Appeal No. 2004-0554
Application No. 09/612,394
inlet 114. Appellants argue that valve actuator 110 is neither
connected directly or indirectly with the fluid line. See page 4
of Appellants' brief. Appellants further argue that as can be
seen in Figures 2 and 3, to open and close valve 108, actuator
110 includes a translational movement generator 120, which
includes a pair of solenoids 128 and 130, and a lever 122,
pivotally connected to fulcrum 138, that has a first end 136
coupled to valve spool 126 and a second end 134 coupled to
translational movement generator 120. Appellants argue that
these components of the actuator, that cause valve movement, are
clearly separate from the fluid line and therefore independent
from the upstream fluid pressure in the fluid line. See page 2
of Appellants' reply brief.
We agree with Appellants that Figures 2 and 3 show that the
pair of solenoids 128 and 130 along with the other components of
the actuator causes the valve movement. However, we must look to
Appellants' specification to determine how the solenoids operate.
On page 5 of Appellants' specification, the specification
discloses that valve actuator 110 is a hydraulic piston, an air
piston, an electrical solenoid, or some other suitable
mechanical, pneumatic or electro-mechanical device for creating
translational movement of the spool in valve 108. Thus,
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