Appeal No. 96-0936
Application 08/230,173
limitations find response in the fluid conveying segments or
arms of the separator 25 shown in Castagnos' Figures 2 and 3
is unreasonable. These arms extend in a semi-circular arc
from the vertical axis of fluid riser conduit 10 to effect
centrifugal separation of the catalyst and cracked product
vapor phases 40 and 45. By no stretch of the imagination can
they be characterized as extending substantially horizontally
outward from the vertical axis of the fluid riser conduit.
Castagnos also fails to teach, and would not have
suggested, an apparatus meeting the limitations in claim 8
requiring the arms to extend radially into a fluid mass. As
indicated above, the arms of the Castagnos separator extend
into a vapor space 159, 160. The examiner's contention that
"the recitation of 'a fluid mass' in the pending claims does
not imply that this is a constructive element of the claims"
(answer, page 5) is not well taken. The limitation in claim 8
calling for "a vessel containing a fluid mass" clearly
incorporates the fluid mass as part of the claimed apparatus.
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