DETAILED ACTION
Response to Amendment
A Reply was filed 6 July 2026. All amendments therein have been entered. Claims 1-20 are pending, with claims 18-20 being withdrawn.
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112(b)
Claims 1-17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which an inventor regards as the invention.
Claim 1
The phrase “maintain the motor at a temperature equal to or below a predetermined temperature threshold via heat transfer through at least one of the inner wall, outer wall, and end plate” is unclear. It is unclear whether an “endplate” is being positively recited. Regardless, it appears that “endplate” lacks proper antecedent basis. Also, in said phrase the term “threshold” appears to be redundant, and thus not needed.
Claim 7
Claim 7 conflicts with claim 1. Claim 1 states “the first internal plate attached to the inner wall and outer wall such that the first internal plate spans the distance between the inner wall and the outer wall” and “the second internal plate attached to the inner wall and the outer wall such that the second internal plate spans the distance between the inner wall and the outer wall”. Thus, there can’t be first and second gaps (claim 7).
Claim 8
Because of the above noted claim 7 conflict, the claim 8 phrase “and is not physically attached to either of the first internal plate or second internal plate” is not accurate.
Claim 11
The phrase “and the the shaft seal” is unclear. It appears that words are missing between “the the”. Thus, the claim appears to be incomplete.
Claim 12
The phrase “in a non-equilibrium state of the nuclear reactor defined by the first pressure being greater than the second pressure, and the shaft seal is configured” is unclear. It appears that either the term “and” is not needed or words are missing in said phrase.
Claim 13
The phrase “in a non-equilibrium state of the nuclear reactor defined by the first pressure being less than the second pressure, and the shaft seal is configured” is unclear. It appears that either the term “and” is not needed or words are missing in said phrase.
Claim 15
The phrase “predetermined temperature threshold 250° Fahrenheit” is unclear. It appears that at least one word is missing. Also, it appears that “threshold” is unnecessary. It is unclear whether said phrase should be interpreted as “predetermined temperature of 250° Fahrenheit”
Review
The claims do not allow the public to be sufficiently informed of what would constitute infringement. Any claim not specifically addressed is rejected based upon its dependency.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to the prior rejections are persuasive.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-17 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) set forth in this Office action, and (if necessary) to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Prosecution on the merits is closed. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Additional Comments
The below amended claims 1, 7-8, 11-13, 15, and 18-20 are presented for Applicant’s consideration.
Claim 1. (For Consideration) A nuclear reactor, comprising:
a canister;
a nuclear reactor core housed inside of the canister, the nuclear reactor core comprising:
a control drum; and
a shaft extending from the control drum and out of the nuclear reactor core; and
a controlled temperature housing attached to the canister, configured such that heat generated by the nuclear reactor core is transferred to the controlled temperature housing, and wherein the controlled temperature housing comprises:
a proximal end attached to the canister;
an inner wall extending distally away from the proximal end;
an outer wall extending distally away from the proximal end,
the outer wall disposed opposite the inner wall away from the inner wall;
a first internal plate spaced from and positioned distal to the proximal end,
the first internal plate attached to the inner wall and outer wall such that the first internal plate spans the distance between the inner wall and the outer wall forming a first internal space;
a second internal plate spaced from and positioned distal to the first internal plate,
the second internal plate attached to the inner wall and the outer wall such that the second internal plate spans the distance between the inner wall and the outer wall;
an end plate spaced from and positioned distal to the second internal plate,
the end plate attached to the inner wall and the outer wall; and
a motor mounted to the second internal plate,
wherein the shaft enters the controlled temperature housing through the proximal end and extends to the motor,
wherein the motor is operably coupled to the shaft, and
wherein the controlled temperature housing is configured to passively maintain the motor at a temperature equal to or below a predetermined temperature [[the end plate.
Claim 7. (For Consideration) The nuclear reactor of claim 6, wherein the internal wall and external wall form at least part of an external housing surrounding the first internal plate and the second internal plate
Claim 8. (For Consideration) The nuclear reactor of claim 7, wherein the external housing is attachable to the base plate
Claim 11. (For Consideration) The nuclear reactor of claim 10,
wherein the cannister includes a hole with a shaft seal through which a working fluid may flow, and the [[the]] shaft seal maintains
(i) the working fluid at a first pressure in the canister, and
(ii) the working fluid at a second pressure in the controlled temperature housing, and
wherein in an equilibrium state of the nuclear [[reactor]] reactor, the first pressure is equal to the second pressure.
Claim 12. (For Consideration) The nuclear reactor of claim 11, wherein in a non-equilibrium state of the nuclear reactor defined by the first pressure being greater than the second pressure, [[and]] the shaft seal is configured to allow working fluid in the nuclear reactor core to enter the controlled temperature housing until the equilibrium state is reached.
Claim 13. (For Consideration) The nuclear reactor of claim 11, wherein in a non-equilibrium state of the nuclear reactor defined by the first pressure being less than the second pressure, [[and]] the shaft seal is configured to allow working fluid in the controlled temperature housing to enter the nuclear reactor core until the equilibrium state is reached.
Claim 15. (For Consideration) The nuclear reactor of claim 1, wherein the controlled temperature housing is configured to maintain the motor at a temperature equal to or below a predetermined temperature [[of 250° Fahrenheit.
Claims 18-20. (For Consideration - Canceled)
Contact Information
Examiner Daniel Wasil can be reached at (571) 272-4654, on Monday-Thursday from 10:00-4:00 EST. Supervisor Jack Keith (SPE) can be reached at (571) 272-6878.
/DANIEL WASIL/
Examiner, Art Unit 3646
Reg. No. 45,303
/JACK W KEITH/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3646
