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.
Claim(s) 1-7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a1/a2) as being anticipated by Sakai et al., US 5518530 (Sakai, IDS).
Regarding claim 1, Sakai discloses a separation membrane module (abstract, figs. 1-3) comprising:
A tubular housing (REF 40);
A columnar membrane (REF 41, see “separators” and “gas separation membrane”, C6/L13-25);
An annular first flange (REF 21, 42, figs. 1, 3) surrounding a first end portion of the membrane structure; and
A first bonding material (REF 15, fig. 1) interposed between the first flange (REF 21) and the membrane structure (REF 11/12);
The housing having a first facing surface (top of REF 40) and an inner circumferential surface (sidewall of REF 40), the first facing surface facing an end surface of the first flange, the inner circumferential surface facing an outer circumferential surface of the first flange (fig. 3);
Wherein a coefficient of thermal expansion of the first bonding material (see “glass”, abstract, Tables 1-2) is smaller than a coefficient of thermal expansion of the first flange (see “supporters”, 7.3 x 10-6, C7/L1-8) ; and
The coefficient of thermal expansion of the membrane structure (see “substrate” and “β-alumina”, “silica”, “mullite”, “cordierite”, C5/L15-26) is smaller than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the first flange (see “supporters”, 7.3 x 10-6, C7/L1-8).
Regarding claim 2, Sakai discloses a membrane module further comprising:
An annular second flange (REF 22, 43, figs. 1, 3) surrounding a second end portion of the membrane structure; and
A second bonding material (REF 15, fig. 1) interposed between the second flange (REF 22) and the membrane structure (REF 11/12);
The housing has a second facing surface (bottom of REF 40) facing an end surface of the second flange;
The inner circumferential surface of the housing (sidewall of REF 40) faces an outer circumferential surface of the second flange;
A coefficient of thermal expansion of the second bonding material (see “glass”, 5.0-8.0 x 10-6, abstract, Tables 1-2) is smaller than a coefficient of thermal expansion of the second flange (see “supporters”, 7.3 x 10-6, C7/L1-8) ; and
The coefficient of thermal expansion of the membrane structure (see “substrate” and “β-alumina”, “silica”, “mullite”, “cordierite”, C5/L15-26) is smaller than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the second flange (see “supporters”, 7.3 x 10-6, C7/L1-8).
Regarding claim 3, Sakai discloses the housing including a tube main body (REF 40) having the inner circumferential surface (i.e. sidewall), a first end plate (top of REF 40) having the first facing surface and a second end plate (bottom of REF 40) having the second facing surface.
Regarding claims 4-5, Sakai discloses the membrane module first and second flanges comprising a ceramic material (see “supporter” and “α-alumina”, C7/L1-8).
Regarding claim 6, Sakai discloses a membrane module wherein the membrane structure is a reactor (figs. 1-3, C1/L8-12).
Regarding claim 7, Sakai discloses a membrane module wherein the membrane structure is a separation filter (abstract, figs. 1-3, C1/L8-12).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DIRK R BASS whose telephone number is (571)270-7370. The examiner can normally be reached 8-4:30 EST Monday-Friday.
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DIRK R. BASS
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 1779
/DIRK R BASS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1779
