Appeal No. 2003-0659
Application 09/463,540
tube 22, and the gas stream is thoroughly mixed” (col. 5,
lines 21-23).
The examiner argues that Alcorn discloses periodically
injecting reducing gases in bursts into a narrow chamber (answer,
page 3). Alcorn discloses a space (5) between the catalyst
carriers (13 and 14), and teaches that in this space reducing gas
(ammonia) is added to the gas stream (col. 5, lines 1-4; col. 5,
lines 21-22; figure 1). Alcorn, however, does not disclose that
the space is narrow or that the reducing gas is periodically
injected in bursts.
The examiner argues that Alcorn’s reducing gas displaces the
exhaust gases previously present in the space between the
catalyst carriers without significantly mixing with the exhaust
gases previously present in that space (answer, pages 3-4). This
interpretation of Alcorn is incorrect. What Alcorn teaches is
that the reducing gas is added to the gas stream through a
perforated tube and the gas stream is thoroughly mixed (col. 5,
lines 21-23).
The examiner argues that Alcorn’s injected reducing gas must
be at a higher pressure than the exhaust gas and that, therefore,
the reducing gas displaces the exhaust gas and continues to
expand to fill the space between the catalyst carriers (answer,
4
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