Appeal No. 2005-0657
Application No. 10/136,984
location of the entry of the slag into the kiln does not change
the process of making clinker from the slag, absent evidence to
the contrary (Answer, pages 3-4 and 6).
The examiner also applies Oates for the teaching that it was
well known in the art to add slag at points other than the feed
end to form the resultant cement clinker (Answer, page 5).
Appellants argue that there is no disclosure in Young
concerning the economics of adding slag at any other location
(Brief, page 3). Appellants further argue that there is no
suggestion of adding slag through mid-kiln dust scoops (Brief,
page 4). Appellants argue that Oates teaches addition of slag
downstream of the burning zone, which is far from a mid-kiln
location (id.). Appellants also argue that location 50 taught by
Oates is not at a mid-point location of the kiln but is located
in the cooler (Reply Brief, pages 2-3).3
Appellants’ secondary feedstock of fragmentary metallurgical
slag is added to the kiln through kiln dust infeed ports
“situated downstream of said feed end at a mid kiln location”
(see claim 1 on appeal, underlining added). Thus the slag is not
3
3We note that Young considers the “kiln” to generally
include four operating zones including a precalcining zone, a
calcining zone, a clinkering zone, and a cooling zone (col. 1,
ll. 27-30, underlining added).
4
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