Appeal No. 2001-1343
Application No. 08/965,818
means 18 operates to tighten or loosen nut 12
[column 3, lines 43 through 56].
It is not disputed that the Bernard ratcheting tool
responds to all of the limitations in representative claim 77
except for those relating to the low-torque fluid driven
rotary motor, the fluid flowlines associated therewith, and
the valve member.
Thompson discloses a fluid powered device, such as a
socket wrench, for quickly and efficiently securing rotatable
fastener elements such as screws and nuts. As described by
Thompson,
[d]evices within the scope of the present invention
for tightening rotatable fastener elements include
in general a source of pressurized fluid, a first
rotatable actuator having a rotatable output shaft
operable through multiple turns in response to fluid
flow through the first actuator, [a] first control
to allow the first actuator to operate until a first
fluid pressure provided by the source of pressurized
fluid is achieved, switching means operable in
response to the attainment of the first fluid
pressure, and a second rotating actuator device,
operated by the switching means, and connected to
operate the output shaft through a portion of a
rotation in response to the attainment of the first
pressure. The switching can be accomplished either
by fluid or electrical switching [column 2, lines 15
through 28].
10
Page: Previous 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007