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 .
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.
Specification
The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
Claim Objections
Claims 38 and 45 are objected to because of the following informalities: claims 38 and 45 depend on cancelled claim 33. Appropriate correction is required.
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.
Claims 27-32, 38-39, and 53 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over CN 201078308 Y to Qin et al. in view of US 20090058093 A1 to Bridwell and US 4720640 A to Anderson et al.
Regarding claim 27, Qin et al. discloses a wind turbine comprising:
a first rotor (Fig. 2: 5) comprising a hub (1) and at least one blade (2) extending from the hub, the first rotor configured to rotate as wind engages the at least one blade;
a rotor hub support (4), the first rotor (5) being coupled to the rotor hub support and configured to rotate relative to the rotor hub support;
a tower (3) coupled to the hub (1) via the rotor hub support (4) and configured to support the first rotor, wherein a longitudinal axis of the tower (vertical) is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the hub (horizontal);
a frame (9) configured to at least partially receive the first rotor therein; and
a first generator configured to generate electrical power from rotation of the first rotor, the first generator comprising at least one magnet (7) and a conductor coil (14),
wherein one of the at least one magnet and conductor coil is coupled to the first rotor and configured to rotate therewith (magnet 7 is coupled to rotor ring 6), and the other one of the at least one magnet and the conductor coil is fixed relative to the frame (coil 14 fixed to frame at 13), such that rotation of the first rotor causes relative movement between the conductor coil and the at least one magnet.
However, it fails to disclose a second rotor configured to rotate in an opposed direction to a direction of rotation of the first rotor; and a second generator configured to generate electrical power on rotation of the first rotor relative to the rotor hub support, the second generator comprising at least one magnet and a conductor coil, wherein one of the at least one magnet and conductor coil of the second generator is coupled to the first rotor and configured to rotate therewith, and the other of the at least one magnet and the conductor coil of the second generator is fixed to the rotor hub support, such that rotation of the first rotor causes relative movement between the conductor coil and the at least one magnet of the second generator.
Bridwell teaches a second rotor (Fig. 2 shows three rotors) configured to rotate in an opposed direction to a direction of rotation of the first rotor [0034].
Anderson et al. teaches a second generator (Fig. 2: 56) configured to generate electrical power on rotation of the first rotor (15) relative to the rotor hub support (40), the second generator comprising at least one magnet and a conductor coil, wherein one of the at least one magnet and conductor coil of the second generator is coupled to the first rotor (coupled to rotor shaft 54) and configured to rotate therewith, and the other of the at least one magnet and the conductor coil of the second generator is fixed to the rotor hub support (stator of generator 56 fixed to 40), such that rotation of the first rotor causes relative movement between the conductor coil and the at least one magnet of the second generator.
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to use the teaching of the second rotor as disclosed by Bridwell and the second generator as disclosed by Anderson et al. to the wind turbine disclosed by Qin et al.
One would have been motivated to do so to generate additional power.
Regarding claim 28, Qin et al. discloses the frame comprises an aperture (Fig. 2: gap for ring 6), and the first rotor (5) is received within the aperture.
Regarding claim 29, Qin et al. discloses the first rotor further comprises a ring (Fig. 2: 6), and an outer end of the at least one blade is coupled to the ring such that the at least one blade (2) extends between the hub (1) and the ring (6).
Regarding claim 30, Qin et al. discloses the first rotor comprises a plurality of blades (Fig. 2: 2) extending from the hub (1), and an outer end of each of the blades is coupled to the ring (6), such that each of the blades extends between the hub (1) and the ring (6).
Regarding claim 31, Qin et al. discloses one of the at least one magnet (Fig. 2: 7) and the conductor coil is coupled to the ring (6) and is configured to rotate therewith.
Regarding claim 32, Qin et al. discloses the frame comprises a circular aperture (Fig. 2: opening to receive ring 6) and the first rotor (5) is received therein.
Regarding claim 38, Qin et al. discloses a housing (Fig. 2: 11), wherein the first rotor (5), the frame (9), and the first generator (7 and 14) are received within the housing.
Regarding claim 39, Qin et al. discloses at least a portion of the tower (Fig. 2: 3) is received within the housing (11).
Regarding claim 53, the combination of Qin et al., Bridwell, and Anderson et al. discloses the first rotor (Bridwell, Fig. 2: 212) and the second rotor (252) are arranged symmetrically around the rotor hub support (102).
Claims 35-36 and 45-48 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over CN 201078308 Y to Qin et al. in view of US 20090058093 A1 to Bridwell and US 4720640 A to Anderson et al. as applied to claim 27 above and further in view of US 8803354 B2 to Wamble et al.
Regarding claims 35-36, Qin et al., Bridwell, and Anderson et al. discloses a wind turbine as described above.
However, it fails to disclose the limitations from claims 35-36.
Wamble et al. teaches:
a rotatable element (Fig. 4: 408) configured to rotate with respect to the tower, and a rotation translation mechanism (shaft of 428) configured to translate the rotation of the first rotor (402) into rotation of the rotatable element (408) about an axis (428) perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the first rotor (426).
the rotation translation mechanism comprises a rotatable shaft (shaft of 428) which is at least partially received within the tower, and rotation of the rotatable shaft causes rotation of the rotatable element (408).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to use the teaching of the generator as disclosed by Wamble et al. to the wind turbine disclosed by Qin et al., Bridwell, and Anderson et al.
One would have been motivated to do so to generate additional power.
Regarding claims 45-48, Qin et al., Bridwell, and Anderson et al. discloses a wind turbine as described above.
However, it fails to disclose the limitations from claims 45-48.
Wamble et al. teaches:
a base housing (Fig. 11: 1116).
the base housing (1116) is configured to receive at least a portion of the tower (1104).
a rotatable element (1114) of the tower is at least partially received within the base housing, and wherein the other one of the at least one magnet and the conductor coil (1112) of a second generator is received within and fixed relative to the base housing.
the tower is rotatable (1118) with respect to the base housing (1116).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to use the teaching of the generator as disclosed by Wamble et al. to the wind turbine disclosed by Qin et al., Bridwell, and Anderson et al.
One would have been motivated to do so to generate additional power.
Claims 40-42 and 55 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over CN 201078308 Y to Qin et al. in view of US 20090058093 A1 to Bridwell and US 4720640 A to Anderson et al. as applied to claims 27 and 38 above and further in view of US 20210348590 A1 to Churchill.
Regarding claims 40-42 and 55, Qin et al., Bridwell, and Anderson et al. discloses a wind turbine as described above.
However, it fails to disclose the limitations from claims 40-42 and 55.
Churchill teaches:
the housing comprises louvers (Fig. 4: 26), openable to expose the first rotor (46) to the wind and closable to shield the first rotor from the wind.
the louvers are located on opposed sides of the housing (26 and 43) such that opposed sides of the first rotor may be selectively exposed to or shielded from the wind.
a mesh (25) located between the louvers (26) and the first rotor (46).
an anemometer configured to determine wind speed, and a controller configured to control the louvers to move to the closed position when the wind speed exceeds a threshold [0059].
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to use the teaching of the louvers as disclosed by Churchill to the wind turbine disclosed by Qin et al., Bridwell, and Anderson et al.
One would have been motivated to do so to control wind flow through the housing.
Claims 43-44 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over CN 201078308 Y to Qin et al. in view of US 20090058093 A1 to Bridwell, US 4720640 A to Anderson et al., and US 20210348590 A1 to Churchill as applied to claims 27, 38, and 40 above and further in view of US 20040148933 A1 to Miller.
Regarding claims 43-44, Qin et al., Bridwell, Anderson et al., and Churchill discloses a wind turbine as described above.
However, it fails to disclose the limitations from claims 43-44.
Miller teaches:
a solar cell [0023].
at least one of the (louvers) comprises a solar cell [0023].
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to use the teaching of the solar cell as disclosed by Miller to the wind turbine disclosed by Qin et al., Bridwell, Anderson et al., and Churchill.
One would have been motivated to do so to generate additional power from the sun.
Claims 50-51 and 54 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over CN 201078308 Y to Qin et al. in view of US 20090058093 A1 to Bridwell and US 4720640 A to Anderson et al. as applied to claim 27 above and further in view of US 20120038157 A1 to Skala.
Regarding claims 50-51 and 54, Qin et al., Bridwell, and Anderson et al. discloses a wind turbine as described above.
However, it fails to disclose the limitations from claims 50-51 and 54.
Skala teaches:
a brake configured to apply a braking force to the first rotor to resist rotation of the first rotor and in dependence on a rate of rotation of the first rotor [0058].
the brake comprises an electrical brake, and wherein power generated by a rotor hub generator is used to power the electrical brake [0067].
a power monitor configured to monitor electrical power generated by the first generator, wherein the power monitor is configured to control the brake to apply a braking force to the first rotor when the electrical power generated by the first generator exceeds a threshold [0062].
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to use the teaching of the electrical brake as disclosed by Skala to the wind turbine disclosed by Qin et al., Bridwell, and Anderson et al.
One would have been motivated to do so to control the speed of the blades.
Claim 52 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over CN 201078308 Y to Qin et al. in view of US 4720640 A to Anderson et al.
Regarding claim 52, Qin et al. discloses a system comprising:
a wind turbine (Fig. 2) comprising:
a first rotor (5) comprising a hub (1) and at least one blade (2) extending from the hub, the first rotor configured to rotate as wind engages the at least one blade;
a rotor hub support (4), the first rotor (5) being coupled to the rotor hub support and configured to rotate relative to the rotor hub support;
a tower (3) coupled to the hub (1) via the rotor hub support (4) and configured to support the first rotor, wherein a longitudinal axis of the tower (vertical) is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the hub (horizontal);
a frame (9) configured to at least partially receive the first rotor therein; and
a first generator configured to generate electrical power from rotation of the first rotor, the first generator comprising at least one magnet (7) and a conductor coil (14),
wherein one of the at least one magnet and conductor coil is coupled to the first rotor and configured to rotate therewith (magnet 7 is coupled to rotor ring 6), and the other one of the at least one magnet and the conductor coil is fixed relative to the frame (coil 14 fixed to frame at 13), such that rotation of the first rotor causes relative movement between the conductor coil and the at least one magnet;
a housing (11), wherein the first rotor (5), the frame (9), and the first generator (7 and 14) are received within the housing, the housing comprising at least one aperture (turbine 2 inside 11) through which wind engages the first rotor and through which the wind turbine directs air flow.
However, it fails to disclose a second generator configured to generate electrical power on rotation of the first rotor relative to the rotor hub support, the second generator comprising at least one magnet and a conductor coil, wherein one of the at least one magnet and conductor coil of the second generator is coupled to the first rotor and configured to rotate therewith, and the other of the at least one magnet and the conductor coil of the second generator is fixed to the rotor hub support, such that rotation of the first rotor causes relative movement between the conductor coil and the at least one magnet of the second generator.
Anderson et al. teaches a second generator (Fig. 2: 56) configured to generate electrical power on rotation of the first rotor (15) relative to the rotor hub support (40), the second generator comprising at least one magnet and a conductor coil, wherein one of the at least one magnet and conductor coil of the second generator is coupled to the first rotor (coupled to rotor shaft 54) and configured to rotate therewith, and the other of the at least one magnet and the conductor coil of the second generator is fixed to the rotor hub support (stator of generator 56 fixed to 40), such that rotation of the first rotor causes relative movement between the conductor coil and the at least one magnet of the second generator.
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to use the teaching of the second generator as disclosed by Anderson et al. to the wind turbine disclosed by Qin et al.
One would have been motivated to do so to generate additional power.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 27 and 52 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.
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 VIET P NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)272-9457. The examiner can normally be reached M, T, Th, F from 12pm-8pm.
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/VIET P NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2834
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