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 .
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
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)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
(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.
Claim(s) 1, 16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Jockel (EP 3351791 A1).
As to claim 1, Jockel shows (FIG. 1, 2, 6) A stator segment 2 of a stator of a generator for a wind turbine (para[0032]), comprising:
a coil carrier segment 25 having an annular or part-annular geometry and a stator circumferential structure; and
at least one stator laminated core 4 which is configured to receive at least one coil unit 6 and is disposed on the stator circumferential structure (laminations para [0033]);
wherein the at least one stator laminated core has at least two stator lamination stacks 4, wherein adjacent stator lamination stacks 4 of the at least two stator lamination stacks are in each case spaced parallel to one another in an axial direction and forming in each case one stator cooling duct 5 with a stator cooling duct width through which a cooling medium can be guided (para [0032]).
As to claim 16/1, Jockel shows (FIG. 1, 2, 6) the stator is a segmented stator of a segmented generator 1 and the adjacent stator lamination stacks 4 of the at least two stator lamination stacks 4 are in each case spaced parallel to one another in the axial direction and forming in each case one stator cooling duct 5 with a stator cooling duct width through which a cooling medium can be guided in a radial direction (para[0032]; each stator segment 2 has layered laminations para [0033]).
Claim(s) 1-11, 13-15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Booth et al. (US 2010/0102656 A1, hereinafter Booth, of record).
As to claim 1, Booth shows (FIG. 1, 2) A stator segment of a stator of a generator for a wind turbine (claim 24), comprising:
a coil carrier segment 5 having an annular or part-annular geometry and a stator circumferential structure; and
at least one stator laminated core 5 which is configured to receive at least one coil unit 12 and is disposed on the stator circumferential structure (segments are bundles of laminates 5 such as 5a, 5b para [0044]; [0050]);
wherein the at least one stator laminated core 5 has at least two stator lamination stacks 5, wherein adjacent stator lamination stacks 5 of the at least two stator lamination stacks 5 are in each case spaced parallel to one another in an axial direction and forming in each case one stator cooling duct 11 with a stator cooling duct width through which a cooling medium can be guided (para[0050]).
As to claim 2/1, Booth shows (FIG. 1, 2) the stator laminated core 5 comprising a stator guide device 7 for diverting and/or dividing a cooling medium that is fed inward, in a radial direction, in the direction of the stator guide device 7, by way of a stator external circumferential face of the at least one stator laminated core 5, in the axial direction rota, wherein the stator guide device 7 in the axial direction has a stator guide device width that is larger than a width of a stator lamination stack 5 of the at least two stator lamination stacks 5 (fan 7 moves air in the radial direction W para[0056]).
As to claim 3/1, Booth shows (FIG. 1) :
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the coil carrier segment 5 has a first and a second carrier plate P1, P2, between which the coil carrier segment 5 by way of a coil carrier segment width extends in the axial direction, and the stator laminated core 5 has a first and a second pressure sheet 13A, 13B between which the stator laminated core 5 extends by way of a stator laminated core width which is greater than the coil carrier segment 5 width;
wherein, between the first carrier plate P1 and the second carrier plate P2 are disposed at least two adjacent stacks 5 of stator laminations 5 of the at least two stacks 5 of stator laminations 5 spaced parallel to one another in the axial direction and forming in each case a stator cooling duct 11 through which the cooling medium can be guided, in the radial direction, from a radially outer stator external circumferential face in the direction of a stator internal circumferential face that is radially inside in terms of the stator external circumferential face (air can flow in either radial direction through the slits 11 para [0057]);
wherein, between the first carrier plate P1 and the first pressure sheet 13A and/or between the second carrier plate P2 and the second pressure sheet 13B are disposed at least two adjacent stacks 5 of stator laminations 5 of the at least two stacks 5 of stator laminations 5 spaced parallel to one another in the axial direction and forming in each case a stator cooling duct 11 through which the cooling medium can be guided, in the radial direction, from a radially inner stator internal circumferential face in the direction of a stator external circumferential face that is radially outside in terms of the stator internal circumferential face (air can flow in either radial direction through the slits 11 para [0057]); and/or
wherein the stator guide device, between two stator lamination stacks of the at least two stator lamination stacks, disposed spaced apart in the axial direction, and is in each case disposed spaced apart by the stator cooling duct width; and/or
wherein the stator guide device is disposed between the first and the second pressure sheet and so as to be centric.
As to claim 4/1, Booth shows (FIG. 1 above) a plurality of stator lamination stacks 5 of the at least two stator lamination stacks 5 are disposed equidistantly between the first and/or the second pressure sheet 13A, 13B, between the stator guide device and the first and/or the second pressure sheet.
As to claim 5/1, Booth shows (FIG. 2 and 1 above) The stator segment as claimed in claim 1,
comprising at least one coil unit, which is disposed on the at least one stator laminated core 5, wherein the at least one coil unit 12 is composed of or comprises the material copper; and/or
wherein coil units 12 of the at least one coil unit 12 that are adjacent in the circumferential direction are disposed with a coil spacing gap, equidistantly from one another (FIG. 2 shows the windings 12 equally spaced in the circumferential direction);
wherein the coil spacing gap between two adjacent coil units 12 of the at least one coil unit 12 is configured as a cooling medium duct 11 through which the cooling medium can be guided in the radial direction (the slits 11 run in the circumferential direction); and/or
wherein an insulating element is disposed in the coil spacing gap between two adjacent coil units of the at least one coil unit, said insulating element electrically isolating a coil unit of the at least one coil unit in relation to an adjacently disposed coil unit of the at least one coil unit.
As to claim 6/1, Booth shows (FIG. 1 above) comprising a cooling device and/or a cooling medium guide device 7 which is disposed, in the axial direction, between the first P1 and the second P2 carrier plates and conveys the cooling medium through the stator cooling ducts 11 disposed between the first P1 and the second P2 carrier plates inward, from the radially outer stator external circumferential face in the direction of the radially inner stator internal circumferential face;
the cooling device 7 comprising:
a cooling medium conveying unit including a fan unit 7 and/or a ventilator, for generating a flow of the cooling medium (para[0049]); and/or
a heat exchanger unit for cooling the heated cooling medium, wherein the heat exchanger unit is disposed in the radial direction between the fan unit and the coil support segment, and the heat exchanger unit is a fluid/air heat exchanger unit; and/or
a cooling medium guide device comprising: one or more cooling medium lines; and/or
one or more cooling medium guide elements.
As to claim 7/1, Booth shows (FIG. 2 and 1 above) A stator 2 of a generator G of a wind turbine, comprising an annularly configured stator segment 5 as claimed in claim 1 (para [0036], wind turbine claim 24).
As to claim 8, Booth shows (FIG. 1 above and 2):
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A rotor segment of a rotor for a wind turbine (claim 24), comprising:
a magnet carrier segment 1 having an annular or part-annular geometry and a rotor internal circumferential face F1, and
a plurality of magnet units 4 which are disposed on the magnet carrier segment 1 at a spacing from one another in a circumferential direction and form or define the rotor internal circumferential face F1;
wherein, in an axial direction two or a plurality of magnet units 4 of the plurality of magnet units 4 are disposed spaced apart from one another, wherein the magnet units 4 disposed adjacently in the axial direction define a circumferential gap GB with a gap width for feeding and for distributing a cooling medium (para[0037],[0057]).
As to claim 9/8, Booth shows (FIG. 1, 2 above) wherein:
the magnet carrier segment has at least one rotor laminated core, which extends in the axial direction between a first and a second pressure sheet and has at least one first feed duct that for a cooling medium extends between the first and/or the second pressure sheet and the circumferential gap, within the rotor laminated core, in order to convey the cooling medium, which on the first and/or the second pressure sheet can enter the first feed duct through a first opening, to the circumferential gap in which said cooling medium can exit, in the axial direction, through a second opening; and/or
the plurality of magnet units 4 are disposed equidistantly in a circumferential direction (FIG. 2); and/or
magnet units disposed adjacently in the circumferential direction define a second feed duct for a cooling medium in order to convey the cooling medium, proceeding from the first and/or the second pressure sheet, in the direction of the circumferential gap, in the axial direction; and/or
the magnet units comprise one, two or more rows of magnets which are disposed at a spacing from one another in the circumferential direction equidistantly; and/or
a row of magnets comprises one or a plurality of magnet blocks which are disposed next to one another in the axial direction.
As to claim 10/8, Booth shows (FIG. 1, 2 above) A rotor of a generator G of a wind turbine, comprising an annularly configured rotor segment 1 (generator para [0036]; wind turbine claim 24 ).
As to claim 11/7/1, Booth shows (FIG. 1, 2 above) A generator G of a wind turbine, comprising:
a stator as claimed in claim 7; and
a rotor comprising an annularly configured rotor segment 1 including:
a magnet carrier segment 1 having an annular or part-annular geometry and a rotor internal circumferential face F1, and
a plurality of magnet units 4 which are disposed on the magnet carrier segment at a spacing from one another in a circumferential direction and form or define the rotor internal circumferential face F1;
wherein, in an axial direction two or a plurality of magnet units 4 of the plurality of magnet units 4 are disposed spaced apart from one another, wherein the magnet units 4 disposed adjacently in the axial direction define a circumferential gap GA with a gap width for feeding and for distributing a cooling medium (generator para [0036]; wind turbine claim 24; the gaps GA are capable of performing the claimed function).
As to claim 13/11/7/1, Booth shows (FIG. 1, 2 above) A wind turbine comprising a generator G as claimed in claim 11 (wind turbine claim 24).
As to claim 14, Booth shows (FIG. 1, 2 above) A method for cooling a generator G of a wind turbine, comprising:
providing a generator G comprising:
a stator comprising an annularly configured stator segment including:
a coil carrier segment 5 having an annular or part-annular geometry and a stator circumferential structure; and
at least one stator laminated core 5 which is configured to receive at least one coil unit 12 and is disposed on the stator circumferential structure;
wherein the at least one stator laminated core 5 has at least two stator lamination stacks 5, wherein adjacent stator lamination stacks 5 of the at least two stator lamination stacks 5 are in each case spaced parallel to one another in an axial direction and forming in each case one stator cooling duct 11 with a stator cooling duct width through which a cooling medium can be guided; and
a rotor comprising an annularly configured rotor segment including:
a magnet carrier segment 1 having an annular or part-annular geometry and a rotor internal circumferential face F1, and
a plurality of magnet units 4 which are disposed on the magnet carrier segment 1 at a spacing GB from one another in a circumferential direction and form or define the rotor internal circumferential face F1;
wherein, in an axial direction two or a plurality of magnet units 4 of the plurality of magnet units 4 are disposed spaced apart from one another, wherein the magnet units 4 disposed adjacently in the axial direction define a circumferential gap GA with a gap width for feeding and for distributing a cooling medium; and
generating a flow of a cooling medium through the provided generator G; and
guiding the cooling medium through a stator cooling duct 11 of a stator laminated core 5 of a stator segment 5 of the generator G provided, in a radial direction; and/or
guiding the cooling medium through a circumferential gap GA of a rotor segment 1 of the generator G provided, between magnet units 4 disposed spaced apart from one another in an axial direction; and/or
guiding the cooling medium through a coil spacing gap 11 of a stator segment 5 of the generator G provided, between coil units 12 of the at least one coil unit 12 disposed spaced apart from one another in a circumferential direction, in the radial direction (generator para [0036]; wind turbine claim 24; segments are bundles of laminates 5 such as 5a, 5b para [0044]; para[0050]; rotor 1 is capable of performing the claimed function of distributing a cooling medium).
As to claim 15/14, Booth shows (FIG. 1, 2 above) wherein:
guiding the cooling medium through a stator cooling duct 11 comprises:
guiding the cooling medium through a stator cooling duct 11 which is disposed in an axial direction between first and second carrier plates P1,P2, from a radially outer stator external circumferential face in the direction of a stator internal circumferential face that in terms of the stator external circumferential face is on the inside;
guiding the cooling medium through a stator cooling duct 11, which is disposed in an axial direction between a first carrier plate P1 and a first pressure sheet 13A and/or disposed between a second carrier plate P2 and a second pressure sheet 13B, from a radially inner stator internal circumferential face in the direction of a stator external circumferential face that in terms of the stator internal circumferential face is on the outside; and/or
guiding the cooling medium through a circumferential gap comprises:
feeding and distributing the cooling medium from the circumferential gap 11 on the stator laminated core 5, by way of a stator external circumferential face; and/or
the method furthermore comprises: diverting and/or dividing the cooling medium supplied from the circumferential gap 11 with a stator guide device 7 by way of a stator external circumferential face, in an axial direction; and/or
feeding the cooling medium to the circumferential gap, through a first feed duct which, proceeding from a first and/or a second pressure sheet of a magnet carrier segment, extends to the circumferential gap; and/or
feeding the cooling medium to the stator external circumferential face in the direction of the circumferential gap through a second feed duct, which, proceeding from a first and/or a second pressure sheet of a magnet carrier segment, extends in the direction of the circumferential gap (para[0057]).
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.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim(s) 12 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Booth et al. (US 2010/0102656 A1, hereinafter Booth, of record) in view of Airoldi et al. (US 2014/0346781 A1, hereinafter Airoldi).
As to claim 12/11/7/1, Booth was discussed above with respect to claim 11 and Booth further shows (FIG. 1,2) wherein the stator and the rotor define a generator G interior.
Booth does not show a sealing device which seals the generator interior from an environment in a substantially air-tight and/or dust-tight manner, wherein the sealing device comprises a labyrinth sealing unit and/or a brush unit.
Airoldi shows a sealing device 21 which seals the generator interior from an environment in a substantially air-tight and/or dust-tight manner, wherein the sealing device comprises a labyrinth sealing unit 21 (FIG. 2, para[0050]).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the generator G of Booth to have a sealing device 21 which seals the generator G interior from an environment in a substantially air-tight and/or dust-tight manner, wherein the sealing device comprises a labyrinth sealing unit 21 and/or a brush unit as taught by Airoldi, for the advantageous benefit of keeping rainwater and airborne particles out of the generator G interior as taught by Airoldi (para[0019]:1-2).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ROBERT E MATES whose telephone number is (571)270-5293. The examiner can normally be reached M to F 12:00pm to 8pm.
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/ROBERT E MATES/Examiner, Art Unit 2834
/TULSIDAS C PATEL/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2834