Appeal No. 95-2741
Application 08/008,120
lowered below the pyrolysis temperature by the liquid quench. The effluent flows from the quench12
chamber into conventional heat exchangers then through a trim quench chamber containing a tubular
member. Figure 1 describes the carbon black production apparatus. The carbon black production13
apparatus employs indirect type heat exchangers that operate to cool the effluent to a temperature in the
o 14
range of 600-1000 F. The effluent flows from the heat exchangers to a trim quench into a filter means.
C. The Examiner’s and Applicant’s positions
1. The rejections under 35 U.S.C. § 103
The examiner presents two rejections under 35 U.S.C. § 103 directed to two groups of claims:
(1) Claims 1-3 as unpatentable over Austin; and (2) Claims 1-6 as unpatentable over the combination
of the teachings of Austin and Lee. The examiner’s position may be understood from the following
excerpt from the Answer.
The reference [Austin] teaches in col. 3 line 1 to column 4 line
68 the claimed carbon black forming steps, then cooling with smoke
(which is finely-divided solid particles entrained in a non-liquid
medium), followed by passing the effluent through heat exchangers and
recovering the product. The reference differs in the description of the
heat exchanger, although it has a pipe which inherently exchanges heat
since it is not a perfect insulator.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at
the time of the instant invention to use a lined wall heat exchanger in the
process of Austin because doing so will perform the cooling required in
col. 5 line 26 of the reference.[15]
12 Austin, column 3, lines 38-43.
13 Austin, column 4, lines 24-29; Figure 1, numerals 25, 26 and 27.
14 Austin, column 1, lines 37-60.
15 Examiner’s Answer, pages 3 -4.
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