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 Interpretation
The term “zero-carbon” in in the claims is interpreted to mean that no carbon at all is released from the process.
The term “green energy” in the claims is interpreted to mean the energy produced by the “photovoltaic power generation unit”
In the limitations reciting “heat storage grid A/B” and “heat storage grid B/A”, the terms “A/B” and “B/A” are interpreted merely as names of the respective heat storage grids.
The term “normal operation” in the claims is interpreted in view of the specification at ¶ [0067].
Claim Objections
Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities: The commas should be changed to semicolons in the following locations to clarify separation of phrases:
Line 36, after “the mixer”
Line 38, after “the mixer”
Line 47, after “connected to the reforming unit”
Line 57, after “respectively”
Line 62, after “a flow regulating valve”
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 1-10 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.
Lines 60-61 recites “a connecting pipe between the heat storage grid B/A of the glass furnace and the mixer”. It is unclear if this is the same as “a connecting pipe between the heat storage grid B/A of the glass furnace, the second waste heat boiler, and the mixer” as recited in lines 58-60, as both connecting pipes are between the heat storage grid B/A of the glass furnace and the mixer.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the connecting pipe between the glass furnace, the heat storage grid A/B of the reforming unit, and the heat storage grid B/A of the reforming unit" in lines 63-64. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 1 recites “a heat storage grid of one side of the reforming unit” in lines 98-99 and “a heat storage grid on the other side of the reforming unit” in lines 102-103. It is unclear if these heat storage grids correspond to “heat storage grid A/B of the reforming unit” and/or “heat storage grid B/A of the reforming unit” as previously recited, or if these are separated heat storage grids. See also corresponding limitations in claim 6.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the other side" in line 102. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. The reforming unit may have more than two sides, and a specific “other side” has not yet been recited. Examiner recommends --an other side--.
Claim 1 recites “two sides of the heat storage grids working in rotation” in lines 105-106. It is unclear if “two sides” is referring to two sides of the “heat storage grid of one side of the reforming unit and two sides of the “heat storage unit on the other side of the reforming unit” each working in rotation, or if it is referring to the heat storage grids “of one side of the reforming unit” and “on the other side of the reforming unit” working in rotation. It is also unclear if “the heat storage grids” further includes “heat storage grid A/B of the reforming unit” and/or “heat storage grid B/A of the reforming unit” and/or “heat storage grid A/B of the glass furnace” as previously recited.
Claim 1 recites “a heat storage grid on one side of the glass furnace”. It is unclear if this corresponds to “heat storage grid A/B of the glass furnace” as previously recited, or if this is a separate heat storage grid.
Claim 1 recites “the heat storage grids” in line 117. It is unclear which of all of the previously recites heat storage grids are being referenced. See also corresponding limitations in claim 7, lines 7-8.
Claim 1 recites “after the flue gas of the glass furnace being circularly enriched…” in line 120. It is unclear if this is an active step of the claimed method, or something that is done to the flue gas prior to the claimed method. See also corresponding limitations in claim 7, line 14 and claim 10, line 6.
Claim 1 recites “a heat storage grid on the other side of the glass furnace” in lines 122-123. It is unclear if this corresponds to “heat storage grid A/B of the glass furnace” as previously recited, or if this is a separate heat storage grid. See also corresponding limitations in claim 7, lines 17-19.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the other side" in lines 122-123. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. The glass furnace may have more than two sides, and a specific “other side” has not yet been recited. Examiner recommends --an other side--.
Claim 1 recites “the heat storage grid of the glass furnace” in line 127. It is unclear if this is referring to “heat storage grid A/B of the glass furnace”, “heat storage grid on one side of the glass furnace”, or “heat storage grid on the other side of the glass furnace” as previously recited.
The term “normal temperature” in claims 2 and 3 is a relative term which renders the claim indefinite. The term “normal temperature” is not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention. It is unclear what temperatures are considered “normal”.
The term “large amount” in claim 4 is a relative term which renders the claim indefinite. The term “large amount” is not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention. It is unclear what amount of heat is considered a “large amount”.
Claim 7 recites “the heat storage grid of the glass furnace” in line 23. It is unclear if this is referring to “heat storage grid A/B of the glass furnace”, “heat storage grid on one side of the glass furnace”, or “heat storage grid on the other side of the glass furnace” as previously recited.
The term “high-temperature” in claim 9 is a relative term which renders the claim indefinite. The term “high-temperature” is not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention. It is unclear which temperatures are considered “high-temperature”.
Conclusion
There are currently no prior art rejections.
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The cited prior art teaches many elements of the claimed process, including photovoltaic power generation, water electrolysis, methanation, waste heat boilers, dedusting, desulfurization, and heat storage, and some in combination with a glass melting furnace.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Erin Snelting whose telephone number is (571)272-7169. The examiner can normally be reached Monday to Friday, 8:00 to 5:00.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Alison Hindenlang can be reached at (571) 270-7001. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ERIN SNELTING/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1741
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