Opinion ID: 663180
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Application of Paragraph Six to Claims

Text: 31 For the foregoing reasons, the PTO was required by statute to look to Schuler's specification and construe the means language recited in the last segment of claim 1 as limited to the corresponding structure disclosed in the specification and equivalents thereof. 8 The particular means language of claim 1 at issue reads: 32 means, responsive to pressure increases in said chamber caused by said cleaning means, for moving particulate matter in a downward direction to a bottommost point in said [lowermost] portion for subsequent transfer to a location exterior to said assembly. 33 In the Summary of the Invention section of his specification, Schuler states: 34 A lowermost portion of the assembly is arranged and constructed to collect the removed particulate matter. The collection portion includes a sloping surface constructed of a material which flexes in response to the pressure differentials created within the chamber during the operation of the pulse-jet cleaning means. 35 .... 36 [t]he sloping surface of the collection portion of the assembly moves outward, or flexes, as the pressure increases within the chamber with each operation of the pulse-jet means. The flexing movement allows the air entraining the dust from the filter element to travel towards the collection area, thereby helping to prevent the removed dust from being re-deposited on a neighboring filter element. Also, the flexing surface dampens the noise and vibrations of the pulse jet cleaning means, and moves the dust collected on its surface towards the collection area for subsequent removal from the assembly itself. [Emphasis ours.] 37 Schuler Patent, Col. 2, lines 6-12, 28-39. In discussing a preferred embodiment of his dust collector, Schuler further describes the means, responsive to pressure recited in claim 1 as follows: 38 The larger surface area 24 is designed and arranged to act as a diaphragm which is movably responsive to the pressure differentials created within the dirty air chamber 22 by the operation of the pulse jet cleaning means 65, 66. The diaphragm 24 is preferably made from a flexible, reinforced rubber sheet material. However, any material sufficiently strong and flexible could be used, i.e., a relatively thin metal panel which will flex. The diaphragm movement caused by the operation of the pulse jet cleaning means will be explained in detail below. 39 Schuler Patent, Col. 6, lines 21-31. The further explanation referred to reads: 40 During the operation of the pulse-jet cleaning means the larger, sloping surface or diaphragm 24 moves outward or away from the filter elements 32 in response to the increase in pressure within the dirty air chamber 22. This outward flexing is shown in broken lines in FIG. 2. As the pressure diminishes, the surface 24 flexes back to its normal position. 41 The pressure-responsive, flexing movement of the larger sloping surface 24 accomplishes four important functions: (1) the movement allows air entraining the removed dust to move downwardly towards the hopper; (2) it helps prevent the removed dust and particulate matter from being re-deposited onto adjacent elements; (3) it helps to dampen the noise and the vibrations of the pulse-jet cleaning means; and (4) it helps to move the particulate matter which has settled on the diaphragm surface towards the auger screw. As the particulate matter accumulates in the lowermost portion 25 upon the auger screw 68, it is removed, by the operation of the auger screw 68, to a location exterior to the filter assembly. There is nearly zero dirty air velocity at the point adjacent to the auger screw, as a result of the dirty air inlet not being in nor even adjacent to the particulate matter collection area of the filter assembly. 42 Schuler Patent, Col. 7, lines 42-66. 43 A review of the foregoing excerpts leads to the inescapable conclusion that Schuler's specification defines the means, responsive to pressure increases in said chamber ..., for moving particulate matter in a downward direction language recited in claim 1 as a flexible-wall, diaphragm-like structure, such that the hopper is made up of at least one flexible wall which expands outward upon pressure increases, thus causing caked-on dust to break loose from the wall of the hopper and fall towards the auger screw due to gravity.