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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
If applicable, The Office would like to remind Applicant of the time limits set forth under 37 CFR 1.97.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to because they are grey scale and of poor line quality. Every line, number, and letter must be durable, clean, black, sufficiently dense and dark, and uniformly thick and well-defined. See MPEP 608.02 and 37 CFR 1.84.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Claim Interpretation
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(f):
(f) Element in Claim for a Combination. – An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The claims in this application are given their broadest reasonable interpretation using the plain meaning of the claim language in light of the specification as it would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The broadest reasonable interpretation of a claim element (also commonly referred to as a claim limitation) is limited by the description in the specification when 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is invoked.
As explained in MPEP § 2181, subsection I, claim limitations that meet the following three-prong test will be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
(A) the claim limitation uses the term “means” or “step” or a term used as a substitute for “means” that is a generic placeholder (also called a nonce term or a non-structural term having no specific structural meaning) for performing the claimed function;
(B) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is modified by functional language, typically, but not always linked by the transition word “for” (e.g., “means for”) or another linking word or phrase, such as “configured to” or “so that”; and
(C) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is not modified by sufficient structure, material, or acts for performing the claimed function.
Use of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim with functional language creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites sufficient structure, material, or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Absence of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is not to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is not interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites function without reciting sufficient structure, material or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Claim limitations in this application that use the word “means” (or “step”) are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action. Conversely, claim limitations in this application that do not use the word “means” (or “step”) are not being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action.
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) 1-12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Standbridge (US 20160369589).
Regarding claim 1, Standbridge teaches: An actuator (Standbridge comprising 10) for operating a valve (Standbridge [0020, 0026-0029, 0049-0050]) disposed (Standbridge Fig. 9) in a rotatable drill stem comprising a passageway therethrough, the drill stem defining a longitudinal axis (Standbridge near 11), the valve comprising a ball valve (Standbridge 102) disposed therein, the ball valve configured for opening and closing the passageway, the actuator comprising:
a) a mounting sleeve (Standbridge 12) configured for attaching to the valve, the mounting sleeve further comprising at least one pinion gear (Standbridge 28) configured (Standbridge [0050, 0058]) for coupling to the ball valve and rotating the ball valve to open and close the passageway;
b) a rack sleeve (Standbridge 14) circumferentially disposed on the mounting sleeve and configured (Standbridge [0028-0029, 0048-0051]) for slidable movement up and down on the mounting sleeve along the longitudinal axis, the rack sleeve further comprising a rack (Standbridge 36) configured (Standbridge [0020-0023, 0028-0036, 0048-0051]) to rotate the at least one pinion gear when the rack sleeve moves up and down on the mounting sleeve; and
c) shifting means (Standbridge [0034]; claim 8-10) for slidably moving the rack sleeve on the mounting sleeve, the shifting means rotatably coupled (Standbridge [0034]; claim 8-10) to the mounting sleeve and to the rack sleeve wherein the shifting means is substantially stationary when the drill stem is rotating.
Note: Alternative citations based on different embodiments and/or different interpretations of the same embodiment have been provided to address the different variations and/or alteration of features in the dependent claims.
Regarding claim 2, Standbridge teaches: The actuator as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one pinion gear comprises a shaft (Standbridge [0020, 0050]) that is configured to engage the ball valve.
Regarding claim 3, Standbridge teaches: The actuator as set forth in claim 1, wherein the mounting sleeve further comprises one or both of a threaded collar and a plurality of set screws (Standbridge [0049, 0053-0054]; claim 2) configured to engage the valve to attach the mounting sleeve thereto.
Regarding claim 4, Standbridge teaches: The actuator as set forth in claim 1, wherein the shifting means comprises:
a) first and second end plates (Standbridge [0034, 0048-0049]) rotatably attached to opposing ends of the mounting sleeve;
b) at least one shroud plate (Standbridge 22) operatively connecting (Standbridge [0034, 0048-0049]) the first and second end plates to form at least a partially enclosed or a fully enclosed structure;
c) a shifting base (Standbridge 16) disposed (Standbridge [0048-0049]) between the first and second end plates and circumferentially disposed on the rack sleeve, the rack sleeve and the shifting base, in combination, comprising
means (Standbridge [0034]; claim 7) for enabling the shifting base to engage the rack sleeve and to rotate relative to the rack sleeve about the longitudinal axis; and
d) the first and second end plates and the shifting base, in combination, comprising moving means (Standbridge [0036]; claim 9) for moving the shifting base linearly back and forth between the first and second end plates thereby engaging the rack sleeve to move slidably on the mounting sleeve along the longitudinal axis.
Regarding claim 5, Standbridge teaches: The actuator as set forth in claim 4, wherein the moving means comprises a plurality of cylinder assemblies (Standbridge [0037, 0052, 0054]) disposed between the first and second end plates and operatively coupled thereto, each of the plurality of cylinder assemblies comprising a cylinder housing (Standbridge 62) slidable disposed on at least one piston rod (Standbridge 30), the cylinder housing operatively coupled (Standbridge [0048-0056]) to the shifting base, wherein the shifting base moves up and down between the first and second end plates as the cylinder housing moves along the at least one piston rod.
Regarding claim 6, Standbridge teaches: The actuator as set forth in claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of cylinder assemblies comprises a hydraulic piston (Standbridge [0022-0023, 0036-0037, 0048-0056]) and cylinder combination (Standbridge [0022-0023, 0036-0037, 0048-0056]).
Regarding claim 7, Standbridge teaches: A method for operating a valve (Standbridge [0020, 0026-0029, 0049-0050]) disposed (Standbridge Fig. 9) in a rotatable drill stem comprising a passageway therethrough, the drill stem defining a longitudinal axis (Standbridge near 11), the valve comprising a ball valve (Standbridge 102) disposed therein, the ball valve configured for opening and closing the passageway, the method comprising the steps of:
a) providing (Standbridge comprising 10) an actuator, comprising:
i) a mounting sleeve (Standbridge 12) configured for attaching to the valve, the mounting sleeve further comprising at least one pinion gear (Standbridge 28) configured (Standbridge [0050, 0058]) for coupling to the ball valve and rotating the ball valve to open and close the passageway,
ii) a rack sleeve (Standbridge 14) circumferentially disposed on the mounting sleeve and configured (Standbridge [0028-0029, 0048-0051]) for slidable movement up and down on the mounting sleeve along the longitudinal axis, the rack sleeve further comprising a rack (Standbridge 36) configured (Standbridge [0020-0023, 0028-0036, 0048-0051]) to rotate the at least one pinion gear when the rack sleeve moves up and down on the mounting sleeve, and
iii) shifting means (Standbridge [0034]; claim 8-10) for slidably moving the rack sleeve on the mounting sleeve, the shifting means rotatably coupled (Standbridge [0034]; claim 8-10) to the mounting sleeve and to the rack sleeve wherein the shifting means is substantially stationary when the drill stem is rotating;
b) attaching (Standbridge [0029]) the actuator to the valve; and
c) moving (Standbridge [0029]) the rack sleeve relative to the mounting sleeve using the shifting base to rotate the ball valve.
Regarding claim 8, Standbridge teaches: The method as set forth in claim 7, wherein the at least one pinion gear comprises a shaft (Standbridge [0020, 0050]) that is configured to engage the ball valve.
Regarding claim 9, Standbridge teaches: The method as set forth in claim 7, wherein the mounting sleeve further comprises one or both of a threaded collar and a plurality of set screws (Standbridge [0049, 0053-0054]; claim 2) configured to engage the valve to attach the mounting sleeve thereto.
Regarding claim 10, Standbridge teaches: The method as set forth in claim 7, wherein the shifting means comprises:
a) first and second end plates (Standbridge [0034, 0048-0049]) rotatably attached to opposing ends of the mounting sleeve;
b) at least one shroud plate (Standbridge 22) operatively connecting (Standbridge [0034, 0048-0049]) the first and second end plates to form at least a partially enclosed or a fully enclosed structure;
c) a shifting base (Standbridge 16) disposed (Standbridge [0048-0049]) between the first and second end plates and circumferentially disposed on the rack sleeve, the rack sleeve and the shifting base, in combination, comprising
means (Standbridge [0034]; claim 7) for enabling the shifting base to engage the rack sleeve and to rotate relative to the rack sleeve about the longitudinal axis; and
d) the first and second end plates and the shifting base, in combination, comprising moving means (Standbridge [0036]; claim 9) for moving the shifting base linearly back and forth between the first and second end plates thereby engaging the rack sleeve to move slidably on the mounting sleeve along the longitudinal axis.
Regarding claim 11, Standbridge teaches: The method as set forth in claim 10, wherein the moving means comprises a plurality of cylinder assemblies (Standbridge [0037, 0052, 0054]) disposed between the first and second end plates and operatively coupled thereto, each of the plurality of cylinder assemblies comprising a cylinder housing (Standbridge 62) slidable disposed on at least one piston rod (Standbridge 30), the cylinder housing operatively coupled (Standbridge [0048-0056]) to the shifting base, wherein the shifting base moves up and down between the first and second end plates as the cylinder housing moves along the at least one piston rod.
Regarding claim 12, Standbridge teaches: The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of cylinder assemblies comprises a hydraulic piston (Standbridge [0022-0023, 0036-0037, 0048-0056]) and cylinder combination (Standbridge [0022-0023, 0036-0037, 0048-0056]).
Prior Art
The following prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to Applicant's disclosure.
Mott (US 3941348) teaches a safety valve configured to mount between the swivel and Kelley.
Winegeart (US 4650153) teaches a safety valve for a rotatable Kelly or drill string, wherein the valve comprises a ball valve and rack, pinion assembly, and hydraulic actuator.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to David Carroll whose telephone number is (571)272-4808. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 2:00-10:00 PM EDT.
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/David Carroll/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3674
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