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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 12/02/2025 has been entered.
Status
This Office Action is in response to the remarks and amendments filed 12/02/2025. The 35 U.S.C. 112(b) rejection set forth in the previous Office Action have been withdrawn in light of the amendments and remarks filed. Claims 1-6, 8, 10-17 and 19-21 remain pending for consideration on the merits.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 10-11, 13, 15-17 and 19-21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Minamida (JP 2015021578 A).
Regarding Claim 10, Minamida teaches a reversing valve [Figs. 1-2] comprising:
a valve housing [1] defining a valve channel along a length thereof;
a discharge inlet assembly comprising first [11] and second [12] discharge ports extending from a surface of the valve housing [¶ 0032; Fig. 1; apparent from inspection];
a reversing assembly comprising:
first [21] and second [23] reversing ports extending from the surface of the valve housing [¶ 0035; Figs. 1-2]; and
a suction port [22] extending from the surface of the valve housing between the first and second reversing ports [¶ 0035; Figs. 1-2; apparent from inspection]; and
an actuator assembly [3] slidably disposed within the valve channel, the actuator assembly comprising:
a slider [portion of 3 surrounding 31] defining a slider cavity [31] [¶ 0036; valve body 3 is axially slideable within the cavity of body 1, such that passage 31 may be positioned over the first reversing port and the suction port (Fig. 1), or the passage 31 may be positioned over the second reversing port and the suction port (Fig. 2)]; and
an actuator seat [remaining portion of 3] defining a slider opening [Fig. 1; the actuator assembly 3 defines portion 31 carved out within the block portion, wherein portion 31 may provide connection to port 21, likened to a first slider opening of the instant Application, or portion 31 may provide connection to port 23, likened to a second slider opening of the instant Application], through which a portion of the slider is disposed [Fig. 1; apparent from inspection that sliding portion 31 is carved out of the block portion 3],
wherein the actuator assembly is selectively positionable between a first position [Fig. 2], wherein the first discharge port [11] is fluidly connected to the first reversing port [21; via 32] to define a discharge path [¶ 0047] and the suction port [22] is fluidly connected to the second reversing port [23] by the slider cavity [31] to define a suction path [Fig. 2; apparent from inspection], and a second position [Fig. 1], wherein the second discharge port [12] is fluidly connected to the second reversing port [23; via 33], wherein the discharge path [33] directly contacts the actuator seat [Fig. 1; path 33 is disposed in the part of the block portion 3 not making up the suction path 31, thus contacting the actuator seat] and the suction path separately directly contacts the slider to thermally insulate the discharge path from the suction path [Fig. 2; apparent from inspection that both discharge paths 32 and 33 are not in contact with path 31].
Regarding Claim 11, Minamida teaches the reversing valve of claim 10 above and Minamida teaches wherein the actuator seat defines a first discharge channel [32] and a second discharge channel [33], wherein the first discharge channel fluidly connects the first discharge port [11] to the first reversing port [21] when the actuator assembly is in the first position [Fig. 2], and wherein the second discharge channel fluidly connects the second discharge [12] port to the second reversing port [23] when the actuator assembly is in the second position [Fig. 1].
Regarding Claim 13, Minamida teaches the reversing valve of claim 10 above and Minamida teaches wherein the slider cavity [31] fluidly connects the first reversing port [21] to the suction port [22] when the actuator assembly is in the second position [Fig. 1].
Regarding Claim 15, Minamida teaches a reversing valve [Figs. 1-3] comprising:
a first reversing port [21];
a second reversing port [23];
a discharge port [4a, 4b] for providing a discharge flow to one of the first and second reversing ports [¶ 0006-0007; See Fig. 3, providing a single outlet for ports 4a and 4b when connected to either reversing ports 21 and 23];
a suction port [22] for receiving a suction flow from one of the first and second reversing ports [¶ 0037; Figs. 1-2; via pathway 31]; and
an actuator assembly [3], comprising
a slider [portion of 3 surrounding 31] defining a slider cavity [31] [¶ 0036; valve body 3 is axially slideable within the cavity of body 1]; and
an actuator seat [remaining portion of 3] defining a slider opening [Fig. 1; the actuator assembly 3 defines portion 31 carved out within the block portion, wherein portion 31 may provide connection to port 21, likened to a first slider opening of the instant Application, or portion 31 may provide connection to port 23, likened to a second slider opening of the instant Application], through which a portion of the slider is disposed [Fig. 1; apparent from inspection that sliding portion 31 is carved out of the block portion 3],
wherein the actuator assembly is selectively positionable between a first position [Fig. 2], wherein the first discharge port [11] is fluidly connected to the first reversing port [21; via 32] to define a discharge path [32] [¶ 0047] and the suction port [22] is fluidly connected to the second reversing port [23] by the slider cavity [31] to define a suction path [Fig. 2; apparent from inspection], wherein the discharge path [32] directly contacts the actuator seat [Fig. 1; path 32 is disposed in the part of the block portion 3 not making up the suction path 31, thus contacting the actuator seat], and the suction path separately directly contacts the slider to thermally insulate the discharge path from the suction path [Fig. 2; apparent from inspection that both discharge paths 32 and 33 are not in contact with path 31].
Regarding Claim 16, Minamida teaches the reversing valve of claim 15 above and Minamida teaches wherein the actuator assembly [3] is selectively positionable in a second position [Fig. 1], in which the discharge port [4a, 4b] provides the discharge flow to the second reversing port [23; via 33] and the first reversing port [21] provides the suction flow to the suction port [22; via 31].
Regarding Claim 17, Minamida teaches the reversing valve of claim 15 above and Minamida teaches wherein the actuator assembly is constructed from a thermally insulating material [¶ 0060-0061; Minamida describes utilizing steel and resin; however Minamida emphasizes selecting other materials providing that their thermal conductivity is preferably low (i.e. utilizing a thermally insulating material)].
Regarding Claim 19, Minamida teaches the reversing valve of claim 15 above and Minamida teaches wherein the actuator assembly [3] includes a baffle [wall portions of 3] configured to separate the discharge flow from the suction flow [¶ 0036-0037; flowpaths 31, 32 and 33 are separated within 3; therefore, the structure is considered to be made of baffles since they merely separate the suction and discharge flows].
See alternative 103 rejection below.
Regarding Claim 20, Minamida teaches the reversing valve of claim 15 above and Minamida teaches wherein the discharge port is constructed with a tapering diameter configured to increase or decrease a velocity of the discharge flow [¶ 0039; Figs. 1-2; apparent from inspection that flow paths 32 and 33 towards discharge port 4a, 4b is tapered].
Regarding Claim 21, Minamida teaches the reversing valve of claim 15 above and Minamida teaches wherein the slider is constructed from a thermally insulating material [¶ 0061-0062; Minamida explains that the valve body and seat may be made of certain materials, however other suitable materials may be used providing a preferable low thermal conductivity].
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claims 1-4 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Tanaka et al. (US 20190203989 A1, hereinafter “Tanaka”) and further in view of Fröhling et al. (US 20110036117 A1, hereinafter “Frohling”).
Regarding Claim 1, Tanaka teaches a vapor compression system [Fig. 1; ¶ 0042] comprising:
an indoor heat exchanger [5];
an outdoor heat exchanger [3];
a compressor [1] having an inlet [1a] fluidly connected to a suction flow and an exit [1b] fluidly connected to a discharge flow [Fig. 1; apparent from inspection];
a first valve [11] selectively positionable to fluidly connect the discharge flow to one of the indoor and outdoor heat exchangers [3] [Fig. 1; apparent from inspection valve 11 may lead to heat exchanger 3], wherein the first valve is a reversing valve including three open ports [¶ 0048-0049; Fig. 2; valve 11 comprises at least ports P1, P2 and P3, wherein the valve may reverse between positions linking P1 to P2 or P1 to P3]; and
a second valve [12] selectively positionable to fluidly connect the suction flow to one of the indoor and outdoor heat exchangers [5] [Fig. 1; apparent from inspection valve 12 may lead from heat exchanger 5].
While Tanaka discloses that the second valve is a three-way valve [¶ 0050], Tanaka does not explicitly teach wherein the second valve is a passive three-way valve.
However, Frohling teaches an HVAC system [Figs. 8-9] comprising a compressor [14], a plurality of heat exchangers [11, 12, 13] operating as either condensers or evaporators depending on the operation mode [¶ 0098]. The system further comprises a first valve [41] downstream of the compressor to direct fluid flow towards the heat exchangers depending on the desired heating or cooling operation [¶ 0114], as well as a second valve [21] that may be a passive valve, wherein fluid may be configured to flow towards the compressor from the passive valve [¶ 0115-0116]. Frohling further teaches that the passive valve operates such that the higher pressure side of the valve is closed, thereby providing a means to facilitate flow to the compressor from the appropriate components depending on the desired mode of operation [¶ 0116]. For example, in an operation where liquid refrigerant may be present in the accumulator due to incomplete evaporation, the passive valve provides a means to prevent flow to and from the accumulator, while enabling alternative flow on the lower pressure side, thus providing a required reheat or afterheating power [¶ 0126-0128]. One of ordinary skill in the art could have combined the passive valve as claimed by known methods and that in combination, the passive would perform the same function as it did separately, and one of ordinary skills would have recognized that the results of the combination were predictable i.e. providing a means for refrigerant flow relying on pressure differentials enables the system to flow according to the desired heating/cooling operation and thus provides a required reheat or afterheating power by allowing refrigerant to flow from the necessary component while preventing undesired flow, thereby improving the system [¶ 0126-0128].
Therefore, it is a simple mechanical expedient that would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the assembly of Tanaka to have wherein the second valve is a passive three-way valve, in view of the teachings of Frohling, where the elements could have been combined by known methods, with no change in their respective function, and the combination would have yielded predictable results i.e. providing a means for refrigerant flow relying on pressure differentials enables the system to flow according to the desired heating/cooling operation and thus provides a required reheat or afterheating power by allowing refrigerant to flow from the necessary component while preventing undesired flow, thereby improving the system [¶ 0126-0128].
Regarding Claim 2, Tanaka, as modified, teaches the vapor compression system of claim 1 above and Tanaka teaches wherein the system is configured to operate in a heating mode when the first valve [11] is positioned to fluidly connect the discharge flow to the indoor heat exchanger [5] and the second valve [12] is positioned to fluidly connect the suction flow to the outdoor heat exchanger [3] [¶ 0046].
Regarding Claim 3, Tanaka, as modified, teaches the vapor compression system of claim 1 above and Tanaka teaches wherein the system is configured to operate in a cooling mode when the first valve [11] is positioned to fluidly connect the discharge flow to the outdoor heat exchanger [3] and the second valve [12] is positioned to fluidly connect the suction flow to the indoor heat exchanger [5] [¶ 0045].
Regarding Claim 4, Tanaka, as modified, teaches the vapor compression system of claim 1 above and Tanaka teaches wherein the first valve [11] comprises a first three-way valve, and wherein the second valve [12] comprises a second three-way valve [¶ 0048].
Claim 7 canceled
Claims 5-6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Tanaka and Frohling as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Akitoshi et al. (JP 2022186854A, hereinafter “Akitoshi”).
Regarding Claim 5, Tanaka, as modified, teaches the vapor compression system of claim 1 above but Tanaka does not explicitly teach wherein the first valve comprises a first four-way reversing valve having three open ports and one sealed port, and wherein the second valve comprises a second four-way reversing valve having three open ports and one sealed port.
However, Akitoshi teaches a refrigerant circuit [Fig. 1] comprising a compressor [21], an outdoor heat exchanger [13], an indoor heat exchanger [15] and a first and second four-way valve [81, 82] wherein both four-way valves each have one port sealed [¶ 0053-0054]. Akitoshi teaches that this configuration allows for the valves to switch between different flow states, thereby providing a means to better utilize the system in different scenarios [¶ 0055]. One of ordinary skill in the art could have applied a known technique to a known device (i.e. provide a four-way valve with a three-way valve configuration) and that in combination, the technique would improve the known device in a similar manner, and one of ordinary skills would have recognized that the results of the combination were predictable i.e. the configuration allows for the valves to switch between different flow states, thereby providing a means to better utilize the system in different scenarios, thus improving the system [¶ 0055].
Therefore, it is a simple mechanical expedient that would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the assembly of Tanaka to have wherein the first valve comprises a first four-way reversing valve having three open ports and one sealed port, and wherein the second valve comprises a second four-way reversing valve having three open ports and one sealed port, in view of the teachings of Akitoshi, where applying a known technique to a known device with no change in their respective function, would improve the known device in a similar manner and the combination would have yielded predictable results i.e. the configuration allows for the valves to switch between different flow states, thereby providing a means to better utilize the system in different scenarios, thus improving the system.
Regarding Claim 6, Tanaka, as modified, teaches the vapor compression system of claim 1 above, but Tanaka does not explicitly teach wherein the first valve comprises a first four-way reversing valve having three open ports and one sealed port.
However, Akitoshi teaches a refrigerant circuit [Fig. 1] comprising a compressor [21], an outdoor heat exchanger [13], an indoor heat exchanger [15] and a first and second four-way valve [81, 82] wherein both four-way valves each have one port sealed [¶ 0053-0054]. Akitoshi teaches that this configuration allows for the valves to switch between different flow states, thereby providing a means to better utilize the system in different scenarios [¶ 0055]. One of ordinary skill in the art could have applied a known technique to a known device (i.e. provide a four-way valve with a three-way valve configuration) and that in combination, the technique would improve the known device in a similar manner, and one of ordinary skills would have recognized that the results of the combination were predictable i.e. the configuration allows for the valves to switch between different flow states, thereby providing a means to better utilize the system in different scenarios, thus improving the system [¶ 0055].
Therefore, it is a simple mechanical expedient that would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the assembly of Tanaka to have wherein the first valve comprises a first four-way reversing valve having three open ports and one sealed port, in view of the teachings of Akitoshi, where applying a known technique to a known device with no change in their respective function, would improve the known device in a similar manner and the combination would have yielded predictable results i.e. the configuration allows for the valves to switch between different flow states, thereby providing a means to better utilize the system in different scenarios, thus improving the system.
Claim 8 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Tanaka and Frohling as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Matsuda et al. (EP 3379176 A1, hereinafter “Matsuda”).
Regarding Claim 8, Tanaka, as modified, teaches the vapor compression system of claim 1 above and Tanaka teaches wherein the system is configured to operate in a heating mode when the first valve [11] is positioned to fluidly connect the discharge flow to the indoor heat exchanger [5] [¶ 0046], wherein the system is configured to operate in a cooling mode when the first valve [11] is positioned to fluidly connect the discharge flow to the outdoor heat exchanger [3] [¶ 0045].
Tanaka does not explicitly teach wherein the system is operable in heating or cooling mode without changing a direction of flow through the indoor and outdoor heat exchangers.
However, Matsuda teaches a refrigeration cycle device [Fig. 1] comprising a compressor [7], indoor heat exchanger [1], outdoor heat exchanger [2], and a flow switching device [3] [¶ 0010]. Matsuda further teaches that the described configuration provides the refrigerant flow in a constant direction, and not reversed both at the time of cooling operations and heating operations [¶ 0024-0026], thus increasing both heat exchanger’s heat transfer performance [¶ 0026]. One of ordinary skill in the art could have applied a known technique to a known device (i.e. providing a system with constant, non-reversed flows through heat exchangers) and that in combination, the technique would improve the known device in a similar manner (i.e. achieve thermal counterflow in both heating and cooling operations), and one of ordinary skills would have recognized that the results of the combination were predictable i.e. increasing the logarithmic mean temperature difference between the refrigerant and air in the heat exchanger(s), thus increasing the heat exchanger’s heat transfer performance and improving the system [¶ 0026].
Therefore, it is a simple mechanical expedient that would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the assembly of Tanaka to have wherein the system is operable in heating or cooling mode without changing a direction of flow through the indoor and outdoor heat exchangers, in view of the teachings of Matsuda, where applying a known technique to a known device with no change in their respective function, would improve the known device in a similar manner and the combination would have yielded predictable results i.e. increasing the logarithmic mean temperature difference between the refrigerant and air in the heat exchanger(s), thus increasing the heat exchanger’s heat transfer performance and improving the system.
Claim 9 canceled
Claim 12 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Minamida as applied to claim 10 above, and further in view of Zhou et al. (US 20080226482 A1, hereinafter “Zhou”).
Regarding Claim 12, Minamida teaches the reversing valve of claim 10 above but Minamida does not explicitly further teach comprising a solenoid valve configured to control the actuator assembly.
However, Zhou teaches a compressor with controlled capacity, comprising a reversing valve [50; Fig. 4] made up of at least a solenoid valve [51] and a slide valve [53] [¶ 0020] wherein the solenoid valve controls the slide valve [¶ 0033], thereby providing a means to move the moveable valve core and enable different valve port configuration [¶ 0033]. One of ordinary skill in the art could have combined the solenoid valve as claimed by known and that in combination, the solenoid valve would perform the same function as it did separately, and one of ordinary skills would have recognized that the results of the combination were predictable i.e. providing a means to move the moveable valve core and enable different valve port configuration, thus improving operation of the system [¶ 0033].
Therefore, it is a simple mechanical expedient that would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the assembly of Minamida to have a solenoid valve configured to control the actuator assembly, in view of the teachings of Zhou where the elements could have been combined by known methods with no change in their respective function and the combination would have yielded predictable results i.e. providing a means to move the moveable valve core and enable different valve port configuration, thus improving operation of the system.
Claim 14 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Minamida as applied to claim 10 above, and further in view of Tanaka.
Regarding Claim 14, Minamida teaches the reversing valve of claim 10 above, and while Minamida teaches the practice of utilizing the reversing valve within a compression system [¶ 0034], Minamida does not explicitly teach a reversible vapor compression system, wherein the system is configured to operate in cooling mode when the actuator assembly is in the first position, and wherein the system is configured to operate in heating mode when the actuator assembly is in the second position.
However, Tanaka teaches the use of a reversing slide valve [Figs. 13-16] wherein Figure 13 shows one configuration of the reversing valve during cooling operation and Figure 14 shows another configuration of the reversing valve during heating operation [¶ 0099]. Thus, one of ordinary skill in the art could have combined the reversing valve as claimed by known methods and that in combination, the reversing valve would perform the same function as it did separately, and one of ordinary skills would have recognized that the results of the combination were predictable i.e. providing a means to switch the operation mode of the system, thereby improving the controllability of the system [¶ 0099, 0102].
Therefore, it is a simple mechanical expedient that would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the assembly of Minamida to have a reversible vapor compression system, wherein the system is configured to operate in cooling mode when the actuator assembly is in the first position, and wherein the system is configured to operate in heating mode when the actuator assembly is in the second position, in view of the teachings of Tanaka where the elements could have been combined by known methods with no change in their respective function and the combination would have yielded predictable results i.e. providing a means to switch the operation mode of the system, thereby improving the controllability of the system.
Claim 19 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Minamida as applied to claim 15 above, and further in view of Sisk et al. (US 6,289,931 B1).
Claim 18 canceled
Regarding Claim 19, Minamida teaches the reversing valve of claim 15 above and while Minamida teaches that the actuator assembly [3] comprises structure configured to separate the discharge flow from the suction flow [¶ 0036-0037; flowpaths 31, 32 and 33 are separated within 3], an alternative combination may also provide wherein the actuator assembly includes a baffle configured to separate the suction and discharge flows.
Sisk teaches a four-way reversing valve [Figs. 5 and 10-11] to be used in a heat pump [Col. 1, 11-30], wherein the valve comprises a radial drive mechanism for rotating the valve member in order to provide the corresponding ports to a customized radial angle from one another (i.e. 90 degrees, 135 degrees, etc.) [Col. 2, 6-41]. Furthermore, Figs. 5 and 10-11 display a body member [72] configured to separate the flows within the valve [Col. 4, 8-18]. One of ordinary skill in the art could have combined the baffle plate as claimed by known methods and that in combination, the baffle plate would perform the same function as it did separately, and one of ordinary skills would have recognized that the results of the combination were predictable i.e. providing a baffle within a rotating mechanism provides a means for angling the ports at specific degree increments relative to one another, thereby improving operation in certain situations [Col. 1, 17-30 and Col. 2, 6-20].
Therefore, it is a simple mechanical expedient that would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the assembly of Minamida to have wherein the actuator assembly includes a baffle configured to separate the suction and discharge flows, in view of the teachings of Sisk, where the elements could have been combined by known methods with no change in their respective function and the combination would have yielded predictable results i.e. providing a baffle within a rotating mechanism provides a means for angling the ports at specific degree increments relative to one another, thereby improving operation in certain situations.
Response to Arguments
On pages 8-9 of the remarks, Applicant argues that Minamida does not teach the device as amended in independent claims 10 and 15. Applicant’s arguments have been considered but are not persuasive.
Specifically, Applicant appears to be arguing that block portion 3 in Minamida is made from a single block portion, forming the three cavities 31, 32 and 33, whereas the instant Application forms these three similar cavities (464, 466 and cavity formed by 470) using a plurality of parts (i.e. the slider and an actuator seat). The Examiner believes that the prior art and instant Application are so significantly similar in structure and function that the further definitions provided by Applicant in the claims do not add any structure not shown in the prior art when viewing the completed invention as a whole. Rather, the instant invention appears to break the block portion into a plurality of parts for naming. For example, please see Figure 1 of Minamida, likened to Fig. 9A of the instant Application, wherein both figures of the valve comprise two ports above and three ports below, such that the right most upper and lower ports are connected via a discharge portion on the right side of the actuator assembly, the bottom left two ports are connected by a U-shaped extrusion, forming a U-shaped path, while the upper left port is disconnected from fluid flow, as well as the leftmost discharge portion of the actuator assembly being disconnected from the fluid flow. Furthermore, the second comparison of Figure 2 of Minamida, likened to Fig. 10A of the instant application, demonstrates that the sliding of the valve operates in an exactly similar manner between the application and the prior art. Specifically, both valves are provided with two ports above and three ports below, such that the left most upper and lower ports are connected via a discharge portion on the left side of the actuator assembly, the bottom right two ports are connected by a U-shaped extrusion, forming a U-shaped path, while the upper right port is disconnected from fluid flow, as well as the rightmost discharge portion of the actuator assembly being disconnected from the fluid flow. Therefore, the prior art device is considered equivalent in function and structure, and only differs in non-significant matters of a change in shape being made from two parts instead of one, wherein the change in shape does not appear to significantly modify the manner in which the device operates (i.e. providing reversable flow through a plurality of ports by sliding pre-defined cavities to align with said ports).
Applicant further argues that the specific shape of the actuator seat is significant in at least the manner in which it thermally isolates the discharge flow and the suction flows within the valve. The Examiner believes the prior art to also contains this alleged advantage, as it is apparent from inspection of Minamida that discharge path sections 32 and 33 are completely isolated from path 31, in that the fluid flowing through each path also does not mix and therefore thermally isolates each flow path. Furthermore, Minamida explicitly acknowledges that the type of material used in the valve is significant in determining the thermal conductivity and therefore discloses the known technique that using different materials with known properties is a known technique to modify the insulating capabilities of the valve. Accordingly, the claims remain rejected.
On pages 9-12 of the remarks, Applicant argues that the cited prior art, Raimbault, does not completely aid in disclosing the deficiencies not disclosed by the primary prior art. The Examiner would like to thank Applicant’s discussion and explanation in the previous Interview discussing the claims, as the discussion greatly aided the Examiner’s understanding regarding the role and specific structure of what constitutes a “passive valve”. Accordingly, Applicant’s arguments regarding the 103 rejection further in view of Raimbault have been somewhat convincing and the previous 103 rejection has been withdrawn. As a result, additional prior art, Frohling, has been incorporated to more accurately disclose the use of a passive valve in a reversable heat exchanger cycle system. Thus, the claims are currently rejected.
On pages 12-14 of the remarks, Applicant argues that the remainder of the claims are allowable at least based on their dependency to, or contain similarly amended claim language to those claims discussed above. As the independent claims have been rejected, all claims depending therefrom also remain rejected.
Conclusion
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/KEITH STANLEY MYERS/Examiner, Art Unit 3763
/JERRY-DARYL FLETCHER/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3763