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 .
Drawings
The drawings are objected to because the lines in Fig. 1-8 are light, rendering it difficult to discern exactly what the figures are depicting. Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Claim Objections
Claims 42 and 48 are objected to because of the following informalities. Appropriate correction is required.
Regarding claim 42: For clarity, it appears lines 4-5 should have commas added and read as follows: “…covering the ducts create, between the first exhaust duct section and the set of the electrical equipment, a head shield zone…”
Regarding claim 48: Line 3 recites “it”, this should specifically recite the limitation being referred to.
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 32-33 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 32: Line 5 recites “an optional third module”, it is unclear if this “optional” module is actually required by the claim or not.
Regarding claim 33: Line 3 recites “three self-supporting modules”. However, “at least two self-supporting modules” and an “optional third module” have been introduced in claim 32. It is unclear if these three self-supporting modules are the same that are referenced in claim 32.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 30-31 and 34-58 are allowed.
Claims 32-33 are would be allowable if rewritten 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 and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter.
The prior art of record, alone or in combination does not explicitly teach, suggest, or render obvious, at least to the skilled artisan the power generation unit of claim 30, specifically comprising:
a first exhaust duct section for conducting exhaust gas from the turbocharger, the first exhaust duct section including an outlet that is configured to be connectable to a second, downstream side exhaust duct section, and
the set of electrical equipment is arranged below a first horizontal level, the air inlet is arranged above the first horizontal level, and the outlet of the first exhaust duct section is arranged above a second horizontal level, the second horizontal level being located above the air inlet, in the context of the other components in the claim.
Claims 31-58 are allowable due to their dependency on claim 30.
Note, Shatek et al. (US 2016/0230654) teaches a similar generation unit, but only teaches that a turbocharger can be included. It does not teach how it would fit in with the various ducts and inlets.
Further, the other cited prior art teaches modular power generation units, but are silent as to a turbocharger.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SEAN GUGGER whose telephone number is (571)272-5343. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th 9:00am - 5:00pm EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, T.C. Patel can be reached at 571 272 2098. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/SEAN GUGGER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2834
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