Appeal No. 1999-0928
Application No. 08/334,952
invention. See 37 CFR § 1.142(b). We have jurisdiction pursuant
to 35 U.S.C. § 134.
According to appellants, the invention is directed to a
method for the electrolysis of water for enhanced production of
oxygen, hydrogen and heat by the application of a unique
repeating sequence of voltages (Brief, pages 2 and 4).
Illustrative independent claim 1 is reproduced below:
1. A method for electrolyzing water to produce
oxygen, hydrogen and heat which comprises the steps of:
(i) providing an electrochemical cell comprising
an isotopic hydrogen storage cathode, an electrically
conductive anode and an ionically conducting electro-
lyte comprising water, and
(ii) impressing a repeating sequence of voltages
across said cathode and anode comprised of at least two
cell voltage regimes, a first cell voltage regime
consisting of a voltage sufficient to enhance cathodic
absorption of hydrogen, and a second cell voltage
regime consisting of at least one voltage pulse which
is at least 2 times the voltage of the first cell
voltage regime for a total duration no greater than
0.10 seconds.
A list of the prior art relied upon by the examiner as
evidence of unpatentability may be found on pages 4-5 of the
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