Appeal No. 1999-0545 Page 6
Application No. 08/606,068
comprises first and second edge dam blocks having common second lengths greater than
the first lengths and defining first and second catenaries, which are indicated by the
numeral 30 in Figures 2 and 12. Wood evidences concern for the detrimental effect upon
the casting process of the presence of varying amounts of heat transfer on the edges of the
moving mold, which causes differential thermal expansion of the edge dams (column 2,
line 9 et seq.). As part of an effort to solve this problem, the reference teaches that each
moving edge dam block “may be heated by a radiant heater burner 270 (Fig. 2) supplied
with gas . . . regulated by a remotely actuatable gas valve 269" (column 12, lines 16-19),
which heaters are “adjacent to the edge dams 30 and located toward the entrance E of the
moving mold M” (column 12, line 68-column 13, line 2). It is our view that this location
meets the terms of claim 1, inasmuch as it is “at the catenaries” (emphasis added), that is,
the hanging portions 30 of the edge dam blocks, as can be seen in Figure 2. Therefore,
from our perspective, Wood discloses all of the subject matter recited in claim 1 except for
the requirement that the heating means be of the inductive type.
Ross is cited by the appellants on page 2 of their specification as representing a
prior art system in which heat loss to the casting is minimized by inductive heating of the
endless belts. Ross’ inductive heaters are located in close proximity to the belts, at a point
prior to molten metal being provided to the casting region (column 3, line 44 et seq.). Ross
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