Appeal No. 2004-0616
Application 09/692,982
manner as to have controlled surface temperatures, reduced hot
spots and minimal thermal stresses. As noted in the paragraph
bridging pages 2 and 3 of the specification, in accordance with
one aspect of the invention, the heat exchanger surface area, per
unit height of the multipass heat exchanger, is increased by
providing wavy cross-sectional shapes in the sides of at least
two of the passes. Moreover, there is a single pass in which the
cross-sectional shape transitions from a non-wavy shape or
“unenhanced form,” such as the generally elliptical form seen in
Figure 7a, to a wavy shape or “enhanced form,” like that seen in
Figure 7d, and wherein the transition section is of a substantial
length, such that the transition from one shape to the other is
gradual, thereby providing for reduced temperatures and stresses
in that section. Greater detail concerning the above-noted
transition section of the heat exchanger and the significance of
the length thereof is set forth on pages 8-10 of the
specification and shown in Figures 6, 7a-7d and 8 of the
application drawings. Independent claims 1 and 11 are
representative of the subject matter on appeal and a
substantially correct copy of those claims may be found in the
2
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