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 .
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 3 and 7 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 applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 3 recites the limitation " wherein the retainer and fastener apply compressive forces in oriented opposite to one another to components of the rotor assembly." In lines 2-3. It is unclear what Applicant is claiming relative to the compressive forces. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim Objections
Claim 2 is objected to because of the following informalities: The claim recites “wherein the fastener further extends through centers of the one or more cups” in line 2. The term “centers” in the recitations implies that there are a plurality of centers in the one or more cups. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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)(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.
Claims 1, 4, 6, 8, 9, 13, and 15-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Paul (DE 102012110157 A1).
Claim 1
Paul teaches: A rotor assembly (1), comprising:
a first end cap (11);
a second end cap (11);
a rotor core (formed by plurality of laminations 10) positioned between the first end cap (11) and the second end cap (11); and
a fastener (27) extending axially through a center of the first end cap (11), through a cavity of the rotor core (formed by plurality of laminations 10), and through a center of the second end cap (11), the fastener (27) affixing the first end cap (11) and second end cap (11) to the rotor core (formed by plurality of laminations 10) without any other fasteners (27).
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Claim 4/1
Paul teaches: The rotor assembly (1) of claim 1, wherein the rotor core (formed by plurality of laminations 10) comprises one or more lamination stacks (10), the first end cap (11) includes a first flange (13) and the second end cap (11) includes a second flange (13), and the first flange (13) and second flange (13) extend axially towards each other to align the one or more lamination stacks (10).
Claim 6/1
Paul teaches: The rotor assembly (1) of claim 1, wherein the fastener (27) is a bolt.
Claim 8
A rotor assembly (1), comprising:
a rotor core (formed by plurality of laminations 10) comprised of a plurality of aligned lamination stacks (10), each lamination stack including a first hole (hole through which fastener 27 is disposed through) forming a cavity;
a fastener (27) positioned within the cavity and spaced away from the plurality of aligned lamination stacks (10); and
a first end cap (11) and a second end cap (11), each of the first end cap (11) and second end cap (11) positioned at axially opposite ends of the fastener (27) and comprising a cylindrical flange (13) adapted to align the plurality of aligned lamination stacks (10).
Claim 9/8
The rotor assembly (1) of claim 8, wherein there are no other fasteners (fastener 27 is only fastener present, tie rods 17 are not fasteners).
Claim 13/8
The rotor assembly (1) of claim 8, wherein the fastener (27) applies axial force to prevent axial movement and radial movement of the rotor core (formed by plurality of laminations 10), the first end cap (11), and the second end cap (11), relative to one another.
Claim 15/8
The rotor assembly (1) of claim 8, wherein the fastener (27) extends through the first hole (hole through which fastener 27 is disposed through), a second hole (hole provided by first end cap 11) in the first end cap (11), and a third hole (hole provided by second end cap 11) in the second end cap (11) such that a first end of the fastener (27) is outside of the cavity and a second end of the fastener (27) opposite the first end is outside of the cavity.
Claim 16
A rotor assembly (1), comprising:
a first end cap (11) and a second end cap (11);
a rotor core (formed by plurality of laminations 10) comprised of a plurality of lamination stacks (10) positioned axially between the first end cap (11) and the second end cap (11); and
a fastener (27) adapted to apply axial force on the first end cap (11) and second end cap (11) to prevent radial movement of the plurality of lamination stacks (10).
Claim 17/16
Paul teaches: The rotor assembly (1) of claim 16, wherein the fastener (27) extends through the first end cap (11), the second end cap (11), and a cavity formed by the plurality of lamination stacks (10) therebetween such that the first end cap (11) and the second end cap (11) are axially aligned.
Claim 18/16
Paul teaches: The rotor assembly (1) of claim 16, wherein the first end cap (11) and the second end cap (11) are adapted to axially align the plurality of lamination stacks (10).
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.
Claims 2, 10, 11, 12, 14, 19, and 21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Paul in view of Fayle (US D256553 S).
Claim 2/1
Paul teaches: The rotor assembly (1) of claim 1, but is silent to: further comprising one or more cups, wherein the fastener further extends through centers of the one or more cups.
The concept of employing a cupped structure such as a cupped shaped washer for example, is a well-known concept relevant to the art of the claimed invention. Cupped washers provide a flush finish for fasteners and they help center fasteners fastened through materials. Fayle for example, teaches the employment of a cupped shaped washer wherein a fastener extends through the center of the cupped shaped washer.
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It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art (PHOSITA) of the claimed invention to employ one or more cups, wherein Paul’s fastener further extends through the center(s) of the one or more cups. A rigid cupped washer can help center the fastener locate it within a recess in the end plate. Additionally, the cup geometry may mate with a complementary contour in Paul’s end plate, acting almost like a seat or pocket that keeps the fastener centered during tightening.
Claim 10/8
Paul teaches: The rotor assembly (1) of claim 8, wherein the first and second end caps comprise a cylindrical opening (20) defined by a cylindrical protrusion of the first end cap (11) or the second end cap (11). Paul is silent however to: further comprising one or more cups, wherein the one or more cups are each received by a cylindrical opening defined by a cylindrical protrusion of the first end cap or the second end cap.
The concept of employing a cupped structure such as a cupped shaped washer for example, is a well-known concept relevant to the art of the claimed invention. Cupped washers provide a flush finish for fasteners and they help center fasteners fastened through materials. Fayle for example, teaches the employment of a cupped shaped washer wherein a fastener extends through the center of the cupped shaped washer.
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It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art (PHOSITA) of the claimed invention to employ one or more cups, wherein the one or more cups are each received by a cylindrical opening (Paul’s journal 20) defined by a cylindrical protrusion of the first end cap (Paul’s end cap 11) or the second end cap (Paul’s end cap 11). A rigid cupped washer can help center the fastener locate it within a recess in the end plate. Additionally, the cup geometry may mate with a complementary contour in Paul’s end plate, acting almost like a seat or pocket that keeps the fastener centered during tightening.
Claim 11/10/8
Paul as modified by Fayle teaches: The rotor assembly (1) of claim 10, wherein the fastener (27) rotationally couples the rotor core (formed by plurality of laminations 10), the first end cap (11), the second end cap (11), and the one or more cups (Cups taught by Fayle).
Claim 12/10/8
Paul as modified by Fayle teaches: The rotor assembly (1) of claim 10, but is silent to: wherein one of the one or more cups or a drive end coupling rotationally couples the rotor assembly to a torque converter (torque transmission; Disclosure of the invention, para. 21-24).
Claim 14/10/8
Paul as modified by Fayle teaches: The rotor assembly (1) of claim 10, wherein the fastener (27) axially aligns the first end cap (11), the second end cap (11), and the one or more cups (cups taught by Fayle) to have centerlines (12) along an axis of rotation of the rotor assembly (1).
Claim 19/16
Paul teaches: The rotor assembly (1) of claim 16, but is silent to: wherein the fastener applies a first axial force to a first cup and a drive end coupling applies a second axial force to the second end cap, the first axial force being oriented opposite of the second axial force along an axis of rotation, such that the fastener, the rotor core, the first end cap, the second end cap, the first cup, and the drive end coupling are rotationally coupled.
The concept of employing a cupped structure such as a cupped shaped washer for example, is a well-known concept relevant to the art of the claimed invention. Cupped washers provide a flush finish for fasteners and they help center fasteners fastened through materials. Fayle for example, teaches the employment of a cupped shaped washer wherein a fastener extends through the center of the cupped shaped washer.
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It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art (PHOSITA) of the claimed invention to employ one or more cups, wherein a fastener (Paul’s fastener 27) would apply a first axial force to a first cup (Fayle’s cup) and a drive end coupling to apply a second axial force to the second end cap (Paul’s end cap 11), the first axial force being oriented opposite of the second axial force along an axis of rotation, such that the fastener, the rotor core, the first end cap, the second end cap, the first cup, and the drive end coupling are rotationally coupled. A rigid cupped washer can help center the fastener locate it within a recess in the end plate. Additionally, the cup geometry may mate with a complementary contour in Paul’s end plate, acting almost like a seat or pocket that keeps the fastener centered during tightening.
Claim 21/2
The rotor assembly (1) of claim 2, wherein a hole is formed into the one or more cups (see Fayle’s Fig. 1).
Claims 3, 7, and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Paul in view of Wagner (DE 3326543 C2).
Claim 3/1
The rotor assembly (1) of claim 1, but is silent to: further comprising a retainer, wherein the retainer and fastener apply compressive forces in oriented opposite to one another to components of the rotor assembly.
A retainer and fastener normally cooperate to apply compressive forces oriented opposite to one another. Paul’s rotor assembly inherently accomplishes this fastener and retainer relationship involving compressive forces to stabilize Paul’s rotor assembly. Paul accomplishes this through an alluded teaching of a direct end-plate threading which holds the rotor assembly securely with a fastener. Accordingly, Paul discloses that their fastener 27 provides a torque-proof bond between the end plates 11 and the lamination pack 10 via correspondingly high tensile forces (Preferred Embodiments of the Invention, para. 29). Thus, Paul’s end plate 11 (end plate opposite to fastener head) also serves as a retainer for retaining the fastener and it applies compressive forces oriented opposite to one another to components of the rotor assembly (i.e. rotor laminations closest to leftmost end plate are being pushed to the right while rotor laminations closest to rightmost end plate are being pushed to the left, see. Fig. 9).
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art of the claimed invention to deduce from Paul’s invention that the rightmost end plate 11 serves as a retainer wherein the retainer and fastener apply compressive forces in oriented opposite to one another to components of the rotor assembly.
Furthermore, the concept of providing a separate retainer to a rotor assembly design within the realm of the claimed invention is well known. For example, Wagner teaches a fastened laminated core assembly similar to Paul’s, comprising a first end cap (10),
a second end cap (10), a laminated core (9) positioned between the first end cap (10) and the second end cap (10), and a fastener (38) affixing the first end cap (10) and second end cap (10) to the laminated core (9). Wagner also teaches their laminated core assembly (9) as further comprising a retainer (27), wherein the retainer (27) and fastener (38) apply compressive forces in oriented opposite to one another to components of the laminated core assembly.
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It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art of the claimed invention to have provided a laminated rotor assembly with end plates and a separate retainer, wherein the retainer cooperates with a fastener to apply compressive forces oriented opposite to one another to components of a rotor assembly. A PHOSITA could consider adding a retainer (such as nut 27 taught by Wagner) at the end of a fastener to secure the fastener against loosening due to vibrations. This is a simple design alternative to Paul’s alluded threaded end-plate fastening design.
Claim 7/3/1
The rotor assembly (1) of claim 3, wherein the fastener (Paul’s 27 or Wagner’s 38) is engagingly coupled to the retainer (Paul’s 11 or Wagner’s 27) via complementary threads (Wagner’s 28).
Claim 20/16
The rotor assembly (1) of claim 16, wherein the fastener (27) applies a first axial force to a first cup (as taught by Fayle), but is silent to: a retainer applies a second axial force to a second cup, the first axial force being oriented opposite of the second axial force along an axis of rotation, such that the fastener, the rotor core, the first end cap, the second end cap, the first cup, and the second cup are rotationally coupled.
A retainer and fastener normally cooperate to apply compressive forces oriented opposite to one another. Paul’s rotor assembly inherently accomplishes this fastener and retainer relationship involving compressive forces to stabilize Paul’s rotor assembly. Paul accomplishes this through an alluded teaching of a direct end-plate threading which holds the rotor assembly securely with a fastener. Accordingly, Paul discloses that their fastener 27 provides a torque-proof bond between the end plates 11 and the lamination pack 10 via correspondingly high tensile forces (Preferred Embodiments of the Invention, para. 29). Thus, Paul’s end plate 11 (end plate opposite to fastener head) also serves as a retainer for retaining the fastener and it applies compressive forces oriented opposite to one another to components of the rotor assembly (i.e. rotor laminations closest to leftmost end plate are being pushed to the right while rotor laminations closest to rightmost end plate are being pushed to the left, see. Fig. 9).
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art of the claimed invention to deduce from Paul’s invention that the rightmost end plate 11 serves as a retainer wherein the retainer and fastener apply compressive forces in oriented opposite to one another to components of the rotor assembly.
Furthermore, the concept of providing a separate retainer to a rotor assembly design within the realm of the claimed invention is well known. For example, Wagner teaches a fastened laminated core assembly similar to Paul’s, comprising a first end cap (10),
a second end cap (10), a laminated core (9) positioned between the first end cap (10) and the second end cap (10), and a fastener (38) affixing the first end cap (10) and second end cap (10) to the laminated core (9). Wagner also teaches their laminated core assembly (9) as further comprising a retainer (27), wherein the retainer (27) and fastener (38) apply compressive forces in oriented opposite to one another to components of the laminated core assembly.
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It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art of the claimed invention to have provided a laminated rotor assembly with end plates and a separate retainer, wherein the retainer applies a second axial force to a second cup, the first axial force being oriented opposite of the second axial force along an axis of rotation, such that the fastener (27), the rotor core (formed by plurality of laminations 10), the first end cap (11), the second end cap (11), the first cup, and the second cup are rotationally coupled. A PHOSITA could consider adding a retainer (such as nut 27 taught by Wagner) at the end of a fastener to secure the fastener against loosening due to vibrations. This is a simple design alternative to Paul’s alluded threaded end-plate fastening design.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to AHMED F SECK whose telephone number is (571)272-4638. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 7:30 am - 4:30 pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Christopher Koehler can be reached at (571) 272-3560. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/AHMED F SECK/Examiner, Art Unit 2834
/CHRISTOPHER M KOEHLER/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2834