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 .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-4 and 18-25 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Mathiesen et al. (US PG-pub 2020/0408066).
Regarding claims 1 and 24 Mathiesen teaches a body 1 (fi. 6) locatable within a wall of a tubular and defining a primary inlet 2 and a primary outlet 5, wherein a primary flow path 2 is defined between the primary inlet and primary outlet; a valve member 9 disposed within the body, the valve member being moveable in reverse first and second directions to selectively vary a flow area of the primary flow path (piston 9 is moveable to seat and be unseated based on flow); and a sealed pilot pressure chamber (pilot provides a secondary flow path as claimed in 14; pipe 3b, 3c creates a sealed chamber between the pipe inlet, valve and pipe outlet) defining a pilot pressure inlet for receiving a pilot pressure, the valve member 9 being in pressure communication with the sealed pilot pressure chamber such that pilot pressure may act to bias the valve member in one of the first and second directions, wherein the pilot pressure is provided as a function of a property of fluid flowing through the primary flow path (para 0130, lines 1-18); a biasing force 10.
Regarding claims 2-4, 18-23, and 25, Mathiesen teaches wherein the flow rate through the flow control device is varied based upon one or more properties of a fluid flowing along the primary flow path (i.e. property such as the viscosity of the oil); the position of the valve member 9 and the size of the flow area provided is determined by a pressure differential between at least the inlet 2 of the primary flow path and within the sealed pilot pressure chamber (the chamber of the flow restrictor 3); comprising a pilot pressure system (coiled restrictor acts as a pilot pressure system), wherein the pilot pressure is provided from the pilot pressure system; wherein biasing the valve member in the first direction moves the valve member towards a fully open position (towards outlet 5), increasing the flow area (increasing flow area at the inlet 2); wherein the valve member 9 is biased in the first direction by fluid pressure at the primary inlet 2; wherein biasing the valve member in the second direction moves the valve member towards a fully closed position, decreasing the flow area (towards the inlet 2); wherein the valve member 9 is biased in the second direction by fluid pressure within the sealed pilot pressure chamber (the fluid passing through channel 21 can bias the valve in the second direction); wherein the pilot pressure is provided as a function of at least one of the viscosity and the density of the fluid flowing through the primary flow path (viscosity of the oil; (para. 0097) ; a sealing arrangement disposed between the valve member and the body of the flow control device (flexible member 10 creates a seal), wherein the sealing arrangement provides a biasing force biasing the valve member in one of the first or second directions (capable of biasing valve in either direction); wherein the at least one characteristic of the flowing fluid that provides the pressure variation within the secondary flow path comprises at least one of the viscosity and the density of the fluid (viscosity and density of the oil provides pressure variation).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 6-17 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 are allowed.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: Mathiesen fails to disclose the pilot pressure comprising a secondary flow path.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to P. MACADE NICHOLS whose telephone number is (571)270-5428. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 9:00-5:00 P.M..
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/P. MACADE NICHOLS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3753