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 .
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the first sealing interface between the first sealing sleeve and the housing and the second sealing interface between the first sealing sleeve and the flange recited in claim 1 must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). Also, the second sealing ring with a second flange and a second sealing sleeve with a third sealing interface and a fourth sealing interface recited in claim 13 must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
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 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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1, 2, 4, 6-13, 17, 18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Cunningham et al. (US 2020/0373799 A1, hereinafter Cunningham).
As to claim 1, Cunningham shows (FIG. 7b):
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An electric motor cooling system, comprising:
a first sealing ring K3 coupled to or formed in a stator 2 and including a flange F that axially extends outward from a first axial side of the stator 2; and
a first sealing sleeve 20a including:
a first sealing interface O1 that is formed between the first sealing sleeve 20a and a motor housing H; and
a second sealing interface O2 that is formed between the first sealing sleeve 20a and the flange F;
wherein a cavity 22a is formed between the first sealing sleeve 20a and the first sealing ring K3 in which a stator end winding 23 is at least partially immersed in a coolant (motor para [0003]; para [0059], coolant distribution space 22a [0072]).
As to claim 2/1, Cunningham further shows (FIG. 7b above) the motor housing H and the stator 2 exert an axial compressive force on the first sealing ring K3 and the first sealing sleeve 20a (via threaded rod 19 para [0072]).
As to claim 4/2/1, Cunningham further shows (FIG. 7b above) the first sealing sleeve 20a includes a shoulder L that controls the axial compressive force on the first sealing interface O1.
As to claim 6/1, Cunningham further shows (FIG. 7b above) the first sealing ring K3 is adhesively attached to the stator 2 on an axial end face (plastic mass K3 is overmolded para [0067]).
As to claim 7/1, Cunningham further shows (FIG. 7b above) the first sealing ring K3 includes a conical section (at F).
As to claim 8/1, Cunningham further shows (FIG. 7b above) the second sealing interface O2 is a radial sealing interface (sleeve 20a has an axial projection providing a radial contact).
As to claim 9/8/1, Cunningham further shows (FIG. 7b above) the radial sealing interface includes one or more of an O-ring, a grommet, and a liquid seal (an O-ring O2 is shown in FIG. 7a).
As to claim 10/1, Cunningham further shows (FIG. 7b above) the first sealing interface O1 forms a face seal.
As to claim 11/10/1, Cunningham further shows (FIG. 7b above) the face seal includes one or more of an O-ring, a gasket, a diamond seal, and a liquid seal (an O-ring O1 is shown in FIG. 7a).
As to claim 12/1, Cunningham further shows (FIG. 7b above) an indexing device 19 aligned with an opening in the first sealing sleeve 20a (rod 19 positions sleeve 20a para [0072]).
As to claim 13/1, Cunningham further shows the electric motor cooling system of claim 1, further comprising:
a second sealing ring K3 coupled to or formed in the stator 2 and including a second flange F2 that axially extends outward from a second axial side of the stator 2; and
a second sealing sleeve 20x with a third sealing interface O3 formed between the second sealing sleeve 20x and the motor housing H and a fourth sealing interface O4 formed between the second sealing sleeve 20x and the second flange F2;
wherein the first and second sealing rings K3 and sleeves 20a, 20x have different profiles (second bearing shield on opposite side of stator 2 para [0071]; second bearing shield has opposite profile).
As to claim 17, Cunningham shows (FIG. 6b, 7b above) A method for cooling an electric motor, comprising:
flowing a coolant from a plurality of coolant passages 8,9 that extend through a stator 2 into a sealed cavity 22a that is formed between a sealing ring K3 and a sealing sleeve 20a and encloses end windings 23 of the stator 2;
wherein the sealing ring K3 is coupled to or formed in the stator 2 and includes a flange F that axially extends outward from an axial side of the stator 2;
wherein the sealing sleeve 20a includes a first sealing interface O1 formed between the sealing sleeve 20a and a motor housing H and a second sealing interface O2 formed between the sealing sleeve 20a and the flange F; and
wherein a cavity 22a is formed between the sealing ring K3 and the sealing sleeve 20a in which the stator end winding 23 is at least partially immersed in a coolant (motor para [0003]; para [0059], coolant distribution space 22a [0072]).
As to claim 18/17, Cunningham further shows the sealed cavity 22a is positioned radially outward from a rotor cavity and fluidly isolated therefrom (space inside stator 2 through which line M passes FIG. 5a, internal rotor para [0003]).
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.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim(s) 5 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Cunningham et al. (US 2020/0373799 A1, hereinafter Cunningham) in view of Barany (DE 102020102776 A1).
As to claim 5/1, Cunningham was discussed above with respect to claim 1 except for the first sealing ring includes a plurality of baffles that direct the coolant towards the stator end winding from a plurality of coolant passages in the stator.
Barany shows (FIG. 2, 5) the first sealing ring 34 includes a plurality of baffles that direct the coolant towards the stator end winding from a plurality of coolant passages in the stator (baffles divide through openings 38 from each other through which electrical lines 44 and cooling pipes 46 pass (page 16, first paragraph).
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 motor of Cunningham to have the first sealing ring K3 includes a plurality of baffles that direct the coolant towards the stator end winding 23 from a plurality of coolant passages 8,9 in the stator 2 as taught by Barany, for the advantageous benefit of the motor is simple and inexpensive to assemble as taught by Barany (page 16, first paragraph).
Claim(s) 3, 15, 16, 19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Cunningham et al. (US 2020/0373799 A1, hereinafter Cunningham) in view of Gupta et al. (US 2022/0029508 A1, hereinafter Gupta).
As to claim 3/2/1, Cunningham was discussed above with respect to claim 2 except for the first sealing ring is coupled to the first sealing sleeve without using fasteners.
Gupta shows (FIG. 3) the first sealing ring 78 is coupled to the first sealing sleeve 74 without using fasteners (by gluing para [0078]).
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 motor of Cunningham to have first sealing ring is coupled to the first sealing sleeve without using fasteners as taught by Gupta, for the advantageous benefit of the motor is easily manufactured as taught by Gupta (para [0044]).
As to claim 15/1, Cunningham was discussed above with respect to claim 1 except for the electric motor cooling system is included in an electric drive system in a vehicle.
Gupta shows the electric motor cooling system is included in an electric drive system in a vehicle (para [0001]).
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 motor of Cunningham to have the electric motor cooling system is included in an electric drive system in a vehicle as taught by Gupta, for the advantageous benefit of reducing fuel consumption and emissions in vehicles and cooling the electric machine as taught by Gupta (para [0002]).
As to claim 16/1, Cunningham was discussed above with respect to claim 1 except for the coolant is oil.
Gupta shows the fluid is oil (para [0058]).
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 motor of Cunningham to have the coolant is oil as taught by Gupta, for the advantageous benefit of enhancing heat transfer as taught by Gupta (para [0044]).
As to claim 19, Cunningham shows (FIG. 7b above) An immersion cooling system for an electric motor, comprising:
a sealing ring K3 coupled to a stator 2 and including a flange F that axially extends outward from an axial side of the stator 2;
a sealing sleeve 20a including:
a face seal O1 formed between the sealing sleeve 20a and a motor housing H; and
a radial seal O2 formed between the sealing sleeve 20a and the flange F; and
a cavity 22a formed between the sealing ring K3 and the sealing sleeve 20a in which a stator end winding 23 is at least partially immersed in a coolant;
wherein the sealing ring K3 and the sealing sleeve 20a are axially compressed between the axial side of the stator 2 and an interior surface of the motor housing H (motor para [0003]; para [0059], coolant distribution space 22a [0072]; axial compression via threaded rod 19 para [0072]).
Cunningham does not show a coolant is oil
Gupta shows the fluid is oil (para [0058]).
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 motor of Cunningham to have the coolant is oil as taught by Gupta, for the advantageous benefit of enhancing heat transfer as taught by Gupta (para [0044]).
Claim(s) 20 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Cunningham et al. (US 2020/0373799 A1, hereinafter Cunningham) in view of Gupta et al. (US 2022/0029508 A1, hereinafter Gupta) and Barany (DE 102020102776 A1).
As to claim 20/19, Cunningham in view of Gupta was discussed above with respect to claim 19 and Cunningham further shows the sealing ring K3 is adhesively attached to an axial end face of the stator 2 (plastic mass K3 is overmolded para [0067]).
Cunningham does not show the sealing ring includes a plurality of baffles that direct the oil towards the stator end winding from a plurality of coolant passages in the stator.
Barany shows (FIG. 2, 5) the sealing ring 34 includes a plurality of baffles that direct the oil towards the stator end winding from a plurality of coolant passages in the stator (baffles divide through openings 38 from each other through which electrical lines 44 and cooling pipes 46 pass page 16, first paragraph).
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 motor of Cunningham in view of Gupta to have the sealing ring K3 includes a plurality of baffles that direct the oil towards the stator end winding from a plurality of coolant passages in the stator 2 as taught by Barany, for the advantageous benefit of the motor is simple and inexpensive to assemble as taught by Barany (page 16, first paragraph).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 14 is 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.
The prior art does not show or suggest a weld side of the stator as is recited in claim 14.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ROBERT E MATES whose telephone number is (571)270-5293. The examiner can normally be reached M to F 12:00pm to 8pm.
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/ROBERT E MATES/Examiner, Art Unit 2834
/TULSIDAS C PATEL/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2834