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) 1-2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9,and 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Birkestrand (US 11,384,734).
Birkestrand discloses an energy storage and retrieval system, comprising: a lifting post comprising a rigid core (405) and a rotator tube (440) mounted on the rigid core (405), wherein the rotator tube (440) is configured to rotate about the rigid core (405); and one or more power rotors comprising: a hub (435) movably connected along the rotator tube of the lifting post (see Fig 5), the hub (435) being movable between a first end and a second end of the lifting post (see Fig 5), and a plurality of rotor blades (410) attached to the hub (435), wherein the plurality of rotor blades (410) are configured to rotate the rotator tube through the hub (435) when the plurality of rotor blades (410) interact with a fluid medium (air), wherein the one or more power rotors (410) are configured to store potential energy when moved towards the second end along the lifting post against a resistive force, and wherein the plurality of rotor blades (410) are configured to interact with the fluid medium when the one or more power rotors (410) are released and allowed to move towards the first end by the resistive force, causing the potential energy to be converted to rotational motion of the rotator tube (440).
Re claim 2, the resistive force is the force of gravity (see Fig 5).
Re claim 4, the one or more power rotors (410) are positionally locked on the lifting post to retain the potential energy on being moved away from the first end.
Re claim 5, a generator (855) connected to the rotator tube (440), and configured to convert the rotational motion of the rotator tube into electrical energy (see Fig 8).
Re claim 6, the rotator tube (440) is rotationally locked with a mechanical load (425), and thereby drive the mechanical load (see Fig 5).
Re claim 8, each of the one or more power rotors (410) is released sequentially and allowed to move towards the first end under the influence of the resistive force to convert the potential energy into the rotational motion and/or electrical energy (see Fig 5).
Re claim 9, more than one of the one or more power rotors (410) are released simultaneously and allowed to move towards the first end under the influence of the resistive force to convert the potential energy into the rotational motion and/or electrical energy (see Fig 5).
Re claim 20, Birkestrand discloses an energy storage system, comprising: one or more power rotors comprising one or more rotor blades (410) extending from a hub (435) rotatably and movably connected on a lifting post (405), wherein a resistance force acts on the one or more power rotors (410) such that: when the one or more power rotors (410) are moved away from a first end of the lifting post (405) against the resistance force, the one or more power rotors (410) are configured to cause potential energy to be stored therein; and when the one or more power rotors (410) are moved towards the first end of the lifting post (405) by the resistance force, the one or more power rotors (410) are configured to convert the stored potential energy into rotational motion of the hub (435) rotationally locked with a rotator tube of the lifting post (405).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 3, 7, 10-19 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.
CN 107429670 rotor blades
US 20160298605 rotor blades
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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/VICKY A JOHNSON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3617