Office Action 2: Notice of Allowance (2025-06-03)

CLAIMS:
In the Claims:

This listing of claims will replace all prior versions, and listings, of claims in the application:

1\. (Currently Amended) An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine, said exhaust system comprising an exhaust conduit adapted to fluidly connect said internal combustion engine to a turbine of a turbo, said exhaust system further comprising a valve comprising a valve flap located in said exhaust conduit in a position between said internal combustion engine and said turbine, as seen in a direction of flow from said internal combustion engine to said turbine, when said exhaust conduit fluidly connects said internal combustion engine to said turbine, said valve flap being pivotally connected to at least a portion of said exhaust conduit, said exhaust system further comprising an actuator adapted to impart a load on at least a portion of said valve to thereby control a pivotal position of said valve flap in said exhaust conduit to thereby control a gas flow via said exhaust conduit, said exhaust system further comprising an actuator load sensor adapted to detect load information indicative of a magnitude of the load that the actuator currently imparts on at least said portion of said valve, wherein said valve comprises a valve lever located at least partially outside said exhaust conduit, said actuator being adapted to impart a load on at least a portion of said valve lever to thereby control said position of said valve flap in said exhaust conduit.

2\. (Canceled)

3\. (Currently Amended) The exhaust system of claim 1, wherein said valve flap is rigidly connected to said valve leve.

4\. (Original) The exhaust system of claim 1, wherein said actuator is a linear actuator.

5\. (Currently Amended) The exhaust system of claim 1, wherein said actuator is a fluid power actuator and said actuator load sensor is adapted to detect a fluid pressure value indicative

of a fluid pressure of \[\[the\]\]a fluid powering said actuator, r wherein said actuator is an electric actuator and said actuator load sensor is adapted to detect an electric power value indicative of an electric power fed to said electric actuator.

6\. (Original) The exhaust system of claim 1, wherein said valve flap is pivotally connected to said exhaust conduit around a pivot axle that is located at least partially in or outside a side wall delimiting said exhaust conduit.

7\. (Original) The exhaust system of claim 1, wherein said exhaust system further comprises a control system adapted to receive load information from said actuator load sensor and to issue control information to said actuator in response to said load information.

8\. (Currently Amended) An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine, said exhaust system comprising an exhaust conduit adapted to fluidly connect said internal combustion engine to a turbine of a turbo, said exhaust system further comprising a valve comprising a valve flap located in said exhaust conduit in a position between said internal combustion engine and said turbine, as seen in a direction of flow from said internal combustion engine to said turbine, when said exhaust conduit fluidly connects said internal combustion engine to said turbine, said valve flap being pivotally connected to at least a portion of said exhaust conduit, said exhaust system further comprising an actuator adapted to impart a load on at least a portion of said valve to thereby control a pivotal position of said valve flap in said exhaust conduit to thereby control a gas flow via said exhaust conduit, said exhaust system further comprising an actuator load sensor adapted to detect load information indicative of a magnitude of the load that the actuator currently imparts on at least said portion of said valve, wherein said exhaust system further comprises a control system adapted to receive load information from said actuator load sensor and to issue control information to said actuator in response to said load information , wherein said control system is adapted to determine a counterpressure value, indicative of a current exhaust gas counterpressure in said exhaust conduit, upstream of said

valve flap, as seen in a direction of flow from said internal combustion engine to said turbine, on the basis of said load information.
9\. (Original) The exhaust system of claim 8, wherein said control system is adapted to receive information indicative of a rotational speed of a compressor of said turbo as well as information about a current charge air pressure downstream said compressor, said control system being adapted to determine an actual air mass flow downstream said compressor on the basis of said counterpressure value, said information about said current charge air pressure downstream said compressor and said information indicative of said rotational speed of said compressor.

10\. (Original) An internal combustion engine system comprising an internal combustion engine, a turbo, which in turn comprises a turbine, and an exhaust system of claim 1.

11\. (Original) The internal combustion engine system of claim 10, wherein said turbo comprises a compressor and wherein said internal combustion engine system comprises an inlet conduit adapted to fluidly connect said compressor to said internal combustion engine.

12\. (Currently Amended) The internal combustion engine system of claim 11, wherein said exhaust system further comprises a control system adapted to receive load information from said actuator load sensor and to issue control information to said actuator in response to said load information, wherein said control system is adapted to determine a counterpressure value, indicative of a current exhaust gas counterpressure in said exhaust conduit, upstream of said valve flap, as seen in a direction of flow from said internal combustion engine to said turbine, on the basis of said load information, wherein said control system is adapted to receive information indicative of a rotational speed of a compressor of said turbo as well as information about a current charge air pressure downstream said compressor, said control system being adapted to determine an actual air mass flow downstream said compressor on the basis of said counterpressure value, said information about said current charge air pressure downstream said compressor and said information indicative of said rotational speed of said

compressor, said internal combustion engine system further comprising an intake throttle valve adapted to control an air mass flow via said inlet conduit, said control system being adapted to control said intake throttle valve in response to a target air mass flow and said actual air mass flow.

13\. (Currently Amended) A vehicle comprising \[\[an\]\]the exhaust system of claim 1 .

14\. (Canceled)

15\. (Currently Amended) A method for controlling an internal combustion engine system comprising an internal combustion engine, a turbo, which in turn comprises a turbine, and an exhaust system, said exhaust system comprising an exhaust conduit adapted to fluidly connect said internal combustion engine to the turbine of the turbo, said exhaust system further comprising a valve comprising a valve flap located in said exhaust conduit in a position between said internal combustion engine and said turbine, as seen in a direction of flow from said internal combustion engine to said turbine, said valve flap being pivotally connected to at least a portion of said exhaust conduit, said exhaust system further comprising an actuator adapted to impart a load on at least a portion of said valve to thereby control a pivotal position of said valve flap in said exhaust conduit to thereby control a gas flow via said exhaust conduit, said exhaust system further comprising an actuator load sensor adapted to detect load information indicative of a magnitude of the load that the actuator currently imparts on at least said portion of said valve, said method comprising:\- detecting said load information, and
\- controlling said actuator in response to said load information,
said method further comprising determining a counterpressure value, indicative of a current exhaust gas counterpressure in said exhaust conduit, upstream of said valve flap, as seen in a direction of flow from said internal combustion engine to said turbine, on the basis of said load information, wherein said turbo comprises a compressor and wherein the method further

comprises determining information indicative of a rotational speed of a compressor of said turbo as well as information about a current charge air pressure downstream said compressor, said method further comprising determining an actual air mass flow downstream said compressor on the basis of said counterpressure value, said information about said current charge air pressure downstream said compressor and said information indicative of said rotational speed of said compressor, said internal combustion engine system comprises an inlet conduit adapted to fluidly connect said compressor to said internal combustion engine, said internal combustion engine system further comprising an intake throttle valve adapted to control an air mass flow via said inlet conduit, said method comprising controlling said intake throttle valve in response to a target air mass flow and said actual air mass flow.

16\. (New) A vehicle comprising the exhaust system of claim 8.

17\. (New) A vehicle comprising the internal combustion engine system of claim 10.

OFFICE ACTION:
DETAILED 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 .
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1, 3-13 and 15-17 are allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: The examiner agrees with applicant’s characterization of how the amended claims 1, 8 & 15 distinguish over the prior art of record. All outstanding objections and rejections have been overcome and are withdrawn.
Conclusion

APPLICANT REBUTTAL: REMARKSApplicant appreciates the thorough examination of the claims as evidenced by the Non- Final Office Action mailed December 19, 2024 (hereinafter, "Office Action").Applicant respectfully requests reconsideration and allowance of the claims for at least the reasons presented herein.Status of Claims in Office Action Claims 1-15 were pending in this application, of which Claims 1 and 14 were in independent form.As indicated below, Claims 8 and 15 is rewritten in independent form. Claims 2 and 14 are canceled. Dependent Claims 16 and 17 are added. No matter is added. Accordingly, Claims 1, 3-13, and 15-17 are pending in this application, of which Claims 1, 8, and 15 are in independent form.Applicant appreciates the indication of allowable subject matter in Claims 2, 8-9, and 15.Claims 3, 12, and 13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 112(b) as being Indefinite.Claims 1, 3-7, and 10-14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 102 as being anticipated by Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP-326268.Allowable Subiect Matter Claims 2, 8-9, and 15 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.Claim 1 has been amended to recite the allowable features of Claim 2, and is therefore allowable for at least the same reasons as Claim 2. Claim 8 is rewritten in independent form and is therefore allowable. Claim 15 is rewritten in independent form and is therefore allowable.Claim Rejections - 35 U.S.C. § 112 Claims 3, 12, and 13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 112(b) as being Indefinite. Each of Claims 3, 12, and 13 is amended. Applicant respectfully submits that Claims 3, 12, and 13 are definite at least based on the amendments herein. Accordingly, the rejection under 35 U.S.C.Sec. 112(b) should be withdrawn.Independent Claims 1, 8, and 15 are Patentable As stated above, Claim 1 has been amended to recite the allowable features of Claim 2, and is therefore allowable for at least the same reasons as Claim 2. Claim 8 is rewritten in independent form and is therefore allowable. Claim 15 is rewritten in independent form and is therefore allowable.Remaining Dependent Claims The remaining dependent claims, including New Claims 16 and 17, are patentable at least per the patentability of the independent claims from which they depend. Applicant traverses the rejections of the remaining dependent claims. However, as each of these claims depends from a base claim that is believed to be in condition for allowance, Applicant does not believe that it is necessary to argue the allowability of each of the remaining dependent claims individually.Applicant does not necessarily concur with the interpretation of these claims or with the bases for rejection set forth in the Office Action. Applicant therefore reserves the right to address the patentability of these claims individually as necessary in the future.CONCLUSIONIn light of the above remarks, Applicant respectfully submits that the above-entitled application is in condition for allowance. Favorable reconsideration of this application, as amended, is respectfully requested. If the Examiner believes that the application is not in condition for allowance, the Examiner is requested to call the undersigned representative at the telephone number indicated below to discuss any outstanding issues relating to the allowability of the application.Respectfully submitted, /Shandon W. Herring/ Shandon W. Hering Registration No. 60,198 Attorney for Applicant Customer Number 146825 Sage Patent Group P.O. Box 30789 Raleigh, NC 27622 Telephone 984 219-8189