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 .
This communication is responsive to application filed on 04/14/2023.
Claims 1-10 have been canceled.
Claims 11-24 are presented for examination.
Preliminary Amendments
Applicant’s preliminary amendments have been fully considered and are entered.
Priority
Acknowledgment is made of applicant’s claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 (a)-(d). The certified copy has been filed on 06/06/2023.
Specification
The abstract of the disclosure is objected to because the length of the abstract should be limited to 150 words. A corrected abstract of the disclosure is required and must be presented on a separate sheet, apart from any other text. See MPEP § 608.01(b).
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 15 is 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. It is unclear whether claim 15 depends on claim 11 or it’s independent claim. Therefore, it is indefinite and vague.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101
35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows:
Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title.
Claims 11-24 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to an abstract idea without significantly more.
Step 1 (Does this claim fall within at least one statutory category?):
Claims 11-22 are directed to a method.
Claims 23-24 are directed to a system.
Therefore, claims 11-24 fall into at least one of the four statutory categories.
Step 2A, Prong 1: ((a) identify the specific limitation(s) in the claim that recites an abstract idea: and (b) determine whether the identified limitation(s) falls within at least one of the groups of abstract ideas enumerates in MPEP 2106.04(a)(2)):
Claims 1-10: Canceled.
Claim 11:
A safety evaluation method for a straight-section external guide cylinder, wherein the straight-section external guide cylinder is provided with an internal distributor, and comprises four elements, namely, an inner cylinder body, an outer cylinder body, an end plate, and an internal distributor cylinder body, and the safety evaluation method for the straight-section external guide cylinder comprises:
establishing a 1/2 symmetrical mechanical model based on symmetrical structural characteristics and real load conditions of the straight-section external guide cylinder, wherein the 1/2 symmetrical mechanical model comprises an initial wall thickness of the inner cylinder body with an inner diameter of R1, an initial wall thickness of the outer cylinder body with an inner diameter of R., an initial wall thickness of the end plate connecting the inner cylinder body to the outer cylinder body, and an initial wall thickness of the internal distributor cylinder body with an inner diameter of R1; and the real load conditions comprise a medium internal pressure load and a set axial force load of the straight-section external guide cylinder [“mental process i.e. concepts performed with pen and paper (including an observation, evaluation judgement, opinion)];
constructing a radial displacement formula and a rotation angle formula for each element in the straight-section external guide cylinder based on the 1/2 symmetrical mechanical model, wherein the radial displacement formula for each element in the straight-section external guide cylinder comprises a radial displacement formula of the inner cylinder body at a connecting joint, a radial displacement formula of the outer cylinder body at a connecting joint, a radial displacement formula of the end plate at Rt, a radial displacement formula of the end plate at R., and a radial displacement formula of the internal distributor cylinder body at a connecting joint; and the rotation angle formula for each element in the straight-section external guide cylinder comprises a rotation angle formula of the inner cylinder body at the connecting joint, a rotation angle formula of the outer cylinder body at the connecting joint, a rotation angle formula of the end plate at Rt, a rotation angle formula of the end plate at Ro, and a rotation angle formula of the internal distributor cylinder body at the connecting joint [mathematical concepts];
constructing seven-order matrix equations based on the radial displacement formula and the rotation angle formula for each element in the straight-section external guide cylinder, wherein the seven-order matrix equations represent a deformation coordination relationship and an interaction force relationship among the inner cylinder body, the outer cylinder body, the end plate and the internal distributor cylinder body in the straight-section external guide cylinder [mathematical concepts];
calculating a stress at each position of each element in the straight-section external guide cylinder based on a solution of the seven-order matrix equations, wherein the stress comprises a bending stress and a membrane stress of the outer cylinder body, a bending stress and a membrane stress of the end plate, a bending stress and a membrane stress of the inner cylinder body, and a bending stress and a membrane stress of the internal distributor cylinder body; the bending stress of each cylinder body comprises a circumferential bending stress and a meridional bending stress; the membrane stress of the cylinder body comprises a circumferential membrane stress and a meridional membrane stress; the cylinder body comprises the outer cylinder body, the inner cylinder body, and the internal distributor cylinder body; the bending stress of the end plate comprises a circumferential bending stress and a radial bending stress; the membrane stress of the end plate comprises a circumferential membrane stress and a radial membrane stress [mathematical concepts]; and
determining a maximum stress of each element in the straight-section external guide cylinder based on the stress at each position of each element in the straight-section external guide cylinder, and performing strength evaluation on the element in the straight-section external guide cylinder based on the maximum stress of each element in the straight-section external guide cylinder, to determine a final wall thickness of each element, wherein the maximum stress comprises a maximum bending stress and a maximum membrane stress [mathematical concepts].
Step 2A, Prong 2 (1. Identifying whether there are any additional elements recited in the claim beyond the judicial exception; and 2. Evaluating those additional elements individually and in combination to determine whether the claim as a whole integrates the exception into a practical application): The claim is directed to the judicial exception.
Claim 11 has no additional limitations that integrate the abstract idea into a practical application.
Step 2B: (Does the claim recite additional elements that amount to significantly more than the judicial exception? No):
Claim 11 has no additional limitations that integrate the abstract idea into an inventive concept.
As per claims 12-22, the claims fall into [mathematical concepts].
As per Claim 23, claim 23 recites limitations analogous in scope to those of claim 11, and as such are similar rejected.
As per claim 24, the claim falls into [mathematical concepts].
35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows:
Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title.
Claim 23 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 as being directed to non-statutory subject matter since the claim merely drawn to computer software per se. The claim does not seem to require any hardware or physical component to perform its function. As such, the claim appears to be system software per se and are therefore non-statutory.
Dependent claim 24 does not resolve the system software per se in the independent claim 23, and thus are also rejected under 35 USC 101 by virtue of its dependence on the rejected independent claim.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 11-24 are allowable over prior arts.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Ratner et al (US Patent No. 5, 654, 900) discloses valuating forces distributed in the structure and estimating arithmetic mean value of said forces; measuring total deformation caused by these forces; determining actual geometrical stiffness of tested structure using data of mean value of forces and total deformation, R.sub.a =F.sub.m /ED; calculating optimal geometrical stiffness required by mean value of distributed forces with new equation of elastic stability, R.sub.o =(F.sub.m /EC.sub.s).sup.0.5 where C.sub.s is a coefficient of elastic stability; comparing optimal geometrical stiffness with actual in order to exclude coefficient `K` and to correct cross-sectional dimensions so that optimal geometrical stiffness is attained, R.sub.o /R.sub.a =I.sub.o /I.sub.a (See: Col. 6 lines 25-39).
Bianco et al (US Patent No. 7, 739, 059 B2) discloses calculating the residual stress equilibrium of two elastoplastic cylinders coldworked by expansion to obtain interference fit. The deformation state due to an internal expansion load applied to an inner cylinder that will result in interference of the inner cylinder with the outer cylinder can be calculated. The deformation state due to an unloading of the internal expansion load that will result in assembly of the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder can be calculated. The residual stresses, residual displacement and residual strains in the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, whether they are eventually interference fitted or not, can all be calculated and recorded (Abstract).
However, none of the cited prior art references of record fully anticipate or render obvious the independent claims in particular the limitation of:
“constructing seven-order matrix equations based on the radial displacement formula and the rotation angle formula for each element in the straight-section external guide cylinder, wherein the seven-order matrix equations represent a deformation coordination relationship and an interaction force relationship among the inner cylinder body, the outer cylinder body, the end plate and the internal distributor cylinder body in the straight-section external guide cylinder; calculating a stress at each position of each element in the straight-section external guide cylinder based on a solution of the seven-order matrix equations, wherein the stress comprises a bending stress and a membrane stress of the outer cylinder body, a bending stress and a 30 membrane stress of the end plate, a bending stress and a membrane stress of the inner cylinder body, and a bending stress and a membrane stress of the internal distributor cylinder body; the bending stress of each cylinder body comprises a circumferential bending stress and a meridional bending stress; the membrane stress of the cylinder body comprises a circumferential membrane stress and a meridional membrane stress; the cylinder body comprises the outer cylinder body, the inner cylinder body, and the internal distributor cylinder body; the bending stress of the end plate comprises a circumferential bending stress and a radial bending stress; the membrane stress of the end plate comprises a circumferential membrane stress and a radial membrane stress; and determining a maximum stress of each element in the straight-section external guide cylinder based on the stress at each position of each element in the straight-section external guide cylinder, and performing strength evaluation on the element in the straight-section external guide cylinder based on the maximum stress of each element in the straight-section external guide cylinder, to determine a final wall thickness of each element, wherein the maximum stress comprises a maximum bending stress and a maximum membrane stress” as recited in claims 11, and 23.
Conclusion
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KIBROM K. GEBRESILASSIE
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2189
/KIBROM K GEBRESILASSIE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2189 07/08/2026
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