Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/297,895

ELECTRIC-HYDRAULIC BRAKE ACTUATORS FOR BRAKING AND PARKING

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Apr 10, 2023
Examiner
SAHNI, VISHAL R
Art Unit
3616
Tech Center
3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce
Assignee
Goodrich Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
76%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
95%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 76% — above average
76%
Career Allowance Rate
738 granted / 978 resolved
+23.5% vs TC avg
Strong +19% interview lift
Without
With
+19.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 6m
Avg Prosecution
30 currently pending
Career history
1020
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.9%
-39.1% vs TC avg
§103
74.7%
+34.7% vs TC avg
§102
21.8%
-18.2% vs TC avg
§112
2.3%
-37.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 978 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
DETAILED ACTION This is a first Non-Final Office Action on the merits in response to the application filed 04/10/23. Claims 1-20 are currently pending yet certain claims are rejected due to the 102 and 103 rejections detailed below. The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 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. Cahill Claim(s) 1 and 11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Cahill et al. (U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2010/0090058) (cited by Applicant). Cahill is directed to a hydraulic brake with shutoff valve. See Abstract. Note: this is an “X” reference in the cited EPO Written Opinion. Claim 1: Cahill discloses a brake system, comprising: a motor [see Fig. 1 (inherent, w/30)]; a hydraulic pump (30) mechanically coupled to the motor; a directional control valve (46) fluidly coupled to the hydraulic pump; and a brake assembly (26, 28) fluidly coupled to the directional control valve, wherein the directional control valve is moveable between a braking position (46 open), in which the directional control valve allows hydraulic fluid to flow between the hydraulic pump and the brake assembly [see para. 0022 (“During normal operation, fluid pressure through the left and right hydraulic lines 44l and 44r passes through the park valve 46 and to the corresponding actuators 28”)], and a parking position (46 closed), in which the directional control valve prevents the hydraulic fluid from flowing between the hydraulic pump and the brake assembly [see para. 022 (“park valve 46 which holds the applied braking force to the wheels during a parking brake operation”)]. See Fig. 1; para. 0022. Claim 11: Cahill further discloses the use of this brake system being coupled to a wheel (24) of an aircraft [see para. 0001]. See Fig. 1. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 2-10 and 12-20 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to VISHAL R SAHNI whose telephone number is (571)270-3838. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7am-3pm PST. Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Robert Siconolfi can be reached at 571-272-7124. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. VISHAL SAHNI Primary Examiner Art Unit 3657 /VISHAL R SAHNI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3616 April 14, 2026
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Apr 10, 2023
Application Filed
Apr 28, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12630135
Brake System for a Motor Vehicle and Trailer Control Module
4y 0m to grant Granted May 19, 2026
Patent 12630131
HYDRAULIC PRESSURE CONTROL UNIT
3y 4m to grant Granted May 19, 2026
Patent 12623723
UNIT MOUNTING IN A VEHICLE
4y 6m to grant Granted May 12, 2026
Patent 12617383
ELECTROMECHANICAL BRAKE SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME
3y 3m to grant Granted May 05, 2026
Patent 12600335
TRAILER BRAKING THROUGH TRAILER SUPPLY LINE
3y 5m to grant Granted Apr 14, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
76%
Grant Probability
95%
With Interview (+19.2%)
2y 6m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 978 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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