Appeal No. 2003-1529
Application No. 08/499,442
Appellant teaches that it is essential that the alumina and
molecular sieve should be introduced “in precise conditions,” i.e.,
in the equilibrium zone of the adsorber the ratio of the volume
of alumina to that of the alumina and the molecular sieve (Q) is
generally between 0.05 and 0.8 (specification, page 3, l. 27-page
4, l.4; page 6, ll. 3-6 and 11-16).2 Appellant discloses the
running conditions of the adsorber as a surface velocity of the
gaseous mixture between 1 and 20 m/min, a pressure between 600 mm
Hg and 150 bars, and a temperature between -40 and 100 °C.
(specification, page 11).
Bauer teaches running conditions of the adsorber as a
temperature of about 50-60°F., a pressure of 202 psia, a flow rate
of over 8000 mols/hr, and an amount of water of 0.10 mole percent
(see Table 1 in col. 5 and col. 6, ll. 19-21). Bauer exemplifies
an adsorber vessel where the ratio of the volume of activated
alumina to the volume of alumina and molecular sieve at charging
is approximately 0.2 (col. 6, ll. 59-67).3
2Appellant defines the mass transfer zone and the
equilibrium zone at page 4, ll. 17-22, and page 5, ll. 15-22,
respectively, of the specification.
3See the Answer, page 3. Taking into account the
approximate volume of the support materials 6, 7 and 14, the
ratio only changes to approximately 0.21 (see col. 6, ll. 63-67).
5
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007