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.
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the following must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s).
“the winding” of claims 1 and 9
the “stator,” “rotor,” and “at least one electrical winding” of claim 7
No new matter should be entered.
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 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.
(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.
Claims 1-3 and 6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1)/(a)(2) as being anticipated by Shano (US 3,305,740).
Regarding claim 1, Shano discloses a power transmission device for energizing an electrical winding (35 of Figure 1) carried by a rotor of an electric machine (see Figure 1; Col. 1:8-10), comprising:
a slip ring unit (see Figure 1);
at least one slip ring (37, 38 of Figure 1) non-rotatably fastened to the slip ring unit, the at least one slip ring configured to be electrically connected (via 47, 48 of Figure 1) to the winding (35 of Figure 1; Col. 2:71-Col. 3:2);
a brush unit (42 of Figure 1; Col. 2:48-49); and
at least two brushes (39, 40 of Figure 1) held on the brush unit for parallel energization of the slip ring,
wherein the slip ring unit is mounted on the brush unit such that the slip ring unit is rotatable about an axis of rotation (see Figure 1),
wherein the brushes are held on the brush unit such that the brushes touch the slip ring and establish an electrical contact via a contact surface (Col. 2:45-47),
wherein when the slip ring unit rotates (via 26 of Figure 1), the brushes sweep over a running surface on the slip ring (Col. 2:45-47), and
wherein the brushes are configured such that the respective running surfaces on the slip ring do not overlap (see Figure 1).
Regarding claim 2, Shano discloses wherein more than two brushes (39, 40 of Figure 1) are held on the brush unit (42 of Figure 1; Col. 2:48-49), all of which sweep over non-overlapping running surfaces on the slip ring (37, 38 of Figure 1).
Regarding claim 3, Shano discloses wherein at least one of the running surfaces of the brushes is located on a radial outer peripheral surface of the slip ring (see Figure 1).
Regarding claim 6, Shano discloses wherein at least two slip rings (37, 38 of Figure 1) are fastened non-rotatably to the slip ring unit (see Figure 1), a first slip ring (37 of Figure 1) of the at least two slip rings electrically connectable (via 47 of Figure 1) to a first pole of the winding (see Figure 1) and a second slip ring (38 of Figure 1) of the at least two slip rings configured to be electrically connected (via 48 of Figure 1) to a second pole of the winding (see Figure 1), and
wherein at least two brushes (39, 40 of Figure 1) associated with the first slip ring and at least two brushes associated with the second slip ring are held on the brush unit (42 of Figure 1; Col. 2:48-49) such that the brushes associated with the respective slip rings each touch the respective slip ring and establish an electrical contact via a corresponding contact surface (Col. 2:71-Col. 3:2)
wherein when the slip ring unit rotates (via 26 of Figure 1), the brushes sweep over a running surface on the respective slip ring (Col. 2:45-47),
wherein the brushes associated with the respective slip rings are configure such that the running surfaces on the respective slip ring do not overlap (see Figure 1).
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 7-8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Shano (US 3,305,740), in view of Holzapfel (US 2017/0214202).
Regarding claim 7, Shano discloses an electric machine (see Figure 1; Col. 1:8-10) comprising:
a stator (Col. 2:30-32),
a rotor rotatably mounted in the stator and configured to carry at least one electrical winding (35 of Figure 1), and
a power transmission device for energizing the winding, the power transmission device comprising:
a slip ring unit (see Figure 1);
at least one slip ring (37, 38 of Figure 1) non-rotatably fastened to the slip ring unit, the at least one slip ring configured to be electrically connected (via 47, 48 of Figure 1) to the winding (Col. 2:71-Col. 3:2);
a brush unit (42 of Figure 1; Col. 2:48-49); and
at least brushes (39, 40 of Figure 1) held on the brush unit for parallel energization of the slip ring,
wherein the slip ring unit is mounted on the brush unit such that the slip ring unit is rotatable about an axis of rotation (see Figure 1),
wherein the brushes are held on the brush unit such that the brushes touch the slip ring and establish an electrical contact via a contact surface (Col. 2:45-47),
wherein when the slip ring unit rotates (via 26 of Figure 1), the brushes sweep over a running surface on the slip ring (Col. 2:45-47),
wherein the brushes are configured such that the respective running surfaces on the slip ring do not overlap (see Figure 1), and
wherein the slip ring unit is connected non-rotatably to the rotor and the winding is electrically connected to the at least one slip ring (Col. 2:71-Col. 3:2).
Shano does not explicitly disclose at least three brushes.
Holzapfel discloses at least three brushes (21-24 of Figure 1).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before effective filing of the claimed invention to have at least three brushes in the electric machine of Shano, as taught by Holzapfel, in order to use brushes for wear indication and normal signal and/or power transmission over the slipring assembly [Holzapfel: Para. 0033, 0035].
Regarding claim 8, Shano discloses wherein the electric machine is configured as a separately excited synchronous machine (see Figure 1; Col. 1:8-10).
Claims 4, 5, and 9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Shano (US 3,305,740), in view of Mueller (US 2024/0358344).
Regarding claim 4, Shano discloses all of the elements of the current invention as mentioned above, however does not explicitly disclose wherein at least one of the running surfaces of the brushes (39, 40 of Figure 1) is located on an axial end face of the slip ring (37, 38 of Figure 1).
Mueller discloses wherein at least one of the running surfaces of the brushes (17 of Figure 5) is located on an axial end face of the slip ring (13 of Figure 2).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before effective filing of the claimed invention to have the running surfaces of the brushes of Shano located on an axial end face of the slip ring, as taught by Mueller, as a design choice to provide a slip ring system for transferring energy into a rotating installation by locating the brushes to make electrical contact with the slip ring. Applicant has not disclosed that at least one of the running surfaces of the brushes being located on an axial end face of the slip ring provides an advantage, is used for a particular purpose, or solves a stated problem. One of ordinary skill in the art, furthermore, would have expected Applicant’s invention to perform equally well with the running surfaces on the brushes being located on a radial surface of the slip ring because as long as the running surfaces make electrical contact with the slip ring the transfer of energy is accomplished.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify Shano to obtain the invention as specified in claim 4.
Regarding claim 5, Shano discloses all of the elements of the current invention as mentioned above, however does not explicitly disclose wherein at least two of the running surfaces of the brushes (39, 40 of Figure 1) are located on two opposite axial end faces of the slip ring (37, 38 of Figure 1).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before effective filing of the claimed invention to have the running surfaces of the brushes of Shano located on two opposite axial end face of the slip ring as a design choice to provide a slip ring system for transferring energy into a rotating installation by locating the brushes to make electrical contact with the slip ring. Applicant has not disclosed that at least one of the running surfaces of the brushes being located on two opposite axial end faces of the slip ring provides an advantage, is used for a particular purpose, or solves a stated problem. One of ordinary skill in the art, furthermore, would have expected Applicant’s invention to perform equally well with the running surfaces on the brushes being located on a radial surface of the slip ring because as long as the running surfaces make electrical contact with the slip ring the transfer of energy is accomplished.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify Shano to obtain the invention as specified in claim 5.
Regarding claim 9, Shano discloses a power transmission device for energizing an electrical winding (35 of Figure 1) carried by a rotor of an electric machine (see Figure 1; Col. 1:8-10), comprising:
a slip ring unit (see Figure 1);
at least one slip ring (37, 38 of Figure 1) non-rotatably fastened to the slip ring unit, the at least one slip ring configured to be electrically connected (via 47, 48 of Figure 1) to the winding (35 of Figure 1; Col. 2:71-Col. 3:2);
a brush unit (42 of Figure 1; Col. 2:48-49); and
at least two brushes (39, 40 of Figure 1) held on the brush unit for parallel energization of the slip ring,
wherein the slip ring unit is mounted on the brush unit such that the slip ring unit is rotatable about an axis of rotation (see Figure 1),
wherein the brushes are held on the brush unit such that the brushes touch the slip ring and establish an electrical contact via a contact surface (Col. 2:45-47),
wherein when the slip ring unit rotates (via 26 of Figure 1), the brushes sweep over a running surface on the slip ring (Col. 2:45-47).
Shano does not explicitly disclose wherein the brushes are configured such that the running surfaces of two of the three brushes on the slip ring at least partially overlap.
Mueller discloses wherein the brushes (17 of Figure 5) are configured such that the running surfaces of two of the three brushes on the slip ring (13 of Figure 2) at least partially overlap.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before effective filing of the claimed invention to have at least two brushes of Shano partially overlap, as taught by Mueller, to ensure transmission reliability [Mueller: Para. 0075].
Prior Art
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Jensen (US 3,998,511), Binder (US 12,244,189) disclose a power transmission device for energizing an electrical winding of a rotor comprising a slip ring and brushes that establish an electrical contact via a contact surface.
Nugent (US 2,854,647) disclose a power transmission device for energizing an electrical winding of a rotor comprising a slip ring and at least three brushes that establish an electrical contact via a contact surface.
Frister (US 4,346,321) disclose at least two running surfaces of the brushes are located on two opposite axial end faces of the slip ring.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHARLES H REID whose telephone number is (571)272-9248. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9:30-4:45 PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Tulsidas 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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/Charles Reid Jr./ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2834
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