Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 28, 2026
Application No. 18/996,987

Engine Oil Cooling Structure of an Engine

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Jan 18, 2025
Priority
Aug 02, 2022 — CN 202210923166.5 +1 more
Examiner
KIM, JAMES JAY
Art Unit
3747
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
Zhejiang Qianjiang Motorcycle Co. Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
70%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 1m
Est. Remaining
97%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 70% — above average
70%
Career Allowance Rate
468 granted / 666 resolved
At TC average
Strong +27% interview lift
Without
With
+27.1%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 5m
Avg Prosecution
17 currently pending
Career history
695
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.4%
-39.6% vs TC avg
§103
91.1%
+51.1% vs TC avg
§102
5.8%
-34.2% vs TC avg
§112
1.2%
-38.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 666 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 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. Claims 1-8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Kunimitsu et al (US 2003/0098203 hereinafter “Kunimitsu”). In regards to claim 1: Kunimitsu teaches an engine oil cooling structure of an engine, the engine comprising a crankcase (27), the crankcase being provided with an oil filter mounting chamber having a cylindrical shape (housing filter 90), the cooling structure comprising a water channel (73), a water inlet of the water channel communicating with a water pump (66), the crankcase being provided with a main oil channel (91) for conveying engine oil, wherein the crankcase is further provided with a heat conducting thin wall (Shown below in annotated Figure 6), an inner cavity of the heat conducting thin wall forms the oil filter mounting chamber, the oil filter mounting chamber communicates with the main oil channel (Shown in Figure 4), the water channel is arranged around an outer side wall of the heat conducting thin wall (Shown in Figure 6), and a water outlet of the water channel communicates with a cooling water channel arranged in the same direction as and adjacent to the main oil channel (the water channel as shown below in annotated Figure 6 flows both horizontally and vertically, and Figure 4 of Kunimitsu shows the oil passage 91 flowing vertically and horizontally into the oil filter chamber). PNG media_image1.png 1381 945 media_image1.png Greyscale Annotated Figure 6 of Kunitmisu In regards to claim 2: Kunimitsu teaches the water inlet and the water outlet of the water channel are respectively arranged close to both axial ends of the oil filter mounting chamber, wherein close is defined as being a short distance away (as defined by www.google.com with the search term “close definition”). In regards to claim 3: Kunimitsu teaches an inner wall of the main oil channel is provided with lubricating oil channels (93, 94, 95) communicating with revolute pairs of a crankshaft (42), a cavity having a bar shape and arranged in the same direction as the main oil channel is formed between the main oil channel (91) and a middle section of the cooling water channel (flowing through clutch housing 28 and described in Paragraph [0066]), and a position of the lubricating oil channel (93) closest to the oil filter mounting chamber in a direction in which the main oil channel is disposed is opposite to a position of the cavity (Shown below in Annotated section of Figure 4 of Kunimitsu). PNG media_image2.png 610 537 media_image2.png Greyscale Annotated section of Figure 4 of Kunimitsu In regards to claim 4: Kunimitsu teaches a combustion cylinder (44) connected to a crankcase (27), and a main oil channel (91) and a cooling water channel (74) located in the crankcase and arranged close to the combustion cylinder. In regards to claim 5: Kunimitsu teaches the outer side wall of the heat conducting thin wall is provided with heat radiating fins (97) disposed along an axial direction of the oil filter mounting chamber. In regards to claim 6: Kunimitsu a first end of the oil filter mounting chamber has an open shape disposed outwardly (Shown below in Annotated section of Figure 6 of Kunimitsu). PNG media_image3.png 479 655 media_image3.png Greyscale Annotated section of Figure 6 of Kunimitsu In regards to claim 7: Kunimitsu a plurality of the heat radiating fins are provided and circumferentially spaced around the outer side wall of the heat conducting thin wall (Paragraph [0064] describes the plurality of fins being formed unitarily as fins (96) on a covering member 77, wherein the fins extend axially along the side wall and are spaced circumferentially). In regards to claim 8: Kunimitsu the water channel covers an outer surface of the heat conducting thin wall at a second end of the oil filter mounting chamber, and the heat radiating fins (97) extend onto the outer surface of the heat conducting thin wall at the second end of the oil filter mounting chamber (Shown below in Annotated section of Figure 6 of Kunimitsu). PNG media_image4.png 438 790 media_image4.png Greyscale Annotated Figure 6 of Kunimitsu Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JAMES JAY KIM whose telephone number is (571)270-7610. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9-5 EST. Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Logan Kraft can be reached at (571) 270-5065. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /JAMES J KIM/Examiner, Art Unit 3747 /HUNG Q NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3747
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Prosecution Timeline

Jan 18, 2025
Application Filed
Feb 24, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102
Apr 30, 2026
Response Filed

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12624670
INJECTOR CONTROLLER
1y 5m to grant Granted May 12, 2026
Patent 12618357
CYLINDER BLOCK
1y 3m to grant Granted May 05, 2026
Patent 12606184
ACCELERATION-PEDAL CONTROL METHOD, APPARATUS AND SYSTEM
1y 7m to grant Granted Apr 21, 2026
Patent 12584436
ENGINE COOLING DEVICE
1y 3m to grant Granted Mar 24, 2026
Patent 12565187
HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE AND POWER CONTROL METHOD FOR SAME
2y 12m to grant Granted Mar 03, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
70%
Grant Probability
97%
With Interview (+27.1%)
2y 5m (~1y 1m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 666 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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