Appeal No. 2002-1612
Application No. 09/048,984
catalyst supply container with the reaction chamber, the catalyst
supply containing being configured such that additional catalyst
material is automatically supplied from the supply container into
the reaction chamber at a catalyst inlet location between the
reaction chamber and the loading channel, and a gas-permeable,
heat-conducting reaction guide plate operatively mounted beneath
the catalyst inlet location directly downstream of the loading
channel such that the additional catalyst material from the
supply container enters on one side of the reaction guide plate
and the gas stream entering into the reaction chamber is directed
toward an opposite side of the reaction guide plate, wherein the
loading channel terminates at a location in the reaction chamber
which is spaced from a gas inlet through which the gas stream to
be reformed by the reformation catalyst material in a portion of
the reaction chamber enters into the reaction chamber.
The examiner relies upon the following references as
evidence of obviousness:
Zenz 3,770,388 Nov. 06, 1973
Yoshikawa 5,478,531 Dec. 26, 1995
Appellants' claimed invention is directed to a reformation
reactor which comprises, inter alia, a guide plate (9) that is
located below the loading channel (7) which supplies catalyst
material to the reaction chamber. The guide plate is situated
such that the "catalyst material from the supply container enters
on one side of the reaction guide plate and the gas stream
entering into the reaction chamber is directed toward an opposite
side of the reaction guide plate" (claim 1). According to
appellants, the guide plate "prevents complete subjection of the
unformed catalyst material 2a entering the reaction chamber 1
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