Appeal No. 2005-0657
Application No. 10/136,984
necessarily added at the exact mid-point of the kiln length but
“[t]he mid positioned infeed ports are positioned with respect to
the length of the kiln so that there is sufficient residence time
of the CKD [cement kiln dust] and slag in the kiln for proper
mixing with the feedstock material ... and so as to reach a
proper calcining temperature.” Specification, page 6, ll. 8-12.
See In re Graves, 69 F.3d 1147, 1152, 36 USPQ2d 1697, 1701 (Fed.
Cir. 1995)(During examination proceedings, claims are given their
broadest reasonable interpretation consistent with the
specification). Thus “a mid kiln location” can vary between the
feed end and the heat end depending on the length of the kiln,
residence time, and calcining temperature (e.g., see appellants’
Figure 1).
Young teaches adding slag to cement clinker production in a
rotary kiln at the feed end, although disclosing that the prior
art added slag “directly into the flame of the kiln” (col. 2, ll.
19-23, citing U.S. Patent No. 2,600,515). Appellants agree that
Young discusses adding slag at the feed end or at the heat end
(Brief, page 3). Young teaches adding a predetermined amount of
steel slag to the stream of feedstock material at the feed end of
the kiln such that as the combined stream moves toward the heat
end of the kiln “the steel slag is melted by the heat and
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