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 .
Status of the Claims
Examiner acknowledges receipt of Applicant’s amendments and arguments filed with the Office on December 12th, 2025 in response to the Non-Final Office Action mailed on September 23rd, 2025. Per Applicant's response, Claims 1-2, 4-8, 10-14, & 17-20 have been amended. Claims 21-23 have been newly-added. Claims 9 & 15-16 have been cancelled. All other claims have been left in their previously-presented form. Consequently, Claims 1-8, 10-14, & 17-23 now remain pending in the instant application. The Examiner has carefully considered each of Applicant’s amendments and/or arguments, and they will be addressed below.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see pages 9-10, filed December 12th, 2025, with respect to the rejection(s) of claim(s) 1-20 have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the previous rejection has been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, a new ground(s) of rejection is made in view of US 2020/0256333 to Surjaatmadja et al. Please refer to the new rejections below.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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) 1-8, 10-14, & 17-23 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by US 2020/0256333 to Surjaatmadja et al.
In regards to independent Claims 1, 10, & 17, and with particular reference to Figures 1-2, Surjaatmadja et al. (Surjaatmadja hereinafter) discloses:
1. A suction valve control system (100; Fig. 1) of a fluid pump (102; Fig. 1) that is driven by a prime move (122; Fig. 1; para. 20) and configured to discharge fluid during a plurality of discharge cycles (paras. 19, 21, 23), the suction valve control system comprising: a plurality of suction valves (i.e. three suction valves 237 (Fig. 2) corresponding to three pumping chambers 130a-130c; Figs. 1-2; paras. 19, 21), of the fluid pump, that are configured to close during the plurality of discharge cycles (via spring 235; Fig. 2; paras. 23, 27), wherein the plurality of suction valves include all suction valves of the fluid pump (i.e. all three of the suction valves 237; Fig. 1); and a controller (112, 124) configured to cause, responsive to a pump deactivating event (“an overpressure condition”; paras. 3, 13) and to deactivate the pump (“requires a rapid or substantially instantaneous stop of an operational pump”; “Conditions at the well site may require that any one or more pumps be stopped immediately or substantially instantaneously to prevent damage to the pump”; “A sensor 126 may also detect an overpressure condition requiring a stoppage or a power down sequence of the motor 122 and a release of any fluid in pump 202”; “At step 408, if a condition or triggering event has been detected, then a response or mitigation step is determined. In one or more embodiments, a response may require complete stoppage of all discharge of servicing fluid 214 from each pump 202”; paras. 3, 13, 26, 37), the plurality of suction valves to be maintained in an open position throughout one or more discharge cycles of the plurality of discharge cycles until the prime move is in a stationary state (paras. 13, 22-23, 28, 40; “one or more pressure control valve assemblies 112 may be coupled to any one or more valve trains 250”; As the pump 202 is disabled or no longer pumping, the motor 122 may be ramped down or stopped gradually”; “pressure control valve assembly 112 may be activated to prevent or throttle the pressurized servicing fluid 214 from being pumped by pump 202 to the wellhead 206 via flow line 222 during such a power down sequence of the motor 122”; “a power down sequence of one or more motors 122 associated with one or more pumps 202”), wherein the open position corresponds to an opening of the plurality of suction valves during a plurality of suction cycles of the fluid pump (“Output flow of the pump 202 via flow line 222 is therefore ceased or stopped completely, even though any one or more mechanisms of the pump 202 continue to operate”; paras. 23).
10. A method (400; Fig. 4), comprising: monitoring, by a controller (112, 124), a discharge pressure or a flow rate of a fluid pump (Step 404; via discharge pressure sensor 126), the fluid pump driven by a prime move (122) and configured to discharge fluid during a plurality of discharge cycles (paras. 19, 21, 23), and the fluid pump having a plurality of suction valves (i.e. three suction valves 237 (Fig. 2) corresponding to three pumping chambers 130a-130c; Figs. 1-2; paras. 19, 21) configured to close during the plurality of discharge cycles (via spring 235; Fig. 2; paras. 23, 27) wherein the plurality of suction valves include all suction valves of the fluid pump (i.e. all three of the suction valves 237; Fig. 1); and causing, by the controller and responsive to the discharge pressure or the flow rate indicating that the fluid pump is to be deactivated (“an overpressure condition”; “Conditions at the well site may require that any one or more pumps be stopped immediately or substantially instantaneously to prevent damage to the pump”; “A sensor 126 may also detect an overpressure condition requiring a stoppage or a power down sequence of the motor 122 and a release of any fluid in pump 202”; “At step 408, if a condition or triggering event has been detected, then a response or mitigation step is determined. In one or more embodiments, a response may require complete stoppage of all discharge of servicing fluid 214 from each pump 202”; paras. 3, 13, 26, 37), the plurality of suction valves to be maintained in an open position throughout one or more discharge cycles of the plurality of discharge cycles until the prime move is in a stationary state (step 408; paras. 13, 22-23, 28, 40; “a power down sequence of one or more motors 122 associated with one or more pumps 202”; “As the pump 202 is disabled or no longer pumping, the motor 122 may be ramped down or stopped gradually”; “pressure control valve assembly 112 may be activated to prevent or throttle the pressurized servicing fluid 214 from being pumped by pump 202 to the wellhead 206 via flow line 222 during such a power down sequence of the motor 122”; “a power down sequence of one or more motors 122 associated with one or more pumps 202”).
17. A fluid pump system (100; Figs. 1-2), comprising: a fluid pump (102; Fig. 1), comprising: a fluid end (205; Fig. 2) having a fluid chamber (230; Fig. 2), a plunger (220; Fig. 2) configured to reciprocate with respect to the fluid chamber, and a plurality of suction valves (i.e. three suction valves 237 (Fig. 2) corresponding to three pumping chambers 130a-130c; Figs. 1-2; paras. 19, 21) biased to a closed position with respect to the fluid chamber (via spring 235; Fig. 2; paras. 23, 27); and a power end (203), operably connected to the plunger, configured to be driven by a prime mover (122); and a suction valve control system (112, 124), comprising: a plurality of valve control components (150a-150c and/or 250; Figs. 1-2) configured to control actuation of the plurality of suction valves (paras. 19, 21); and a controller (124), communicatively coupled to the plurality of valve control components (Figs. 1-2), configured to cause the plurality of valve control components to maintain the plurality of suction valves in an open position throughout one or more discharge cycles of the fluid pump to cause termination of all discharge flow from the fluid pump (“At step 408, if a condition or triggering event has been detected, then a response or mitigation step is determined. In one or more embodiments, a response may require complete stoppage of all discharge of servicing fluid 214 from each pump 202”; para. 37).
In regards to Claim 2, the controller is further configured to: cause, during one or more prior discharge cycles of the plurality of discharge cycles prior to the pump deactivating event, the plurality of suction valves not to be maintained in the open position during any portion of the one or more prior discharge cycles (normal pump operation described in paras. 21 & 26, which makes clear that the discharge cycles occur normally (via opening and closing of the suction valves based on pressure) until a pump deactivating event occurs; see also para. 43, which discloses resuming normal operations).
In regards to Claim 3, the controller is further configured to: receive an indication, based on a user input, that the fluid pump is to be deactivated, wherein receiving the indication is the pump deactivating event (para. 36; “input from a user may be indicative of a condition or triggering event. For example, input from a user at the master control system 302 or the control system 124 may trigger an event such that the method continues to step 408”).
In regards to Claim 4, the controller is further configured to: monitor a discharge pressure or a flow rate of the fluid pump (via sensor 126; see Claim 10 above); and detect that the discharge pressure or the flow rate satisfies a threshold (“a threshold may be set a certain pounds per square inch (p.s.i.) below an overpressure limit”; para. 36), wherein detecting that the discharge pressure or the flow rate satisfies the threshold is the pump deactivating event (i.e. an overpressure condition exists; see Claims 1, 10, & 17 above).
In regards to Claim 5, the open position is a full open position that corresponds to a maximum flow area of the plurality of suction valves (clearly implied at paras. 23, 41; “the rod 255 may extend based on control line 114 which prevents the suction valve 237 from closing and disables the pump 202 or prevents the pumping of servicing fluid 214 from the pump 202. Output flow of the pump 202 via flow line 222 is therefore ceased or stopped completely”; “pressurized fluid 218 causes the rod 255 to extend and engage with the suction valve 237 to maintain the suction valve 237 in an open position, for example, via a hydraulic pressure or a gas pressure. As the suction valve 237 is maintained in an open position during each suction and discharge stroke, any servicing fluid 214 in the pump 202 circulates between the fluid header 260 and the chamber 230 instead of being pumped out flow line 222”).
In regards to Claims 6-7, see Claim 17 above.
In regards to Claim 8, the controller, to cause the plurality of valve control components to maintain the plurality of suction valves in the open position, is configured to: cause actuation of the plurality of valve control components to an extended position to hold open the plurality of suction valves (paras. 13, 22-23, 28, 40; see also Claim 1 above).
In regards to Claim 11, see Claim 1 above.
In regards to Claim 12, see Claim 4 above.
In regards to Claim 13, the plurality of suction valves is to be maintained in the open position throughout the one or more discharge cycles while the prime mover is in a non-stationary state (step 408; paras. 13, 22-23, 28, 40; “a power down sequence of one or more motors 122 associated with one or more pumps 202”; “As the pump 202 is disabled or no longer pumping, the motor 122 may be ramped down or stopped gradually”; see also Claims 1 & 10 above).
In regards to Claim 14, the plurality of suction valves are to be maintained in the open position throughout the one or more discharge cycles to cause termination of discharge flow from the fluid pump (“At step 408, if a condition or triggering event has been detected, then a response or mitigation step is determined. In one or more embodiments, a response may require complete stoppage of all discharge of servicing fluid 214 from each pump 202”; para. 37; see also Claim 17 above).
In regards to Claim 18, see Claim 5 above.
In regards to Claim 19, see Claim 8 above.
In regards to Claim 20, see Claims 1 & 10 above.
In regards to Claim 21, see Claim 13 above.
In regards to Claim 22, see Claim 17 above.
In regards to Claim 23, see Claims 10 & 12 above.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendments filed December 12th, 2025 have necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ALEXANDER BRYANT COMLEY whose telephone number is (571)270-3772. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9AM-6PM CST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Mark Laurenzi can be reached at 571-270-7878. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ALEXANDER B COMLEY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3746
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