Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 04, 2026
Application No. 18/574,154

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR EVALUATING SERVICE LIFE OF PITCH BEARING OF WIND TURBINE

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Dec 26, 2023
Priority
Nov 30, 2021 — CN 202111438432.7 +1 more
Examiner
LE, THIEN MINH
Art Unit
2876
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
BEIJING GOLDWIND SCIENCE & CREATION WINDPOWER EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
88%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
96%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 88% — above average
88%
Career Allowance Rate
1285 granted / 1452 resolved
+20.5% vs TC avg
Moderate +8% lift
Without
With
+7.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
2y 1m
Avg Prosecution
19 currently pending
Career history
1471
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.9%
-37.1% vs TC avg
§103
30.3%
-9.7% vs TC avg
§102
41.8%
+1.8% vs TC avg
§112
6.6%
-33.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1452 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
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. The information disclosure statements filed on 12/28/2023 and 12/24/2024 have been entered. The preliminary amendment filed on 12/26/2023 has been entered. Claim 20 has been cancelled. Claims 1-19 are presented for examination. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b): (b) CONCLUSION.— The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA), second paragraph: The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention. Claim 4 recites the limitation "a pitch angle" in line 5. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It should be changed to – the pitch angle --. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1- 3 and 5- 19 are allowed. Claim 4 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The prior art fails to disclose: i . A service life evaluation method for a pitch bearing of a wind turbine as recited in claim 1 , comprising: acquiring a probability density of a pitch driving torque in M historical periods, wherein M is a positive integer; acquiring an angle cumulative value of a pitch angle in each of the M historical periods; determining an equivalent load of the pitch bearing based on the pitch driving torque, the probability density of the pitch driving torque in the M historical periods, and angle cumulative values in the M historical periods; and determining a consumed service life of the pitch bearing based on the equivalent load of the pitch bearing ( The prior art fails to disclose service life evaluation method comprising the steps of acquiring a probability density, acquiring an angle accumulative value, determining an equivalent load, determining a consumed service life of the pitch bearing have the limitations as recited in claim 1; clai ms 2-9 depend on claim 1). ii . A service life evaluation device for a pitch bearing of a wind turbine as recited in claim 10 , comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory configured to store computer-executable instructions,wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: a first acquisition unit configured to acquire a probability density of a pitch driving torque in M historical periods, and acquire an angle cumulative value of a pitch angle in each of the M historical periods, wherein M is a positive integer; an equivalent unit configured to determine an equivalent load of the pitch bearing based on the pitch driving torque, the probability density of the pitch driving torque in the M historical periods, and angle cumulative values in the M historical periods; and a first calculation unit configured to determine a consumed service life of the pitch bearing based on the equivalent load of the pitch bearing. (the prior art fails to disclose a device having a processor for obtaining the probability density of a pitch driving torque; determining the equivalent load of the pitch bearing, and determine a consumed service life of the pitch bearing having the functions and characteristics as recited in claim 10; claims 11-18 depend on claim 10). iii . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 19 , wherein instructions in the computer-readable storage medium, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9: acquiring a probability density of a pitch driving torque in M historical periods, wherein M is a positive integer; acquiring an angle cumulative value of a pitch angle in each of the M historical periods; determining an eguivalent load of the pitch bearing based on the pitch driving torque, the probability density of the pitch driving torque in the M historical periods, and angle cumulative values in the M historical periods; and determining a consumed service life of the pitch bearing based on the equivalent load of the pitch bearing. (the prior art fails to disclose computer readable medium storing instructions to perform the steps having the features as recited in claim 19). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FILLIN "Examiner name" \* MERGEFORMAT THIEN MINH LE whose telephone number is FILLIN "Phone number" \* MERGEFORMAT (571)272-2396 . The examiner can normally be reached FILLIN "Work Schedule?" \* MERGEFORMAT 6:30-5:00 PM M-Th. . Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, FILLIN "SPE Name?" \* MERGEFORMAT Steven Paik can be reached at FILLIN "SPE Phone?" \* MERGEFORMAT 571-272-2404 . The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /THIEN M LE/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2876
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Dec 26, 2023
Application Filed
Mar 24, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §112 (current)

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
88%
Grant Probability
96%
With Interview (+7.5%)
2y 1m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1452 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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