Appeal No. 96-2649
Application 08/418,875
application.
The invention relates to “a method of manufacturing a fluid
conduit such as an integrated or integral manifold, for example
for use in a heat exchanger, comprising a hollow body having on
the exterior thereof a plurality of integral, longitudinally
spaced hollow risers” (specification, page 1). Claim 1 is
illustrative and reads as follows:
1. A method of manufacturing a tubular member having
integral exterior protrusions, said method comprising:
providing a hollow element having therein an axially
extending interior defined by a surrounding wall having a
thickness varying circumferentially;
positioning said hollow element within a die having therein
lateral voids; and
subjecting said hollow element at said interior thereof to
deformation pressure by sequentially forcing a member through
said interior of said hollow element and thereby causing a non-
elastic forced flow of material of a thicker portion of said wall
in an axial direction and then in lateral directions outwardly
into said voids in said die, thus forming said hollow element
into a tubular member having on the exterior thereof a plurality
of solid protrusions that are spaced axially of said tubular
member and that are not continuous circumferentially of said
tubular member.
The references relied upon by the examiner as evidence of
anticipation and obviousness are:
Portal et al. (Portal) 3,436,948 Apr. 8, 1969
Clausen 4,663,812 May 12, 1987
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