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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 6/2/2026 has been entered.
Response to Amendment
Regarding rejections of the claims under §§102 and 103:
Claims 1-3, 5-6, 8, 11-12, and 14-15 were rejected as being anticipated by Taniguchi. Claims 4, 7, 13, and 16 were rejected as being obvious over Taniguchi. Claims 9-10, 17, and 19-20 were rejected as being obvious over Taniguchi in view of Eakman. Claim 18 was rejected as being obvious over Taniguchi in view of Eakman and Okano. The Applicant amended claims 1, 8, and 17.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see pages 9-10 filed 5/4/2026, with respect to the rejections of claims 1, 8, and 17 under 102 and 103 have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, a new grounds of rejection is made in view of Chinese Patent No. 104948584 to Wang.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 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 1-8 and 11-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0069597 to Taniguchi et al. (hereinafter Taniguchi; cited by Applicant on 5/1/2025) in view of Chinese Patent No. 104948584 to Wang.
Regarding claim 1, Taniguchi teaches a hybrid airfoil thrust bearing (FIG. 2; 23, 24, 63, 64) for a shaft (FIG. 2, 13) comprising a thrust disc (FIG. 2, 34) having a thrust disc exterior that rotates with the shaft, the hybrid airfoil thrust bearing comprising:
airfoil bearing components comprising:
a first top foil (FIG. 2, 23; FIG. 5(b), 56) immediately adjacent to a first side of the thrust disc and surrounding the shaft;
first additional components (FIG. 4, 11; FIG. 5(b); 57, 58) comprising a first thrust bearing having a first thrust bearing exterior;
a second top foil (FIG. 2, 24; FIG. 5(b), 56) immediately adjacent to a second side of the thrust disc and surrounding the shaft; and
second additional components (FIG. 4, 11; FIG. 5(b); 57, 58) comprising a second thrust bearing having a second thrust bearing exterior; and
passive magnetic bearing components integrated into the thrust disc (FIG. 2; 63a, 64a), into the first thrust bearing of the first additional components and into the second thrust bearing of the second additional components (Fig. 2; 63b, 64b) to remove a static load of the thrust disc on the first top foil and on the second top foil (Claim 2).
Taniguchi does not teach the passive magnetic bearing components being added into the thrust disc, the first thrust bearing, and the second thrust bearing without being added to the thrust disc exterior, first thrust bearing exterior, and second thrust bearing exterior respectively.
However, Wang teaches a thrust bearing with passive magnetic bearing components (Paragraph [0030]) added into a thrust disc (FIG. 1, 22), a first thrust bearing (FIG. 1, 2), and a second thrust bearing (Fig. 1, 21) without being added to their respective exteriors.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the hybrid airfoil thrust bearing of Taniguchi with the embedded passive magnetic bearing components of Wang to protect the passive magnetic bearing components from potential wear and physical contact.
Regarding claim 2, Taniguchi in view of Wang teaches the hybrid airfoil thrust bearing according to claim 1, wherein Taniguchi further teaches:
the first additional components further comprise a first bump foil (FIG. 5(b), 57), the first thrust bearing defining a first bore (FIG. 5(b), between 34 and 58) and the first bump foil axially interposed between the first top foil and the first thrust bearing,
the second additional components further comprise a second bump foil (FIG. 5(b), 57), the second thrust bearing defining a second bore (FIG. 5(b), between 34 and 58) and the second bump foil being axially interposed between the second top foil and the second thrust bearing, and
the shaft is rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof within the first and second bores and relative to the first and second thrust bearings (Paragraph [0048]).
Regarding claim 3, Taniguchi in view of Wang teaches the hybrid airfoil thrust bearing according to claim 2, wherein Taniguchi further teaches passive magnetic materials (FIG. 7; 63b, 64b) have a same polarity as the passive magnetic materials integrated into the thrust disc (Paragraph [0047]).
Regarding claim 4, Taniguchi in view of Wang teaches the hybrid airfoil thrust bearing according to claim 2, wherein Taniguchi further teaches the passive magnetic bearing components comprise:
first (FIG. 7, 63a) and second (FIG. 7, 64a) passive magnetic materials integrated into the first and second sides of the thrust disc;
third passive magnetic materials (FIG. 7, 63b) of a same polarity as the first passive magnetic materials integrated into the first thrust bearing (Paragraph [0047]); and
fourth passive magnetic materials (FIG. 7, 64b) of a same polarity as the second passive magnetic materials integrated into the second thrust bearing (Paragraph [0047]).
Taniguchi in view of Wang does not teach the first and second passive magnetic materials being of opposite polarity.
However, it would have been obvious to try placing the second passive magnetic material to be of opposite polarity to the first passive magnetic material as there are a finite number of identified, predictable solutions (two magnetic poles of the magnet), with a reasonable expectation of success.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the hybrid airfoil thrust bearing of Taniguchi in view of Wang by changing the polarity of the second passive magnetic material as it helps keep the magnetic materials in the thrust disc as they would not axially repel each other.
Regarding claim 5, Taniguchi in view of Wang teaches the hybrid airfoil thrust bearing according to claim 1, wherein Taniguchi further teaches:
the first additional components further comprise a first bump foil (FIG. 5(b), 57) and a first flange (FIG. 2, portion of 11 radially contacting bearing), the first thrust bearing defining a first bore (FIG. 5(b), between 34 and 58), the first bump foil (FIG. 5(b), 57) being axially interposed between the first top foil and the first thrust bearing and the first flange being outboard of the first top foil and affixed to an outboard edge of the first thrust bearing,
the second additional components further comprise a second bump foil (FIG. 5(b), 57) and a second flange (FIG. 2, portion of 11 radially contacting bearing), the second thrust bearing defining a second bore (FIG. 5(b), between 34 and 58), the second bump foil being axially interposed between the second top foil and the second thrust bearing and the second flange being outboard of the second top foil and affixed to an outboard edge of the second thrust bearing, and
the shaft is rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof within the first and second bores and relative to the first and second thrust bearings (Paragraph [0048]).
Regarding claim 6, Taniguchi in view of Wang teaches the hybrid airfoil thrust bearing according to claim 5, wherein Taniguchi further teaches passive magnetic materials are integrated into the first and second flanges (FIG. 7; 63b, 64b) and have a same polarity as the passive magnetic materials integrated into the thrust disc (Paragraph [0047]).
Regarding claim 7, Taniguchi in view of Wang teaches the hybrid airfoil thrust bearing according to claim 5, wherein Taniguchi further teaches the passive magnetic bearing components comprise:
first (FIG. 7, 63a) and second (FIG. 7, 64a) passive magnetic materials integrated into the first and second sides of the thrust disc;
third passive magnetic materials (FIG. 7, 63b) of a same polarity as the first passive magnetic materials integrated into the first flange (Paragraph [0047]); and
fourth passive magnetic materials (FIG. 7, 64b) of a same polarity as the second passive magnetic materials integrated into the second flange (Paragraph [0047]).
Taniguchi in view of Wang does not teach the first and second passive magnetic materials being of opposite polarity.
However, it would have been obvious to try placing the second passive magnetic material to be of opposite polarity to the first passive magnetic material as there are a finite number of identified, predictable solutions (two magnetic poles of the magnet), with a reasonable expectation of success.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the hybrid airfoil thrust bearing of Taniguchi in view of Wang by changing the polarity of the second passive magnetic material as it helps keep the magnetic materials in the thrust disc as they would not axially repel each other.
Regarding claim 8, Taniguchi teaches a device (FIG. 2, 6), comprising:
a shaft (FIG. 2, 13) rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof;
a thrust disc (FIG. 2, 34) having a thrust disc exterior disposed along the shaft to rotate with the shaft; and
a hybrid airfoil thrust bearing (FIG. 2; 23, 24, 63, 64), comprising:
airfoil bearing components comprising:
a first top foil (FIG. 2, 23; FIG. 5(b), 56) immediately adjacent to a first side of the thrust disc and surrounding the shaft;
first additional components (FIG. 4, 11; FIG. 5(b); 57, 58) comprising a first thrust bearing having a first thrust bearing exterior;
a second top foil (FIG. 2, 24; FIG. 5(b), 56) immediately adjacent to a second side of the thrust disc and surrounding the shaft; and
second additional components (FIG. 4, 11; FIG. 5(b); 57, 58) comprising a second thrust bearing having a second thrust bearing exterior; and
passive magnetic bearing components integrated into the thrust disc (FIG. 2; 63a, 64a), into the first thrust bearing of the first additional components and into the second thrust bearing of the second additional components (FIG. 2; 63b, 64b) to remove a static load of the thrust disc on the first top foil and on the second top foil (Claim 2).
Taniguchi does not teach the passive magnetic bearing components being added into the thrust disc, the first thrust bearing, and the second thrust bearing without being added to the thrust disc exterior, first thrust bearing exterior, and second thrust bearing exterior respectively.
However, Wang teaches a thrust bearing with passive magnetic bearing components (Paragraph [0030]) added into a thrust disc (FIG. 1, 22), a first thrust bearing (FIG. 1, 2), and a second thrust bearing (Fig. 1, 21) without being added to their respective exteriors.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the device of Taniguchi with the embedded passive magnetic bearing components of Wang to protect the passive magnetic bearing components from potential wear and physical contact.
Regarding claim 11, Taniguchi in view of Wang teaches the device according to claim 8, wherein Taniguchi further teaches:
the first additional components further comprise a first bump foil (FIG. 5(b), 57), the first thrust bearing defining a first bore (FIG. 5(b), between 34 and 58) and the first bump foil being axially interposed between the first top foil and the first thrust bearing,
the second additional components further comprise a second bump foil (FIG. 5(b), 57), the second thrust bearing defining a second bore (FIG. 5(b), between 34 and 58) and the second bump foil being axially interposed between the second top foil and the second thrust bearing, and
the shaft is rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof within the first and second bores and relative to the first and second thrust bearings (Paragraph [0048]).
Regarding claim 12, Taniguchi in view of Wang teaches the device according to claim 11, wherein Taniguchi further teaches passive magnetic materials (FIG. 7; 63b, 64b) have a same polarity as the passive magnetic materials integrated into the thrust disc (Paragraph [0047]).
Regarding claim 13, Taniguchi in view of Wang teaches the device according to claim 11, wherein Taniguchi further teaches the passive magnetic bearing components comprise:
first (FIG. 7, 63a) and second (FIG. 7, 64a) passive magnetic materials integrated into the first and second sides of the thrust disc;
third passive magnetic materials (FIG. 7, 63b) of a same polarity as the first passive magnetic materials integrated into the first thrust bearing (Paragraph [0047]); and
fourth passive magnetic materials (FIG. 7, 64b) of a same polarity as the second passive magnetic materials integrated into the second thrust bearing (Paragraph [0047]).
Taniguchi in view of Wang does not teach the first and second passive magnetic materials being of opposite polarity.
However, it would have been obvious to try placing the second passive magnetic material to be of opposite polarity to the first passive magnetic material as there are a finite number of identified, predictable solutions (two magnetic poles of the magnet), with a reasonable expectation of success.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the hybrid airfoil thrust bearing of Taniguchi in view of Wang by changing the polarity of the second passive magnetic material as it helps keep the magnetic materials in the thrust disc as they would not axially repel each other.
Regarding claim 14, Taniguchi in view of Wang teaches the device according to claim 8, wherein Taniguchi further teaches:
the first additional components further comprise a first bump foil (FIG. 5(b), 57) and a first flange (FIG. 2, portion of 11 radially contacting bearing), the first thrust bearing defining a first bore (FIG. 5(b), between 34 and 58), the first bump foil being axially interposed between the first top foil and the first thrust bearing and the first flange being outboard of the first top foil and affixed to an outboard edge of the first thrust bearing,
the second additional components further comprise a second bump foil (FIG. 5(b), 57) and a second flange (FIG. 2, portion of 11 radially contacting bearing), the second thrust bearing defining a second bore (FIG. 5(b), between 34 and 58), the second bump foil being axially interposed between the second top foil and the second thrust bearing and the second flange being outboard of the second top foil and affixed to an outboard edge of the second thrust bearing, and
the shaft is rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof within the first and second bores and relative to the first and second thrust bearings (Paragraph [0048]).
Regarding claim 15, Taniguchi in view of Wang teaches the device according to claim 14, wherein Taniguchi further teaches passive magnetic materials integrated into the first and second flanges (FIG. 7; 63b, 64b) have a same polarity as the passive magnetic materials integrated into the thrust disc (Paragraph [0047]).
Regarding claim 16, Taniguchi in view of Wang teaches the device according to claim 14, wherein Taniguchi further teaches the passive magnetic bearing components comprise:
first (FIG. 7, 63a) and second (FIG. 7, 64a) passive magnetic materials integrated into the first and second sides of the thrust disc;
third passive magnetic materials (FIG. 7, 63b) of a same polarity as the first passive magnetic materials integrated into the first flange (Paragraph [0047]); and
fourth passive magnetic materials (FIG. 7, 64b) of a same polarity as the second passive magnetic materials integrated into the second flange (Paragraph [0047]).
Taniguchi in view of Wang does not teach the first and second passive magnetic materials being of opposite polarity.
However, it would have been obvious to try placing the second passive magnetic material to be of opposite polarity to the first passive magnetic material as there are a finite number of identified, predictable solutions (two magnetic poles of the magnet), with a reasonable expectation of success.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the hybrid airfoil thrust bearing of Taniguchi in view of Wang by changing the polarity of the second passive magnetic material as it helps keep the magnetic materials in the thrust disc as they would not axially repel each other.
Claims 9-10, 17, and 19-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Taniguchi in view of Wang and in further view of U.S. Patent No. 5,726,560 to Eakman.
Regarding claim 9, Taniguchi in view of Wang teaches the device according to claim 8, wherein Taniguchi further teaches:
a compressor wheel (FIG. 2, 12) connected to an end of the shaft and one or more journal bearings (FIG. 2, 14) disposed along at least one of the first and second ends of the shaft.
Taniguchi in view of Wang does not teach a turbine wheel connected to the another end of the shaft.
However, Eakman teaches a compressor with a compressor wheel (FIG. 1, 3) at one end of a shaft (FIG. 1, 4) and a turbine wheel (FIG. 1, 5) on the other end of the shaft.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the device of Taniguchi with the turbine wheel of Eakman to further increase the efficiency of the air compression of the device.
Regarding claim 10, Taniguchi in view of Wang and Eakman teaches the device according to claim 9, wherein Taniguchi further teaches the one or more journal bearings is a hybrid airfoil bearing (FIG. 2; 23, 24, 63, 64).
Regarding claim 17, Taniguchi teaches a compressed air supplying device (FIG. 2, 6), comprising:
a motor (FIG. 2, 20);
an impeller (FIG. 2, 13a);
a shaft (FIG. 2, 13), which is rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof and by which the motor drives impeller rotation (Paragraph [0033]);
a thrust disc (FIG. 2, 34) having a thrust disc exterior disposed along the shaft to rotate with the shaft; and
a hybrid airfoil thrust bearing (FIG. 2; 23, 24, 63, 64), comprising:
airfoil bearing components comprising:
a first top foil (FIG. 2, 23; FIG. 5(b), 56) immediately adjacent to a first side of the thrust disc and surrounding the shaft;
first additional components (FIG. 4, 11; FIG. 5(b); 57, 58) comprising a first thrust bearing having a first thrust bearing exterior;
a second top foil (FIG. 2, 24; FIG. 5(b), 56) immediately adjacent to a second side of the thrust disc and surrounding the shaft; and
second additional components (FIG. 4, 11; FIG. 5(b); 57, 58) comprising a second thrust bearing having a second thrust bearing exterior; and
passive magnetic bearing components integrated into the thrust disc (FIG. 2; 63a, 64a), into the first thrust bearing of the first additional components and into the second thrust bearing of the second additional components (FIG. 2; 63b, 64b) to remove a static load of the thrust disc on the first top foil and on the second top foil (Claim 2).
Taniguchi does not teach the device being an air cycle machine (ACM) and the passive magnetic bearing components being added into the thrust disc, the first thrust bearing, and the second thrust bearing without being added to the thrust disc exterior, first thrust bearing exterior, and second thrust bearing exterior respectively.
However, Wang teaches a thrust bearing with passive magnetic bearing components (Paragraph [0030]) added into a thrust disc (FIG. 1, 22), a first thrust bearing (FIG. 1, 2), and a second thrust bearing (Fig. 1, 21) without being added to their respective exteriors.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the compressed air supplying device of Taniguchi with the embedded passive magnetic bearing components of Wang to protect the passive magnetic bearing components from potential wear and physical contact.
Taniguchi in view of Wang does not teach the device being an air cycle machine (ACM).
However, Eakman teaches a bearing supported air compressor comprising an air cycle machine (FIG. 1, 1).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the device of Taniguchi in view of Wang by incorporating it into the air cycle machine of Eakman for the air cycle machine of Eakman to benefit from the features of the device of Taniguchi in view of Wang.
Regarding claim 19, Taniguchi in view of Wang and Eakman teaches the ACM according to claim 17, wherein Taniguchi further teaches one or more journal bearings (FIG. 2, 14) disposed along the shaft.
Regarding claim 20, Taniguchi in view of Wang and Eakman teaches the ACM according to claim 19, wherein Taniguchi further teaches the one or more journal bearing being a hybrid airfoil bearing (FIG. 2; 23, 24, 63, 64).
Claim 18 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Taniguchi in view of Wang and Eakman and in further view of U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2022/0099102 to Okano et al. (hereinafter Okano).
Regarding claim 18, Taniguchi in view of Wang and Eakman teaches the ACM according to claim 17, wherein Taniguchi further teaches the passive magnetic repulsion between the passive magnetic baring components integrated into the thrust disc and the passive magnetic bearing components integrated into the first and second additional components maintaining an axial position of the thrust disc (Paragraph [0047]).
Taniguchi in view of Wang and Eakman does not teach the thrust disc being between the motor and the impeller.
However, Okano teaches a compressor with a thrust disc (FIG. 1, 75) placed between an impeller (FIG. 1; 51, 52) and a motor (FIG. 1, 41).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the ACM of Taniguchi in view of Wang and Eakman with the thrust disc placement of Okano to balance the rotational inertia of the shaft of the ACM, depending on its use case.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JOSHUA KIEL MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ whose telephone number is (571)272-9881. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 9:30am - 7:00pm ET.
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/JOSHUA KIEL M RODRIGUEZ/Examiner, Art Unit 2834
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