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 .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Claims 1 – 6, 8, 9, and 11 – 13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by EP 3647686 to Sun et al. (hereinafter referred to as Sun).
In regard to claim 1, as shown in figures 2 and 3, Sun discloses a system (200, 300) that is considered to be capable of being used for recovering oil from an air/oil mixture. The system includes an oil separator (205) that forms a first separator that can receive an air/oil mixture from an air/oil mixture source. The first separator (205) can separate at least a portion of oil form the air/oil mixture. An ejector (108) is shown to have a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet. The first inlet is connected to a compressor (130) and can receive compress air. The flow from the compressor draws a flow from the first separator (205) through the valve (220) to the second inlet. Thus, the compressed air from the compressor can be used to draw an air/oil mixture contained in the first separator into the ejector through the second inlet. The ejector can combine the drawn air/oil mixture and the compressed air such that the resulting combined mixture of compressed air and drawn air/oil mixture has a lower temperature as compared to a temperature of the air/oil mixture contained in the first separator, Further, the recovered oil can be captured.
In regard to claim 2, what the compressor is used in association with relates to its intended usage. The compressor in Sun can be used in association with a gas turbine engine, as broadly recited in the claim.
In regard to claim 3, the system of Sun includes a further flash tank (110) that forms a second separator coupled to receive the combined mixture discharged from the outlet of the ejector (108). The second separator (110) can separate at least a portion of oil from the air/oil mixture, and the recovered oil can be captured.
In regard to claim 4, the first separator (205) is capable of receiving the air/oil mixture source from an area in proximity to one or more mechanical components of a gas turbine engine.
In regard to claim 5, the ejector (108) includes all of the required structural features and is considered to be capable of facilitating cooling of the combined mixture to a temperature that is below about 200 °F.
In regard to claim 6, the recovered oil is capable of being returned to one or more mechanical components of a gas turbine engine.
In regard to claim 8, as shown in figures 2 and 3, Sun discloses a system (200, 300) that is considered to be capable of being used for recovering oil from an air/oil mixture. The system includes an ejector (108) that is shown to have a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet. The first inlet is connected to a compressor (130) and can receive compress air. The flow from the compressor draws a flow from an oil separator (205) through the valve (220) to the second inlet. This flow can be an air/oil mixture from an air/oil source. Thus, the compressed air from the compressor can be used to draw an air/oil mixture contained in the first separator into the ejector through the second inlet. The ejector can combine the drawn air/oil mixture and the compressed air such that the resulting combined mixture of compressed air and drawn air/oil mixture has a lower temperature as compared to a temperature of the air/oil mixture contained in the first separator. Alternately, the flash tank (110) can be considered to form a first separator capable of receiving the combined mixture from the ejector (108). The first separator (110) can separate at least a portion of oil from the air/oil mixture, and the recovered oil can be captured.
In regard to claim 9, what the compressor is used in association with relates to its intended usage. The compressor in Sun can be used in association with a gas turbine engine, as broadly recited in the claim.
In regard to claim 11, the first separator (110) is capable of receiving the air/oil mixture source from an area in proximity to one or more mechanical components of a gas turbine engine.
In regard to claim 12, the ejector (108) includes all of the required structural features and is considered to be capable of facilitating cooling of the combined mixture to a temperature that is below about 200 °F.
In regard to claim 13, the recovered oil is capable of being returned to one or more mechanical components of a gas turbine engine.
Claims 1, 2, 4 – 6, 17, and 19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by US Patent Application Publication No. 2019/0120140 to Glahn et al. (hereinafter referred to as Glahn).
In regard to claim 1, as shown in figures 1 – 4, Glahn discloses a system for recovering oil from an air/oil mixture from a gas turbine engine. The system includes a first separator (68) coupled to receive the air/oil mixture from an air/oil mixture source (60, 62). The first separator (68) separates at least a portion of oil from the air/oil mixture, as shown in figures 2 and 3. The system further includes an ejector (70, 170) having a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet. The first inlet connects to an air supply system (76) and can receive compressed air, as discussed in paragraph [0039], to draw the air/oil mixture contained in the first separator into the ejector (70, 170) through the second inlet. The ejector (70, 170) is capable of combining the drawn air/oil mixture and the compressed air such that the resulting combined mixture of compressed air and drawn air/oil mixture has a lower temperature as compared to a temperature of the air/oil mixture contained in the first separator. The recovered oil from the first separator (68) is capable of being captured and returned to the oil source (62), as discussed in paragraph [0037].
In regard to claim 2, what the compressor is used in association with relates to its intended usage. The compressor in Glahn can be used in association with a gas turbine engine, as broadly recited in the claim.
In regard to claim 4, the first separator (68) is capable of receiving the air/oil mixture source from an area in proximity to one or more mechanical components of a gas turbine engine.
In regard to claim 5, the ejector (70, 170) includes all of the required structural features and is considered to be capable of facilitating cooling of the combined mixture to a temperature that is below about 200 °F.
In regard to claim 6, the recovered oil is capable of being returned to one or more mechanical components of a gas turbine engine.
In regard to claim 17, in operation, the system of Glahn inherently performs a method comprising: drawing an air/oil mixture from an air/oil source (60, 62) into a first separator (68); separating a first amount of oil from the air/oil mixture by the first separator creating a reduced oil mixture; delivering compressed air to a first inlet of an ejector (70, 170), causing the reduced oil mixture contained in the first separator to be drawn into a second inlet of the ejector, wherein compressed air and the drawn reduced oil mixture is mixed within a main channel of the ejector, and the reduced oil mixture is decreased in temperature compared to the temperature of the air/oil mixture contained in the first separator; and ejecting the combined mixture through an outlet of the ejector.
In regard to claim 19, in Glahn, drawing the air/oil mixture from the air/oil source includes drawing the air/oil mixture from an area surrounding bearing systems (38), which are one or more mechanical components of a gas turbine engine.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed June 4, 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
In regard to Sun, applicant argues that Sun does not describe not suggest an ejector including a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet, the first inlet receives compressed air used to draw an air/oil mixture contained in a first separator into the ejector through the second inlet, as recited in claim 1. Applicant does not argue that the ejector of Sun is structurally different. Applicant argues that Sun directs refrigerant from a high side heat exchanger and refrigerant from a first oil separator to a flash tank, and does not disclose an ejector including an inlet for receiving compressed air used to draw an air/oil mixture contained in a first separator into the ejector through a second inlet. The materials acted upon are not considered to differentiate the structure of product claims. The ejector (108) in Sun receives compressed air from a compressor (130) and is considered to be capable of drawing an air/oil mixture contained in a first separator into the ejector through a second inlet. Similarly, in regard to claim 3, the flash tank (110) of Sun is maintained to be a second separator. A flash tank inherently acts to form a separation of liquid and gas. The flash tank can perform a separation and storage function. The gas and liquid can be separated into different phases, with the gas released by opening a valve (128) and the liquid released from the bottom of the flash tank.
In regard to Glahn, applicant argues that the vacuum generator (70, 170) in Glahn does not form an ejector. The examiner respectfully disagrees. Applicant argues that the vacuum generator is merely used to reduce the pressure in the de-oiler. An ejector works by generating a vacuum, or pressure reduction. As discussed in paragraph [0041], the air from the de-oiler is flown through the vacuum generator with the air form the air supply system. Applicant also argues the vent (74) of the vacuum generator does not form an outlet as claimed. The vent is shown to be an outlet of the combined stream from the vacuum generator. Applicant does not provide an explanation for how the vent is structurally different from the claimed outlet.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 7, 10, 14 – 16, 18, and 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
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Robert Clemente whose telephone number is (571)272-1476. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9-5.
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/ROBERT CLEMENTE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1773
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