Ex Parte Yaluris et al

Patent Trial and Appeal BoardMar 8, 2016

13193052 (P.T.A.B. Mar. 8, 2016)

UNITED STA TES p A TENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE APPLICATION NO. FILING DATE FIRST NAMED INVENTOR 13/193,052 07/28/2011 George Y aluris 30633 7590 03/08/2016 WR GRACE & CO,-CONN, 7500 GRACE DRIVE COLUMBIA, MD 21044 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE United States Patent and Trademark Office Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS P.O. Box 1450 Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450 www .uspto.gov ATTORNEY DOCKET NO. CONFIRMATION NO. W9644-05 7176 EXAMINER LEUNG, JENNIFER A ART UNIT PAPER NUMBER 1774 MAILDATE DELIVERY MODE 03/08/2016 PAPER Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding. The time period for reply, if any, is set in the attached communication. PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07) UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD Ex parte GEORGE Y ALURIS, LENNY LEE ALBIN, and ALFRED FERDINAND JORDAN Appeal2014-004123 Application 13/193,052 Technology Center 1700 Before TERRY J. OWENS, BEYERL YA. FRANKLIN, and N. WHITNEY WILSON, Administrative Patent Judges. OWENS, Administrative Patent Judge. DECISION ON APPEAL STATEMENT OF THE CASE The Appellants appeal under 35 U.S.C. Â§ 134(a) from the Examiner's rejection of claims 18-21, 23, 24, 26-29, 31-33, 35, 36, 38--45, 72, 73 and 80. 1 We have jurisdiction under 35 U.S.C. Â§ 6(b ). The Invention The Appellants claim a fluid catalytic cracking catalyst and/or additive loading system. Claims 18 and 32 are illustrative: 1 Claims 1-17, 22, 30, 34, 37 and 46-71 have been canceled and claims 25, 74--79 and 81-85 stand objected to. Appeal2014-004123 Application 13/193,052 18. A system for storing and loading catalyst and/or additives into a fluidized catalytic cracking unit, comprising (1) at least one storage bin for storing catalyst and/or additive, (2) a loading unit positioned in a location remote from the location of the at least one storage bin, the loading unit adapted to be in fluid communication with the at least one storage bin and the fluidized catalytic cracking unit on a selective basis, wherein the loading unit is capable of being evacuated so that a resulting vacuum within the loading unit draws the catalyst and/or additives from the at least one storage bin, and the loading unit is capable of being pressurized so that the catalyst and/or additives can be transferred from the loading unit to the fluidized catalytic cracking unit; the system further comprising (3) a plurality of load cells for measuring a weight of the loading unit and the catalyst and/or additives drawn into the loading unit, (4) a manifold capable of placing the loading unit in fluid communication with at least two storage bins for storing catalyst and/or additive on a selective basis, and ( 5) a controller capable of receiving inputs from the load cells in order to monitor the weight of the loading unit and weight of the catalyst and/or additive drawn from at least one storage bins, and the controller further capable of selectively activating pressurization of the loading unit, and selective evacuation of the loading unit in response to controller input and monitoring weight of catalyst and/or additive drawn into the unit. 32. A system for loading catalyst and/or additives into a fluidized catalytic cracking unit, comprising: a first bin for storing a first of the catalyst and/or additives; a second bin for storing a second of the catalyst and/or additives; a loading unit adapted to be in fluid communication with the first and second bins and the fluidized catalytic cracking unit; a first valve for isolating the first bin from the loading unit on a selective basis; a second valve for isolating the second bin from the loading unit on a selective basis; and a third valve adapted to isolate the loading unit from the fluidized catalytic cracking unit on a selective basis; wherein the loading unit is capable of selectively maintaining a vacuum therein so that the first and second of the catalyst and/or additives can be drawn into the loading unit from the respective first and second bins by the vacuum, and the loading unit 2 Appeal2014-004123 Application 13/193,052 is capable of being selectively pressurized so that the first and second of the catalyst and/or additives can be injected into the fluidized catalytic cracking unit in response to pressurization of the loading unit. Carter Reuter Freeman Kramb rock Harpham The References us 3,542,091 us 3,632,173 us 4,005,908 us 4,301,880 WO 00/48723 The Rejections Oct. 24, 1970 Jan.4, 1972 Feb. 1, 1977 Nov. 24, 1981 Aug. 24, 2000 The claims stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. Â§ 103 as follows: claims 18-21, 24, 26, 27, 29, 31-33, 35, 36, 38, 39, 41--45, 73 and 80 over Freeman in view of Krambrock, claims 23 and 72 over Freeman in view of Krambrock and Carter, claims 28 and 40 over Freeman in view of Krambrock and Harpham, claims 32, 33, 35, 36, 38, 39, 41--45 and 80 over Reuter in view of Krambrock and claim 40 over Reuter in view of !