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 .
Response to Amendment
The amendment filed March 16, 2026 has been entered. Claims 1-5 are currently amended and remain pending in the application. Claims 6-8 are newly presented.
Applicant’s amendments to the claims have overcome each and every claim objection and 112(b) rejections previously set forth in the Non-Final Office Action mailed 12/15/2025.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or non-obviousness.
Claims 1, 6, and 8 are rejected under U. S. C. 103 as being unpatentable over Martin et al. U. S. PG Pub. No. 2014/0165828 A1, June 19, 2014 (hereinafter “Martin”) in view of Turner et al. GB 2450758 A, January 07, 2009 (hereinafter “Turner”).
Regarding claim 1, Martin teaches a self-regenerating breather device (paragraph 0005) for dehumidifying air to be supplied to an oil expansion vessel of a power electrical apparatus (paragraph 0002), such as a power electrical transformer (paragraph 0002), wherein said self-regenerating breather device comprises an external casing (figure 2 – vessel 12, paragraph 0024), an electronic operating board (figure 1 – control cabinet 52), at least one tank (figure 2 – containers 13, 14), said tank having at least a first inlet (figure 2 – air inlet 58, paragraph 0034) opening for passing air to be dehumidified and at least one second outlet opening (figure 3 -filter vent 72, paragraph 0035) for passing dehumidified air and said tank containing thermally regenerable desiccants/salts which are used for dehumidifying air coming from the outside (paragraph 0024), said self-regenerating breather device also including a regeneration system comprising heating elements disposed within said tank (figure 2, heaters 15, 17; paragraph 0037-0039) and actuation (figure 6 – actuation signal 128, paragraph 0039) means of said regeneration system, said actuation means being operatively connected to said regeneration system (figure 6, paragraph 0039), a suction duct (figure 4 – upper mounting port 48 or lower mounting port 50, paragraph 0031).
Martin fails to teach a method for replacing salts of a self-regenerating breather device for dehumidifying air, wherein said salts have become contaminated by oil from said power electrical apparatus, and where the method comprises the following phases: disconnecting said self-regenerating breather device from a suction duct of a power electrical apparatus; rotating and overturning said breather device; opening a closing flange of the breather device; removing a split pin and removing a closure net of the tank of said self-regenerating breather device, said tank containing said salts to be replaced; replacing said salts by completely overturning said breather device over a container; further overturning said breather device; filling said tank with new salts while the heating element remains installed within the tank.
However, Turner discloses a heated desiccant breather assembly for use with electrical machinery, wherein the breather includes desiccant material (36) and heating elements (35) extending within the breather structure for regeneration of the desiccant (page 10, lines 15-22; fig. 3). Turner further discloses that replacement of the desiccant may be carried out by inverting the breather, removing a mesh grill (38), and removing the desiccant material from the breather while the heating elements remain disposed within the breather assembly (page 10, lines 24-30; fig. 3). Turner teaches refilling/replacement of desiccant material after servicing of the breather assembly.
Therefore, it would have been prima facie obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective file date of the present invention to modify the self-regenerating breather device of Martin with the servicing and desiccant replacement procedure taught by Turner in order to facilitate replacement of contaminated desiccant material while retaining the installed regeneration components within the breather assembly, thereby reducing maintenance complexity, minimizing downtime, and restoring the moisture-removal functionality of the breather device.
Further, rotating and/or overturning the breather device to discharge desiccant material from the tank and subsequent refill the tank with replacement desiccant material constitutes a predictable and routine servicing operation for gravity-assisted removal and replacement of particulate desiccant media. MPEP 2144.
Regarding the limitation “where said salts have become contaminated by oil from said power electrical apparatus,” the recitation describes the condition or circumstance under which the known replacement procedure is performed and not patentably distinguish over the combined teachings of Martin and Turner, since replacement of contaminated desiccant material would have been an obvious maintenance operation once contamination of the desiccant adversely affected dehumidification performance.
Regarding claim 6, Martin discloses a self-generating breather device having a plurality of tank/containers (containers 13 and 14; Fig. 2; paragraphs 0024, 0031) and a valve arrangement configured to selectively control airflow through the plurality of tanks during regeneration and dehumidification operations. Martin further discloses a controller and actuation system for directing airflow through selected tanks during operation of the breather assembly (paragraph 0037-0039); fig. 6). Martin discloses that one tank may undergo regeneration while another tank remains active in the airflow circuit, thereby permitting continued operation of the breather assembly (paragraphs 0051-0053).
Regarding claim 8, martin discloses a self-regenerating breather device including an external casing/vessel (fig. 2, vessel 12), and electronic operating board/controller (fig. 1, control cabinet 52), and a regeneration system including heating elements disposed within desiccant tanks of the breather assembly (figs. 5-6, heaters 15, 16; paragraphs 0037-0039). Martin further discloses that the regeneration and control components are integrated within the breather assembly during operation of the self-regenerating breather device.
Turner discloses servicing and replacing of desiccant material within a heated breather assembly while heating elements and associated regeneration components remain disposed within the breather structure during servicing operations (page 10, lines 15-39; fig. 3). Turner further discloses that replacement of the desiccant may be carried out by inverting the breather, removing a mesh grill (38), and removing the desiccant material from the breather while the heating elements remain disposed within the breather assembly (page 10, lines 24-30; fig. 3).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to perform the rotation and overturning operation associated with the removal and replacement of desiccant material while the electronic operating board and regenerating system remained assembled within the breather casing in order to reduce servicing complexity, and reduce maintenance time associated with removal and reinstallation of integrated breather components.
Claims 2-5, 7 are rejected under U. S. C. 103 as being unpatentable over Martin and Turner in view of Claim 1, in further view of Ke et al. CN 112349492 A, February 09, 2021 (hereinafter “Ke”).
Regarding claim 2, Martin discloses a self-regenerating breather device but fails to teach a method for replacing salts, wherein cleaning step of said tank is carried out. Turner as disclosed a claim 1 above, teaches the desiccant material is removed and replaced through servicing of the breather assembly. Turner further discloses that replacement of the desiccant may be carried out by inverting the breather, removing a mesh grill (38), and removing the desiccant material from the breather while the heating elements remain disposed within the breather assembly (page 10, lines 24-30; fig. 3). Ke discloses a funnel-shaped bottom structure configured such that silica gel naturally flows out under gravity to avoid residual silica gel remaining within the breather and thereby “completely save residual silica gel cleaning time” (paragraphs 0024-0025, 0031).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to clean residual contamination from the tank after removal of oil-contaminated salts prior to refilling the tank with replacement salts in order to prevent contamination of the replacement desiccant material and restore proper dehumidification performance of the breather device. MPEP 2144.
Regarding claim 3 and 5, Martin discloses a self-regenerating breather device but fails to teach a method for replacing salts, wherein after said step of filling said tank with new salts, said reservoir is closed with said split pin and with said closure net. However, Turner discloses that the breather includes desiccant material (36), heating elements (35), and a removable grill/mesh structure (38) that permits access to the desiccant material for replacement servicing (page 10, lines 15-30; fig. 3). Turner further teaches removal of the retaining grill/mesh structure to permit removal and replacement of desiccant material and subsequent reclosing of the breather assembly following servicing.
Although, Turner does not explicitly disclose a “split pin” and “closure net” using identical terminology, Turner discloses releasable retaining and closure structures associated with the removable grill/mesh arrangement for retaining desiccant material within the breather assembly during operation and for reclosing the breather assembly after replacement of the desiccant material. However, Ke discloses resealing and securing the breather structure following refill operations in order to restore normal operation of the breather assembly, including screwing the sealing cover back onto the charging opening after refill of the silica gel material (paragraph 0029).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to utilize known releasable retaining members, such as pins, clips, mesh retainers, or equivalent fastening structures to secure and close the breather tank after replacement of the desiccant material because the use of known fastening hardware to releasably secure serviceable components constitutes a predictable design choice and routine engineering practice for retaining particulate desiccant material within a serviceable breather assembly. MPEP 2144.04.
Regarding claim 4, Martin teaches a self-regenerating breather device but fails to teach a method for replacing salts, wherein after said closing phase of said tank, said closing flange is fixed and then said self-regenerating breather device is connected again to said suction duct of said power electrical apparatus.
However, Ke discloses a transformer breather configured for servicing and replacement of silica gel material through openings of the breather assembly, including opening and reclosing operations associated with the breather structure after replacement od desiccant material (paragraphs 0027-0029). Ke further discloses resealing and securing the breather structure following refill operations in order to restore normal operation of the breather assembly, including screwing the sealing cover back onto the charging opening after refill of silica gel material (paragraph 0029).
Therefore, it would have been prima facie obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention, after replacement of desiccant material and reclosing of the breather tank, to secure the closure structure and reconnect the serviced breather device to the associated suction duct of the power electrical apparatus in order to restore the breather assembly to normal operating condition and resume dehumidification of incoming air supplied to the electrical apparatus.
Regarding claim 7, Martin fails to disclose a method is performed in situ with said self-regenerating breather device remaining at its installed location on said power electrical apparatus, without replacing said self-regenerating breather device. However, Ke discloses providing independent feed and discharge openings such that silica gel replacement may be performed without removing the respirator from the transformer flange connection and without disassembling the entire breather assembly (paragraphs 0012, 0027-0029, 0031-0032).
Ke further disclose that the silica gel replacement operation may be carried out while the breather remains installed on the transformer apparatus, thereby avoiding replacement of the entire breather assembly and reducing maintenance time and operational interruption (paragraphs 0004, 0031-0032). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the claimed invention to perform replacement servicing of the desiccant material in-situ while the self-regenerating breather device remained installed on the associated power electrical apparatus in order to reduce servicing time, minimize operational interruption, and reduce maintenance complexity.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1-5 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Conclusion
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 MIRIAM N EZELUOMBA whose telephone number is (571)272-0110. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm.
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/M.N.E./Examiner, Art Unit 1776 /Jennifer Dieterle/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 1776
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