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 .
This Office Action is in response to papers filed on 9/17/2025. Amendments made to the claims and the Applicant's remarks have been entered and considered.
Claims 1, 6, 8, 10 have been amended. Claims 4, 5, 11 are cancelled.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1-11 have been considered but are moot because the new grounds of rejection do not rely on the same references applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Newly applied Bhosale (DE 102020200657 A1) shows the features of amended claim 1.
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) 1-3, 10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Bhosale (DE 102020200657 A1).
As to claim 1, Bhosale shows (FIG. 1, 2) A drive unit comprising:
a rotating electric machine 1 including a rotating electric machine casing 7,8;
a transmission 15 including a transmission casing 12 and integrated with the rotating electric machine 1; and
a cooling structure 30 configured to cool the rotating electric machine 1 and the transmission 15,
wherein the cooling structure 30 includes a first cooling passage 33,34 configured to cool the rotating electric machine 1 and a second cooling passage 35 configured to cool the transmission 15, and
the first cooling passage 33,34 and the second cooling passage 35 are in communication with each other, and a common coolant flows through the first cooling passage 33,34 and the second cooling passage 35, and
the second cooling passage 35 is formed by a gap provided between the rotating electric machine casing 8 and the transmission casing 12, the second cooling passage 35 is formed outside of the transmission casing 12, and the second cooling passage 35 extends in a C-shape in a circumferential direction of the rotating electric machine 1 around an axis of the rotating electric machine 1 (gearbox 15 is adjacent the channels 35 that are capable of performing the function of cooling the gearbox 15 para [0025],[0028], connecting channels 35 connect inlet 31 with outlet 32 and are formed in housing base 8 para [0034], channels 35 have a C-shape around center FIG. 2).
As to claim 2/1, Bhosale further shows (FIG. 1, 2) wherein the first cooling passage 33,34 and the second cooling passage 35 are arranged in series (connecting channels 35 connect inlet 31 with outlet 32 para [0034]).
As to claim 3/2/1, Bhosale further shows (FIG. 1, 2) wherein the first cooling passage 33,34 is disposed on an upstream side of the second cooling passage 35 (connecting channels 35 connect inlet 31 with outlet 32 para [0034]).
As to claim 10/1, Bhosale further shows (FIG. 1, 2):
the transmission casing 12 includes a communication passage connecting the first cooling passage 33,34 and the second cooling passage 35, and an outlet passage configured to discharge the coolant having passed through the second cooling passage 35, from the transmission casing 12,
a downstream end of the communication passage is connected to an upstream end of the second cooling passage 35, and an upstream end of the outlet passage is connected to a downstream end of the second cooling passage 35, and
the communication passage and the outlet passage form a multi-level crossing (connecting channels 35 connect inlet 31 with outlet 32 and are therebetween forming a multi-level crossing between 8 and 12 para [0034]).
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) 6, 7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Bhosale (DE 102020200657 A1) in view of Kusakabe (JP 2020054066 A, of record).
As to claim 6/1, Bhosale was discussed above with respect to claim 1 except for:
an inner seal member having an annular shape and disposed inside the second cooling passage extending in an arc shape, between the rotating electric machine and the transmission; and
an outer seal member having an annular shape and disposed outside the second cooling passage, between the rotating electric machine and the transmission.
Kusakabe shows (FIG. 2,3):
an inner seal member 72 having an annular shape and disposed inside the second cooling passage extending in an arc shape, between the rotating electric machine 30 and the transmission 40; and
an outer seal member 70 having an annular shape and disposed outside the second cooling passage 43, between the rotating electric machine 30 and the transmission 40 (the transmission 40 and motor 30 are rotating such that one of ordinary skill in the art would understand the seals 70,72 to be annular para [0041],[0043]).
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 transmission 15 of Bhosale to have:
an inner seal member 72 having an annular shape and disposed inside the second cooling passage 35 extending in an arc shape, between the rotating electric machine 1 and the transmission 15; and
an outer seal member 70 having an annular shape and disposed outside the second cooling passage 35, between the rotating electric machine 1 and the transmission 15
as taught by Kusakabe, for the advantageous benefit oil in the transmission 15 does not leak into the electric machine as taught by Kusakabe (para [0041]).
As to claim 7/6/1, Bhosale in view of Kusakabe was discussed above with respect to claim 6 and Bhosale further shows the transmission casing 12 includes a communication passage connecting the first cooling passage 33,34 and the second cooling passage 35.
Bhosale does not show:
an upstream end of the communication passage is connected to the first cooling passage on a radially-outward side relative to the outer seal member, and
a downstream end of the communication passage is connected to the second cooling passage between the inner seal member and the outer seal member.
Kusakabe further shows (FIG. 2):
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an upstream end of the communication passage 43 is connected to the first cooling passage 33 on a radially-outward side relative to the outer seal member 70, and
a downstream end of the communication passage 33A is connected to the second cooling passage 43 between the inner seal member 72 and the outer seal member 70.
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 transmission 15 of Bhosale to have:
an upstream end of the communication passage is connected to the first cooling passage 33,34 on a radially-outward side relative to the outer seal member 70, and
a downstream end of the communication passage is connected to the second cooling passage 35 between the inner seal member 72 and the outer seal member 70
as taught by Kusakabe, for the advantageous benefit oil in the transmission 15 does not leak into the electric machine as taught by Kusakabe (para [0041]).
Claim(s) 8 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Bhosale (DE 102020200657 A1) in view of Neudorfer (EP0990820A2).
As to claim 8/1, Bhosale was discussed above with respect to claim 1 except for a lubricating oil circulates inside the transmission, the transmission includes an oil reservoir portion configured to store the lubricating oil, and the second cooling passage is formed along the oil reservoir portion.
Neudorfer shows (FIG. 1b) a lubricating oil circulates inside the transmission 2, the transmission 2 includes an oil reservoir portion configured to store the lubricating oil, and the second cooling passage 4,5 is formed along the oil reservoir portion (the gear oil is stored in the transmission housing 4 and is pumped out by the gear 9 para[0018]:250-253).
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 transmission 15 of Bhosale to have a lubricating oil circulates inside the transmission, the transmission includes an oil reservoir portion configured to store the lubricating oil, and the second cooling passage is formed along the oil reservoir portion as taught by Neudorfer, for the advantageous benefit of cooling the transmission 15 as taught by Neudorfer (para[0018]:239-247, 250-251).
Claim(s) 9 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Bhosale (DE 102020200657 A1) in view of Glauning (US 6,087,744 A).
As to claim 9/1, Bhosale further shows (FIG. 1, 2) wherein the first cooling passage 33,34 includes a passage extending, with an axis of the rotating electric machine 1 as a center, in a circumferential wall portion 7 of the rotating electric machine casing 7,8, and a discharge passage 32 configured to discharge the coolant having passed through the passage 33,34, from the rotating electric machine casing 7,8, and
the discharge passage 32 penetrates, in an axial direction of the rotating electric machine casing 7,8, an end wall portion constituting one end portion of the rotating electric machine casing 7,8 in the axial direction.
Bhosale does not show the passage is a spiral passage extending spirally.
Glauning shows (FIG. 5) the passage is a spiral passage extending spirally (col.5:15-20).
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 cooling passage of Bhosale to have the passage is a spiral passage extending spirally as taught by Glauning, for the advantageous benefit of extending the first cooling passage 33,34 over a great surface of the rotating electric machine casing 7,8 in order to guarantee effective cooling as taught by Glauning (col.1:50-58).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure:
Yoshiizumi et al. (US 2014/0339934 A1) shows a cooling system with elbow-shaped passages; and
Mogi (US 2009/0127954 A1) shows oil supply passages with elbow shapes.
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
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