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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 07/23/2024 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
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.
Claims 1-22 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor, or for pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "external heat exchanger" is claimed as cabin heat exchanger, the description describes it as (pars. 9,10 of the specification) heat exchanger to the "atmosphere".
Claims 10,11: the terms "first" and "second" heat exchangers are used for the feature "external heat exchanger", this leads to a lack of clarity. For examination purposes, it is considered as first is -- the external heat exchanger --.
Figures 10,13,14: no internal heat exchanger is shown; thus, the embodiments are not representing claim 1 or any other dependent claim.
Claim 17 recites the limitation "a heat exchanger" in line 1 is same or different than a first heat exchanger or a second heat exchanger of line claim 14. For examination purposes, it is considered as same and is being considered as -- the second heat exchanger --.
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 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 of this title, 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.
Claims 1, 6-7, 9, 11-12, 14-15 are rejected under pre-AlA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Bozeman et al. (US 2019/0178541) in view of YAMAUCHI (JP2004216934, see attached translation).
In regards to claim 1, Bozeman discloses a vehicle thermal conditioning system (an automobile vehicle refrigeration system; Figs. 2-4; abstract), comprising: a housing (container 48) defining a housing cavity (Fig. 3); an accumulator-separator (a refrigerant phase separator 56) positioned within the housing cavity and configured to separate a gaseous phase (gas phase) from a liquid phase (liquid phase) of a refrigerant (refer to par. 35), the accumulator-separator (56) being in fluid communication with an external heat exchanger (corresponding to an evaporator 46); an ejector (ejector 54) positioned within the housing cavity (Fig. 3) and in fluid communication with the accumulator-separator (56) and configured to lower a temperature or raise a pressure of the refrigerant (explicit); and an internal heat exchanger (an internal heat exchanger, IHX 49) positioned within the housing cavity (Fig. 3) and in fluid communication with the accumulator-separator (56).
Bozeman fails to explicitly teach the internal heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between a flow of the refrigerant entering the internal heat exchanger and a flow of the refrigerant exiting the internal heat exchanger; the external heat exchanger being for exchanging heat between the refrigerant and a flow of air within a cabin of a vehicle.
YAMAUCHI teaches a vehicle air conditioner (Figs. 1 and 4-6) wherein the internal heat exchanger (37) configured to exchange heat between a flow of the refrigerant (high-pressure refrigerant before being reduced in pressure) entering the internal heat exchanger (37) and a flow of the refrigerant (low-pressure refrigerant that is drawn into the compressor 31) exiting the internal heat exchanger (refer to par. 36; as can be seen in Fig. 4); the external heat exchanger (corresponding to indoor heat exchanger 33) for exchanging heat between the refrigerant and a flow of air within a cabin (vehicle cabin) of a vehicle (refer to pars. 28 and 42).
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 system of Bozeman such that the internal heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between a flow of the refrigerant entering the internal heat exchanger and a flow of the refrigerant exiting the internal heat exchanger; the external heat exchanger being for exchanging heat between the refrigerant and a flow of air within a cabin of a vehicle as taught by YAMAUCHI in order to use the high-pressure side refrigerant of a vapor
compression refrigerator as heat sources (refer to par. 28 of YAMAUCHI).
In regards to claim 6, Bozeman as modified meets the claim limitations as disclosed above in the rejection of claim 1. Further, Bozeman teaches wherein the external heat exchanger (46) is positioned around an exterior of the housing (48) and in fluid communication with the accumulator-separator (56), the external heat exchanger (46) configured to transfer heat from the refrigerant to another fluid (air).
In regards to claim 7, Bozeman as modified meets the claim limitations as disclosed above in the rejection of claim 1. Further, Bozeman teaches wherein the external heat exchanger (46) is positioned adjacent (near) to an end of the housing (48) and in fluid communication with the accumulator-separator (56), the external heat exchanger (46) configured to transfer heat from the refrigerant to another fluid (air).
In regards to claim 9, Bozeman as modified meets the claim limitations as disclosed above in the rejection of claim 1. Further, Bozeman teaches further comprising a control valve (a metering or electronically regulated throttling valve 78) positioned within the housing cavity (Fig. 3) and configured to regulate a flow of the liquid phase (flow from liquid discharge line 76; par. 35) of the refrigerant from the accumulator-separator (56).
In regards to claim 10, Bozeman as modified meets the claim limitations as disclosed above in the rejection of claim 1. Further, Bozeman teaches further comprising a first control valve (throttling valve 68) and a second control valve (a metering or electronically regulated throttling valve 78) positioned within the housing cavity (Fig. 3), wherein the first control valve (68) is configured to regulate a first flow of the liquid phase of the refrigerant from the accumulator-separator (56) to a first heat exchanger (42) and the second control valve (78) is configured to regulate a second flow (flow on liquid discharge line 76) of the liquid phase of the refrigerant from the accumulator-separator (56) to a second heat exchanger (46), (refer to par. 35).
In regards to claim 11, Bozeman discloses a vehicle refrigeration cycle thermal system (an automobile vehicle refrigeration system; Figs. 2-4; abstract), comprising: an integrated energy management unit (Fig. 2-3) including a housing (container 48) defining a housing cavity (chamber of housing 48) configured to store a refrigerant, an accumulator-separator (a refrigerant phase separator 56) positioned within the housing cavity and in fluid communication with a first heat exchanger (condenser 42) and a second heat exchanger (evaporator 46), an internal heat exchanger (an internal heat exchanger, IHX 49) positioned within the housing cavity (Fig. 3) and in fluid communication with the accumulator-separator (56), and an ejector (ejector 54) positioned within the housing cavity (Fig. 3) and configured to lower a temperature or raise a pressure of the refrigerant transferred to the accumulator-separator (56); a compressor (14) in fluid communication with a vapor outlet line (gas outlet line 74) of the accumulator-separator (56) and configured to transfer the refrigerant under pressure (refer to par. 35); and a valve (a metering or electronically regulated throttling valve 78) positioned in a liquid outlet line (a liquid discharge line 76) of the accumulator-separator (56) and configured to regulate a flow of the refrigerant to the second heat exchanger (refer to par. 35).
Bozeman fails to explicitly teach the first heat exchanger for being exchanging heat between the refrigerant and a flow of air within a cabin of a vehicle and the second heat exchanger for being exchanging heat between the refrigerant and the flow of air within the cabin of the vehicle.
YAMAUCHI teaches a vehicle air conditioner (Figs. 1 and 4-6) wherein the first heat exchanger (corresponding to indoor heat exchanger 33) for exchanging heat between the refrigerant and a flow of air (air blown) within a cabin (vehicle cabin) of a vehicle (refer to pars. 28 and 42) and the second heat exchanger (corresponding to heater 1) for exchanging heat between the refrigerant and the flow of air (air blown) within the cabin (vehicle cabin) of the vehicle (refer to par. 29).
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 system of Bozeman such that the first heat exchanger for being exchanging heat between the refrigerant and a flow of air within a cabin of a vehicle and the second heat exchanger for being exchanging heat between the refrigerant and the flow of air within the cabin of the vehicle as taught by YAMAUCHI in order to forms the passage for the conditioned air blown into the cabin (refer to par. 28 of YAMAUCHI).
In regards to claim 12, Bozeman as modified meets the claim limitations as disclosed above in the rejection of claim 11. Further, Bozeman teaches wherein the internal heat exchanger (49) is positioned adjacent (near) to an end of the housing (48).
In regards to claim 14, Bozeman discloses a vehicle thermal system (an automobile vehicle refrigeration system; Figs. 2-4; abstract), comprising: a compressor (compressor 14); a pressure vessel (container 48) defining a vessel cavity (chamber of vessel 48); an accumulator-separator (a refrigerant phase separator 56) positioned within the vessel cavity (Fig. 3) and configured to separate a liquid phase (liquid phase) of a refrigerant from a gaseous phase (gas phase) of the refrigerant (refer to par. 35), the accumulator-separator (56) being in fluid communication with a first heat exchanger (corresponding to condenser 42) and a second heat exchanger (corresponding to evaporator 46); an ejector (ejector 54) positioned within the vessel cavity (Fig. 3) and configured to lower a temperature or raise a pressure of the refrigerant (implicit); an internal heat exchanger (an internal heat exchanger, IHX 49) positioned within the vessel cavity (Fig. 3) and in fluid communication with the accumulator-separator (54); a first ejector supply line (ejector feed line 62) that supplies the refrigerant from the first heat exchanger (42) to the ejector (via inlet line 64; par. 34); a second ejector supply line (IHX line 80) that supplies the refrigerant from the second heat exchanger (42) to the ejector (via inlet post 82; par. 35); a gas cooler supply line (supply line connecting outlet of compressor 14 and inlet of condenser 42; Fig. 2) that supplies the refrigerant from the compressor (14) to the first heat exchanger (42); an evaporator supply line (liquid discharge line 76) that supplies the refrigerant from the accumulator-separator (56) to the second heat exchanger (46), (refer to par.35; Figs. 2-3; par. 35); and a compressor supply line (a gas outlet line 74) that supplies the refrigerant from the accumulator-separator (56) to the compressor (as can be seen in Figs.2-3; par. 35).
Bozeman fails to explicitly teach the internal heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between a flow of the refrigerant entering the internal heat exchanger from the first heat exchanger and a flow of the refrigerant exiting the internal heat exchanger and directed to the first heat exchanger; the first heat exchanger for being exchanging heat between the refrigerant and a flow of air within a cabin of a vehicle and the second heat exchanger for being exchanging heat between the refrigerant and the flow of air within the cabin of the vehicle.
YAMAUCHI teaches a vehicle air conditioner (Figs. 1 and 4-6) wherein the internal heat exchanger (37) configured to exchange heat between a flow of the refrigerant (high-pressure refrigerant before being reduced in pressure) entering the internal heat exchanger (37) and a flow of the refrigerant (low-pressure refrigerant that is drawn into the compressor 31) exiting the internal heat exchanger (refer to par. 35; as can be seen in Fig. 4); the first heat exchanger (corresponding to indoor heat exchanger 33) for exchanging heat between the refrigerant and a flow of air (air blown) within a cabin (vehicle cabin) of a vehicle (refer to pars. 28 and 42) and the second heat exchanger (corresponding to heater 1) for exchanging heat between the refrigerant and the flow of air (air blown) within the cabin (vehicle cabin) of the vehicle (refer to par. 29).
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 system of Bozeman such that the internal heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between a flow of the refrigerant entering the internal heat exchanger from the first heat exchanger and a flow of the refrigerant exiting the internal heat exchanger and directed to the first heat exchanger; the first heat exchanger for being exchanging heat between the refrigerant and a flow of air within a cabin of a vehicle and the second heat exchanger for being exchanging heat between the refrigerant and the flow of air within the cabin of the vehicle as taught by YAMAUCHI in order to use the high-pressure side refrigerant of a vapor
compression refrigerator as heat sources (refer to par. 7 of YAMAUCHI).
In regards to claim 15, Bozeman as modified meets the claim limitations as disclosed above in the rejection of claim 14. Further, Bozeman teaches further comprising a control valve (a metering or electronically regulated throttling valve 78) positioned within the vessel cavity (Fig. 3) and configured to meter a flow of the refrigerant within the evaporator supply line (liquid discharge line 76; par. 35).
In regards to claim 16, Bozeman as modified meets the claim limitations as disclosed above in the rejection of claim 14. Further, Bozeman teaches wherein the accumulator-separator (56), the ejector (54), and the internal heat exchanger (49) are concentrically arranged within the vessel cavity (Fig. 3) around an axis of the vessel cavity extending between a first end of the vessel cavity and a second end of the vessel cavity (as can be seen in Fig. 3).
In regards to claim 17, Bozeman as modified meets the claim limitations as disclosed above in the rejection of claim 14. Further, Bozeman teaches further comprising a heat exchanger (46) positioned adjacent (near) to an external surface of the pressure vessel (48) and configured to transfer heat between the refrigerant and the flow of air within the cabin of the vehicle (see features in par. 28 of YAMAUCHI).
In regards to claim 21, Bozeman as modified meets the claim limitations as disclosed above in the rejection of claim 14. Further, Bozeman wherein the first heat exchanger (42) operates as a condenser (refer to par. 32).
In regards to claim 22, Bozeman as modified meets the claim limitations as disclosed above in the rejection of claim 14. Further, Bozeman teaches wherein the second heat exchanger (46) operates as an evaporator (refer to par. 32). Bozeman fails to explicitly teach the evaporator for being configured to transfer heat from the flow of air within the cabin of the vehicle to the refrigerant.
YAMAUCHI teaches a vehicle air conditioner (Figs. 1 and 4-6) wherein the evaporator (corresponding to indoor heat exchanger 33) configured to transfer heat from the flow of air (air blown) within a cabin (vehicle cabin) of a vehicle (refer to pars. 28 and 42) to the refrigerant.
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 system of Bozeman such that the evaporator for being configured to transfer heat from the flow of air within the cabin of the vehicle to the refrigerant as taught by YAMAUCHI in order to forms the passage for the conditioned air blown into the cabin (refer to par. 28 of YAMAUCHI).
Claim 3 is rejected under pre-AlA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Bozeman et al. (US 2019/0178541) in view of YAMAUCHI (JP2004216934), further in view of Nishida et al. (US 2003/0209030).
In regards to claim 3, Bozeman as modified meets the claim limitations as disclosed above in the rejection of claim 1, but explicitly teach wherein the accumulator-separator is concentric about a first longitudinal axis of the housing and the ejector is positioned about a second longitudinal axis of the housing that is parallel to the first longitudinal axis such that the ejector is positioned adjacent to the accumulator-separator within the housing cavity.
Nishida teaches an ejector refrigerant cycle (Fig. 1) wherein the accumulator-separator (gas-liquid separator 50; Figs. 6-9) is concentric about a first longitudinal axis (axis of gas-liquid separator 50; Fig. 9) of the housing (tank body 51) and the ejector (40) is positioned about a second longitudinal axis (axis of ejector 40) of the housing (51) that is parallel to (refer to par. 45) the first longitudinal axis such that the ejector (40) is positioned adjacent (near) to the accumulator-separator (50) within the housing cavity (as can be seen in Figs. 6-9).
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 system of Bozeman such that the accumulator-separator is concentric about a first longitudinal axis of the housing and the ejector is positioned about a second longitudinal axis of the housing that is parallel to the first longitudinal axis such that the ejector is positioned adjacent to the accumulator-separator within the housing cavity as taught by Nishida in order to prevent the liquid refrigerant from being supplied to the suction side of the compressor due to boiling of refrigerant (refer to par. 38 of Nishida).
Claims 4, 13 and 18-20 are rejected under pre-AlA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Bozeman et al. (US 2019/0178541) in view of YAMAUCHI (JP2004-216934), further in view of Wang et al. (US 2013/0111944).
In regards to claim 4, Bozeman as modified meets the claim limitations as disclosed above in the rejection of claim 3, but fails to explicitly teach wherein the ejector is a first ejector and the vehicle thermal conditioning system includes a second ejector positioned within the housing cavity and in fluid communication with the accumulator-separator.
Wang 944’ teaches a device (Fig. 3) wherein the ejector is a first ejector (38) and the vehicle thermal conditioning system includes a second ejector (202) positioned within the housing cavity (housing 48 of Bozeman) and in fluid communication with the accumulator-separator (gas-liquid separator 210).
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 system of Bozeman such that the ejector is a first ejector and the vehicle thermal conditioning system includes a second ejector positioned within the housing cavity and in fluid communication with the accumulator-separator as taught by Wang 944’ in order to allow reduction or elimination of the superheated zone of the evaporator (refer to par. 6 of Wang 944’).
In regards to claim 13, Bozeman as modified meets the claim limitations as disclosed above in the rejection of claim 11, but fails to explicitly teach wherein the integrated energy management unit includes a first ejector and a second ejector positioned adjacent to the accumulator-separator within the housing and in fluid communication with the accumulator-separator.
Wang 944’ teaches a device (Fig. 3) wherein the integrated energy management unit includes a first ejector a first ejector (38) and the vehicle thermal conditioning system includes a second ejector (202) positioned adjacent to the accumulator-separator (gas-liquid separator 21) within the housing (housing 48 of Bozeman) and in fluid communication with the accumulator-separator (gas-liquid separator 21).
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 system of Bozeman such that the integrated energy management unit includes a first ejector and a second ejector positioned adjacent to the accumulator-separator within the housing and in fluid communication with the accumulator-separator as taught by Wang 944’ in order to allow reduction or elimination of the superheated zone of the evaporator (refer to par. 6 of Wang 944’).
In regards to claim 18, Bozeman as modified meets the claim limitations as disclosed above in the rejection of claim 14, but fails to explicitly teach wherein the ejector includes a first ejector and a second ejector positioned within the vessel cavity.
Wang 944’ teaches a device (Fig. 3) wherein the ejector includes a first ejector (38) and a second ejector (202) positioned within the vessel cavity (corresponding to housing 48 of Bozeman).
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 system of Bozeman such that the ejector includes a first ejector and a second ejector positioned within the vessel cavity as taught by Wang 944’ in order to allow reduction or elimination of the superheated zone of the evaporator (refer to par. 6 Wang 944’).
In regards to claim 19, Bozeman as modified meets the claim limitations as disclosed above in the rejection of claim 14, but fails to explicitly teach wherein the ejector includes a first ejector and a second ejector positioned adjacent to the vessel cavity.
Wang teaches a device (Fig. 3) wherein the ejector includes a first ejector (38) and a second ejector (202) positioned within the vessel cavity (corresponding to housing 48 of Bozeman).
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 system of Bozeman such that the ejector includes a first ejector and a second ejector positioned within the vessel cavity as taught by Wang in order to allow reduction or elimination of the superheated zone of the evaporator (refer to par. 6 of Wang).
In regards to claim 20, Bozeman as modified meets the claim limitations as disclosed above in the rejection of claim 14, but fails to explicitly teach wherein the first heat exchanger operates as a gas cooler configured to transfer heat from the refrigerant to the flow of air within the cabin of the vehicle.
Wang teaches a device (Fig. 3) wherein the first heat exchanger (30) operates as a gas cooler (refer to par. 3) configured to transfer heat from the refrigerant to the flow of air (152) within the cabin of the vehicle (refer to par. 28).
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 system of Bozeman such that the ejector includes a first ejector and a second ejector positioned within the vessel cavity as taught by Wang in order to provide inputs used to control ejector opening (refer to par. 28 of Wang).
Claims 5 and 8 are rejected under pre-AlA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable
over Bozeman et al. (US 2019/0178541) in view YAMAUCHI (JP2004216934),
further in view of Wang et al. (US 2013/0111934).
In regards to claim 5, Bozeman as modified meets the claim limitations as disclosed above in the rejection of claim 1, but fails to explicitly teach wherein the accumulator-separator includes a separating component configured to allow vapor passthrough and not permit liquid passthrough. Wang 934’ teaches ejector refrigeration system (Fig. 3) wherein the accumulator-separator (separator 170; Figs. 3-4 and 10) includes a separating component (foraminate member 390) configured to allow vapor passthrough and not permit liquid passthrough.
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 system of Bozeman such that the accumulator-separator includes a separating component configured to allow vapor passthrough and not permit liquid passthrough as taught by Wang 934’ in order to improve refrigerant distribution in the evaporator manifold and further improve evaporator performance (refer to par. 27 of Wang 934’).
In regards to claim 8, Bozeman as modified meets the claim limitations as disclosed above in the rejection of claim 1, but fails to explicitly teach further comprising an actuator at least partially positioned within the housing, the actuator coupled with a valve configured to regulate a flow of the refrigerant through the ejector. Wang 944’ teaches ejector refrigeration system (Fig. 1-2) wherein further comprising an actuator (134) at least partially positioned within the housing, the actuator (134) coupled with a valve (needle valve 130/134) configured to regulate a flow of the refrigerant through the ejector (refer to par. 7).
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 system of Bozeman such that further comprising an actuator at least partially positioned within the housing, the actuator coupled with a valve configured to regulate a flow of the refrigerant through the ejector as taught by Wang 934’ in order to allow reduction or elimination of the superheated zone of the evaporator (refer to par. 6 of Wang 934’).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 2 is objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim 1, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MARTHA TADESSE whose telephone number is (571)272-0590. The examiner can normally be reached on 7:30am-5:00pm EST. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's supervisor, Frantz Jules can be reached on 571-272-6681. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR)system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/M.T/
Examiner, Art Unit 3763
/FRANTZ F JULES/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3763