Appeal No. 2002-0797
Application No. 08/900,977
compensating for changes in intake manifold vacuum such that over
the effective range of the pressure regulator the purge flow
through the solenoid-actuated valve is rendered substantially
unaffected by changes in intake manifold vacuum” (col. 4, lines
53-58).
Cook ‘082 also pertains to a system for purging of a fuel
vapor collection canister to the intake manifold of the vehicle’s
engine. Cook ‘082 states (col. 1, lines 23-37) that certain
purge systems are adversely affected by changes in intake
manifold vacuum that occur during normal operation of the
vehicle. Cook ‘082 proposes to configure the valve mechanism
such that sonic flow through the valve is maintained, whereby
“such a choked flow condition makes the valve rather insensitive
to variations in manifold vacuum, accomplishing a vacuum
regulating function without the inclusion of an additional vacuum
regulating valve” (col. 3, lines 49-53).
In rejecting the appealed claims, the examiner finds (final
rejection, page 2) that the Figure 5 purge system of Cook ‘785
comprises a pressure regulator (element 62B) downstream of an
electrically controlled fluid flow valve (element 12B). The
examiner further finds (final rejection, page 2) that Cook ‘082
teaches “that it is known to use a linear solenoid valve to
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