Office Action 2: Notice of Allowance (2025-10-22)

CLAIMS:
IN THE CLAIMS

Please amend the claims as follows:

Claim 1. (Currently Amended) A system for sealing and draining leaks of oil for a turbine-engine chamber enclosing a bearing, the system comprising.
the bearing which comprises a stator and a rotor which is carried by the stator, the stator rotating about a rotation axis
a seal carried by the stator and surrounding the rotor
an external circumferential groove carried by the stator while being contiguous with the seal to collect leaking oil travelling along the rotor through the seal and which is centrifuged by the rotor towards the external circumferential groove : and a drain located at a lowest point of the external circumferential groove with respect to a vertical direction for collecting the oil recovered by the external circumferential groove , the external circumferential groove being open towards the rotation axis while being delimited by a bottom extended by upstream and downstream lateral walls , the downstream lateral wall that is opposite to the seal along the rotation axis termninating in a gutter opening towards the bottom .

Claim 2. (Currently Amended) The system according to claim 1, wherein the gutter is absent at the lowest point of the external circumferential groove with respect to the vertical direction.

Claim 3. (Currently Amended) The system according to claim 1, wherein the bottom is formed by a frustoconical wall ,and an inside diameter of the frustoconical wall decreases on moving away from the seal .

Claim 4. (Currently Amended) The system according to claim 1, further comprising an internal circumferential groove formed in the rotor facing the external circumferential groove , the internal circumferential groove having a length along the rotation axis that is less than a length of the external circumferential groove along the rotation axis .

Claim 5. (Currently Amended) The system according to claim 4, wherein the internal circumferential groove has a frustoconically shaped bottom , and an inside diameter of the frustoconically shaped bottom decreases on moving away from the seal .

Claim 6. (Currently Amended) The system according to claim \[\[3\]\] 4, wherein the rotor includes a circumferential rib terminating the internal circumferential groove .

Claim 7. (Currently Amended) The system according to claim 1, further comprisingknife-edge seals secured to the rotor and sliding along a radially internal face of the gutter that is provided with abradable elements, to form a labyrinth seal .

Reply to Office Action of May 14, 2025

Claim 8. (Currently Amended) A turbine engine comprising a bearing chamber that is equipped with a sealing system according to claim 1.

Claim 9. (Canceled)

Claim 10. (New) The system according to claim 1, wherein the gutter presents a trapezoidal cross-section.
Claim I1SVG {EMBED HERE} 0.1030.037. (New) The system according to claim 1, wherein the upstream wall runs along the seal.

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 .
Reasons for Allowance
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
Regarding Claim 1, Applicant’s arguments, see Pg. 7-8 of the response, filed August 14, 2025 are found to be persuasive. In particular, Applicant explains how Bordne et al. (US 2013/0283757 A1) does not expressly teach the claimed seal and groove contiguous to the seal delimited by lateral walls. The amendments also specify the wall positioning as well instead of simply requiring two lateral walls. For instance, the downstream lateral wall is required to be opposite the seal, unlike the sealing at the position of (80) of Bordne is in a relative downstream position of the system interpreted for the claim. The Office agrees with the arguments. Therefore, the rejection of Claim 1 has been withdrawn.
Claims 2-8 and 10-11 subsequently depend upon 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

APPLICANT REBUTTAL: REMARKSFavorable reconsideration of this application, in view of the present amendments and in light of the following discussion, is respectfully requested.Claims 1-8 and 10-11 are pending in the present application. Claims 1-8 are amended.Claims 10-11 are newly added. Claim 9 is canceled without prejudice or disclaimer. It is respectfully submitted that no new matter is added.The outstanding Office Action objected to the Abstract; objected to Claims 1-9;rejected Claims 1-9 under 35 U.S.C. § 112(b) as indefinite; rejected Claims 1-6 and 8-9 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as unpatentable over Bordne et al. (U.S. Patent Publication No. 2013/0283757, hereinafter "Bordne") in view of Fang et al. (U.S. Patent Publication No. 2013/0156547, hereinafter "Fang"); and rejected Claim 7 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as unpatentable over Bordne in view of Fang and further in view of Vinski (U.S. Patent Publication No. 2018/0340439).In view of the new Abstract submitted herewith, Applicants respectfully request the objection to the Abstract be withdrawn.In view of the amendments to the claims, Applicants respectfully request the objection to Claims 1-9 and the rejection of Claims 1-9 under 35 U.S.C. § 112(b) be withdrawn.Applicants respectfully traverse the rejections of the claims under 35 U.S.C. § 103, as next discussed.Amended independent Claim I recites:A system for sealing and draining leaks of oil for a turbine- engine chamber enclosing a bearing, the system comprising:the bearing which comprises a stator and a rotor which is canned by the stator, the stator rotating about a rotation axis;a seal carried by the stator and surrounding the rotor;an external circumferential groove carried by the stator while being contiguous with the seal to collect leaking oil travelling along the rotor through the seal and which is centrifuged by the rotor towards the external circumferential groove; and a drain located at a lowest point of the external circumferential groove with respect to a vertical direction for collecting the oil recovered by the external circumferential groove, the external circumferential groove being open towards the rotation axis while being delimited by a bottom extended by upstream and downstream lateral walls, the downstream lateral wall that is opposite to the seal along the rotation axis terminating in a gutter opening towards the bottom.Applicants respectfully submit that the cited references fail to describe all of the features recited in amended independent Claim 1.For example, the Office Action asserts that numbered item 80 of Bordne corresponds to the claimed seal. However, Bordne at paragraph [0033] teaches that numbered item 80 is "a bearing assembly 80, for example a roller bearing assembly, which may allow rotation of shaft 26." Instead, Bordne at paragraph [0044] and Figure 2 teaches that the seal is numbered item 70 and is remote from the groove instead of being contiguous thereto as recited in Claim 1.Bordne describes an additional labyrinth oil seal 68, but the lateral wall of the groove that comprises the alleged gutter in Bordne is the wall that is close to this labyrinth seal 68, instead of being the downstream wall that is opposite to the seal along the rotation axis as recited in Claim 1.Thus, Bordne fails to disclose a seal with a groove contiguous to the seal delimited by upstream and downstream lateral walls with a gutter at the downstream lateral wall of the groove that is opposite the seal along the rotation axis.The other cited references fail to remedy the deficiencies discussed above regarding Bordne with respect to amended independent Claim 1.Therefore, Applicants respectfully request the rejections of the claims be withdrawn.Newly added dependent Claims 10-11 depend from amended independent Claim 1, and patentably define over the cited references for at least the same reasons that amended independent Claim I does.Consequently, in light of the above discussion and in view of the present amendment, the present application is believed to be in condition for allowance. An early and favorable action to that effect is respectfully requested.Should the Examiner deem that any further action is necessary to place this application in even better form for allowance, the Examiner is encouraged to contact Applicants' undersigned representative at the below-listed telephone number.Respectfully Submitted, OBLON, McCLELLAND, MAIER & NEUSTADT, L.L.P./Steven B. Chang/ Philippe J.C. Signore, Ph.D.Attorney of Record Customer Number
Registration No. 43,922  22850Steven B. Chang Tel. (703) 413-3000 Fax. (703) 413 -220
Registration No. 59,423 (ONBIN 079'09)


CITED REFERENCE SUMMARIES: Ref US20130283757A1: Claims:
An oil sump seal pressurization apparatus for a turbine engine, the oil sump seal pressurization apparatus comprising: an oil sump comprising at least one bearing mounted therein, the bearing allowing rotation of a shaft with respect to the sump; an oil seal operatively disposed between a non-rotating structural member of the sump and the shaft, the oil sealing having an inward side exposed to an interior of the oil sump and an outward side; a generally radially inwardly oriented passage arranged to supply pressurization air to the outward side of the oil seal; a generally radially outwardly oriented pathway arranged to receive at least some of the pressurization air from the passage, the pathway being at least partially defined by a generally radially outwardly extending arm disposed on the shaft, the arm rotating with the shaft; and a windage shield at least partially separating the passage and the pathway, the windage shield being operatively mounted to the non-rotating structural member of the sump.
an oil sump comprising at least one bearing mounted therein, the bearing allowing rotation of a shaft with respect to the sump;
an oil seal operatively disposed between a non-rotating structural member of the sump and the shaft, the oil sealing having an inward side exposed to an interior of the oil sump and an outward side;
a generally radially inwardly oriented passage arranged to supply pressurization air to the outward side of the oil seal;
a generally radially outwardly oriented pathway arranged to receive at least some of the pressurization air from the passage, the pathway being at least partially defined by a generally radially outwardly extending arm disposed on the shaft, the arm rotating with the shaft; and
a windage shield at least partially separating the passage and the pathway, the windage shield being operatively mounted to the non-rotating structural member of the sump.
The oil sump seal pressurization apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a pressurization tooth operatively disposed between the passage and the pathway, the pressurization tooth restricting flow of the pressurization air therepast.
The oil sump seal pressurization apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a discourager tooth disposed on the shaft and extending radially outward towards a non-rotating land, the land being disposed axially between the passage and the oil seal, the discourager tooth being spaced apart from the land in a generally radial direction by a gap having a width, the discourager tooth including an upper surface having a width; wherein the discourager tooth width is at least about 1.5 times a width of the pressurization tooth.
further comprising a discourager tooth disposed on the shaft and extending radially outward towards a non-rotating land, the land being disposed axially between the passage and the oil seal, the discourager tooth being spaced apart from the land in a generally radial direction by a gap having a width, the discourager tooth including an upper surface having a width;
wherein the discourager tooth width is at least about 1.5 times a width of the pressurization tooth.
The oil sump seal pressurization apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the pressurization tooth extends radially outwardly from the shaft generally towards the windage shield.
The oil sump seal pressurization apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the windage shield extends generally radially outward with respect to the shaft.
The oil sump seal pressurization apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an air seal is disposed on the arm.
The oil sump seal pressurization apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a drain arranged to allow draining of oil and venting of at least some of the pressurization air, the drain being positioned axially between the passage and the oil seal; and a discourager tooth disposed on the shaft and extending radially outward towards a non-rotating land, the land being disposed axially between the passage and the drain, the discourager tooth being spaced apart from the land in a generally radial direction by a gap having a width, the discourager tooth including an upper surface having a width.
a drain arranged to allow draining of oil and venting of at least some of the pressurization air, the drain being positioned axially between the passage and the oil seal; and
a discourager tooth disposed on the shaft and extending radially outward towards a non-rotating land, the land being disposed axially between the passage and the drain, the discourager tooth being spaced apart from the land in a generally radial direction by a gap having a width, the discourager tooth including an upper surface having a width.
The oil sump seal pressurization apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the discourager tooth width is at least about 2.0 times a width of the pressurization tooth.
The oil sump seal pressurization apparatus of claim 7 , wherein a ratio of discourager tooth width to gap width is greater than about 0.5.
An oil sump seal pressurization apparatus for a turbine engine, the oil sump seal pressurization apparatus comprising a non-rotating oil sump housing a bearing, the bearing supporting a rotatable shaft; an oil seal at least partially isolating an interior of the oil sump, the oil seal operatively acting between a non-rotating structural member of the sump and the rotatable shaft; a passage arranged to supply pressurization air to an outward side of the oil seal with respect to the oil sump; a sump pressurization cavity disposed at least partially around the oil sump, the sump pressurization cavity comprising a volume arranged to supply the pressurization air to the passage; a non-rotatable windage shield disposed within the sump pressurization cavity between the volume and a rotatable arm disposed on the shaft; and a pressurization tooth fluidicly interposing the passage and the rotatable arm, the pressurization tooth restricting flow of the pressurization air from the passage towards the rotatable arm.
a non-rotating oil sump housing a bearing, the bearing supporting a rotatable shaft;
an oil seal at least partially isolating an interior of the oil sump, the oil seal operatively acting between a non-rotating structural member of the sump and the rotatable shaft;
a passage arranged to supply pressurization air to an outward side of the oil seal with respect to the oil sump;
a sump pressurization cavity disposed at least partially around the oil sump, the sump pressurization cavity comprising a volume arranged to supply the pressurization air to the passage;
a non-rotatable windage shield disposed within the sump pressurization cavity between the volume and a rotatable arm disposed on the shaft; and
a pressurization tooth fluidicly interposing the passage and the rotatable arm, the pressurization tooth restricting flow of the pressurization air from the passage towards the rotatable arm.
The oil sump seal pressurization apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the pressurization tooth extends radially outwardly from the shaft generally towards the windage shield.
The oil sump seal pressurization apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the windage shield extends generally radially outward with respect to the shaft.
The oil sump seal pressurization apparatus of claim 10 , wherein an air seal is disposed on the arm.
The oil sump seal pressurization apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising a discourager tooth disposed on the shaft and extending radially outward towards a non-rotating land, the land being disposed axially between the passage and the oil seal, the discourager tooth being spaced apart from the land in a generally radial direction by a gap having a width, the discourager tooth including an upper surface having a width;
The oil sump seal pressurization apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the discourager tooth width is at least about 1.5 times a width of the pressurization tooth.
An oil sump seal pressurization apparatus for a turbine engine, the oil sump seal pressurization apparatus comprising a non-rotating oil sump housing a bearing, the bearing supporting a rotatable shaft; an oil seal at least partially isolating an interior of the oil sump, the oil seal operatively acting between a non-rotating structural member of the sump and the rotatable shaft; a passage arranged to supply pressurization air to an outward side of the oil seal with respect to the oil sump; a sump pressurization cavity disposed at least partially around the oil sump, the sump pressurization cavity comprising a volume arranged to supply the pressurization air to the passage; a non-rotatable windage shield disposed within the sump pressurization cavity between the volume and a rotatable arm disposed on the shaft; a pressurization tooth fluidicly interposing the passage and the rotatable arm, the pressurization tooth restricting flow of the pressurization air from the passage towards the rotatable arm; and a discourager tooth disposed on the shaft and extending radially outward towards a non-rotating land, the land being disposed axially between the passage and the drain, the discourager tooth being spaced apart from the land in a generally radial direction by a gap having a width, the discourager tooth including an upper surface having a width; wherein the pressurization tooth extends radially outwardly from the shaft generally towards the windage shield; and wherein the windage shield extends generally radially outward with respect to the shaft.
a non-rotatable windage shield disposed within the sump pressurization cavity between the volume and a rotatable arm disposed on the shaft;
a pressurization tooth fluidicly interposing the passage and the rotatable arm, the pressurization tooth restricting flow of the pressurization air from the passage towards the rotatable arm; and
a discourager tooth disposed on the shaft and extending radially outward towards a non-rotating land, the land being disposed axially between the passage and the drain, the discourager tooth being spaced apart from the land in a generally radial direction by a gap having a width, the discourager tooth including an upper surface having a width;
wherein the pressurization tooth extends radially outwardly from the shaft generally towards the windage shield; and
wherein the windage shield extends generally radially outward with respect to the shaft.
The oil sump seal pressurization apparatus of claim 16 , further comprising a drain arranged to allow draining of oil and venting of at least some of the pressurization air, the drain being positioned axially between the passage and the oil seal.
The oil sump seal pressurization apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the discourager tooth width is at least about 1.5 times a width of the pressurization tooth.
The oil sump seal pressurization apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the discourager tooth width is at least about 2.0 times a width of the pressurization tooth.
The oil sump seal pressurization apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the discourager tooth width is at least about 2.5 times a width of the pressurization tooth.