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 § 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.
Claim 7 is 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.
Claim 7 recites the limitation "a nacelle fairing where the propeller and the air inlet are positioned" which is inconsistent with claim 1 which puts the inlet and duct being in a fuselage. It is unclear how the inlet and duct can be positioned in both places. For purposes of examination, the fuselage will be interpreted as a nacelle in claim 1.
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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Carretero (US 11952134 B2). Carretero discloses
[Claim 1] An aircraft comprising a cooling system integrated into the fuselage, and
at least one propeller (20) driven by an electric motor (18) adapted to propel the aircraft,
the cooling system comprising:
- at least one cooling duct (44/62), installed inside the nacelle (22)
- at least one heat exchanger (46/64) positioned inside the cooling duct, the heat exchanger being designed to transfer thermal energy to the air flowing in the cooling duct;
wherein the air inlet is positioned in an area of overpressure (directly behind the prop) generated by the air accelerated by the rotation of the propeller, and the air outlet is strategically positioned on an outer surface of the fuselage passed over by the air flow accelerated by the rotation of the propeller (DL), generating an area of lower pressure (the rear of the nacelle) facilitating the flow of air through the cooling duct, thereby allowing efficient dissipation of heat through the heat exchanger.
[Claim 2] The aircraft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cooling system is used to cool a fuel cell system (“set of fuel cells” Col 3 Line 41).
[Claim 3] The aircraft as claimed in , wherein at least one fan (70) is located inside the duct to facilitate the flow of air.
[Claim 4] The aircraft as claimed in , wherein the cooling system comprises a plurality of heat exchangers (one in 58 and one in 58’) placed at different locations on the cooling duct.
[Claim 5] The aircraft as claimed in , wherein the air outlet is located in an area of low natural pressure (See Figs 2 and 3)of the fuselage of the aircraft in flight, without a direct impact on the air accelerated by the propeller.
[Claim 6] The aircraft as claimed in , wherein the air inlet (60) is located in an area of high natural pressure (because of flat angle of 32 at 60) of the fuselage of the aircraft, without a direct impact from the propeller.
[Claim 7] The aircraft as claimed in, further comprising a nacelle fairing (22) where the propeller and the air inlet are positioned, the air inlet being positioned in an area of overpressure generated by the propeller in this nacelle fairing.
[Claim 8] The aircraft as claimed in claim 1, wherein at leastone cooling duct has a plurality of air inlets or a plurality of air outlets (see Fig. 3, two on top, two on bottom of Fig. 3).
[Claim 9] The aircraft as claimed in , wherein the air inlets and air outlets are controlled (via 72) so as to control the air flow flowing in the duct.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Alvarez (US 12534213 B2) is extremely similar but does not have a good priority date.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BRIAN M O'HARA whose telephone number is (571)270-5224. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday, 9AM - 5PM eastern.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Joshua Huson can be reached at 571-270-5301. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/BRIAN M O'HARA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3642
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