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 Objections
Claims 1-16 are objected to because of the following informalities:
In Reference to Claim 1
1. (Currently Amended) A device for the isothermal expansion and compression of a gas, ensuring the compression of said gas by consuming mechanical energy and the restitution of mechanical energy by the expansion of said gas, said device comprising:
[[-]] at least one first and at least one second liquid piston, movable respectively in an at least one first and at least one second chamber, each of said at least one first and second chambers comprising a gas, able to be compressed or expanded under the effect of the movement of said at least one first or second liquid piston;
[[-]] an actuator capable of moving said at least one first and second liquid pistons in said first and second chambers;
each of said at least one first and second chambers comprising respectively at least one first and at least one second apertured insert through which said liquid and said gas can flow
said actuator is a mechanical actuator comprising at least one solid piston;
each of said at least one first and second apertured inserts comprise[[s]] through-cells, which extend between a first cell opening which opens out at one end of said insert and a second cell opening which opens out at a second end of said at least one first and second apertured insert, said through-cells being oriented in a direction which is either parallel to the direction of movement of said at least one first and second liquid piston in said insert or inclined with respect to the direction of movement of said at least one first and second liquid piston; and
said device further comprises at least a first phase separator connected to a first outlet of said at least one first chamber and to a second outlet of said at least one second chamber.
Appropriate correction is required.
In Reference to Claim 2
2. (Currently Amended) The device according to claim 1, wherein said first phase separator is connected to a pressurized gas storage tank.
Appropriate correction is required.
In Reference to Claim 3
3. (Currently Amended) The device according to claim 2, further comprising a second separator, connected to said first and second outlets of said at least one first and second chambers, respectively, in that said first phase separator comprises a first internal pressure which corresponds to the internal pressure of the gas comprised in said pressurized gas storage tank and in that said second separator comprises a second internal pressure which corresponds to atmospheric pressure.
Appropriate correction is required.
In Reference to Claim 4
4. (Currently Amended) The device according to claim 3, wherein said first and second separators are in fluid communication with one another to allow liquid to pass from the first separator to the second separator.
Appropriate correction is required.
In Reference to Claim 5
5. (Currently Amended) The device according to claim 3, further comprising a first air intake device ensuring the passage of air at atmospheric pressure between said at least one first chamber and said second separator and a second air intake device at atmospheric pressure between said at least one second chamber and said second separator.
Appropriate correction is required.
In Reference to Claim 6
6. (Currently Amended) The device according to claim 3, further comprising a third air intake device ensuring the passage of compressed air between said at least one first chamber and said first separator and a fourth compressed air intake device between said at least one second chamber and said first separator.
Appropriate correction is required.
In Reference to Claim 7
7. (Currently Amended) The device according to claim 3, further comprising a first low-flow control valve ensuring the passage of fluids from said first separator to said at least one first chamber and a second low-flow control valve ensuring the passage of fluids from said first separator to said at least one second chamber.
Appropriate correction is required.
In Reference to Claim 8
8. (Currently Amended) The device according to claim 3, further comprising a regulating valve set at a safety pressure between said at least one first chamber and said first separator and/or between said at least one second chamber and said first separator, to enable a volume of liquid to be discharged from said at least one first or second liquid piston to the first separator.
Appropriate correction is required.
In Reference to Claim 9
9. (Currently Amended) The device according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least one first and second chambers is fluidly connected to a fluid/fluid exchanger which makes it possible to maintain said at least first and second liquid pistons, respectively, at ambient temperature, preferably with a tolerated temperature variation of plus or minus 10°C, said fluid/fluid exchanger preferably comprising a pump, a fluid/air exchanger or a fluid/fluid exchanger, optionally a motorized fan if said exchanger is a fluid/air exchanger and optionally at least one control valve.
Appropriate correction is required.
In Reference to Claim 10
10. (Currently Amended) The device according to claim 1, wherein [[the]] each of said at least one first and second insert comprises a core of structural material comprising an expanded honeycomb structure.
Appropriate correction is required.
In Reference to Claim 11
11. (Currently Amended) The device according to claim 1, wherein said mechanical actuator comprises a magnetically actuated linear motor.
Appropriate correction is required.
In Reference to Claim 12
12. (Currently Amended) The device according to claim 1, wherein said mechanical actuator comprises a motor associated with a crankshaft.
Appropriate correction is required.
In Reference to Claim 13
13. (Currently Amended) The device according to claim 1, wherein said mechanical actuator comprises a motor associated with a worm screw.
Appropriate correction is required.
In Reference to Claim 14
14. (Currently Amended) An installation comprising at least two devices according to claim 1, wherein each of said mechanical actuators
Appropriate correction is required.
In Reference to Claim 15
15. (Currently Amended) The installation according to claim 14, comprising a second separator, connected to said first and second outlets of said first and second chambers, respectively, said first separator comprises a first internal pressure which corresponds to the internal pressure of the gas comprised in said common pressurized gas storage tank and said second separator comprises a second internal pressure which corresponds to atmospheric pressure, wherein said second separator is common to said at least two devices, said common second separator being connected to said first and second outlets of said at least one first and second chambers of each of said at least two devices, in that said first common separator comprises a first internal pressure which corresponds to the internal pressure of the gas comprised in said common pressurized gas tank and in that said common second separator comprises a second internal pressure which corresponds to atmospheric pressure.
Appropriate correction is required.
In Reference to Claim 16
16. (Currently Amended) A method for implementing [[a]] the device according to claim 1, comprising the following steps:
[[-]] actuating the mechanical actuator,
[[-]] moving said at least one solid piston causing the movement of said at least one first liquid piston in said at least one first chamber and said at least one second liquid piston in said at least one second chamber, said at least one first and second liquid pistons being moved in opposite directions, the at least one first liquid pistonat least one apertured insert of said at least one first chamber to a first predetermined pressure, the at least one second liquid piston creating a low pressure in said at least one apertured insert of said at least one second chamber to a second pressure,
[[-]] when said first pressure is reached, opening an air intake device at least one first chamber and said first phase separator to discharge pressurized gas from the at least one first chamber to said first separator until said at least one liquid piston passes entirely through said at least one apertured insert and reaches the first outlet of the at least one first chamber, and simultaneously the intake of air into said at least one second chamber.
Appropriate correction is required.
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 9 and 14-15 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.
In Reference to Claim 9
The indefiniteness stems from the recitation of “each of the first and second chambers is fluidly connected to a fluid/fluid exchanger which makes it possible to maintain said at least first and second liquid pistons, respectively, at ambient temperature, preferably with a tolerated temperature variation of plus or minus 10°C, said fluid/fluid exchanger preferably comprising a pump, a fluid/air exchanger or a fluid/fluid exchanger, optionally a motorized fan if said exchanger is a fluid/air exchange and optionally at least one control valve.”. The claim recitation of “preferably” renders the claim indefinite because it is unclear whether the limitations following the phrase are part of the claimed invention and include a broad and narrow range (i.e.-at ambient vs within a range). See MPEP § 2173.05(c)-(d). Additionally, the recitation of “said fluid/fluid exchanger preferably comprising a pump, a fluid/air exchanger or a fluid/fluid exchanger, optionally a motorized fan if said exchanger is a fluid/air exchange and optionally at least one control valve” is unclear as to whether the fluid/fluid heat exchanger may be used in conjunction with an additional fluid/fluid heat exchanger or fluid/air heat exchanger or if the fluid/fluid heat exchanger may itself be a fluid/fluid heat exchanger or fluid/air heat exchanger.
For Examination purposes the claim recitations following “preferably” will be read as optional and the fluid/fluid heat exchanger structure will be read in accordance with what is best understood in view of applicant’s specification (i.e.-the fluid/fluid heat exchanger fluidly connected to another fluid/fluid heat exchanger or a fluid/air heat exchanger).
In Reference to Claim 14
The indefiniteness stems from the recitation of “An installation comprising at least two devices according to claim 1, characterized in that said mechanical actuators of said at least two devices are mechanically linked to operate together, and in that it comprises a first phase separator common to said at least two devices, said common first phase separator being connected to a first outlet of the first chambers of the devices and to a second outlet of the second chambers of said devices, said first phase separator being connected to a common pressurized gas storage tank.”. The Examiner notes that the claim language requires at least two devices according to claim 1 and then subsequently claims “a first phase separator”, however, each device of claim 1 already includes “a first phase separator”. It is unclear as to whether said “first phase separator” of claim 14 is in addition to each phase separator of each device of claim 1 of the installation or is intended to replace each device’s phase separator with a common phase separator to all devices.
For Examination purposes the claim will be read as each device not including a first phase separator and each device utilizing the common “a first phase separator” introduced in claim 14.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-8, 10-13 and 16 are allowed.
Claims 9, and 14-15 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The prior art fails to teach or fairly suggest “at least one first and at least one second liquid piston, movable respectively in an at least one first and at least one second chamber, each of said at least one first and second chambers comprising a gas, able to be compressed or expanded under the effect of the movement of said at least one first or second liquid piston; an actuator capable of moving said at least one first and second liquid pistons in said first and second chambers; each of said at least one first and second apertured inserts comprise through-cells, which extend between a first cell opening which opens out at one end of said insert and a second cell opening which opens out at a second end of said at least one first and second apertured insert, said through-cells being oriented in a direction which is either parallel to the direction of movement of said at least one first and second liquid piston in said insert or inclined with respect to the direction of movement of said at least one first and second liquid piston said device further comprises at least a first phase separator connected to a first outlet of said at least one first chamber and to a second outlet of said at least one second chamber.”
The closest prior art of record are Fong et al. (US 2010/0329903) and Crowley (US 2018/0142681). Fong et al. (Fong) discloses a reversible air compressor motor generator system with an air compression piston and liquid mist heat absorber. (See Fong, Figure 1, Paragraphs [0200]-[0203]). Crowley discloses an isothermal air compressor system with a single chamber with piston head heat structure inserted into a stationary hydraulic fluid head. (See Crowley, Figure 1A, Abstract). However, neither Fong nor Crowley, alone or in combination, anticipates nor renders obvious without improper hindsight, “at least one first and at least one second liquid piston, movable respectively in an at least one first and at least one second chamber, each of said at least one first and second chambers comprising a gas, able to be compressed or expanded under the effect of the movement of said at least one first or second liquid piston; an actuator capable of moving said at least one first and second liquid pistons in said first and second chambers; each of said at least one first and second apertured inserts comprise through-cells, which extend between a first cell opening which opens out at one end of said insert and a second cell opening which opens out at a second end of said at least one first and second apertured insert, said through-cells being oriented in a direction which is either parallel to the direction of movement of said at least one first and second liquid piston in said insert or inclined with respect to the direction of movement of said at least one first and second liquid piston said device further comprises at least a first phase separator connected to a first outlet of said at least one first chamber and to a second outlet of said at least one second chamber.”.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Rabhi, Crowley, Elmer, Van de Ven, Cyphelly, Gayton, Wilhelm, Ingersoll, Fong, and Pruett show compression/expansion devices in the general state of the art of invention.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MATTHEW THOMAS LARGI whose telephone number is (571)270-3512. The examiner can normally be reached 8:00 - 4:00 M-F.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Essama Omgba can be reached at (469) 295-9278. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/MATTHEW T LARGI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3746