DETAILED ACTION
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
The request for continued examination (RCE) filed 7 May 2026 has been entered. All amendments therein have been entered. Claims 1-2, 4, 6, 8, and 10-13 are pending.
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112(b)
Claims 8 and 10-13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor regards as the invention.
Claim 8
The phrase “into a containment structure of the nuclear reactor, via a hatch of a containment structure” (lines 4-5) is unclear. Because of the phrase wording “a containment structure” (twice), it is unclear whether there are two different containment structures. It is unclear whether said phrase should be interpreted as “into a containment structure of the nuclear reactor, via a hatch of the containment structure”.
It is unclear how (if ever) the grab head relates to robotic arm. The claims lacks a recited relationship (structural link) between the grab head and the robotic arm. As a result, the claim allows for movement of the grab head without movement of the robotic arm, and vice versa. However, the original disclosure does not provide support for these recited capabilities.
The phrase “extending the grab head towards a fuel assembly” (line 10) is unclear. For example, it is unclear whether the extending occurs in the z-axis direction, the x-axis direction, or another direction.
The phrase “then rotating the grab head to return to be parallel” (line 15) is unclear. For example, it is unclear what element returns to be parallel. It is unclear whether the recited steps in claim 8 are performed in the order presented. It is unclear whether said phrase should be interpreted as “then rotating the grab head to return the grab head to be parallel”.
The phrase “extending the grab head to lower the fuel assembly into the fuel handling pool” (line 17) is unclear. The claim previously recites “rotating the grab head . . . to be parallel to the horizontal x-axis” (line 15). Hence, it is unclear how the grab head, while being parallel to the horizontal x-axis, can lower a fuel assembly in the z-axis direction.
Claim 10
The phrase “extending through movement of a pantograph arm” is unclear. For example, it is unclear what element is extending through movement of a pantograph arm. It is unclear whether said phrase should be interpreted as “extending the grab head through movement of a pantograph arm”.
Claim 12
The phrase “withdrawing the robotic arm through the hatch in the containment structure” is unclear. Claim 8 already placed the grab head outside of the containment. For example, claim 8 states “extending the grab head to lower the fuel assembly into the fuel handling pool located outside of the containment structure” (lines 17-18).
Review
The claims do not allow the public to be sufficiently informed of what would constitute infringement. Any claim not addressed is rejected based upon dependency.
Objection to the Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature specified in the claims, or the features must be canceled from the claims.
The following recited features are not shown:
a coupling between movement mechanism and robotic arm (claim 1).
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(5) because they include reference numeral “49” that is not mentioned in the specification.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required to avoid application abandonment. Any amended replacement sheet should include all figures appearing on the immediate prior version, even if only one figure is amended. 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 then 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. No new matter should be entered.
Claim Objection
Claims 1-2, 4, and 6 are objected to because of the following informalities:
The phrase “a grab head mounted to the robotic arm wherein the grab head” (claim 1 at line 14) lacks a separation comma. The wording “a grab head mounted to the robotic arm, wherein the grab head” appears appropriate. Appropriate correction is required. Any claim not addressed is objected based upon dependency.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-2, 4, and 6 are allowable over the prior art of record.
Claims 8 and 10-13 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) set forth in this Office action and (if necessary) to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments have been fully considered. However, the amendment raises new issues, as noted above. No new matter should be entered.
Additional Comment
The below amended claim 8 (clean version) is presented for Applicant’s consideration.
Claim 8. (For Consideration) A method of removing one or more fuel assemblies from a nuclear reactor by using a robotic system, wherein the method comprises:
flooding a chamber,
wherein the chamber includes therein a fuel handling pool and a base of the robotic system,
wherein the chamber is in fluid communication with a containment structure of the nuclear reactor,
wherein the fuel handling pool is located outside of the containment structure;
using a movement mechanism to extend a robotic arm of the robotic system along a horizontal x-axis through a hatch opening of the containment structure, whereby the extending causes the robotic arm to enter into the containment structure;
using an electric motor to rotate a grab head of the robotic arm in the containment structure, whereby the grab head is rotated to be parallel to a vertical z-axis which is perpendicular relative to the horizontal x-axis;
lowering the grab head along the vertical z-axis in the containment structure towards a fuel assembly of the one or more fuel assemblies in a reactor core of the nuclear reactor;
using a grip mechanism mounted at a distal end of grab head to grip the fuel assembly;
raising the grab head along the vertical z-axis in the containment structure to lift the gripped fuel assembly out of the reactor core, and then rotating the grab head and the gripped fuel assembly in the containment structure to cause the grab head and the gripped fuel assembly to be parallel to the horizontal x-axis;
retracting the robotic arm to move the gripped fuel assembly along the horizontal x-axis through the hatch opening and into the chamber;
rotating the grab head and the gripped fuel assembly while in the chamber to cause the grab head and the gripped fuel assembly to be parallel to the vertical z-axis; and
lowering the grab head along the vertical z-axis in the chamber to lower the gripped fuel assembly into the fuel handling pool, and then using the grip mechanism to release the fuel assembly from the grab head.
Application Status Information
Applicants seeking status information regarding an application should check Patent Center on the Office website at www.uspto.gov/PatentCenter. Alternatively, the requester may contact the Application Assistance Unit (AAU). See MPEP § 1730, subsection VI.C. See MPEP § 102 for additional information on status information. For a USPTO Customer Service Representative call 800-786-9199 or 571-272-1000.
Contact Information
Examiner Daniel Wasil can be reached at (571) 272-4654, on Monday-Thursday from 10:00-4:00 EST. Supervisor Jack Keith (SPE) can be reached at (571) 272-6878.
/DANIEL WASIL/
Examiner, Art Unit 3646
Reg. No. 45,303
/JACK W KEITH/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3646
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