DETAILED ACTION
for
EXCITATION SYSTEM
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 .
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 04/23/2024 & 07/18/2024 are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Oath/Declaration
The Oath/Declaration submitted on 02/07/2024 is noted by the Examiner.
Drawings
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The drawings are objected to because: Figure 13: Blank reference boxes like the one in the adjacent annotated Figure, in addition to the overall box as shown in Fig. 5a and 5b should also be labeled with their representative structure in order to more easily identify the structure quickly that is utilized in the invention without having to read through the specification. Specifically, the boxes should be labeled -- Sensor See 37 C.F.R. 1.83(a) below.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Claim Objections
Claims 4-5 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 4, recites the limitation "exciter element” in line claim line 2. It is Examiner's belief that Applicant is intending to recite “exciter elements are magnets” as recited in the previous claims. To avoid an antecedent basis rejection appropriate correction is required.
Claim 5, recites the limitation "exciter element” in line claim line 2. It is Examiner's belief that Applicant is intending to recite “exciter elements are magnets” as recited in the previous claims. To avoid an antecedent basis rejection appropriate correction is required.
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.
Claims 1-12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by MacMahon et al. [herein after US 2020/0072062) “Admitted by Applicant on IDS”.
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Regarding claims 1 and 12, MacMahon discloses a non-contact excitation system and method for a spin rig comprising: a plurality of test piece elements (122) for attachment to a test piece (18) for rotation about an axis of rotation (X) of the spin rig [18; “a longitudinal or axial centerline axis 12”] ; and a plurality of exciter elements (112) arranged around the axis of rotation 1, wherein the test piece elements (122) and the exciter elements (112) are magnetically attractive [¶0037, lines 10-12; “an electromagnetic force is applied to the airfoil via the electromagnet at the static structure and the ferromagnetic material of the airfoil”]; wherein the test piece elements (112) comprise magnets “the ferromagnetic material 112”; and wherein, in use, the exciter elements (112) are arranged around the test piece (18); each exciter element (112) being axially and radially offset from the plurality of test piece elements [(122); see annotated Fig. 4 below].
Regarding claim 2, MacMahon further discloses the plurality of exciter elements (112) are magnets which each have a magnetic pole (P.sub.E) which is oriented radially [¶0050, lines 3-6; “the electromagnet 122 is disposed at a radially outward end 127 of the stator 124”].
Regarding claim 3, MacMahon further discloses the plurality of exciter elements (112) are magnets which alternate in polarity in a circumferential direction around the axis of rotation (Fig. 8).
Regarding claim 4, MacMahon further discloses the plurality of exciter magnets (112) are permanent magnets “ferromagnetic material 112”.
Regarding claim 5, MacMahon further discloses the plurality of exciter magnets (112) are bar magnets (Figs. 3).
Regarding claim 6, MacMahon further discloses the test piece (18) being a bladed disc and the test piece elements are for attachment to a plurality of blade tips (Fig. 8).
Regarding claim 7, MacMahon further discloses the test piece elements (122) are magnets which each have a magnet pole (P.sub.T) which is oriented radially [“electromagnet 122”; Fig. 4].
Regarding claim 8, MacMahon further discloses the test piece elements (122) are magnets which alternate in polarity in a circumferential direction around the axis of rotation (Fig. 5).
Regarding claim 9, MacMahon further discloses the exciter elements (112) are magnets and the test piece elements are ferromagnetic elements “ferromagnetic material 112”.
Regarding claim 10, MacMahon further discloses each exciter element (112) is moveable between an active position (Fig. 4), in which a magnetic force is provided between each exciter element (112) and at least one of the test piece elements (122), and an inactive position (Fig. 8), in which the magnetic force between the exciter elements (112) and the at least one test piece element is reduced.
Regarding claim 11, MacMahon further discloses a test piece to which the test piece elements are attached (Fig. 3).
Conclusion
Bywaters discloses the module handling tool (128) has a cylindrical stator frame (116) having a base. A bearing is supported by frame and designed to facilitate the movement of active portion module along the module translation axis. A translator is designed to move the active portion module along the translation axis. A positioning system is designed for aligning the frame relative to module receiving location of electromagnetic rotary machine (100) for insertion/removal of the active portion module respectively, into/from the module receiving location.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BRANDI N HOPKINS whose telephone number is (571)270-7042. The examiner can normally be reached M & F 9-5 and T-TH, 6-4.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Kristina Deherrera can be reached at (303) 297-4237. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/BRANDI N HOPKINS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2855