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
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.
Claim(s) 1-3, 7-9, 12, 15-17, 19-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a) (1) as being anticipated by Wu (CN115143666A).
Regarding claim 1, Wu discloses a heat exchanger (Fig. 1-7) for a gas turbine engine, the heat exchanger comprising: an inlet manifold (collecting pipe 11); an outlet manifold (collecting pipe 12); a plate (flat pipe 21) extending from the inlet manifold to the outlet manifold, the plate defining a plurality of channels (microchannels 22) from the inlet manifold to the outlet manifold; and a heat pipe (heat pipe 30) having an end extending from the inlet manifold along the plate, the heat pipe being in thermal communication with the plate by contact with the plate to transfer heat from the inlet manifold to the plate.
Regarding claim 2, Wu discloses the limitations of claim 1, and Wu further discloses
the heat pipe comprises a pipe defining a cavity (cavity 31) and a fluid (working substance – Page 4) disposed in the cavity.
Regarding claim 3, Wu discloses the limitations of claim 2, and Wu further discloses
the heat pipe further comprises a wick (liquid absorbing core 41) disposed in the cavity.
Regarding claim 7, Wu discloses the limitations of claim 1, and Wu further discloses the end of the heat pipe (heat pipe 30) is a first end, wherein the heat pipe extends along the plate from the first end at the inlet manifold to a second end at the outlet manifold.
Regarding claim 8, Wu discloses the limitations of claim 1, and Wu further discloses the end of the heat pipe (heat pipe 30) is a first end, wherein the heat pipe extends along the plate from the first end at the inlet manifold (collecting pipe 11) to a second end at a termination point on the plate between the inlet manifold and the outlet manifold (collecting pipe 12).
Regarding claim 9, Wu discloses the limitations of claim 1, and Wu further discloses a plurality of heat pipes (30) including the heat pipe, each of the plurality of heat pipes being in thermal communication with the plate.
Regarding claim 12, Wu discloses the limitations of claim 1, and Wu further discloses the heat pipe (heat pipe 30) has an aerodynamic cross-section (see flat shape thereof).
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(s) 15-17, 19-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Niergarth (US20220282670A1) in view of Wu (CN115143666A).
Regarding claim 15, Niegarth teaches a gas turbine engine (see Fig. 1-8) comprising: a
turbomachine comprising a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section
arranged in serial flow order (see ¶[0033]), the turbomachine defining an engine inlet to an
inlet duct, a fan duct inlet to a fan duct (fan duct 172), and a core inlet to a core duct (core duct 122); and a heat exchanger (heat exchanger 20) disposed in the fan duct, the heat exchanger
comprising a manifold (manifold 202/204), a plate (vanes 206) extending from the manifold.
Niegarth does not teach the heat exchanger comprising; a manifold,a plate extending from the manifold, the plate defining a plurality of channels from the manifold, and a heat pipe having an end extending from the manifold along the plate, the heat pipe being in thermal communication with the plate by contact with the plate to transfer heat from the manifold to the plate.
Wu teaches a heat exchanger (Fig. 1-7) for a gas turbine engine, the heat exchanger comprising: an inlet manifold (collecting pipe 11); an outlet manifold (collecting pipe 12); a plate (flat pipe 21) extending from the inlet manifold to the outlet manifold, the plate defining a plurality of channels (microchannels 22) from the inlet manifold to the outlet manifold; and a heat pipe (heat pipe 30) having an end extending from the inlet manifold along the plate, the heat pipe being in thermal communication with the plate by contact with the plate to transfer heat from the inlet manifold to the plate.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the
effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Niergarth to include the heat
pipe of Wu, in order to improve the heat transfer efficiency (Page 1).
Regarding claim 16, Niergarth teaches the limitations of claim 15, and Niergarth further
teaches a plurality of heat exchangers (200; Fig. 6) including the heat exchanger, wherein the
plurality of heat exchangers are arranged circumferentially around the fan duct.
Regarding claim 17, Niergarth teaches the limitations of claim 16, and Wu further teaches the respective heat pipe of at least one of the plurality of heat exchangers includes a wick (liquid absorbing core 41).
Regarding claim 19, Niergarth teaches the limitations of claim 15, and Wu further teaches the end is a first end, wherein the heat pipe (heat pipe 30) extends from the first end at the manifold to a second end at a termination point on the plate, wherein the termination point is spaced from the manifold (see extension between 11 & 12).
Regarding claim 20, Niergarth teaches the limitations of claim 18, and Wu further teaches a second manifold (12), wherein the heat pipe (30) extends from the manifold (11) to the second manifold (12).
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ERIC S RUPPERT whose telephone number is (571)272-9911. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 8 am - 4 pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Len Tran can be reached at 571-272-1184. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ERIC S RUPPERT/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3763
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