Appeal 2007-0022
Application 10/148,935
flywheel system to reduce vibrations (Answer 14, citing to Rabenhorst, col. 2, ll.
24-37).
15. Rabenhorst does not teach forming a disc without holes in order to
reduce vibration. Rather, Rabenhorst teaches that its elastic joint, which connects
the flywheel rotor to the shaft, is used to reduce vibration (Rabenhorst, col. 2, ll.
24-37) (“Of equal significance is the ability of the present [elastic] joint to
attenuate flywheel-induced vibration such that the operating RPM range is above
the natural frequency of the apparatus. Additionally, both externally-induced
vibration … and torsional vibration … are attenuated through use of the elastic
joint”).
16. Claim 14 recites a flywheel comprising multiple axially stacked steel
discs, where the discs “are axially connected at a diameter that is greater than 80%
of said outside diameter of said flywheel.”
17. Claim 18 similarly recites a process for manufacturing a flywheel
comprising fabricating multiple steel discs and assembling the discs, “said
assembling including establishing contact between adjacent discs to at least 80% of
said diameters of said discs…”
18. These claim limitations would be clearly understood by one having
ordinary skill in the art, when read in light of the Specification, to mean that the
diameter of the connection between the stacked discs is greater than 80% of the
outside diameter of said flywheel.
19. The Specification, as filed, discloses
The discs 71 are then stacked axially and joined at the
outer diameter by welding, brazing or soldering. Other
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