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 .
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 04/13/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Chen clearly demonstrates the limitations as recited in the amended claims as detailed in Office Action below. The stacking of the plurality of first steel plates (stator punching sheets of 2) aligning the holes (201) to form a continuous flow path (see Figs. 6 and 7) toward to the at least one cooling fluid outlet (8) is effectively taught by Chen. Furthermore, the groove (101) overlaps the holes to form a continuous cooling flow path from the at least one cooling fluid inlet (7) to at least one cooling fluid outlet (8) as illustrated by compiled Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 6.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 6, 10, and 15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 6 recites the limitation "a width of a portion in which the at least one cooling fluid outlet is disposed is equal to or greater than a sum of the width of the at least one cooling fluid outlet and the width of an inner end of the tooth…" in lines 3-5. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim as it is unclear whether the width at an inner end of the tooth is the same width as the width introduced previously in the claim. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 10 recites the limitation " the partition is formed as a plurality of partitions " in line 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim as a singular partition cannot be a plurality of partitions, however a plurality of partitions may be formed of singular partitions. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 15 recites the limitation "a width of a portion in which the at least one cooling fluid outlet is disposed is equal to or greater than a sum of the width of the at least one cooling fluid outlet and the width of an inner end of the tooth…" in lines 3-5. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim as it is unclear whether the width at an inner end of the tooth is the same width as the width introduced previously in the claim. Appropriate correction is required.
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.
(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 1-7, 10, 12-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Chen (CN115021439A).
Claim 1
A stator comprising:
a core (Fig. 4) including a yoke (annular back portion of stator core, see Fig. 4) having an annular shape, teeth (radially extending teeth from back yoke, see. Fig. 4) extending inwardly from the yoke (annular back portion of stator core, see Fig. 4) and radially disposed, and a shoe (circumferentially extending portion at radially innermost end of stator teeth, see Fig. 4) disposed at an end of each tooth; and
a cooling flow path disposed inside the core (Fig. 4), wherein at least one cooling fluid inlet (7) is disposed along an outer circumferential surface of the core (Fig. 4), and at least one cooling fluid outlet (8) connected (as illustrated in Fig. 6 and 7) to the at least one cooling fluid inlet (7) is disposed in the yoke (annular back portion of stator core) or the teeth (radially extending teeth from back yoke, see. Fig. 4) in an upper surface of the core (Fig. 4),
wherein the core (Fig. 4) includes two first parts (2) and a second part (1) disposed between the first parts (2),
each of the two first parts (2) is disposed by stacking a plurality of first steel plates (stator punching sheets of 2, see Detailed ways, para. 13) in which holes (201) are disposed at positions corresponding to the at least one cooling fluid outlet (8), wherein stacking the plurality of first steel plates (stator punching sheets of 2, see Detailed ways, para. 13) aligns the holes (201, Detailed ways, para. 13) to form a continuous flow path (see Figs. 6 and 7) toward to the at least one cooling fluid outlet (8),
the second part (1) has a groove (101) disposed in a position corresponding to the at least one cooling fluid inlet (7, see Detailed ways, para. 24) and is disposed by stacking a plurality of second steel plates having a diameter (innermost diameter of 1 formed by recessed yoke portions of 1) less than a diameter (outer diameter of 2) of each of the plurality of first steel plates, wherein the groove (101) overlaps the holes to form a continuous cooling flow path from the at least one cooling fluid inlet (7) to at least one cooling fluid outlet (8), and
an outer flow path (102) is formed between two opposing inner surfaces of the two first parts (2), which are separated by a predetermined distance, and an outer circumferential surface of the plurality of second steel plates
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Claim 2/1
The stator of claim 1, wherein the outer flow path (102) recessed in the annular shape, through which cooling fluid (oil) is injected and circulated, is disposed in a portion of the outer circumferential surface of the core (Fig. 4) in which the at least one cooling fluid inlet (7) is disposed.
Claim 3/2/1
The stator of claim 2, further comprising: a partition (formed by diametrically protruded yoke portions of 1) disposed in the outer flow path (102) to block a portion of the outer flow path (102) and limiting a flow direction of the cooling fluid (oil) in the outer flow path (102).
Claim 4/1
The stator of claim 1, wherein the groove (101) is disposed from a position corresponding to the at least one cooling fluid outlet (8) to a position corresponding to the outer circumferential surface of the core (Fig. 4).
Claim 5/3/2/1
The stator of claim 3, wherein a portion of an outer surface of the second steel plates corresponding to the partition (formed by diametrically protruded yoke portions of 1) protrudes, and the groove (101) is disposed from a position corresponding to the at least one cooling fluid outlet (8) to a position corresponding to the outer circumferential surface of the core (Fig. 4).
Claim 6/1
The stator of claim 1, wherein each tooth has a width decreasing inwardly (as evidenced by intersecting lines illustrated below), and a width (circumferential width of tooth) of a portion in which the at least one cooling fluid outlet (8) is disposed is equal to or greater than a sum of the width of the at least one cooling fluid outlet (8) and the width of an inner end of the tooth.
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Claim 7
A motor comprising:
a stator including:
a core (Fig. 4) including a yoke (annular back portion of stator core, see Fig. 4) having an annular shape, teeth (radially extending teeth from back yoke, see. Fig. 4) extending inwardly from the yoke (annular back portion of stator core, see Fig. 4) and radially disposed, and a shoe (circumferentially extending portion at radially innermost end of stator teeth, see Fig. 4) disposed at an end of each tooth; and
a cooling flow path disposed inside the core (Fig. 4), wherein at least one cooling fluid inlet (7) is disposed along an outer circumferential surface of the core (Fig. 4), and at least one cooling fluid outlet (8) connected to the at least one cooling fluid inlet (7) is disposed in the yoke (annular back portion of stator core, see Fig. 4) or the teeth (radially extending teeth from back yoke, see. Fig. 4) in an upper surface of the core (Fig. 4);
a housing (4) having an injection port (5) for cooling fluid (oil) connected to an outer flow path (102) disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the core (Fig. 4) of the stator; and
a cooling unit configured to inject the cooling fluid (oil) into the injection port (5),
wherein the core (Fig. 4) includes two first parts (2) and a second part (1) disposed between the first parts (2),
each of the two first parts (2) is disposed by stacking a plurality of first steel plates (stator punching sheets of 2, see Detailed ways, para. 13) in which holes (201, Detailed ways, para. 13) are disposed at positions corresponding to the at least one cooling fluid outlet (8), wherein stacking the plurality of first steel plates (stator punching sheets of 2, see Detailed ways, para. 13) aligns the holes (201, Detailed ways, para. 13) to from a continuous flow path (see Figs. 6 and 7) toward to at least one cooling fluid outlet (8),
the second part (1) has a groove (101) disposed in a position corresponding to the at least one cooling fluid inlet (7) and is disposed by stacking a plurality of second steel plates having a diameter (innermost diameter of 1 formed by recessed yoke portions of 1) less than a diameter (outer diameter of 2) of each of the plurality of first steel plates (stator punching sheets of 2, see Detailed ways, para. 13), wherein the groove (101) overlaps the holes (201, Detailed ways, para. 13) to form a continuous cooling flow path from the at least one cooling fluid inlet (7) to at least one cooling fluid outlet (8), and
an outer flow path (102) is formed between two opposing inner surfaces of the two first parts (2), which are separated by a predetermined distance, and an outer circumferential surface of the plurality of second steel plates.
Claim 10/7
The motor of claim 7, wherein the stator includes a partition (formed by diametrically protruded yoke portions of 1) disposed in the outer flow path (102) to limit a flow direction of cooling water in the outer flow path (102), the partition is formed as a plurality of partitions, the plurality of partitions are disposed in positions spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance to divide the outer flow path (102) into a plurality of flow paths, and the injection port (5) is formed as a number of injection ports corresponding to the number of the plurality of partitions, and each of the injection ports is disposed in positions adjacent to each of the plurality of partitions, respectively.
Claim 12/7
The motor of claim 7, wherein the outer flow path (102) recessed in the annular shape, through which cooling fluid (oil) is injected and circulated, is disposed in a portion of the outer circumferential surface of the core (Fig. 4) in which the at least one cooling fluid inlet (7) is disposed.
Claim 13/7
The motor of claim 7, wherein: the groove (101) is disposed from a position corresponding to the at least one cooling fluid outlet (8) to a position corresponding to the outer circumferential surface of the core (Fig. 4).
Claim 14/8/7
The motor of claim 8, wherein: a portion of an outer surface of the second steel plate corresponding to the partition (formed by diametrically protruded yoke portions of 1) protrudes, and the groove (101) is disposed from a position corresponding to the at least one cooling fluid outlet (8) to a position corresponding to the outer circumferential surface of the core (Fig. 4).
Claim 15/7
The motor of claim 7, wherein each tooth has a width decreasing inwardly (as evidenced by intersecting lines illustrated below), and a width (circumferential width of tooth) of a portion in which the at least one cooling fluid outlet (8) is disposed is equal to or greater than a sum of the width of the at least one cooling fluid outlet (8) and the width of an inner end of the tooth.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
Claims 8-9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chen in view of
Liu (WO2022110895A1).
Claim 8/7
The motor of claim 7, wherein the stator includes a partition (formed by diametrically protruded yoke portions of 1) disposed in the outer flow path (102) to limit a flow direction of oil in the outer flow path (102), wherein the partition is disposed in a position adjacent to the injection port (5) in the outer flow path (102).
Chen is silent to: cooling water in the outer flow path.
Liu conversely teaches a motor similar to that of Chen wherein cooling liquid circulated in the motor may be cooling oil, cooling water, or other cooling fluids with fluidity (Detailed ways, para. 5).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Chen’s motor such that cooling water is circulated in the outer flow path. A modification of Chen to employ a water based cooling instead of an oil based would be advantageous as water is generally a better coolant than oil due to its higher heat capacity and heat transfer efficiency.
Claim 9/8/7
The motor of claim 8, wherein the housing (4) further includes: a main flow path to which the injection port (5) and the cooling unit are connected; and an auxiliary injection port (301) branched from the main flow path and connected to an outer flow path (102) between the partition and the injection port (5), among both ends of the injection port (5).
Claim 11 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chen in view of
Maki (US8466596B2).
Claim 11/10/7
The motor of claim 10, but is silent to: wherein an angle between two adjacent partitions of the plurality of partitions is 360/n degrees, wherein the n represents the number of the plurality of partitions.
Maki conversely teaches divided core partitions (14) where the open angle of a yoke portion is 360/n, where n is the number of divided core partitions (14).
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It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Chen’s motor such that an angle between two adjacent partitions of the plurality of partitions is 360/n degrees, wherein the n represents the number of the plurality of partitions. Creating laminated core angles based on 360/n is that it ensures perfect geometric and magnetic symmetry in both manufacturing.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to AHMED F SECK whose telephone number is (571)272-4638. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 7:30 am - 4:30 pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Christopher Koehler can be reached at (571) 272-3560. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/AHMED F SECK/Examiner, Art Unit 2834
/CHRISTOPHER M KOEHLER/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2834
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