Appeal No. 2005-2698 Παγε 5
Application No. 10/316,636
Bok discloses a method of assembling an aircraft brake using carbon brake
disks, the method comprising assembling a group of rotors having a thickness of about
0.4 inches in alternating relation with a group of stators which may be half-worn having
a thickness of about 0.2 inches (Figure 4), the rotors and stators being held between
end plates. When the stators and end plates are fully worn (Figure 5), at which point the
piston travel is P2 or P3 (the predetermined wear stroke), they are replaced with new or
refurbished stators and end plates each having a thickness of 0.4 inches. When the
rotors are fully worn, they are replaced with new or refurbished rotors having a
thickness of 0.4 inches. According to Bok, "[i]n this way, the piston travel is reduced
and the size and weight of the brake may be reduced while at the same time a
substantial portion of the heat sink mass of the worn brake is retained to lower the
operating temperatures" (column 1, lines 39-42).
Bok discloses all of the limitations of independent claims 1, 20 and 31 with the
exception of the insertion of spacers at an intermediate wear point before the thinner of
the stators or rotors are fully worn. The examiner relies on Souetre for this feature.
Souetre discloses an alternative way of enabling optimal wear of each individual
disk while remaining within a minimum total axial stroke in a manner which maintains
satisfactory thermal equilibrium for the heat sink. Souetre discusses other prior art
techniques, such as the one taught by Bok (column 1, lines 26-55) for optimizing the
degree of wear on each disk while keeping axial size as small as possible with a
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