Appeal No. 2005-1316
Application No. 09/735,503
APPEALED SUBJECT MATTER
The subject matter on appeal is directed to gas turbine
bucket (blade) construction, wherein a natural frequency of the
turbine bucket (blade) is “tuned” using secondary orientation.
See the specification, pages 1 and 4. The selection of the
secondary orientation (placement of a crystal seed along a
desired direction) “effect[s] a desired percentage change in
turbine bucket natural frequencies.” See the specification,
page 4. This percentage change, in turn, improves fatigue
resistance of the turbine bucket (blade). See the specification,
page 1, lines 10-19 and page 3, lines 14-15. Details of the
appealed subject matter are recited in representative claims 1
and 62, which are reproduced below:
1. A method of manufacturing a turbine bucket comprising:
(a) investment casting the turbine bucket with a single
crystal alloy; and
(b) tuning a natural frequency of the turbine bucket
without modifying physical features of the turbine
bucket, wherein step (b)is practiced by, prior to step
(a), placing a crystal seed along a desired direction
2 According to the appellant (Brief, page 4), “[c]laims 2-4 stand
or fall together with claim 1 and claims 7 and 8 stand or fall
together with claim 6.” Therefore, for purposes of this appeal, we
select claims 1 and 6 and decide the propriety of the examiner’s
Section 102(b)rejection set forth in the Answer based on these claims
consistent with 37 CFR § 1.192(c)(7)(2003) and 37 CFR § 41.37(c)(1)
(vii)(2004).
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Last modified: November 3, 2007