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 § 102
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 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)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
(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 1-6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by German Patent No. 10 2021 119 197 to Hens (provided by Applicant on 9/11/2024).
Regarding claim 1, Hens teaches an electric machine (FIG. 1, 100), comprising:
a shaft (FIG. 1, 22) configured to rotate about an axis of rotation;
a rotor (FIG. 1, 20) coupled to the shaft and a stator (FIG. 1, 10), wherein the rotor comprises a first axial end face (FIG. 1, 24), a second axial end face (FIG. 1, 26), a lateral surface (FIG. 1, portion of 23 radially facing 11), and at least two cooling channels (FIG. 1, 30), wherein the at least two cooling channels each extend into the rotor from an injection opening (FIG. 1, 34) in the first axial end face; and
at least one injection nozzle (FIG. 1, 40) configured to spray a fluid (FIG. 1, 50; Paragraph [0031]) into the injection opening of the at least two cooling channels when the rotor is rotating.
Regarding claim 2, Hens teaches the electric machine of claim 1, wherein the at least two cooling channels are linear (FIG. 1, 30).
Regarding claim 3, Hens teaches the electric machine of claim 1, wherein a radial distance between the at least two cooling channels and the axis of rotation (FIG. 3a; 430) is greater than or equal to a radial distance between the injection opening and the axis of rotation (FIG. 3a; 434).
Regarding claim 4, Hens teaches the electric machine of claim 1, wherein the at least one injection nozzle comprises an injection direction parallel to the axis of rotation (FIG. 1, 50)
Regarding claim 5, Hens teaches the electric machine of claim 1, wherein the at least one injection nozzle comprises an injection direction angled to the axis of rotation (FIG. 3a, 440).
Regarding claim 6, Hens teaches the electric machine of claim 1, wherein the at least two cooling channels comprise an outlet (FIG. 1, 36) arranged in the second axial end face.
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.
Claim 7 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Hens in view of U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0194220 to Tatematsu et al. (hereinafter Tatematsu).
Regarding claim 7, Hens teaches the electric machine of claim 6.
Hens does not teach a rotor surface region adjacent to the outlet being raised.
However, Tatematsu teaches a rotor surface region (FIG. 9, 91) adjacent to an outlet (FIG. 9, 44) being raised.
Therefore, 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 electric machine of Hens with the raised rotor surface region of Tatematsu to better direct the discharge of the cooling fluid (Paragraph [0067]).
Claims 8-9 and 11-19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Hens in view of U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2023/0061495 to Kang et al. (hereinafter Kang).
Regarding claim 8, Hens teaches a system, comprising:
an electric machine (FIG. 1, 100) comprising a rotor (FIG. 1, 20) configured to rotate about an axis of rotation;
a plurality of cooling channels (FIG. 1, 30) extending through at least a portion of the rotor; and
a plurality of injection nozzles (FIG. 1, 40; Paragraph [0039]) that are stationary and configured to inject fluid (FIG. 1, 50; Paragraph [0031]).
Hens does not teach a controller with computer-readable instructions stored on memory thereof that when executed cause the controller to:
determine a temperature of the rotor;
determine an imbalance of the rotor; and
inject fluid via one or more of the plurality of injection nozzles based on the temperature and the imbalance.
However, Kang teaches a controller (FIG. 3, 67) with computer-readable instructions stored on memory thereof (Paragraph [0096]) that when executed cause the controller to:
determine a temperature of the rotor (Paragraph [0099]);
determine an imbalance of the rotor (Paragraph [0099]); and
inject fluid via one or more of the plurality of injection nozzles based on the temperature and the imbalance (Paragraph [0106]).
Therefore, 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 system of Hens with the controller of Kang to provide a more efficient cooling system for the system.
Regarding claim 9, Hens in view of Kang teaches the system of claim 8, wherein Hens further teaches an injection opening of a cooling channel of the plurality of cooling channels (FIG. 3a, 434) is radially closer to the axis of rotation than an outlet (FIG. 3a, 436) of the cooling channel.
Regarding claim 11, Hens in view of Kang teaches the system of claim 8, wherein Hens further teaches the plurality of cooling channels expelling fluid radially outward toward a stator (FIG. 1, 54).
Regarding claim 12, Hens in view of Kang teaches the system of claim 8, wherein Kang further teaches the instructions further causing the controller to inject an equal amount of fluid via each of the plurality of injection nozzles when only the temperature of the rotor is greater than a threshold temperature (Paragraph [0098]; [0106]).
Regarding claim 13, Hens in view of Kang teaches the system of claim 8, wherein Kang further teaches the instructions further causing the controller to inject different amounts of fluid via two or more of the plurality of injection nozzles when only the imbalance of the rotor is determined (Paragraph [0106]-[0108]).
Regarding claim 14, Hens in view of Kang teaches the system of claim 8, wherein Kang further teaches the instructions further causing the controller to inject different amounts of fluid via the plurality of injection nozzles when each of the temperature of the rotor is greater than a threshold temperature and the imbalance of the rotor is determined (Paragraph [0098]; [0106]-[0108]).
Regarding claim 15, Hens in view of Kang teaches the system of claim 8, wherein Hens further teaches the plurality of injection nozzles being arranged at an angle (FIG. 3a, 440).
Regarding claim 16, Hens teaches a system, comprising:
an electric machine (FIG. 1, 100) comprising a rotor (FIG. 1, 20) configured to rotate about an axis of rotation;
a plurality of cooling channels (FIG. 1, 30) extending through a portion of the rotor, wherein each of the plurality of cooling channels comprises an inlet (FIG. 1, 34) arranged in an axial surface of the rotor; and
a plurality of injection nozzles (FIG. 1, 40; Paragraph [0039]) configured to inject fluid toward the inlet (FIG. 1, 50; Paragraph [0031]).
Hens does not teach a controller with computer-readable instructions stored on memory thereof that when executed cause the controller to:
operate the plurality of injection nozzles to correct an imbalance of the rotor.
However, Kang teaches a computer (FIG. 3, 67) with computer-readable instructions stored on memory thereof (Paragraph [0096]) that when executed cause the controller to:
operate the plurality of injection nozzles to correct an imbalance of the rotor (Paragraph [0099]; [0106]).
Therefore, 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 system of Hens with the controller of Kang to provide a more efficient cooling system for the system.
Regarding claim 17, Hens in view of Kang teaches the system of claim 16, wherein Kang further teaches the instructions further causing the controller to operate the plurality of injection nozzles to decrease a temperature of the rotor (Paragraph [0106]-[0108]).
Regarding claim 18, Hens in view of Kang teaches the system of claim 16, wherein Hens further teaches the plurality of cooling channels being non-parallel to the axis of rotation (FIG. 3a, 430).
Regarding claim 19, Hens in view of Kang teaches the system of claim 16, wherein Hens further teaches each of the plurality of cooling channels comprising an outlet (FIG. 1, 36) arranged in a second axial surface opposite the axial surface of the rotor.
Claim 10 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Hens in view of Kang and in further view of WIPO Publication No. 2009/129882 to Franke et al. (hereinafter Franke).
Regarding claim 10, Hens in view of Kang teaches the system of claim 8.
Hens in view of Kang does not teach the plurality of cooling channels comprising a bend.
However, Franke teaches a rotor with a plurality of cooling channels comprising a bend (FIG. 5; 48, 49).
Therefore, 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 system of Hens in view of Kang with the bend of Franke to more evenly cool the rotor.
Claim 20 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Hens in view of Kang and in further view of German Patent No. 10 2015 223 073 to Burkhardt et al. (hereinafter Burkhardt).
Regarding claim 20, Hens in view of Kang teaches the system of claim 16.
Hens in view of Kang does not teach each of the plurality of cooling channels comprising an outlet arranged in a radial surface normal to the axial surface.
However, Burkhardt teaches a cooling channel (FIG. 1, 40) comprising an outlet (FIG. 1, 42) arranged in a radial surface normal to the axial surface.
Therefore, 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 system of Hens in view of Kang with the outlets of Burkhardt to more evenly cool the stator.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JOSHUA KIEL MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ whose telephone number is (571)272-9881. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 9:30am - 7:00pm ET.
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/JOSHUA KIEL M RODRIGUEZ/Examiner, Art Unit 2834
/TULSIDAS C PATEL/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2834