SYSTEMS FOR A HYDRAULIC UNIT
FIRST OFFICE ACTION
DRAWINGS
The drawings have been reviewed and approved.
TITLE
The title is objected to because it is vague and not clearly descriptive of the claimed invention.
ABSTRACT
The abstract has been reviewed and approved.
SPECIFICATION
The specification has been reviewed and approved.
CLAIMS
In the event that the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the rationale supporting the rejection would be the same.
35 U.S.C. § 102
In accordance with 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1), a person shall be entitled to a patent unless 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.
Claims 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 16, 17, and 19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Lang et al. (2022/0153341).
With respect to independent claim 1, Lang et al. set forth a hydraulic unit, comprising:
a torque sensor (340) externally mounted to a housing (362) of the hydraulic unit (paragraph 38), wherein a torque sensor mount (un-numbered element which holds 340 in Fig. 3) is physically coupled to a planar portion of the housing near a flange (right side of 362 in Fig. 3) through which a drive shaft (330/350) extends.
With respect to claim 3, Lang et al. set forth that the planar portion of the housing (top side portion of housing 362 in Fig. 3) is integral with a cylindrical portion (363) of the housing.
With respect to claim 4, Lang et al. set forth that the torque sensor (340) is closer to a first end (topside of Fig. 3) of the housing (362) through which the drive shaft (330/350) protrudes than a second end (bottom side of Fig. 3) of the housing opposite the first end.
With respect to claim 6, Lang et al. set forth that the planar portion (top side portion of housing 362 in Fig. 3) is static.
With respect to claim 7, Lang et al. set forth that the torque sensor (340) extends in a direction normal to the drive shaft (330).
With respect to independent claim 16, Lang et al. set forth a hydraulic unit, comprising:
a torque sensor (340) externally mounted to a housing (362) of the hydraulic unit (paragraph 2), wherein a torque sensor mount (un-numbered element which holds 340 in Fig. 3) is physically coupled to a static element of the housing (362) near a flange (right side of 362 in Fig. 3) through which a drive shaft (330/350) extends.
With respect to claim 17, Lang et al. set forth that the torque sensor mount (un-numbered element which holds 340 in Fig. 3) is parallel to the static element (362).
With respect to claim 19, Lang et al. set forth that the static element (362) comprises a linear shape (top side of 362 in Fig. 3) parallel to the torque sensor mount (un-numbered element which holds 340 in Fig. 3) and arranged on a cylindrical portion of the housing (362).
35 U.S.C. § 103
In accordance with 35 U.S.C. 103, 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 of this title, 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 2, 5, 8 - 15, 18, and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lang et al. (2022/0153341).
With respect to claim 2, Lang et al. fail to set forth a plurality of fasteners that extend through the flange and thus fail to set forth that the torque sensor extends along an axis misaligned with each a plurality of fasteners that extend through the flange.
However, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art armed with the Lang et al. teaching that a plurality of fasteners would attach the torque sensor to the housing.
The motivation being to properly secure the torque sensor to the housing while having the ability to remove the torque sensor if need be.
With respect to claim 5, Lang et al. fail to set forth that the torque sensor is configured to sense a deformation of a surface of the housing.
However, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art armed with the Lang et al. teaching that the torque sensor is configured to sense a deformation of the housing.
The motivation being that the torque sensor is configured to sense a force and the torque sensor is attached to the housing. Thus, any deformation of the housing surface due to a force (ie. torque) will be sensed by the torque sensor.
With respect to independent claim 8, Lang et al. set forth a system, comprising:
a hydraulic unit (paragraph 38) comprising a housing (362); and
a torque sensor (340) comprising a mount (un-numbered element which holds 340 in Fig. 3) physically coupled to a planar portion (top side of 362 in Fig. 3) of the housing adjacent to a flange (right side of 362 in Fig. 3).
But Lang et al. fail to explicitly set forth that the torque sensor (340) is misaligned with fasteners that extend through the flange.
Nonetheless, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art armed with the Lang et al. teaching that the taught torque sensor is misaligned with fasteners that extend through the flange.
The motivation being that the torque sensor (340) is located at the top of the housing (362) while the flange is located on the right side of the housing.
With respect to claim 9, Lang et al. set forth a hydraulic unit which is interpreted as a “bent axis” unit as claimed because the hydraulic unit of Lang et al. translates the movement of a first driveshaft (330) in one direction to a second driveshaft (350) in a second direction. The Examiner notes that the claim sets forth no specifics as to define the meaning of a “bent axis” unit.
With respect to claim 10, Lang et al. set forth a hydraulic unit which is interpreted as an “axial” unit as claimed because the hydraulic unit of Lang et al. makes use of an axial driveshaft. The Examiner notes that the claim sets forth no specifics as to define the meaning of an “axial” unit.
With respect to claim 11, Lang et al. set forth a hydraulic unit which is interpreted as an “internal gear” hydraulic unit as claimed because the hydraulic unit of Lang et al. makes use of an internal gear (360). The Examiner notes that the claim sets forth no specifics as to define the meaning of an “internal gear” hydraulic unit.
With respect to claim 12, Lang et al. set forth a hydraulic unit which is interpreted as an “orbital” hydraulic unit as claimed because the hydraulic unit of Lang et al. makes use of a revolving shaft (350). The Examiner notes that the claim sets forth no specifics as to define the meaning of an “orbital gear” hydraulic unit.
With respect to claim 13, Lang et al. set forth that the torque sensor (340) is external mounted to the planar portion of the housing (362) at a location proximal to a splined portion of a drive shaft (Fig. 3).
With respect to claim 14, Lang et al. set forth that the drive shaft (350) extends through the flange and into the housing (362) wherein the splined portion is arranged outside of the flange (right side of 362 in Fig. 3).
With respect to claim 15, Lang et al. inherently set forth that the planar portion comprises ports configured to admit fluids into the housing since the housing is that of a power steering pump (paragraph 2).
With respect to claim 18, Lang et al. set forth that the torque sensor (340) is physically coupled to the static element (362) but fails to explicitly teach a plurality of fasteners.
However, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art armed with the Lang et al. teaching that a plurality of fasteners would attach the torque sensor to the housing.
The motivation being to properly secure the torque sensor to the housing while having the ability to remove the torque sensor if need be.
With respect to claim 20, Lang et al. set forth that the torque sensor (340) is positioned between a splined portion (365) of the drive shaft (330) and an inherent hydraulic port of the housing. Lang et al. fail to explicitly teach a hydraulic port of the housing but such a port is inherent since the housing is that of a hydraulic power steering pump.
CITED DOCUMENTS
The Applicant’s attention is directed to the “PTO-892” form for the relevant art made of record at the time of this Office Action.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Any inquiry concerning this communication from the Examiner should be directed to Eric S. McCall whose telephone number is 571-272-2183.
The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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https://www.uspto.gov/patents/uspto-automated- interview-request-air-form.
/Eric S. McCall/Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2855
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