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 .
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.
Examiner Note
The instant application appears to be an improvement to publication CN 219741022 which shows only “hot air” (filled-in arrows) leaving a closed heat passage 5 and passing through an air-chilled water radiator 1 and then exiting a machine room 4. The instant application has added the precooler module 6 and “air” (outlined arrows) originating externally of the machine room 4. This overlay of the precooler module 6 and the external originated air {“outlined arrows”) is causing confusion in understanding what is being disclosed and claimed.
In addition, it is noted that publication CN 220674184 appears to disclose the instant application, and includes figures that would overcome some of the drawing objections below.
Examiner Request
The precooler module 6 of the instant invention appears to be a closed circulation loop circulation including a precooling surface cooler 602, an upper precooling water distributor 604, an upper precooling wet film 603, a lower precooling water distributor 605, a lower precooling wet film 601, a precooling drain pan 606, a precooling water storage tank 607, a liquid inlet end 611, a fourth valve 609, a precooling water pump 608, and a liquid outlet end 612 that is entirely within the precooler module 6. It is noted that the precooler module 6 of the instant application has a different configuration than the double wet-film evaporative cooler depicted in fig. 3 of US 2024/0381580. Can Applicant explain how the closed circulation loop of the instant application releases “heat” of the “hot air” captured with during precooling of the “hot air” within the disclosed closed circulation loop of precooler module 6? Specifically, how does the precooling surface cooler 602 cool the hot air when there is no supply of cold water, and how does the precooler module precools the hot air (“outlined arrows”) when hot air from both exterior of the machine room and hot air (“filled-in arrows”) from the closed hot aisle 5 intermix within the precooler module 6 and appear to flowing in opposing directions through the precooler module 6?
Priority
Acknowledgment is made of applicant's claim for foreign priority based on an application filed in China on 4/14/23. It is noted, however, that applicant has not filed a certified copy of the Chinese application as required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to because:
Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate “filled-in arrows” (exiting airflow) denoting airflow from the closed hot aisle 5 passing through the air-chilled water radiator 1 and the precooler module 6 and exiting the machine 4, and “outlined arrows” (entering external hot air) denoting an opposite airflow entering the machine room 4, passing through the precooler module 6 and the air-chilled water radiator 1 and into the closed hot aisle 5. However in figure 4, the precooler module 6 only shows the “outlined arrows”, but fails to show any “filled-in arrows” that are depicted in figures 2 and 3 that also is disclosed as passes through the precooler module 6;
The specification at para. [0035], line 4 requires “[o]ne side of each cold water fan coil end 1 corresponds to one precooling module 6.” However fig. 2 illustrates only the lower three air-chilled water radiators 1 with precooling modules 6 and the upper three air-chilled water radiators 1 are illustrated without precooling modules 6;
Claim 7, lines 2-3 requires “a first temperature sensor is installed at the liquid outlet end of the air-chilled water radiator.” Fig. 1 does not illustrate that the first temperature sensor 105 is installed at the liquid outlet end 103 of the air-chilled water radiator 1;
Figure 3 should have the legend “A-A view” (to represent the cross-sectional view A-A of fig. 2 (note that right side “A” denoting the cross-sectional view of fig. 2 is partially covered by one of the filled-in airflow arrows);
In figure 4, there is a leftward-extending line that extends form the precooling water storage tank 607. What is this leftward-extending line?
In figure 4, there is upward-extending “outlined arrow”. What is this upward-extending “outlined arrow” represent?
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(5) because they include the following reference character(s) not mentioned in the description: ”100” (fig. 3).
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(4) because reference character “1” has been used to designate both the “air-chilled water radiator” (¶[0034], l. 2) and the “cold water fan coil end” (¶[0035], l. 3).
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. 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 by the examiner, the 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.
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: “cenobium” should be “coenobium”.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Objections
Claims 3 and 9 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 3, line 9; and Claim 9, line 4, “front” should be “a front”.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
Claims 1-10 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 1, lines requires “the fourth valve adjusts a cooling effect of the precooling module on hot air inside the machine room based on the fourth temperature sensor” (emphasis added). Claims are interpreted in light of the disclosure. Is the “hot air” supported by “external hot air” (¶[0030], l. 3) that enters the machine room 4 that is “hot air” originating from outside of the machine room, or supported by “hot air” (¶[0033], l. 4) which is from a closed hot aisle 5 within the machine room 4? If the “hot air” is from a closed hot aisle 5, how does the fourth temperature sensor measure the temperature of this “hot air” if it has already passed through the air-chilled water radiator 1, when the fourth temperature sensor 610 is believed to be located within the precooling module 6?
Claim 1, lines 10-11 requires “a fourth valve”, “a precooling water storage tank” and “a fourth temperature sensor” and also requires “a precooling water pump in the precooling module.” The “fourth valve”, the “precooling water storage tank” and the “fourth temperature sensor” have structural relationships to the “precooling water pump” which is claimed as “in the precooling module.” First, is “precooling water pump” part of the precooling module because “precooling” is part of the name of this element? Second, are the “fourth valve” and the “fourth temperature sensor” part of the precooling module because the “fourth valve” and the “fourth temperature sensor” have claimed structural relations with the “precooling water pump in the precooling module”?
Claim 2 requires “the precooling module adopts a double wet film design with upper and lower layers.” What are the metes and bounds of “the precooling module adopts a double wet film design with upper and lower layers.” It is noted that claim 3 defines the structural elements of the precooling module without any claimed correlation precooling module design of claim 2.
d. Claim 9, line 2, “the air-chilled water radiators” (which is plural) lacks antecedent basis. It is noted that claim 1, line 2 requires “an air-chilled water radiators” (which is singular);
e. Claim 1, line 3 requires “one precooling module” and Claim 1, line 2 requires “a precooling module.” Is the “one precooling module” of claim 9 in addition to the “precooling module” of claim 1?
f. Claim 9, line 3, “the plate-type liquid cooling cabinets” (which is plural) lacks antecedent basis. It is noted that claim 1, lines 1-2 requires “a plate-type liquid cooling cabinets” (which is singular);
g. Claim 9, lines 3-4 and 6, “the cold water fan coil” lacks antecedent basis;
h. Claim 10, line 1, “the CDU devices” (which is plural) lacks antecedent basis. It is noted that claim 1, line 2 requires “a CDU device” (which is singular).
Allowable Subject Matter
Based upon an interpretation that “a fourth valve”, “a precooling water storage tank: and “a fourth temperature sensor” are within the precooling module (see 35 USC 112b rejection, above) and satisfactory explanation of how the precooler module 6 operates (see “Examiner Request” above), claims 1-10 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the claim objection and 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter (based upon the above interpretation): Claim 1 and all claims dependent thereof are allowable over the art of record because the prior art does not teach or suggest that “the precooling module [is] positioned inside the machine room”, “a precooling water pump in the precooling module” and “a fourth temperature sensor is installed at a liquid outlet end of the precooling water pump, and the fourth valve adjusts a cooling effect of the precooling module on hot air inside the machine room based on the fourth temperature sensor.” The aforementioned limitations in combination with all remaining limitations of the respective claims are believed to render said claims 7 and all claims dependent thereof patentable over art of record.
Conclusion
The art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
US 12,328,850 and 2025/0358978 discloses a plate-type liquid cooling cabinet, an air-chilled water radiator, and a CDU device are positioned inside the machine room.
US 2025/0008701, 2026/0006752 and 2026/0040504 disclose a precooler module (150) an upstream side of an air-chilled water radiator (20).
US 11,143,430 and 11,815,283 disclose a precooler module (460) an upstream side of an air-chilled water radiator (410).
US 2025/0098125 discloses a precooling module (100) associated with a machine room.
US 10,881,031 discloses a primary side cooling loop between an air-chilled water radiator (103) and a CDU device (102) and a secondary side cooling loop between an the CDU device and a plate-type liquid cooling cabinet (101).
US 2024/0381580 discloses a double wet cooler.
CN 219741022 and 220674184 are related inventions.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ROBERT J HOFFBERG whose telephone number is (571) 272-2761. The examiner can normally be reached on Mon - Fri 9 AM - 5 PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jayprakash Gandhi can be reached on (571) 272-3740. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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RJH 4/3/2026
/ROBERT J HOFFBERG/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2835
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