Appeal 2006-2712
Application 10/745,095
ISSUE
The issue is whether the Appellants has shown that the Examiner
erred in finding that Markyvech discloses a device that provides for
adjustment of the engine rotational speed at which the pressure plate moves
to a clamped position.
FINDINGS OF FACT
Appellant invented a normally open clutch assembly having a front
plate 26. Radial movement of the front plate 26 changes the position of a
transition point 36 and thereby the axial position of the front plate in the
clamped position (Figures 2 and 3). This change in the axial position of the
front plate in the clamped position changes the rotational speed at which the
clutch assembly begins transmitting torque to the output shaft 14
(Specification:0020).
Claim 1 recites that the front plate is movable to adjust a rotational
speed at which said pressure plate moves to said clamped position.
Markyvech discloses a normally open clutch assembly including a
front plate 125 and a back plate 128 (Figure 7). The front plate 125 may be
adjusted by the addition of an adjustment mechanism 125A. Markyvech
discloses that the front plate 125 may be moved axially to accommodate for
wear or the like (0078). When the front plate 125 is moved to accommodate
for wear, the rotational speed at which the pressure plate clamps the disk is
adjusted when compared with the rotational speed at which the pressure
plate would have clamped the disk were the front plate 125 not moved by
adjustment mechanism 125A. In addition, the front plate 125 is movable,
absent wear, in an axial direction and such movement would adjust the
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Last modified: September 9, 2013