Office Action 1: Notice of Allowance (2025-09-10)

CLAIMS:
16 -SCOPE OF CLAIMS

Claim 1. A power transmission device in which a space in a case in which oil is stored is partitioned by a baffle plate into a first space in which a driven sprocket provided on an input shaft of an oil pump is disposed and a second space in which an oil strainer in communication with the oil pump is disposed, and at least a part of the driven sprocket is immersed in the oil in the first space, wherein the baffle plate includes a base portion and a cover portion coupled to the base portion to cover the driven sprocket, and
the base portion and the cover portion are engaged with each other by an engagement piece that extends from one of the base portion and the cover portion and is engaged with an outer surface on the other of the base portion and the cover portion, and are coupled with each other by a bolt at a position different from an engagement position of the engagement piece.

Claim 2. The power transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the engagement piece is a clip having a spring force, and presses the base portion and the cover portion against each other by the spring force.

Claim 3. The power transmission device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the base portion is disposed between the case and the driven sprocket, and the engagement piece is provided on the cover portion.

OFFICE ACTION:
Notice of Pre-AIA  or AIA  Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Reasons for Allowance
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
A close prior art, TOMINAGA (2006/0065487), teaches A power transmission device in which a space in a case in which oil is stored is partitioned by a baffle plate into a first space in which a driven sprocket provided on an input shaft of an oil pump is disposed and a second space in which an oil strainer in communication with the oil pump is disposed, and at least a part of the driven sprocket is immersed in the oil in the first space, wherein the baffle plate includes a base portion and a cover portion coupled to the base portion to cover the driven sprocket, and the base portion and the cover portion are engaged with each other by an engagement piece that extends from one of the base portion and the cover portion and is engaged with an outer surface on the other of the base portion and the cover portion, but does not teach and are coupled with each other by a bolt at a position different from an engagement position of the engagement piece in Claim 1.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee.  Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion



CITED REFERENCE SUMMARIES: Ref US11725721B2: Claims:
A vehicle drive apparatus comprising: an input member drivingly connected to an internal combustion engine; an output member drivingly connected to a wheel; a friction engagement device; a rotary electric machine drivingly connected to the input member through the friction engagement device; a transmission disposed between the rotary electric machine and the output member; an oil pump; and a case housing the input member, the output member, the friction engagement device, the rotary electric machine, the transmission, and the oil pump, wherein the case includes an intermediate wall disposed between the friction engagement device and the transmission and between the rotary electric machine and the transmission in an axial direction, an oil reservoir to store oil is defined in an internal space of the case on a side of the intermediate wall that faces the transmission, the intermediate wall is provided with a return oil hole through which oil discharged from the friction engagement element returns toward the oil reservoir, a chain drive is disposed adjacent to a portion of the intermediate wall that faces the transmission, the chain drive including a chain to transmit a driving force from at least one of the input member and the rotary electric machine to the oil pump, the vehicle drive apparatus further comprises an oil guide through which oil flowing through the return oil hole is guided to a region other than a chain placement region inside the case, the chain placement region being a region where the chain is placed, and the oil flowing through the return oil hole is guided through the oil guide and returned to the oil reservoir.
the case includes an intermediate wall disposed between the friction engagement device and the transmission and between the rotary electric machine and the transmission in an axial direction,
an oil reservoir to store oil is defined in an internal space of the case on a side of the intermediate wall that faces the transmission,
the intermediate wall is provided with a return oil hole through which oil discharged from the friction engagement element returns toward the oil reservoir,
a chain drive is disposed adjacent to a portion of the intermediate wall that faces the transmission, the chain drive including a chain to transmit a driving force from at least one of the input member and the rotary electric machine to the oil pump,
the vehicle drive apparatus further comprises an oil guide through which oil flowing through the return oil hole is guided to a region other than a chain placement region inside the case, the chain placement region being a region where the chain is placed, and
the oil flowing through the return oil hole is guided through the oil guide and returned to the oil reservoir.
The vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising a chain cover covering the chain placement region, wherein the chain cover is secured to the intermediate wall from a location that faces the transmission, and at least a portion of the oil guide is formed by the chain cover.
the chain cover is secured to the intermediate wall from a location that faces the transmission, and
at least a portion of the oil guide is formed by the chain cover.
The vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the intermediate wall is provided with a second return oil hole through which oil discharged from the rotary electric machine returns toward the oil reservoir, and an opening of the second return oil hole located relative to the chain placement region having an annular shape, such that oil discharged from the second return oil hole is prevented from entering the chain placement region.
the intermediate wall is provided with a second return oil hole through which oil discharged from the rotary electric machine returns toward the oil reservoir, and
an opening of the second return oil hole located relative to the chain placement region having an annular shape, such that oil discharged from the second return oil hole is prevented from entering the chain placement region.
The vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the oil guide includes a tubular portion located radially inside an inner peripheral edge of the annular chain placement region and passing through the axial direction and through which the return oil hole is in communication with the oil reservoir.
the oil guide includes a tubular portion located radially inside an inner peripheral edge of the annular chain placement region and passing through the axial direction and through which the return oil hole is in communication with the oil reservoir.
The vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the return oil hole is provided to include a region of the intermediate wall facing a lower end of the friction engagement element.
the return oil hole is provided to include a region of the intermediate wall facing a lower end of the friction engagement element.
The vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the return oil hole and the second return oil hole are provided independently of each other.
the return oil hole and the second return oil hole are provided independently of each other.
The vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the oil guide includes a tubular portion located radially inside an inner peripheral edge of the annular chain placement region and passing through the axial direction and through which the return oil hole is in communication with the oil reservoir.
The vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the return oil hole is provided to include a region of the intermediate wall facing a lower end of the friction engagement element.
The vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the intermediate wall is provided with a second return oil hole through which oil discharged from the rotary electric machine returns toward the oil reservoir, and an opening of the second return oil hole located relative to the chain placement region having an annular shape, such that oil discharged from the second return oil hole is prevented from entering the chain placement region.
The vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the oil guide includes a tubular portion located radially inside an inner peripheral edge of the annular chain placement region and passing through the axial direction and through which the return oil hole is in communication with the oil reservoir.
The vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the return oil hole is provided to include a region of the intermediate wall facing a lower end of the friction engagement element.
The vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the return oil hole and the second return oil hole are provided independently of each other.
The vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the return oil hole is provided to include a region of the intermediate wall facing a lower end of the friction engagement element.
The vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the oil guide includes a tubular portion located radially inside an inner peripheral edge of the annular chain placement region and passing through the axial direction and through which the return oil hole is in communication with the oil reservoir.
The vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the return oil hole is provided to include a region of the intermediate wall facing a lower end of the friction engagement element.
The vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the intermediate wall is provided with a second return oil hole through which oil discharged from the rotary electric machine returns toward the oil reservoir, and the return oil hole and the second return oil hole are provided independently of each other.
The vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the intermediate wall is provided with a second return oil hole through which oil discharged from the rotary electric machine returns toward the oil reservoir, and the return oil hole and the second return oil hole are provided independently of each other.
The vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the return oil hole is provided to include a region of the intermediate wall facing a lower end of the friction engagement element.
The vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein the intermediate wall is provided with a second return oil hole through which oil discharged from the rotary electric machine returns toward the oil reservoir, and the return oil hole and the second return oil hole are provided independently of each other.
The vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the intermediate wall is provided with a second return oil hole through which oil discharged from the rotary electric machine returns toward the oil reservoir, and the return oil hole and the second return oil hole are provided independently of each other.
Ref US20150037947A1: Claims:
A method of forming a semiconductor structure comprising: forming a trench capacitor comprising an inner electrode, a node dielectric, and an outer electrode in a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate; forming a conductive strap structure on said inner electrode; forming a set of masking structures overlying said conductive strap structure and a portion of a top semiconductor layer of said SOI substrate; forming a fin-defining spacer on sidewalls of said set of masking structures; and forming a semiconductor fin by transferring a pattern of said fin-defining spacer into said top semiconductor layer.
forming a trench capacitor comprising an inner electrode, a node dielectric, and an outer electrode in a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate;
forming a conductive strap structure on said inner electrode;
forming a set of masking structures overlying said conductive strap structure and a portion of a top semiconductor layer of said SOI substrate;
forming a fin-defining spacer on sidewalls of said set of masking structures; and
forming a semiconductor fin by transferring a pattern of said fin-defining spacer into said top semiconductor layer.
The method of claim 1 , wherein said forming of said fin-defining spacer and said forming of said semiconductor fin comprise: forming said fin-defining spacer as a first structure that is topologically homeomorphic to a torus and laterally surrounding said set of masking structures; and forming said semiconductor fin as a second structure that is topologically homeomorphic to a torus and laterally surrounding said conductive strap structure.
forming said fin-defining spacer as a first structure that is topologically homeomorphic to a torus and laterally surrounding said set of masking structures; and
forming said semiconductor fin as a second structure that is topologically homeomorphic to a torus and laterally surrounding said conductive strap structure.
The method of claim 1 , further comprising forming an access transistor that controls current flow into, and out of, said trench capacitor by forming a pair of channel regions in said semiconductor fin.
The method of claim 3 , wherein said forming of said access transistor further comprises: forming a gate dielectric that straddles over portions of said semiconductor fin that correspond to said pair of channel regions; and forming a gate electrode that contacts said gate dielectric.
forming a gate dielectric that straddles over portions of said semiconductor fin that correspond to said pair of channel regions; and
forming a gate electrode that contacts said gate dielectric.
The method of claim 4 , further comprising: forming a dielectric capacitor cap on said conductive strap structure; forming a passing gate dielectric comprising a same material as said gate dielectric on sidewalls of said conductive strap structure; and forming a passing gate electrode comprising a same material as said gate electrode over said dielectric capacitor cap and on said passing gate dielectric.
forming a dielectric capacitor cap on said conductive strap structure;
forming a passing gate dielectric comprising a same material as said gate dielectric on sidewalls of said conductive strap structure; and
forming a passing gate electrode comprising a same material as said gate electrode over said dielectric capacitor cap and on said passing gate dielectric.
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: forming a stack of a lower pad layer and an upper pad layer on said SOI substrate; and forming a dielectric capacitor cap over said conductive strap structure and within an opening in said stack.
forming a stack of a lower pad layer and an upper pad layer on said SOI substrate; and
forming a dielectric capacitor cap over said conductive strap structure and within an opening in said stack.
The method of claim 6 , further comprising: replacing said upper pad layer with a mask material layer including a different material than said upper pad layer, said lower pad layer, and said dielectric capacitor cap; and patterning said mask material layer to form a mask material portion in contact with said dielectric capacitor cap.
replacing said upper pad layer with a mask material layer including a different material than said upper pad layer, said lower pad layer, and said dielectric capacitor cap; and
patterning said mask material layer to form a mask material portion in contact with said dielectric capacitor cap.
The method of claim 7 , wherein said set of masking structures comprises said mask material portion and said dielectric capacitor cap.
The method of claim 7 , further comprising: removing said masking structure selective to said fin-defining spacer; and etching said lower pad layer employing said fin-defining spacer as an etch mask.
removing said masking structure selective to said fin-defining spacer; and
etching said lower pad layer employing said fin-defining spacer as an etch mask.
The method of claim 9 , wherein said transferring of said pattern of said fin-defining spacer comprises etching said top semiconductor layer employing, as an etch mask, at least one of said fin-defining spacer and a remaining portion of said lower pad layer after said etching of said lower pad layer.
The method of claim 7 , wherein said mask material layer comprises a semiconductor material.
The method of claim 1 , wherein said conductive strap structure conductive strap is in contact with, and overlies, the inner electrode.
The method of claim 1 , wherein said semiconductor-on-insulator substrate comprises a stack, from bottom to top, of a bottom semiconductor layer, a buried insulator layer, and a top semiconductor layer.
The method of claim 13 , wherein said forming of said trench capacitor comprises forming a trench that extends from a topmost surface of said semiconductor-on-insulator substrate through said top semiconductor layer and said buried insulator layer and into a portion of said bottom semiconductor layer.
The method of claim 14 , wherein said forming of said trench capacitor further comprises forming said outer electrode by doping a portion of said bottom semiconductor layer in proximity with innermost sidewalls of said bottom semiconductor layer; forming said node dielectric on said outer electrode; and forming said inner electrode on said node dielectric.
forming said outer electrode by doping a portion of said bottom semiconductor layer in proximity with innermost sidewalls of said bottom semiconductor layer;
forming said node dielectric on said outer electrode; and
forming said inner electrode on said node dielectric.
The method of claim 15 , wherein said inner electrode is vertically recessed so that a topmost surface of said inner electrode is substantially planar and between a topmost surface of said buried insulator layer and a bottommost surface of said buried insulator layer.
The method of claim 1 , wherein said conductive strap comprises an elemental metal.
The method of claim 1 , wherein said forming of said fin-defining spacer comprises depositing a conformal material layer on said set of masking structures and anisotropically etching a horizontal portion of said conformal material layer.
The method of claim 1 , wherein said set of masking structures comprises a mask material portion and a dielectric capacitor cap.
Ref US8919500B1: Claims:
A motorcycle primary drive compensator hub lubricating system comprising: a lubricant-collection plate extended from a wall of a sprocket-gear housing of a motorcycle, the lubricant-collection plate including: a collection bay positioned vertically under a sprocket-wheel chain for collecting lubricant carried by the sprocket-wheel chain from a bottom portion of the sprocket-gear housing about a large sprocket wheel and falling on the collection bay; and a fluid-conveyance communication conveying lubricant from the collection bay to: a retainer-lubrication outlet; a cam-lubrication outlet; and a spline-lubrication outlet for lubricating predetermined rotating-contact and sliding-contact parts of a compensator-sprocket-wheel hub, wherein the predetermined rotating-contact and sliding-contact parts of the compensator-sprocket-wheel hub include: a hex sprocket retainer having at least one retainer-extension lubricator orifice in fluid-conveyance communication from the hex sprocket retainer to an outside periphery of a cylindrical retainer extension; and the retainer-extension lubricator orifice being tapered predeterminedly with a taper minor diameter at an entrance from the hex sprocket retainer and a major taper diameter at an exit at the outside periphery of the cylindrical retainer extension of the hex sprocket retainer.
a lubricant-collection plate extended from a wall of a sprocket-gear housing of a motorcycle, the lubricant-collection plate including: a collection bay positioned vertically under a sprocket-wheel chain for collecting lubricant carried by the sprocket-wheel chain from a bottom portion of the sprocket-gear housing about a large sprocket wheel and falling on the collection bay; and a fluid-conveyance communication conveying lubricant from the collection bay to: a retainer-lubrication outlet; a cam-lubrication outlet; and a spline-lubrication outlet for lubricating predetermined rotating-contact and sliding-contact parts of a compensator-sprocket-wheel hub, wherein the predetermined rotating-contact and sliding-contact parts of the compensator-sprocket-wheel hub include: a hex sprocket retainer having at least one retainer-extension lubricator orifice in fluid-conveyance communication from the hex sprocket retainer to an outside periphery of a cylindrical retainer extension; and
a collection bay positioned vertically under a sprocket-wheel chain for collecting lubricant carried by the sprocket-wheel chain from a bottom portion of the sprocket-gear housing about a large sprocket wheel and falling on the collection bay; and
a fluid-conveyance communication conveying lubricant from the collection bay to: a retainer-lubrication outlet; a cam-lubrication outlet; and a spline-lubrication outlet for lubricating predetermined rotating-contact and sliding-contact parts of a compensator-sprocket-wheel hub, wherein the predetermined rotating-contact and sliding-contact parts of the compensator-sprocket-wheel hub include: a hex sprocket retainer having at least one retainer-extension lubricator orifice in fluid-conveyance communication from the hex sprocket retainer to an outside periphery of a cylindrical retainer extension; and
a retainer-lubrication outlet;
a cam-lubrication outlet; and
a spline-lubrication outlet for lubricating predetermined rotating-contact and sliding-contact parts of a compensator-sprocket-wheel hub, wherein the predetermined rotating-contact and sliding-contact parts of the compensator-sprocket-wheel hub include: a hex sprocket retainer having at least one retainer-extension lubricator orifice in fluid-conveyance communication from the hex sprocket retaine
[Truncated to input limit]