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 § 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.
Claims 1-30 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as failing to set forth 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.
Regarding claims 1 and 11, the claims recite the step of “identifying one or more parameters associated with the bi-directional prover” without explaining whether the control system configured to obtain the one or more parameters by performing measurements, performing calculations, using a database, or user inputs, etc. The claims also do not disclose what the one or more parameters might include. Although claims 2 and 12 further defines the parameters, the claims do not explain how the control system is configured to obtain the parameters leading to the identification of said parameters. Accordingly, the claims are incomplete for omitting essential steps, such omission amounting to a gap between the steps (see MPEP § 2172.01). The omitted step is the step of the control system obtaining the parameters.
The claims recite “a fluid inlet configured to fluidly couple the fluid conduit to the launch section” and “a fluid outlet configured to fluidly couple the fluid conduit to the launch section” without disclosing whether the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet are coupled to the same or different portions of the fluid conduit. Accordingly, the claims are incomplete for omitting essential structural cooperative relationships of elements, such omission amounting to a gap between the necessary structural connections (see MPEP § 2172.01).
The claims also recite the method step of “comparing the calculated outlet pressure to a measured outlet pressure of the process fluid at the fluid outlet” without disclosing the sensor or detector device for measuring the outlet pressure. Accordingly, the claims are incomplete for omitting essential elements, such omission amounting to a gap between the elements (see MPEP § 2172.01). Claims 3 and 13 appears to further define that measured outlet pressure is based on the pressure sensor and a differential pressure sensor.
Regarding claims 3 and 13, while claims 1 and 11 disclose “a calibration section that comprises a fluid conduit”, “a fluid inlet configured to fluidly couple the fluid conduit to the launch section” of the calibration section, “a fluid outlet configured to fluidly couple the fluid conduit to the launch section” of the calibration section, and “pressure sensor fluidly coupled in the fluid conduit”, the recitation of “the pressure sensor is positioned in the fluid conduit between the fluid inlet and the calibration section” in claims 3 and 13 appears ambiguous. For examination purposes, the pressure sensor can be interpreted as being positioned at either between the fluid inlet and the launch section or between the inlet and the outlet of the calibration section.
The claims recite “a differential pressure measured by a differential pressure sensor fluidly coupled to the fluid conduit” without disclosing the position of the differential pressure sensor with respect to the pressure sensor within the conduit.
Regarding claim 21, the claim recites the method steps of “measuring a temperature of the process fluid in the fluid conduit”, “measuring a pressure of the process fluid in the fluid conduit”, “measuring a density of the process fluid in the fluid conduit”; “identifying, with a control system, one or more parameters associated with the bi-directional prover”; “a measured outlet pressure of the process fluid at the fluid outlet” without reciting the sensors or detectors device for measuring the temperature, for measuring the pressure, for measuring the density, for obtaining the parameters, for measuring the outlet pressure. Accordingly, the claim is incomplete for omitting essential elements, such omission amounting to a gap between the elements (see MPEP § 2172.01). In this case, claim 23 appears to clarify the subject matter by defining that the outlet pressure is measured by the pressure sensor, but claim 23.
Regarding claim 23, the claim recites “a pressure sensor positioned in the fluid conduit” and “a differential pressure sensor fluidly coupled in the fluid conduit” without disclosing their relative positions in the fluid conduit. In the case where both the pressure sensor and the differential pressure sensor are positioned at the same location or coupled to the fluid conduit at the same location, the outlet pressure would be measured based on both sensors located at the same location. The claim appears incomplete for omitting essential structural cooperative relationships of the pressure sensor and the differential pressure sensor, such omission amounting to a gap between the necessary structural connections (see MPEP § 2172.01). Further clarification is respectfully requested.
Claims 2, 4-10, 12, 14-20, 22, 24-30 are rejected as being dependent on the rejected base claims.
Prior arts of Record
The best prior arts of record:
Curtis et al. (Pub. No. US 2013/0253872) teaches a method to calibrate a flow meter including passing a predetermined volume of fluid through a flow meter for calibration and determining a time duration of calibration from a start time to a stop time. One or more characteristics of the flow rate of the fluid is measured with the flow meter during the time duration and a plurality of time stamped measurements based on the one or more measured flow rate characteristics are generated. The flow meter is then calibrated based on the start time, the stop time, and the plurality of time stamped measurements. Small volume provers are used to calibrate an ultrasonic flowmeter, wherein the flowmeter is configured to include instrumentation capable of measuring the temperature, density, and pressure passing through the flowmeter. Curtis does not teach a fluid conduit including a bend section and at least one straight section.
Ignatian (Pat. No. US 8,161,791) teaches a prover including a piston supporting rod extending longitudinally through a cylinder, which cylinder receives and discharges a fluid to measure the volume and flow rate of the fluid by translation of the piston from the fluid receiving end to the fluid discharging end. Motive means includes at least one element for drawing the rod and piston toward the fluid receiving end of the cylinder. Travel of the piston in the direction from the fluid receiving end to the fluid discharging end of the cylinder is sensed at discrete locations to provide an indication of the quantity of fluid therebetween and the related flow rate. Each of a plurality of switches, linear encoder or laser detector provides position sensing signals reflective of the volume and rate of fluid flowing in the cylinder. These signals, representative of this volume and flow rate, are compared with preset parameters to determine the degree of equivalence. Ignatian does not teach a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, and a densometer coupled to the fluid conduit.
Augenstein et al (Pub. No. US 2008/0083262) teaches an apparatus for increasing the accuracy of meter factors of a flow instrument in conjunction with a prover having upstream and downstream prover detection switches and a flow computer including a computer program for correcting errors in a meter factor measured in a proving run and/or correcting effects of flow rate changes during proving. A computer readable medium whose contents causes a processor to increase the accuracy of meter factors of a flow instrument in conjunction with a prover having upstream and downstream prover detection switches and a flow computer, by performing the steps of receiving signals from the upstream and downstream prover detection switches and the flow instrument. There is the step of correcting errors in a meter factor measured in a proving run. A method for increasing the accuracy of the meter factors of a flow instrument in conjunction with a prover having upstream and downstream prover detection switches and a flow computer. The method includes the steps activating a processor. There is the step of correcting errors in the meter factor measured in a proving run with a computer program in the processor. Augenstein does not teach a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, and a densometer coupled to the fluid conduit.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure: see PTO-892.
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/Tran M. Tran/Examiner, Art Unit 2855