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 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.
Regarding claim 1, the claim recites “between a compressor and a condenser” which renders the claim indefinite as it is unclear if the claim is referring to the same condenser previously recited in lines 3-4 of the claim or a new one. Clarification is requested.
Regarding claim 1, the claim recites “a compressor of the low-temperature-side refrigeration circuit” which renders the claim indefinite as it is unclear if the claim is referring to the same compressor previously recited in lines 7-8 of the claim or a new one. Clarification is requested.
Regarding claim 1, the claim recites “an evaporator of the high-temperature-side refrigeration circuit” which renders the claim indefinite as it is unclear if the claim is referring to the same evaporator previously recited in line 3 of the claim or a new one. Clarification is requested.
Regarding claim 9, the claim recites “an evaporator” which renders the claim indefinite as it is unclear if the claim is referring to the same evaporator previously recited in claim 1, or a new one. Clarification is requested.
Claims 2-10 are rejected based on their dependency to claim 1.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-10 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome 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:
The closest prior art of record is FOR1 (WO2013/018148A1) in view of FOR2 (JP201368409).
The prior art of record when considered as a whole, either alone or in combination, does not anticipate or render obvious:
A refrigeration apparatus comprising a high-temperature-side refrigeration circuit and a low-temperature-side refrigeration circuit, an evaporator of the high-temperature-side refrigeration circuit and a condenser of the low-temperature-side refrigeration circuit constituting a cascade condenser,
wherein the refrigeration apparatus comprises a water cooler that cools a low-temperature-side refrigerant circulated by the low-temperature-side refrigeration circuit, between a compressor and a condenser in the low-temperature-side refrigeration circuit, and
wherein the refrigeration apparatus performs an operation in such a manner that the following relationships are satisfied, 0.25×(CL+PA)≤CW≤0.4×(CL+PA), and 0.6×(CL+PA)≤CH≤0.75×(CL+PA), and 0.5×PA≤CW, and F1≤F2, wherein CL (Kw) represents a refrigeration capacity of an evaporator of the low-temperature-side refrigeration circuit, PA (Kw) represents compression power of a compressor of the low-temperature-side refrigeration circuit, CW (Kw) represents a cooling capacity of the water cooler, CH (Kw) represents a refrigeration capacity of an evaporator of the high-temperature-side refrigeration circuit, F1 (Kg/hour) represents a refrigerant circulation rate of the high-temperature-side refrigeration circuit, and F2 (Kg/hour) represents a refrigerant circulation rate of the low-temperature-side refrigeration circuit.
The combination of references fails to teach, “wherein the refrigeration apparatus performs an operation in such a manner that the following relationships are satisfied, 0.25×(CL+PA)≤CW≤0.4×(CL+PA), and 0.6×(CL+PA)≤CH≤0.75×(CL+PA), and 0.5×PA≤CW, and F1≤F2, wherein CL (Kw) represents a refrigeration capacity of an evaporator of the low-temperature-side refrigeration circuit, PA (Kw) represents compression power of a compressor of the low-temperature-side refrigeration circuit, CW (Kw) represents a cooling capacity of the water cooler, CH (Kw) represents a refrigeration capacity of an evaporator of the high-temperature-side refrigeration circuit, F1 (Kg/hour) represents a refrigerant circulation rate of the high-temperature-side refrigeration circuit, and F2 (Kg/hour) represents a refrigerant circulation rate of the low-temperature-side refrigeration circuit.”
In the Examiner’s opinion, it would not be obvious to further modify the prior art structures to arrive at the claimed invention, absent impermissible hindsight. Therefore, rendering independent claim 1, with dependent claims therefrom are considered allowable.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NAEL N BABAA whose telephone number is (571)270-3272. The examiner can normally be reached M-F, 9-5 EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jerry-Daryl Fletcher can be reached at (571)-270-5054. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/NAEL N BABAA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3763
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