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 .
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim 1-4,7-12 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.
Claim(s) 1, 2, 3, 7,8, 11 and 12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Fuse (JPH02176270 A) in view of Yoshiyanagi (JP H0540662 U) further in view of Holzapfel et al. (US 20190267765).
Regarding claim 1, Fuse teach Stationary slide ring of a mechanical seal assembly, comprising:
a main body (4 ) having a slide surface (41) and a wear-measuring device arranged on the main body to detect wear of the slide surface (41) of the stationary slide ring on the basis of a change in an electrical variable, (The sensor may be a wear sensor that detects the wear state based on a change in resistance value due to wear of the resistor.)[par. 0001]
wherein the wear-measuring device (7) includes an electrical voltage source,
a measuring region (surface of 74, Fig. 2) on the slide surface, an electrical feed line (75), which electrically connects the voltage source to the measuring region, and an electrical return line,(75) which electrically connects the measuring region to the voltage source, and
wherein the measuring region is arranged in a recess in the slide surface. (Note the surface of 74, Fig. 2 is within recessed (embedded) in the body of 41 of Fig. 3)
Fuse does not explicitly teach the wear measuring device includes an electrical voltage source.
Yoshiyanagi teaches the wear measuring device includes an electrical voltage source (Note V Fig. 4, par. 0010).
Therefore it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Fuse to include the teaching of the wear measuring device includes an electrical voltage source to supply to provide a source of energy for the device to function.
Fuse does not teach wherein the electrical feed line is guided through a first hole in the main body and/or wherein the electrical return line is guided through a second hole in the main body.
Yoshiyanagi teach wherein the electrical feed line (9) is guided through a first hole in the main body (4) and/or wherein the electrical return line is guided through a second hole in the main body.(Fig. 2A)
Therefore it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Fuse to include the teaching of wherein the electrical feed line is guided through a first hole in the main body and/or wherein the electrical return line is guided through a second hole in the main body to serve as a guide to the electronic device in the body .
Fuse does not teach wherein the first hole and the second hole are arranged on the slide surface on the same radius.
Holzapfel et al. teach wherein the first hole and the second hole are arranged on the slide surface on the same radius. (Note leads 121, 122,312-314, Fig. 1 which suggest holes and also note that all elements of Fig. 1 are connected therefore the holes are arranged on the slide surface on the same radius)
Therefore it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Fuse to include the teaching of wherein the first hole and the second hole are arranged on the slide surface on the same radius so that the oil volume flow that can be conducted out of the oil-conducting regions via the recesses is so small that a supply of oil to the gear box via the oil-conducting regions is not impaired. (Note Holzapfel et al. par. 0084)
Regarding claim 2, Fuse teach wherein the recess is completely filled with an electrically conductive material. (Note resistance 7, leads 77 temperature compensating resistance)
Regarding claim 3, Fuse does not teach wherein a depth of the recess is selected such that, when the bottom of the recess is reached, the maximum permissible wear of the slide surface of the stationary slide ring has been reached.
Hozapfel et al. teach wherein a depth of the recess (sliding track 161, Fig. 2, par. 0041) is selected such that, when the bottom of the recess is reached, the maximum permissible wear of the slide surface of the stationary slide ring has been reached. Examiner’s position it that the sliding brush 21 is in the recess (track) and that when the brush is completely worn exposing the bottom of the track, the maximum permissible wear has been reached.
Therefore it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Fuse to include the teaching of wherein a depth of the recess is selected such that, when the bottom of the recess is reached, the maximum permissible wear of the slide surface of the stationary slide ring has been reached to possibly indicate when a replacement of the element is needed.
Regarding claim 7, Fuse does not teach wherein the electrical feed line is provided in the region of the first hole by a first electrically conductive filler material, wherein the first filler material completely fills the hole, and/or wherein the electrical return line is provided in the region of the second hole by a second electrically conductive filler material, wherein the second filler material completely fills the second hole.
Holzapfel et al. teach wherein the electrical feed line (121, Fig. 1) is provided in the region of the first hole by a first electrically conductive filler material, wherein the first filler material completely fills the hole, and/or wherein the electrical return line (122, Fig. 1) is provided in the region of the second hole by a second electrically conductive filler material, wherein the second filler material completely fills the second hole. (Note par. 0040, The contact wire(s) may be affixed to the block 100 by soldering the connections 121, 122 of the wire(s) into through-holes of the insulating body 110 of the block 100.)
Therefore it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Fuse to include the teaching of wherein the electrical feed line is provided in the region of the first hole by a first electrically conductive filler material, wherein the first filler material completely fills the hole, and/or wherein the electrical return line is provided in the region of the second hole by a second electrically conductive filler material, wherein the second filler material completely fills the second hole to make it ideal for efficient circuit operation.
Regarding claim 8, Fuse does not teach wherein a width of the recess is greater than or equal to a diameter of the first and second hole.
Holzapfel et al. teach wherein a width of the recess (Note tracks 161, Fig. 2) is greater than or equal to a diameter of the first (Note the hole where 121 is inserted, Fig. 1) and second hole (Note the hole where 122 is inserted, Fig. 1).
Therefore it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Fuse to include the teaching of wherein a width of the recess is greater than or equal to a diameter of the first and second hole so that the conductors in the holes of the sensor can fit in the recess.
Regarding claim 11, Fuse does not teach a mechanical seal including a rotating slide ring (5) and a stationary slide ring (4) according to claim 1, wherein a sealing gap is defined between a slide surface of the rotating slide ring (5) and a slide surface (surface of 74, Fig. 2) of the stationary slide ring (4), and comprising an automated measuring unit,( The sensor may be a wear sensor that detects the wear state based on a change in resistance value due to wear of the resistor.)[par. 0001] which is configured to determine wear of the slide surface of the stationary slide ring on the basis of a change in electrical variables, in particular an electrical resistance, in a measuring region of a wear-measuring device on the slide surface of the stationary slide ring. ( The sensor may be a wear sensor that detects the wear state based on a change in resistance value due to wear of the resistor.)[par. 0001]
Regarding claim 12, Fuse teach wherein the automated measuring unit is configured to carry out the wear determination continuously or in predetermined intervals. (Note moreover, the wear state can be continuously monitored.)[Note par. 0001]
Claim 4 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Fuse (JPH02176270 A) in view of Yoshiyanagi (JP H0540662) in view of Holzapfel et al. (US 20190267765) further in view of Reece (US 4047063)
Fuse teach the instant invention except the following claim limitations.
Regarding claim 4, Fuse does not teach wherein the recess is a curved groove.
Reece teach wherein the recess is a curved groove. (Note column 3, lines 10-11)
Therefore it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Fuse to include the teaching of wherein the recess is a curved groove to meet the design specifications for the object to be received in the groove.
Claim 9 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Fuse (JPH02176270 A) in view of Yoshiyanagi (JP H0540662) in view of Holzapfel et al. (US 20190267765) further in view of Reece (US 4047063) further in view of Kopp (US 20200191276)
Fuse teach the instant invention except the following claim limitations.
Regarding claim 9, Fuse does not teach wherein the recess lies on a circumferential portion of the slide surface that is in the center in the radial direction of the stationary slide ring.
Kopp teach wherein the recess lies on a circumferential portion of the slide surface that is in the center in the radial direction of the stationary slide ring. (Note 50, Fig. 6, par. 0082)
Therefore it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Fuse to include the teaching of wherein the recess lies on a circumferential portion of the slide surface that is in the center in the radial direction of the stationary slide ring so that the oil volume flow that can be conducted out of the oil-conducting regions via the recesses is so small that a supply of oil to the gear box via the oil-conducting regions is not impaired. (Note Holzapfel et al. par. 0084)
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 10 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.
Regarding claim 10, a first wear-measuring device and a second wear-measuring device, which is opposite the first wear-measuring device at 180°.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DEMETRIUS R PRETLOW whose telephone number is (571)272-3441. The examiner can normally be reached M-F, 5:30-1:30.
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, Lee Rodak can be reached at 571-270-5628. 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.
/DEMETRIUS R PRETLOW/Examiner, Art Unit 2858
/LEE E RODAK/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2858
Prosecution Insights