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 .
This Office Action is in response to papers filed on 5/11/2026. Amendments made to the claims and the Applicant's remarks have been entered and considered.
Claims 1-2, 4-8, 11, 12, 14-19 have been amended.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1-20 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.
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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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, 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.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim(s) 1-3, 6-13, 16, 17, 19, 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lasorso et al. (US 2015/0076969 A1, hereinafter Lasorso) in view of Dlala et al. (US 2019/0020231 A1, hereinafter Dlala).
As to claim 1, Lasorso shows (FIG. 2, 6) An active component 12 of an electric machine, the active component 12 comprising:
a cooling channel 91, which, at least in some portions, has an axial extension 91 which has a cross-sectional area; and
a plurality of reducing elements 910 protruding into the axial extension 91, the plurality of reducing elements 910 reduce the cross-sectional area such that turbulence of a cooling fluid occurs when the cooling fluid flows therethrough, the plurality of reducing elements 910 protruding into the axial extension 91 perpendicular to an axial direction of the axial extension 91, the plurality of reducing elements 910 protruding into the axial extension 91 circumferentially across at least one of a radially inner side or a radially outer side of the cross-sectional area 91, the plurality of reducing elements 910 alternately protrude in sequence from the radially inner side of the cross-sectional area radially outwards into the axial extension 91 and protrude from the radially outer side of the cooling channel 91 radially inwards into the axial extension 91 (para [0020],[0021],[0034],[0036]).
Lasorso does not show the plurality of reducing elements protruding into the axial extension circumferentially across an entirety of at least one of a radially inner side or a radially outer side of the cross-sectional area.
Dlala shows (FIG. 23):
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the plurality of reducing elements A protruding into the axial extension 2101 across an entirety of at least one of a side of the cross-sectional area 2101 (FIG. 22, 23, para [0070],[0071]).
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 reducing elements 910 of Lasorso to have the plurality of reducing elements 910 protruding into the axial extension 91 circumferentially across an entirety of at least one of a radially inner side or a radially outer side of the cross-sectional area 91 as taught by Dlala, for the advantageous benefit of forcing serpentine flow through the axial extension 91 to lower a peak operating temperature of the active component 12 as taught by Dlala (para [0071],[0046]).
As to claim 2/1, Lasorso in view of Dlala was discussed above with respect to claim 1 and Lasorso further shows (as modified) a reducing element 910 of the plurality of reducing elements 910 reduces the cross-sectional area in a region of the reducing element 910 by up to 20%.
As to claim 3/1, Lasorso in view of Dlala was discussed above with respect to claim 1 and Lasorso further shows wherein the active component 12 comprises a laminated core (para [0021]).
As to claim 6/1, Lasorso in view of Dlala was discussed above with respect to claim 1 and Lasorso further shows (FIG. 6) wherein a reducing element 910 of the plurality of reducing elements 910 is arranged at a distal end of the axial extension 91 in the axial direction.
As to claim 7/1, Lasorso in view of Dlala was discussed above with respect to claim 1 and Lasorso further shows (FIG. 6) a reducing element 910 of the plurality of reducing elements 910 protrudes into the cooling channel 91 on two adjacent sides or three adjacent sides but less than all sides.
As to claim 8/1, Lasorso in view of Dlala was discussed above with respect to claim 1 and Lasorso further shows (FIG. 6) each of the plurality of reducing elements 910 protrudes into the axial extension 91 of at least one of the radially inner side or the radially outer side of the cross-sectional area 91.
Lasorso does not show each of the plurality of reducing elements protrudes into the axial extension circumferentially across the entirety of at least one of the radially inner side or the radially outer side of the cross-sectional area.
Dlala shows (FIG. 23) the plurality of reducing elements A protruding into the axial extension 2101 across an entirety of at least one of a side of the cross-sectional area 2101 (FIG. 22, 23, para [0070],[0071]).
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 reducing elements 910 of Lasorso in view of Dlala to each of the plurality of reducing elements 910 protrudes into the axial extension 91 circumferentially across the entirety of at least one of the radially inner side or the radially outer side of the cross-sectional area 91 as taught by Dlala, for the advantageous benefit of forcing serpentine flow through the axial extension 91 to lower a peak operating temperature of the active component 12 as taught by Dlala (para [0071],[0046]).
As to claim 9/1, Lasorso in view of Dlala was discussed above with respect to claim 1 and Lasorso further shows (FIG. 1, 2) the active component 12 is a stator 12 of the electric machine (para [0020]).
As to claim 10/1, Lasorso in view of Dlala was discussed above with respect to claim 1 and Lasorso further shows (FIG. 1, 2) An electric machine 10 comprising an active component 12 according to claim 1 (para [0020]).
As to claim 11, Lasorso shows (FIG. 2, 6) An active component 12 of an electric machine 10, the active component 12 comprising:
a plurality of reducing elements 910 protruding into an axial extension 91 of a cooling channel 91 of the active component 12 of the electric machine 10, the plurality of reducing elements 910 reduce a cross-sectional area of the axial extension 91 to generate turbulence within a cooling fluid when the cooling fluid flows through the axial extension, the plurality of reducing elements 910 protruding into the axial extension 91 perpendicular to an axial direction of the axial extension 91, the plurality of reducing elements 910 protruding into the axial extension 91 circumferentially across at least one of a radially inner side or a radially outer side of the cross-sectional area 91, the plurality of reducing elements 910 alternately protrude in sequence from the radially inner side of the cross-sectional area radially outwards into the axial extension 91 and protrude from the radially outer side of the cooling channel 91 radially inwards into the axial extension 91 (para [0020],[0021],[0034],[0036]).
Lasorso does not show the plurality of reducing elements protruding into the axial extension circumferentially across an entirety of at least one of a radially inner side or a radially outer side of the cross-sectional area.
Dlala shows (FIG. 23) the plurality of reducing elements A protruding into the axial extension 2101 across an entirety of at least one of a side of the cross-sectional area 2101 (FIG. 22, 23, para [0070],[0071]).
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 reducing elements 910 of Lasorso to have the plurality of reducing elements 910 protruding into the axial extension 91 circumferentially across an entirety of at least one of a radially inner side or a radially outer side of the cross-sectional area 91 as taught by Dlala, for the advantageous benefit of forcing serpentine flow through the axial extension 91 to lower a peak operating temperature of the active component 12 as taught by Dlala (para [0071],[0046]).
As to claim 12/11, Lasorso in view of Dlala was discussed above with respect to claim 11 and Lasorso further shows (as modified) a reducing element 910 of the plurality of reducing elements 910 reduces the cross-sectional area in a region of the reducing element 910 by up to 20%.
As to claim 13/11, Lasorso in view of Dlala was discussed above with respect to claim 11 and Lasorso further shows wherein the active component 12 comprises a laminated core (para [0021]).
As to claim 16/11, Lasorso in view of Dlala was discussed above with respect to claim 11 and Lasorso further shows (FIG. 6) wherein a reducing element 910 of the plurality of reducing elements 910 is arranged at a distal end of the axial extension 91 in the axial direction.
As to claim 17/11, Lasorso in view of Dlala was discussed above with respect to claim 11 and Lasorso further shows (FIG. 6) a reducing element 910 of the plurality of reducing elements 910 protrudes into the cooling channel 91 on two adjacent sides.
As to claim 19, Lasorso shows (FIG. 2, 6) An electric machine 10 comprising:
An active component 12, the active component 12 comprises a plurality of reducing elements 910 protruding into an axial extension 91 of a cooling channel 91 of the active component 12 of the electric machine 10, the plurality of reducing elements 910 reduce a cross-sectional area of the axial extension 91 to generate turbulence within a cooling fluid when the cooling fluid flows through the axial extension, the plurality of reducing elements 910 protruding into the axial extension 91 perpendicular to an axial direction of the axial extension 91, the plurality of reducing elements 910 protruding into the axial extension 91 circumferentially across at least one of a radially inner side or a radially outer side of the cross-sectional area 91, the plurality of reducing elements 910 alternately protrude in sequence from the radially inner side of the cross-sectional area radially outwards into the axial extension 91 and protrude from the radially outer side of the cooling channel 91 radially inwards into the axial extension 91 (para [0020],[0021],[0034],[0036]).
Lasorso does not show the plurality of reducing elements protruding into the axial extension circumferentially across an entirety of at least one of a radially inner side or a radially outer side of the cross-sectional area.
Dlala shows (FIG. 23) the plurality of reducing elements A protruding into the axial extension 2101 across an entirety of at least one of a side of the cross-sectional area 2101 (FIG. 22, 23, para [0070],[0071]).
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 reducing elements 910 of Lasorso to have the plurality of reducing elements 910 protruding into the axial extension 91 circumferentially across an entirety of at least one of a radially inner side or a radially outer side of the cross-sectional area 91 as taught by Dlala, for the advantageous benefit of forcing serpentine flow through the axial extension 91 to lower a peak operating temperature of the active component 12 as taught by Dlala (para [0071],[0046]).
As to claim 20/19, Lasorso in view of Dlala was discussed above with respect to claim 19 and Lasorso further shows (FIG. 1, 2) the active component 12 comprises a stator 12 of the electric machine (para [0020]).
Claim(s) 4, 5, 14, 15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lasorso et al. (US 2015/0076969 A1, hereinafter Lasorso) in view of Dlala et al. (US 2019/0020231 A1, hereinafter Dlala) and SCHWEIHER (DE-102012017293-A1).
As to claim 4/3/1 and 14/13/11, Lasorso in view of Dlala was discussed above with respect to claim 3 except for wherein a reducing element of the plurality of reducing elements is formed integrally from a single sheet of the laminated core.
SCHWEIHER shows (FIG. 5) the reducing element 70 is formed integrally from a single sheet 86 of the laminated core 40 (para[0116]).
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 reducing elements 910 of Lasorso in view of Dlala to have a reducing element of the plurality of reducing elements is formed integrally from a single sheet of the laminated core as taught by SCHWEIHER, for the advantageous benefit forming the reducing elements 910 from the laminations 20 themselves as taught by Lasorso (para [0036]).
As to claim 5/4/3/1 and 15/13/11, Lasorso in view of Dlala and SCHWEIHER was discussed above with respect to claim 4 except for a reducing element of the plurality of reducing elements comprises several immediately adjacent individual sheets of the laminated core.
SCHWEIHER shows (FIG. 5) the reducing element 70 comprises several immediately adjacent individual sheets 86 (para[0116]).
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 reducing elements 910 of Lasorso in view of Dlala and SCHWEIHER to have a reducing element 910 of the plurality of reducing elements comprises several immediately adjacent individual sheets of the laminated core 20 as taught by SCHWEIHER, for the advantageous benefit forming the reducing elements 910 from the laminations 20 themselves as taught by Lasorso (para [0036]).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 18 is objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. The prior art does not show or suggest a reducing element protruding on three adjacent sides.
Conclusion
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/ROBERT E MATES/Examiner, Art Unit 2834
/TULSIDAS C PATEL/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2834
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