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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Species A, FIGS. 2-3 corresponding to claims 1-12 and 18-20 in the reply filed on 5/20/2026 is acknowledged.
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, 3, 8, 18, 19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Maki-Ontto et al. (US 2016/0118862, hereinafter Maki-Ontto).
As to claim 1, Maki-Ontto shows (FIG. 1, 3) A motor 10 comprising:
a motor rotor 18 with a longitudinal axis 42;
a motor stator 20 encircling the motor rotor 18 and concentric with the longitudinal axis 42,
wherein the motor stator 20 includes at least one axial cooling channel 46 that extends through the motor stator 20, parallel to the longitudinal axis; and
an air gap 22 between the motor stator 20 and the motor rotor 18 (motor para [0012]; para [0013]).
As to claim 3/1, Maki-Ontto further shows (FIG. 1, 3) the motor stator 20 further comprises one or more radial cooling channels 40a’ that extend through the motor stator 20, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 42, and are in direct fluid communication with the at least one axial cooling channel 46 (para [0020]).
As to claim 8/1, Maki-Ontto further shows (FIG. 1, 3) the motor stator 20 comprises a plurality of radial cooling channels 40a’ that extend through the motor stator 20, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 42, and wherein, for each of the plurality of radial cooling channels 40a’, a first end of the radial cooling channel 40a’ is in fluid communication with the air gap 22 and a second end of the radial cooling channel is in fluid communication with at least one cavity 38’ that is radially outward from the motor stator 20 (40 is one or more holes para [0019]; inlet 38 in the housing 12 para [0017]).
As to claim 18/1, Maki-Ontto further shows (FIG. 2) the at least one axial cooling channel 46 is a plurality of axial cooling channels 46 that are spaced equidistantly apart around the longitudinal axis 42 (duct sets 47a,47b para [0022]).
As to claim 19, Maki-Ontto shows (FIG. 1, 3) A motor 10 comprising:
a motor rotor 18 with a longitudinal axis 42;
a motor stator 20 encircling the motor rotor 18 and concentric with the longitudinal axis 42; and
an air gap 22 between the motor stator 20 and the motor rotor 18,
wherein the motor stator 20 includes
at least one cooling channel 46 that extends through the motor stator 20, parallel to the longitudinal axis 42, and
a plurality of radial cooling channels 40a’ that extend through the motor stator 20, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 42, wherein, for each of the plurality of radial cooling channels 40a’, a first end of the radial cooling channel 40a’ is in fluid communication with the air gap 22 and a second end of the radial cooling channel 40a’ is in fluid communication with at least one cavity 38’ that is radially outward from the motor stator 20, and wherein at least a subset of the plurality of radial cooling channels 40a’ are in direct fluid communication with the at least one axial cooling channel 46 (motor para [0012]; para [0013]; 40 is one or more holes para [0019]; inlet 38 in the housing 12 para [0017]).
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) 2, 4 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Maki-Ontto et al. (US 2016/0118862, hereinafter Maki-Ontto) in view of Sargeant (CA2094093 A1).
As to claim 2/1, Maki-Ontto was discussed above with respect to claim 1 except for the motor stator further comprises one or more radial cooling channels that extend through the motor stator, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and are not in direct fluid communication with the at least one axial cooling channel.
Sargeant shows (FIG. 1, 2, 3) the stator 20 further comprises one or more radial cooling channels 170 that extend through the stator 20, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and are not in direct fluid communication with the at least one axial cooling channel 160 (page 8:3-22; 160, 170 isolated from each other page 10:33 to page 11:12; gas in 160,170 page 7:17-22; radial passages 170 only in end regions of the stator core page 6:27-30).
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 stator 20 of Maki-Ontto to have the motor stator 20 further comprises one or more radial cooling channels 40 that extend through the motor stator 20, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 42, and are not in direct fluid communication with the at least one axial cooling channel 46 as taught by Sargeant, for the advantageous benefit of providing improved cooling of end regions of the stator 20 as taught by Sargeant (page 5:13-15).
As to claim 4/1, Maki-Ontto was discussed above with respect to claim 1 and Maki-Ontto further shows (FIG. 1, 3) a second set of one or more radial cooling channels 40a’ that extend through the motor stator 20, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 42, and are in direct fluid communication with the at least one axial cooling channel 46 (para [0019], [0020]).
Maki-Ontto does not show the motor stator further comprises: a first set of one or more radial cooling channels that extend through the motor stator, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and are not in direct fluid communication with the at least one axial cooling channel.
Sargeant shows (FIG. 1, 2, 3) the stator 20 further comprises one or more radial cooling channels 170 that extend through the stator 20, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and are not in direct fluid communication with the at least one axial cooling channel 160 (page 8:3-22; 160, 170 isolated from each other page 10:33 to page 11:12; gas in 160,170 page 7:17-22; radial passages 170 only in end regions of the stator core page 6:27-30).
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 stator 20 of Maki-Ontto to have the motor stator 20 further comprises: a first set of one or more radial cooling channels 40a that extend through the motor stator 20, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 42, and are not in direct fluid communication with the at least one axial cooling channel 46 as taught by Sargeant, for the advantageous benefit of providing improved cooling of end regions of the stator 20 as taught by Sargeant (page 5:13-15).
Claim(s) 9 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Maki-Ontto et al. (US 2016/0118862, hereinafter Maki-Ontto) in view of Hattori et al. (US 2008/0169710, hereinafter Hattori).
As to claim 9/8/1, Maki-Ontto was discussed above with respect to claim 8 except for wherein a density of the plurality of radial cooling channels, along an axial axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis, increases from a forward end of the motor stator towards a center of the motor stator and increases from an aft end of the motor stator towards the center of the motor stator.
Hattori shows a density of the plurality of radial cooling channels 13, along an axial axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis 2, increases from a forward end of the stator 8 towards a center of the stator 8 and increases from an aft end of the stator 8 towards the center of the stator 8 (FIG. 10, para [0044]).
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 stator 20 of Maki-Ontto to have a density of the plurality of radial cooling channels 40a’, along an axial axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis, increases from a forward end of the motor stator 20 towards a center of the motor stator 20 and increases from an aft end of the motor stator 20 towards the center of the motor stator 20 as taught by Hattori, for the advantageous benefit of improving the uniformity of the temperature distribution in the axial direction of the motor stator 20 as taught by Hattori (para[0045]).
Claim(s) 10-11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Maki-Ontto et al. (US 2016/0118862, hereinafter Maki-Ontto) in view of Leyvraz et al. (US 2001/0022482, hereinafter Leyvraz).
As to claim 10/1, Maki-Ontto was discussed above with respect to claim 1, and Maki-Ontto further shows (FIG. 1, 3, 4B):
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at least one end-winding 28,30 connected to an end 34a,34b of the motor stator 20 and extending into an end-winding cavity R, wherein the end 34a,34b comprises a plate 29b that includes a plurality of jets 50 therethrough that fluidly connect a cavity 38’ that is radially outward from the motor stator 20 to the end-winding cavity R (ends 28,30 para [0014]).
Maki-Ontto does not show the plate 29b is a press plate.
Leyvraz shows the plate 24 is a press plate 24 (FIG. 1, para [0023]).
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 stator 20 of Maki-Ontto to have the plate 29b is a press plate as taught by Leyvraz, for the advantageous benefit ensuring the stator 20 is shielded against axial magnetic fields in end regions of the stator 20 and reducing eddy current losses as taught by Leyvraz (para [0005]).
As to claim 11/10/1, Maki-Ontto in view of Leyvraz was discussed above with respect to claim 10, and Maki-Ontto further shows (FIG. 1, 3, 4B) each of the plurality of jets 50 is angled at an angle with respect to a radial axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
Claim(s) 12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Maki-Ontto et al. (US 2016/0118862, hereinafter Maki-Ontto) in view of Leyvraz et al. (US 2001/0022482, hereinafter Leyvraz) and Odedra et al. (US 2022/0109344, hereinafter Odedra).
As to claim 12/11/10/1, Maki-Ontto in view of Leyvraz was discussed above with respect to claim 11 except for the angle is between 35 and 55 degrees.
Odedra shows the angle is 45 degrees (para [0024],[0025]).
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 stator 20 of Maki-Ontto in view of Leyvraz to have the angle is between 35 and 55 degrees as taught by Odedra, for the advantageous benefit of deflecting air flow from a stator/housing air gap towards stator end windings 30 as taught by Odedra (para [0025]).
Claim(s) 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Velly et al. (US 2021/0211000, hereinafter Velly) in view of Masuko et al. (US 2022/0231554 A1, hereinafter Masuko).
As to claim 20, Velly shows (FIG. 3):
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An integrated compressor 10 comprising:
a shaft H having a longitudinal axis J; and
a motor that drives rotation of the shaft H around the longitudinal axis J, wherein the motor comprises
a motor rotor 20 that is concentric with the longitudinal axis J,
a motor stator 18 encircling the motor rotor 20 and concentric with the longitudinal axis J,
wherein the motor stator 18 includes at least one axial cooling channel 24 that extends through the motor stator 18, parallel to the longitudinal axis J, and
an air gap between the motor stator 18 and the motor rotor 20 (integrated compressor 10 and electric machine 13 driving compression is a motor para [0047]; cooling para [0048]; para [0056]; air gap para [0065]).
Velly does not show a plurality of rotor assemblies attached to the shaft.
Masuko shows a plurality of magnets 22 attached to the shaft 24 (FIG. 1, para [0070],[0071]).
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 rotor 20 of Velly to have a plurality of rotor assemblies 22 attached to the shaft H as taught by Masuko, for the advantageous benefit of enabling the rotor 20 to rotate with efficiency as taught by Masuko (para [0070],[0071]).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 5-7 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.
The prior art does not show or suggest the spatial relations between the radial cooling channels of the first set and the second set recited in claim 5. Dependent claims 6-7 have allowable subject matter for the same reason.
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
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