Appeal 2006-1708
Application 10/186,253
1 (20) are separated by a pitch (p) (Specification 6:13-16). The V-shaped
2 corrugation is determined by a series of defined ranges: 0 < r/c < 0.057, 0.89 < l/c
3 < 1.01, 0.29 < p/c < 0.43 (Specification 12:5-7), p > 4r (Specification 7:20-24, 8:
4 3-5 and 9:5-6; Br. (filed January 26, 2006) 14:1-2 and 18:9-18) and 0.25 mm < r <
5 0.058 mm (Specification 13:26-27).
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7 We find that Beamer discloses a heat exchanger for maximizing fin
8 efficiency by balancing pressure drop and heat transfer efficiency (Beamer, col. 5,
9 l. 61 to col. 6, l. 39) having parallel spaced, vertically oriented, flow tubes
10 separated by a distance (Beamer, Fig. 4; Beamer Decl. ¶¶ 2-6 and Exhibit 1).
11 Beamer discloses a corrugated air fin (Beamer, Fig. 4) located between the flow
12 tubes with corrugations comprising V-shaped fin walls (28) diverging from and
13 joined at a crest (30) having an interior radius (Beamer, col. 2, ll. 35-37). Each fin
14 wall comprises a louver (34) having a length (Beamer Decl. ¶¶ 2-6 and Exhibit 1).
15 The V-shaped corrugation is disclosed as having values: r/c = 0.034, l/c = 0.89 and
16 p > 4r (Beamer, Fig. 4; Beamer Decl. ¶¶ 2-6 and Exhibit 1).
17 We find that Haussmann discloses optimizing crest pitch (T) and tube
18 spacing (LH) in heat exchangers in order to maximize airside heat transfer
19 efficiency (Haussmann, Fig. 4, 6, and 7; col. 5, l. 65-col. 6, l. 3; col. 7, ll. 1-26).
20 Figure 7 shows pitches (T) ranging from 2-4 mm for a tube spacing (LH) of 9 mm.
21 Haussmann teaches a value for T/LH (equal to p/c of the claimed invention) of
22 0.22 < T/LH < 0.44.
23 Appellants contend that the rejection under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) is improper
24 because Beamer in view of Haussmann fail to provide some suggestion or
25 motivation to combine the reference teachings, fail to teach or suggest every
26 limitation of the claimed invention and lack a reasonable expectation of success.
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