Appeal No. 2003-0659
Application 09/463,540
page 9). Alcorn’s teaching that the reducing gas and the exhaust
gas are thoroughly mixed in the space between the catalyst
carriers (col. 5, lines 21-23) indicates that the examiner’s
reasoning is incorrect.
The examiner, therefore, has not carried the burden of
establishing a prima facie case of anticipation over Alcorn of
the invention claimed in any of the appellant’s claims.
Rejection under 35 U.S.C. § 102(e) over Hartweg
Hartweg discloses a device for reducing pollutants in
internal combustion engine exhaust gas (col. 1, lines 7-20). “By
adding reducing agent at a point after which the catalyst no
longer has any catalytic effect with respect [to] at least one of
the pollutants, the reduction of pollutants, particularly of
nitrogen oxides, can be increased to more than 40%” (col. 1,
lines 42-46). In one embodiment there are three catalyst
segments, the first two being separated by space 8 and the second
two being separated by space 8' (figure 3). Reducing agent is
introduced through a nozzle ring into space 8 and through an
atomizing nozzle into space 8' (col. 3, lines 36-41). Hartweg
teaches that “[t]he reducing agent flows into the respective
space 8 and 8' and mixes with the already partially purified
exhaust gas. The space 8 and 8' can therefore also be regarded
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