brunner and arrive at the claimed invention since all claimed elements were known in the art and one having ordinary skill in the art could have combined the elements as claimed by known methods with no changes in their respective functions and the combination would have yielded the predictable result of ensuring the cryogenic medium is both stored and delivered with desired temperature and pressure conditions to improve overall system efficiency and safety.
However, there is no teaching in the prior art of record that would, reasonably and absent impermissible hindsight, motivate one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the teachings of the prior art to provide the liquid line, isolated from and not in fluid-conducting connection with the gas line, in combination with all other claimed features.
Claims 22 and 24 are also allowed by virtue of their dependency on claim 21.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Claims 23 and 25 would be allowable if rewritten 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.
Conclusion
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/DEVON MOORE/Examiner, Art Unit 3763 May 29th, 2026
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