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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 12/09/2024 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
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 2-8 and 10-16 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.
Claim 2-8 and 10-16 recite the limitation "the circuit breaker" in line 1. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 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.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claims 1-24 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Harvey et al. [US 5,912,604] in view of Choi [US 20220199341].
Claim 1, Harvey discloses a three-phase, medium voltage switchgear [figure 1], comprising: a switchgear housing having an interior compartment [figure 1]; first [14], second [16] and third [18] single-phase vacuum interrupters [30] mounted within the interior compartment [figure 1], each configured to be connected to respective first, second and third single-phase input circuits from a three-phase power distribution grid [figure 1] and to respective first, second and third single-phase outputs connected to a load; first, second and third actuators [24/60] and connected to the respective first, second and third single-phase vacuum interrupters [30], each actuator configured to receive an interrupt signal and in response, actuate the respective single-phase vacuum interrupter connected thereto into an open circuit condition [col. 8 lines 19-27]; a sensing circuit [50/51] operatively connected between first, second and third single-phase outputs and the load, said sensing circuit configured to detect one or more single-phase overcurrents or faults on one or more single-phase circuits of the load [col. 8 lines 23-27]; and a controller [130] connected to each of said first, second and third actuators and sensing circuit, and configured to generate the interrupt signal to a respective actuator connected to the single-phase vacuum interrupter over which a single-phase overcurrent or fault had been detected and actuate the respective single-phase vacuum interrupter into an open circuit condition [col. 8 lines 19-27].
Harvey et al. fails to teach a truck mounted for movement within the interior compartment; first, second and third single-phase vacuum interrupters mounted within the interior compartment on the truck.
Choi teaches a vacuum circuit breaker [10] comprising a truck mounted [400] for movement within the interior compartment; first, second and third single-phase vacuum interrupters [200] mounted within the interior compartment on the truck [figure 1].
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to mount the first, second and third single-phase vacuum interrupters of Harvey et al. on a truck as taught by Choi in order to facilitate insertion and removal of the actuators [Choi paragraph 0032].
Claim 2, Harvey et al. as modified discloses the circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein Harvey et al. further discloses that each actuator comprises a magnetic actuator [60; figure 5; col. 5 lines 42-45].
Claim 3, Harvey et al. as modified discloses the circuit breaker of claim 2 wherein Harvey et al. further discloses that each magnetic actuator comprises: a fixed core [120]; a plurality of permanent magnets [112/116; figure 6] surrounding the fixed core; and a movable core [108] received within the fixed core [figure 5].
Claim 4, Harvey et al.as modified discloses the circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein Harvey et al. further discloses that each actuator [24/60] comprises an output shaft [64], and first, second and third connectors [154] interconnecting the output shafts of respective first, second and third actuators to respective first, second and third single-phase vacuum interrupters [figure 8].
Claim 5, Harvey et al. as modified discloses the circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein Harvey et al. further discloses comprising a relay [30] connected between said first, second and third single-phase vacuum interrupters and first, second and third single-phase outputs [figure 2].
Claim 6, Harvey et al. as modified discloses the circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein Harvey et al. further discloses that said sensing circuit comprises at least one current or potential transformer [50; col. 8 lines 23-27].
Claim 7, Harvey et al. as modified discloses the circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein Harvey et al. further discloses that said sensing circuit comprises first, second and third sensing circuits connected to respective first, second and third single-phase outputs [figure 1, each phase has its own sensing circuit].
Claim 8, Harvey et al. as modified discloses the circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein Harvey et al. further discloses that said controller [130] comprises first, second and third controller circuits connected to respective first, second and third actuators [col. 8 lines 9-27; the controller can generate a control signal for each actuator independently of all actuator together].
Claim 9, Harvey discloses a three-phase, medium voltage switchgear [figure 1], comprising: a switchgear housing having an interior compartment [figure 1]; first [14], second [16] and third [18] single-phase vacuum interrupters [30] mounted within the interior compartment [figure 1], each configured to be connected to respective first, second and third single-phase input circuits from a three-phase power distribution grid [figure 1] and to respective first, second and third single-phase outputs to respective first, second and third single-phase loads [26 or 28]; first, second and third actuators [24/60] and connected to the respective first, second and third single-phase vacuum interrupters [30], each actuator configured to receive an interrupt signal and in response, actuate the respective single-phase vacuum interrupter connected thereto into an open circuit condition [col. 8 lines 19-27]; a sensing circuit [50/51] operatively connected between first, second and third single-phase outputs and the load, said sensing circuit configured to detect one or more single-phase overcurrents or faults on one or more single-phase circuits of the the respective first, second and third single-phase loads [col. 8 lines 23-27]; and a controller [130] connected to each of said first, second and third actuators and sensing circuit, and configured to generate the interrupt signal to a respective actuator connected to the single-phase vacuum interrupter over which a single-phase overcurrent or fault had been detected and actuate the respective single-phase vacuum interrupter into an open circuit condition [col. 8 lines 19-27].
Harvey et al. fails to teach a truck mounted for movement within the interior compartment; first, second and third single-phase vacuum interrupters mounted within the interior compartment on the truck.
Choi teaches a vacuum circuit breaker [10] comprising a truck mounted [400] for movement within the interior compartment; first, second and third single-phase vacuum interrupters [200] mounted within the interior compartment on the truck [figure 1].
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to mount the first, second and third single-phase vacuum interrupters of Harvey et al. on a truck as taught by Choi in order to facilitate insertion and removal of the actuators [Choi paragraph 0032].
Claim 10, Harvey et al. as modified discloses the circuit breaker of claim 9 wherein Harvey et al. further discloses that each actuator comprises a magnetic actuator [60; figure 5; col. 5 lines 42-45].
Claim 11, Harvey et al. as modified discloses the circuit breaker of claim 10 wherein Harvey et al. further discloses that each magnetic actuator comprises: a fixed core [120]; a plurality of permanent magnets [112/116; figure 6] surrounding the fixed core; and a movable core [108] received within the fixed core [figure 5].
Claim 12, Harvey et al.as modified discloses the circuit breaker of claim 9 wherein Harvey et al. further discloses that each actuator [24/60] comprises an output shaft [64], and first, second and third connectors [154] interconnecting the output shafts of respective first, second and third actuators to respective first, second and third single-phase vacuum interrupters [figure 8].
Claim 13, Harvey et al. as modified discloses the circuit breaker of claim 9 wherein Harvey et al. further discloses comprising a relay [30] connected between said first, second and third single-phase vacuum interrupters and first, second and third single-phase outputs [figure 2].
Claim 14, Harvey et al. as modified discloses the circuit breaker of claim 9 wherein Harvey et al. further discloses that said sensing circuit comprises at least one current or potential transformer [50; col. 8 lines 23-27].
Claim 15, Harvey et al. as modified discloses the circuit breaker of claim 9 wherein Harvey et al. further discloses that said sensing circuit comprises first, second and third sensing circuits connected to respective first, second and third single-phase outputs [figure 1, each phase has its own sensing circuit].
Claim 16, Harvey et al. as modified discloses the circuit breaker of claim 9 wherein Harvey et al. further discloses that said controller [130] comprises first, second and third controller circuits connected to respective first, second and third actuators [col. 8 lines 9-27; the controller can generate a control signal for each actuator independently of all actuator together].
Claims 17-24, a method of operating a three-phase, medium voltage switchgear is inherent in the product structure of the switchgear of claims 1-8 as described by Harvey et al. in view of Choi above.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Bernard Rojas whose telephone number is (571)272-1998. The examiner can normally be reached Mon. thru Fri. 7:00 am - 4:00 pm.
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/BERNARD ROJAS/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2837
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