Appeal No. 97-3640
Application No. 08/406,272
Cheron relates to removing CO from a gas or gas mixture. Cheron discloses that gas passing
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through a CO removal filter cartridge of soda lime reduces the water content of the soda lime, thereby
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resulting in a high decrease in the absorption capacity of the filter cartridge with respect to CO (col. 2,
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lines 15-20). Cheron suggests two means for re-introducing water into the soda lime, one means being
flowing the gas through a directly humidified portion of the filter and allowing the gas to carry along a
certain quantity of water which humidifies the upper portion of the filter cartridge (col. 3, lines 8-12)
and the other means being introducing water into the gas to be decarbonated, using any known means
to increase the hygrometric degree (col. 5, lines 3-6). Optimum efficiency of the decarbonator is
permitted by automatic compensation of the water losses due to the passage of the gas through the
cartridge so that the water content of the soda lime remains substantially in the range from 10 to 30%
(col. 4, lines 42-48).
According to the examiner
[i]t would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the
invention was made to have added water to the gas treated by HP prior to its contact
with soda lime, because Cheron teaches that adding water to a gas prior to its contact
with soda lime humidifies the soda lime and hence enhances CO absorption such as is
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desired by HP. (Ans. page 8, paragraph two)
We find no error in the examiner's conclusion of obviousness in regard to claim 1.
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