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.
Claim(s) 1, 3-5, 7 and 10-15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Ryuaki (US 2003/0029424).
Ryuaki discloses a fuel pump assembly for an engine, comprising: a fuel pump comprising: a camshaft (24) having a cam lobe (31a), the camshaft (24) configured to rotate; a first cam roller (23a right, see Fig 3) and a second cam roller (23a left, see Fig 3) disposed about an outer surface of the cam lobe (31a); a first pumping assembly configured to interact with the first cam roller (23a right, see Fig 3) the first pumping assembly including a first plunger (21) and a first plunger foot (23), the first plunger foot (23) in confronting relation with the first cam roller (23a right, see Fig 3) such that the first plunger (21) is configured to reciprocate in response to rotation of the cam lobe (31a) with the camshaft (24); and a second pumping assembly configured to interact with the second cam roller (23a left, see Fig 3), wherein the second pumping assembly is offset from the first pumping assembly wherein one of the first plunger foot (23) and the first cam roller (23a right, see Fig 3) is configured with a convex geometric configuration (see Fig 4), and the other of the first plunger foot (23) and the first cam roller (23a right, see Fig 3) is configured with a concave geometric configuration (see Fig 4), corresponding with the convex geometric configuration of the one of the first plunger foot and the first cam roller (see Fig 4).
Re claim 3, the second pumping assembly includes a second plunger (21) and a second plunger foot (23), the second plunger foot in confronting relation with the second cam roller (22) such that the second plunger (21) is configured to reciprocate in response to the rotation of the cam lobe (31a) with the camshaft (24), independently of reciprocal movement of the first plunger (21).
Re claim 4, one of the second plunger foot (23) and the second cam roller (23a) is configured with a convex geometric configuration, and the other of the second plunger foot (23) and the second cam roller (23a) is configured with a concave geometric configuration, corresponding with the convex geometric configuration of the one of the second plunger foot (23) and the second cam roller (23a).
Re claim 5, the second plunger foot (23) is configured with a first flat geometric configuration (see Fig 3); and the second cam roller (23a) is configured with a second flat geometric configuration (see Fig 3), corresponding with the first flat geometric configuration of the second plunger foot (see Fig 3).
Re claim 7, a housing (see Fig 3) configured to support the camshaft (24), the first cam roller (23a right, see Fig 3), the second cam roller (23a left, see Fig 3), the first pumping assembly (22 right, see Fig 3), and the second pumping assembly (22 left, see Fig 3).
Re claim 10, the fuel pump further includes a first controlling mechanism (5) and a second controlling mechanism (15) configured to control a relative location of the first cam roller (23a right, see Fig 3) with respect to the first plunger (21).
Re claim 11, Ryuaki discloses a fuel pump assembly for an engine, comprising: a fuel pump comprising: a camshaft (24) having a cam lobe (31a), the camshaft (24) configured to rotate; a first cam roller (23a right, see Fig 3) and a second cam roller (23a left, see Fig 3) disposed about an outer surface of the cam lobe (31a); a first pumping assembly configured to interact with the first cam roller (23a right, see Fig 3), the first pumping assembly including a first plunger (21) and a first plunger foot (23), the first plunger foot (23) in confronting relation with the first cam roller (23a right, see Fig 3) such that the first plunger (21) is configured to reciprocate in response to rotation of the cam lobe (31a) with the camshaft (24); and a second pumping assembly configured to interact with the second cam roller (23a left, see Fig 3), wherein the second pumping assembly is offset from the first pumping assembly ( see Fig 3), the second pumping assembly including a second plunger (21) and a second plunger foot (23), the second plunger foot (23) in confronting relation with the second cam roller (23a left, see Fig 3) such that the second plunger (23a left, see Fig 3) is configured to reciprocate in response to rotation of the cam lobe (31a) with the camshaft (24), wherein: at least one of the first plunger foot (23) and the second plunger foot (23) is configured with a first flat geometric configuration (see Fig 3); and at least one of the first cam roller (23a right, see Fig 3) and the second cam roller (23a left, see Fig 3) is configured with a second flat geometric configuration (see Fig 3), corresponding with the first flat geometric configuration of the at least one of the first plunger foot (23) and the second plunger foot (23), respectively.
Re claim 12, the camshaft (24) is eccentric such that a center of rotation of the cam lobe (31a) is offset relative to an axis of rotation of the camshaft (24).
Re claim 13, at least one of the first pumping assembly and the second pumping assembly is a unit barrel pumping assembly (see Fig 3).
Re claim 14, a tension member (35) configured to bias the first plunger (21) towards the first cam roller (23a right, see Fig 3).
Re claim 15, a bushing (unnumbered bushing, see Fig 3) positioned between the cam lobe (31a) and the first cam roller (23a right, see Fig 3), the bushing facilitating movement of the first cam roller (23a right, see Fig 3) relative to the cam lobe (31a).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 16-20 are allowed.
Claims 2, 6, 8, and 9 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
US 20210164415 fuel pump
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Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
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Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to VICKY A JOHNSON whose telephone number is (571)272-7106. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, John R Olszewski can be reached at 571-272-2706. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/VICKY A JOHNSON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3617
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