Application of Hampton G. Corneil and Andrew D. Suttle, Jr. Application of Hampton G. Corneil, Andrew D. Suttle, Jr., and Winfred O. Milligan

WORLEY, Chief Judge.

These are two appeals from decisions of the Board of Appeals which affirmed the examiner’s rejection of all claims in each of appellants’ patent applications1 directed to methods of exploding a nuclear device in a subsurface cavern. While separate records and briefs were filed in each appeal, they were consolidated for argument here by counsel and we shall dispose of both appeals in a single opinion.

The subject matter of the present appeals bears close relation to the subject matter of Appeal Nos. 7284, 347 F.2d 557 and 7295, 347 F.2d 563, decided concurrently herewith.…