Appeal No. 96-0112
Application 07/877,913
Hatch et al. (1981) at page 24 thereof describe under the heading "Catalytic Cracking" that:
Fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) is characterized by a remarkable versatility and
flexibility. Various yields are maximized through manipulation of numerous
process variables. This accounts for its dominant position to gasoline production
from a barrel of crude oil. (Emphasis added).
Thus, there is little doubt that the skilled chemical engineer with substantial petroleum refining
experience would have understood that gasoline yields of an FCC process could be optimized by
optimization of known result effective variables.
Still further, there is evidence in the nature of U.S. Patent Number 4,978,440 to Krambeck et
al. that the location of steam injectors for quenching is a matter of choice known to persons of ordinary
skill in the petroleum refining art, including at or towards the top of the riser. See specifically column 5,
line 65 through column 6, line 61 and column 9, line 63 through column 10, line 8. Because Krambeck
et al. is assigned to Mobil Oil Corporation, the assignee of appellants' application on appeal, we have
not furnished a copy of the reference to appellants with this decision.
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