Appeal No. 2005-1316
Application No. 09/735,503
In paragraph (10) of the Examiner’s Answer, the
Examiner maintains that “it is inherent that every time
when Gemma et al. arrange the crystal seed to a
different orientation, at any angle, the natural
frequency has been tuned to a different value.”
Although Appellant may not necessarily disagree with
this statement, Appellant respectfully submits that
even assuming its accuracy, the claimed invention does
not result. As noted previously, in the Gemma patent,
the method to optimize fatigue is to set the secondary
orientation such that the orientation is tangent to the
blade surface in the critical crack prone regions just
behind the leading edge of the airfoil at about 40-80%
of the airfoil span. The effect of the crystal
orientation on natural frequency is irrelevant to the
Gemma method, resulting in some random, non-specific
value. The claimed invention, in contrast, with
reference to claim 1 for example, defines a step of
tuning a natural frequency of the turbine bucket . . .
by placing a crystal seed along a desired direction
. . . to thereby effect a desired percentage change in
the natural frequency of the turbine bucket. Thus, by
this invention, a specific natural frequency percentage
change can be effected by placing the crystal seed
along a specific direction. This direction is known and
the result is known and not merely a random consequence
of actions toward another goal as in the Gemma method.
(Underlining emphasis in original. Bold emphasis added)
We are not persuaded by the appellant’s argument.
As found by the examiner (Answer, page 3), Gemma, like the
appellant, teaches orienting the single crystal seed to a
configuration (direction) useful for improving fatigue resistance
of the turbine blade. Also, there is no dispute that this
orientation of the single crystal seed necessarily or inherently
tunes a natural frequency of the turbine blade, i.e., effects a
-6-
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007