Appeal No. 2002-0249
Application No. 09/321,390
21 and 22, which are all of the claims pending in the above-
identified application.
APPEALED SUBJECT MATTER
According to the appellant (the specification, page 2), it
is known in the art that the reduction of the size and weight of
an autothermal reformer assembly is desirable. In order to
decrease the size and weight of the autothermal reformer
assembly, it is also known in the art to focus on the design of
the shapes and/or configurations of catalysts. See the
specification, pages 2 and 3.
The subject matter on appeal is directed to an autothermal
reformer assembly “which employs an open cell foam catalyst bed
that reduces the size and weight of the reformer assembly.” See
the specification, page 1. The open cell foam catalyst bed also
“provides an enhanced catalyst and heat transfer surface area...
and ... an enhanced gas mixing and distribution flow path.” See
the specification, page 3. Details of the appealed subject
matter are illustrated in representative claims 1, 13, 19 and 22
which are reproduced below:
1. A hydrocarbon fuel gas autothermal reformer assembly
comprising:
2
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