Appeal No. 95-4354
Application 08/137,633
Claims 1 and 3 stand rejected as anticipated under 35 U.S.C.
§ 102(b) as being clearly anticipated by Tsang; and claims 2 and
5 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as being unpatentable over
Tsang in view of McNeill or Rice.
We reverse.
Opinion
Tsang discloses separating nitrogen from compressed air by
use of a membrane separator containing hollow tubular fiber
members. The feed air is compressed and fed into the separator
at 120 psig (column 4, line 42). Tsang indicates that there is a
pressure drop across the fiber membranes of 3-5 psi; that oxygen
and water permeate through the wall and is presented to the
outlet port 28 as moist oxygen enriched air having an oxygen
content of about 90% with a fluid pressure of between 3-5 psi;
and that the nitrogen is slower to permeate the walls and is
presented at outlet port 32 as dry nitrogen enriched air having a
fluid pressure of about 115-117 psi with a nitrogen concentration
of about 95%.
The examiner alleges that these parameters of Tsang are
within those recited by applicant in his claims. The examiner
then concludes that the flow rate of nitrogen in Tsang must also
3
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