Appeal 2007-2584
Application 10/248,472
hydrogen gas is then transported via gas supply line 6 to hydrogen storage
tank 4 (Yamashita, col. 3, ll. 56-67, col. 4, ll. 1-5). In the hydrogen storage
tank 4, the hydrogen is exothermically absorbed by the metal hydride and
the heat generated by the absorption of the hydrogen gas into the metal
hydride is used to heat the metal hydride in hydrogen supply tank 2 to
release the hydrogen from the metal hydride (Yamashita, col. 4, ll. 6-54).
Yamashita is silent regarding filling the tank to the specification pressure1
and maximum volume (claim 13), or cooling the hydrogen gas prior to
entering the storage vessel (claim 24).
From the above disclosures, it is clear that Yamashita does not store
hydrogen gas in the gaseous form as Appellant discloses and claims. Rather,
Yamashita only discloses storing hydrogen gas in solid metal hydride form.
Yamashita’s disclosure is only concerned with absorbing or releasing
hydrogen gas from the metal hydride. Yamashita does not disclose
“controlling a temperature of the hydrogen gas to fill the vessel to its
specification pressure and maximum volume capacity while maintaining a
vessel pressure at less than or equal to the specification pressure” as recited
in claim 13. Moreover, Yamashita does not disclose “cooling the hydrogen
gas prior to entering the hydrogen gas vessel” as recited in claim 24.
A claim is anticipated only if each and every element as set forth in
the claim is found, either expressly or inherently described, in a single prior
art reference. Verdegaal Bros. v. Union Oil Co. of California, 814 F.2d 628,
631, 2 USPQ2d 1051, 1053 (Fed. Cir. 1987).
1 We construe “specification pressure,” as recited in the claims, to mean the
maximum rated pressure of the vessel.
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