1 easily reached or dislodged by mechanical or ordinary vibration methods.
2 Col. 1, lines 44-49.
3 Sickmeier uses a "resonant torsional vibration" apparatus to clean off
4 debris. Col. 1, line 58 through col. 2, line 3.
5 In addition to vibration, Sickmeier describes a preferred resonant
6 torsional vibration step in which the part being vibrated is also rotated to
7 permit debris to fall from the part. Col. 5, lines 11-16 and 52-58.
8 According to Sickmeier, his process removes greater amounts of
9 debris from both accessible and inaccessible locations within the part.
10 Col. 1, lines 61-64.
11 Sickmeier's overall process can readily be understood by reference to
12 Sickmeier claim 1. Col. 6, lines 12-28.
13
14 Difference between Sickmeier and the claimed subject matter
15 The principal difference between the subject matter described by
16 Sickmeier and the subject matter of claims 1 and 11 is that Sickmeier does
17 not describe a subsequent power washing step.
18
19 Skill in the art
20 Based on the prior art discussed in the specification and the prior art
21 relied upon by the Primary Examiner, it becomes apparent that a person
22 having ordinary skill in the engine part cleaning art would know quite a bit.
23 First, the person would know that debris is collected on engine parts
24 as they are machined.
25 Second, the person would know that the debris has to be cleaned off
26 prior to using the part to assemble an engine.
6
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Last modified: November 3, 2007