Office Action 2: Notice of Allowance (2025-10-01)

CLAIMS:
IN THE CLAIMS

Please amend the claims as follows:

1\. (Canceled)

2\. (New) A downhole tool for a drill string with a drill bit in a hydrocarbon well, the downhole tool comprising:an outer tubular body having an axis, a spring cavity with disc springs,
longitudinal ribs, a vane cavity configured to receive and deliver hydraulic fluid flow;an intermediate tubular body in the outer tubular body and comprising vanes located in the vane cavity of the outer tubular body, and female splines, and the vanes have a vane port;
an inner tubular body in the intermediate tubular body and comprising male splines that rotationally couple with the female splines and allow relative axial movement between the inner tubular body and the intermediate tubular body, wherein the male and female splines can rotate inside the outer tubular body for an angle determined by movement of the vanes between the longitudinal ribs in the outer tubular body; and wherein the inner tubular body has an extended position where it is pushed by the disc springs and, when weight is applied on the drill bit (WOB), the inner tubular body has a retracted position where it is pushed inward to compress the disc springs and push hydraulic fluid through the vane port on one side of the vanes in the vane cavity, which causes the inner tubular body and the intermediate tubular body to rotate for a selected angle relative to the outer tubular body.

3\. (New) The downhole tool of claim 2, wherein the outer tubular body further
comprises a top end plate with a top port;the inner tubular body comprises a load nut; and wherein rotational movement of the inner and intermediate tubular bodies also pushes hydraulic fluid from another side of the vanes through the top port to an upper chamber between the top end plate and the load nut.

4\. (New) The downhole tool of claim 3, wherein, when torque is applied on the drill bit, further rotational movement of the inner tubular body and the intermediate tubular body can occur, such that more hydraulic fluid is pumped to the upper chamber between the top end plate and the load nut, thereby moving the inner tubular body axially upward and further compressing the disc springs.

5\. (New) The downhole tool of claim 4, wherein decreasing WOB or torque on the drill bit causes the downhole tool to operate in an opposite direction.

6\. (New) The downhole tool of claim 2, wherein the top end plate comprises a bypass port with a check valve and a return port wherein, when the return port is aligned with a port in the intermediate tubular body, the return port opens with a specific position of the vanes of the intermediate tubular body.

7\. (New) The downhole tool of claim 2, wherein the inner tubular body can move axially, without rotation, when only WOB is applied.

8\. (New) The downhole tool of claim 2, wherein the inner tubular body can rotate and move axially when torque is applied on the drill bit.

9\. (New) The downhole tool of claim 3, further comprising
a bottom end plate with a bottom port;
a stop ring mounted in the outer tubular body and located below the bottom end plate to limit upward axial movement of the inner tubular body; and
the top and bottom ports provide hydraulic fluid flow to and from the vane cavity.

10\. (New) The downhole tool of claim 3, wherein downward travel of the inner tubular body is limited by the top end plate.

11\. (New) The downhole tool of claim 2, wherein the outer tubular body comprises a threaded connection adjacent to an upper end thereof to connect to a crossover sub to connect with an upper portion of the drill string.

12\. (New) The downhole tool of claim 11, wherein the inner tubular body comprises a connection for coupling to a lower portion of the drill string.

13\. (New) The downhole tool of claim 2, wherein the longitudinal ribs have rib seals that engage the intermediate tubular body.

14\. (New) The downhole tool of claim 2, wherein the vanes have vane seals that seal against the outer tubular body and the top and bottom end plates.

15\. (New) The downhole tool of claim 2, wherein the vanes divide the vane cavity into separate volumes.

16\. (New) The downhole tool of claim 3, wherein axial movement of the intermediate tubular body relative to the outer tubular body is restricted by the
top and bottom end plates.

17\. (New) The downhole tool of claim 2, wherein rotational movement of the intermediately tubular body relative to the outer tubular body is limited by rotational movement of the vanes within the vane cavity.

18\. (New) The downhole tool of claim 2, wherein the inner tubular body comprises an outer seal to seal against the outer tubular body.

19\. (New) The downhole tool of claim 2, wherein the male splines are located adjacent to an upper end of the inner tubular body.

20\. (New) The downhole tool of claim 3, wherein the load nut acts as a piston adjacent an upper end of the inner tubular body.

21\. (New) The downhole tool of claim 20, wherein the load nut comprises a seal to seal against the outer tubular body.

22\. (New) The downhole tool of claim 2, wherein the inner tubular body comprises an extension that acts as a spring guide and a conduit for mud flow through the downhole tool.

23\. (New) The downhole tool of claim 2, further comprising a seal between the inner tubular body and the intermediate tubular body, wherein the seal can prevent direct flow of hydraulic fluid between upper and lower chambers of the downhole tool, and the seal can force hydraulic fluid between the upper and lower chambers to occur only via the vane cavity.

OFFICE ACTION:
DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Applicants’ Amendment, filed 8/27/2025, has been entered. Claims 2-23 are pending and allowed with claim 1 being previously cancelled.
Drawings
The drawings filed 8/27/2025 have been accepted.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2-23 are allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance.
Downhole stick slip mitigation including shock absorption tools, various tool structures, and various operational steps are all very well known in the art. Representative art which appears close to the claimed invention includes Cravatte et al. (US 20170204684), Khaparde et al. (US 20160230479), Gopalan (US 10982492), Dinica et al. (US 20150376959), Anderson (US 6308940), Johnson (US 20170145759), Garrett (US 4281726), Evans (US 20130168092), and Donald et al. (US 20180171726). In general, this art, alone or in combination, discloses various recited features, including but not limited to, inner and outer tubular bodies, ports, fluid passages, disc springs, load nuts, male and female splines, and an extending and retracting inner tubular configured for axial and some specific rotational movement. This art fails to disclose or fairly suggest the specific positional relationships and details regarding the recited structure. It could be argued that the individual structure is found throughout the art and thus, could just be assembled to disclose the claimed invention. However, the instant invention clearly and specifically recites specific structure and structural relationships that are not taught in the specific art combinations. The examiner can find no motivation to combine or modify the references which would define a fully functioning apparatus as claimed in the instant application. Thus, it would not have been within routine skill to glean the specifically combined limitations of the instant invention, from the art, without the benefit of hindsight reasoning or extensive experimentation.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee.  Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion

APPLICANT REBUTTAL: REMARKS
Reconsideration is respectfully requested in view of the following remarks. No new matter is added.
Examiner Interview
A telephone interview was conducted with Examiner Bemko on August 27, 2025. Attorney Patterson represented Applicant in the interview. During the interview, the parties discussed clarifications to the drawings. The parties reached an agreement that the discussed amendments overcome the objections to the drawings. Applicant thanks Examiner Bemko for his time and presents this response in line with the agreement.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2-23 are asserted as reciting allowable subject matter if the objections and rejections are overcome and if the clearer drawings do not raise additional issues or illustrate structure that is different from the examiner's current understanding. Applicant thanks the Examiner for the confirmation of allowable subject matter.
Double Patenting
Claims 2-23 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting over claims 1-22 of US Pat. No. 12,104,442. As suggested in the Office Action, a terminal disclaimer is being submitted herewith, thereby obviating this rejection.
Objections to the Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.84(l). Particularly, FIGS. 1, 5, 11, 12, and 14 are alleged to not have satisfactory reproduction characteristics. To expedite prosecution, Replacement Sheets of FIGS. 1-17 are provided. No new matter is added.
Conclusion


CITED REFERENCE SUMMARIES: Ref US20170204684: Claims:
1. A downhole tool comprising an inner mandrel:
an outer mandrel, and a coupling mechanism to couple the inner and the outer mandrel, the coupling mechanism comprising one or more longitudinally elongate members acting between the inner and outer mandrel, wherein the one or more longitudinally elongate members are substantially fixed in their longitudinal length but substantially do not resist relative compressive longitudinal movement occurring between the inner and outer mandrels; and wherein the coupling mechanism is arranged such that compression of the inner and outer mandrels results in compression of the one or more longitudinally elongate members without necessarily resulting in relative rotation of the inner and outer mandrels.
2. A downhole tool according to claim 1, wherein compression of the inner and outer mandrels results in telescoping movement of the inner mandrel into the outer mandrel without necessarily resulting in relative rotation of the inner and outer mandrels.
3. A downhole tool according to claim 1, wherein the coupling mechanism does not comprise a lead screw arrangement.
4. A downhole tool according to claim 1, wherein the coupling mechanism does not comprise a rotational locking arrangement.
5. A downhole tool according to claim 1, wherein the coupling mechanism permits at least a certain degree of relative rotational movement between the inner and outer mandrels.
6. A downhole tool according to claim 1, wherein the coupling mechanism permits relative rotational movement between the inner and outer mandrels between a first configuration in which the downhole tool is relatively un-torqued and a second configuration in which the downhole tool is relatively fully torqued.
7. A downhole tool according to claim 6, wherein when the tool is in the first configuration the inner mandrel is not necessarily stroked into the outer mandrel and when the tool is in the second configuration the inner mandrel is stroked into the outer mandrel.
8. A downhole tool according to claim 1, wherein the one or more longitudinally elongate members provide a differential in their reaction to tension and compression.
9. A downhole tool according to claim 1, wherein the one or more longitudinally elongate members substantially permit compression along their length without substantial resistance and substantially resist tension applied along their length.
10. A downhole tool according to claim 1, wherein the one or more longitudinally elongate members provide a reactive force which resists tension but provides a substantially reduced resistive force when in compression.
11. A downhole tool according to claim 1, wherein the one or more longitudinally elongate members will collapse when compressed at one end relative to the other.
12. A downhole tool according to claim 1, wherein the one or more longitudinally elongate members are substantially inelastic when in tension and do not substantially increase in longitudinal length when tension is applied to one end relative to another.
13. A downhole tool according to claim 1, wherein the downhole tool is adapted to be included in a downhole tool string comprising a downhole drill bit.
14. A downhole tool according to claim 13, wherein the downhole tool is adapted to be included in a downhole tool string further comprising a downhole mud motor.
15. A downhole tool according to claim 1, wherein there area plurality of longitudinally elongate members.
16. A downhole tool according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of longitudinally elongate members are arranged around the longitudinal axis of the downhole tool.
17. A downhole tool according to claim 16, wherein the plurality of longitudinally elongate members are arranged substantially equi-spaced around a co-diameter of the longitudinal axis of the downhole tool.
18. A downhole tool according to claim 15, wherein one end of the plurality of longitudinally elongate members is securely mounted to the inner mandrel and the other end of the plurality of longitudinally elongate members is securely mounted to the outer mandrel.
19. A downhole tool according to claim 15, wherein:
the plurality of longitudinally elongate members are arranged substantially equi-spaced around a co-diameter of the longitudinal axis of the downhole tool such that the upper ends of the plurality of longitudinally elongate members terminate on an upper plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the downhole tool and the lower ends of the plurality of longitudinally elongate members terminate on a lower plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the downhole tool; and wherein the upper and lower planes are spaced apart by the longitudinal distance between the said upper and lower ends; and relative rotation of the said upper ends on their upper plane about the longitudinal axis of the downhole tool with respect to the lower ends on their lower plane results in the plurality of longitudinally elongate members comprising a helical configuration having a certain first longitudinal distance between the upper and lower planes.
20. A downhole tool according to claim 19, wherein further relative rotation of the upper ends on their upper plane about the longitudinal axis of the downhole tool with respect to the lower ends on their lower plane results in the plurality of longitudinally elongate members comprising a tighter helical configuration having a certain second longitudinal distance between the upper and lower planes.
21. A downhole tool according to claim 20, wherein the said second distance is shorter than the said first distance.
22. A downhole tool according to claim 1, wherein rotation of the upper end of the one or more longitudinally elongate members relative to the lower end results in the inner mandrel being pulled or stroked into the outer mandrel thereby decreasing the length of the downhole tool and thereby reducing the torque experienced by one or more other components included in the same downhole tool string as the downhole tool.
23. A downhole tool according to claim 1, wherein the downhole tool is a torque restriction tool.
24. A downhole tool according to claim 1, further comprising a biasing device acting between the inner and outer mandrel.
25. A downhole tool according to claim 24, wherein the biasing device is a separate component from the one or more longitudinally elongate members.
26. A downhole tool according to claim 24, wherein the biasing device acts to bias the inner mandrel out of the outer mandrel and acts to resist relative compressive movement of the inner mandrel into the outer mandrel.
27. A downhole tool according to claim 24, wherein the biasing device comprises one or more spring devices.
28. A downhole tool according to claim 27, wherein the one or more the spring devices comprises a plurality of belleville springs.
29. A downhole tool according to claim 24, wherein the biasing device is arranged to enable rotation of the inner mandrel relative to the outer mandrel once a certain level of relative torque is experienced by the inner and outer mandrel and thus the biasing device permits the said rotation of one end of the plurality of longitudinally elongate members relative to the other.
30. A downhole tool according to claim 24, wherein the biasing device is arranged to enable rotation of the inner mandrel relative to the outer mandrel once a pre-determined level of relative torque is experienced by the inner and outer mandrel and thus the biasing device permits the said rotation of one end of the plurality of longitudinally elongate members relative to the other.
31. A downhole tool according to claim 1 wherein the downhole tool comprises a downhole torque control tool.
32. A downhole tool according to claim 1 wherein the downhole tool comprises a downhole shock absorber tool.
33. A downhole tool according to claim 1 wherein the downhole tool comprises a downhole axial vibration dampener tool.
34. A downhole tool according to claim 1 wherein the downhole tool comprises a downhole torsion control tool.
35. A downhole tool according to claim 1 wherein the downhole tool comprises a downhole torsional vibration dampener tool.
36. A downhole tool according to claim 1 wherein the downhole tool comprises a combined downhole torque control, torsional control and axial vibration dampener.
37. A downhole tool according to claim 24, wherein the biasing device is arranged to absorb or dampen shock and/or vibration experienced by the downhole tool in use, and therefore provides the tool with a dual shock absorbing and torque control function.
38. A downhole tool according to claim 19, wherein the one or more elongate members are arranged such that their pitch is not constant.
39. A downhole tool according to claim 19, wherein the pitch of the plurality of longitudinally elongate members increases as the inner mandrel telescopes or strokes further into the outer mandrel.
40. A downhole tool according to claim 1, wherein the inner mandrel is arranged telescopingly within the outer mandrel.
41. A downhole tool according to claim 1, wherein the one or more longitudinally elongate members comprise one or more cables having a longitudinal length substantially greater than their diameter.
42. (canceled)
Ref US20160230479: Claims:
1. A shock tool for a drill string positionable in a wellbore, said shock tool comprising:
an outer tubular housing having female multi-spiral helical spline grooves disposed on an interior surface of the housing, said housing including an upper connector for coupling to the drill string and a lower connector for coupling to a spring housing; and an inner tubular mandrel having a portion of an exterior circumferential surface with male multi-spiral helical splines configured to mate with the female multi-spiral helical grooves of the outer tubular housing and at least a lower portion of the exterior circumferential surface of the mandrel not containing splines thereon, said inner tubular mandrel telescopically and rotationally received in the outer tubular housing with the male splines received in the female spline grooves of the outer tubular housing, said lower portion of the inner tubular mandrel without splines being received in the spring housing coupled to the outer tubular housing, said inner tubular mandrel having an axial fluid passageway for passage of drilling fluid supplied by the drill string through the mandrel, wherein said spring housing includes at least one disc spring disposed around the lower portion of the exterior surface of the mandrel not containing splines thereon and in an annulus between the mandrel and an inner surface of the spring housing, said disc spring having a predetermined biasing force that biases at least a portion of the mandrel outwardly through an axial opening in an upper end of the outer tubular housing.
2. The shock tool of claim 1, wherein the multi-spiral helical splines of the inner tubular mandrel have a pitch of between 5 degrees and 60 degrees measured from a longitudinal axis of the tool.
3. The shock tool of claim 2, wherein the multi-spiral helical splines of the inner tubular mandrel have a pitch of about 9 degrees from the longitudinal axis.
4. The shock tool of claim 2, wherein the multi-spiral helical splines of the inner tubular mandrel have a pitch of about 22 degrees from the longitudinal axis.
5. The shock tool of claim 1, wherein the disc spring positioned inside the spring housing is biased with a preload of WOB (Weight on Bit) and torque transfer.
6. The shock tool of claim 5, wherein the disc spring is biased at about 8% under WOB.
7. The shock tool of claim 5, wherein the disc spring is biased at about 15% under torque transfer.
8. The shock tool of claim 1, further comprising a balance piston located to facilitate dampening of axial and torsional shock loads absorbed by the disc spring.
9. The shock tool of claim 8, further comprising a piston housing coupled to the spring housing, the balance piston located in an annulus between the mandrel and the piston housing.
10. The shock tool of claim 8, further comprising lubricant oil contained in a space adjacent the balance piston, wherein a volume of the space decreases with compression of the disc spring.
11. The shock tool of claim 10, wherein the outer tubular housing is sealed against the mandrel to contain the lubricant oil.
12. The shock tool of claim 1, further comprising a wash pipe comprising a central bore aligned with the axial fluid passageway of the mandrel.
13. The shock tool of claim 1, wherein the lower portion of the exterior circumferential surface of the mandrel not containing splines comprises a smaller diameter than the portion of the mandrel having the splines.
14. The shock tool of claim 12, wherein a change in diameter of the mandrel between the lower portion of the exterior circumferential surface of the mandrel not containing splines and the portion of the mandrel having the splines creates a shoulder abutting one end of the disc spring.
15. A method of absorbing axial and torsional shock loads on a drill sting positioned in a wellbore, said method comprising:
installing a shock tool in a drill string, said shock tool including an outer tubular housing having a plurality of female multi-spiral helical spline grooves disposed on an interior surface of the housing, an inner tubular mandrel having a portion of an exterior circumferential surface with male multi-spiral helical splines configured to mate with the female multi-spiral helical grooves of the outer tubular housing and at least a lower portion of the exterior circumferential surface of the mandrel not containing splines thereon, said mandrel positioned in the outer housing with the male splines received in the female spline grooves of the housing, said lower portion of the mandrel without splines being received in a spring housing coupled to the outer tubular housing, wherein said spring housing includes at least one disc spring disposed around the lower portion of the exterior surface of the mandrel not containing splines thereon and in an annulus between the mandrel and an inner surface of the spring housing, said disc spring having a predetermined biasing force that biases at least a portion of the mandrel outwardly through an axial opening in an upper end of the outer tubular housing; conducting drilling operations with the drill string and shock tool positioned in the wellbore; receiving axial and torsional shock loads on a drill bit coupled to the shock tool; rotating the outer tubular housing relative to the inner tubular mandrel in response to the axial and torsional shock loads; translating rotary motion of the inner tubular mandrel into axial movement of the inner tubular mandrel inwardly into the outer tubular housing via the axial opening in the upper end of the outer tubular housing due to rotational movement of the male splines of the inner tubular mandrel received in the female spline grooves in the outer tubular housing; and compressing the disc spring due to inwardly axial motion of the inner tubular mandrel, thereby absorbing the torsional and axial shock loads imposed on the drill string.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising dampening torsional and axial shock loads absorbed by the disc spring via a balance piston reacting to lubricant oil pressure.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the lubricant oil is contained in a space adjacent the balance piston, wherein a volume of the space decreases with compression of the disc spring.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein the multi-spiral helical splines of the inner tubular mandrel have a pitch of between 5 degrees and 60 degrees measured from a longitudinal axis of the tool.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the multi-spiral helical splines of the inner tubular mandrel have a pitch of about 9 degrees from the longitudinal axis.
20. The method of claim 15, wherein the disc spring positioned inside the spring housing is biased with a preload of WOB (Weight on Bit) and torque transfer.
21. A shock tool for a drill string positionable in a wellbore, said shock tool comprising:
an outer tubular housing having female multi-spiral helical spline grooves disposed on an interior surface of the housing, said housing including an upper connector for coupling to the drill string; and an inner tubular mandrel having a portion of an exterior circumferential surface with male multi-spiral helical splines configured to mate with the female multi-spiral helical grooves of the outer tubular housing and at least a lower portion of the exterior circumferential surface of the mandrel not containing splines thereon, said inner tubular mandrel telescopically and rotationally received in the outer tubular housing with the male splines received in the female spline grooves of the outer tubular housing, said lower portion of the inner tubular mandrel without splines being received in a spring housing portion of the outer tubular housing, said inner tubular mandrel having an axial fluid passageway for passage of drilling fluid supplied by the drill string through the mandrel, wherein said spring housing portion of the outer tubular housing includes at least one disc spring disposed around the lower portion of the exterior surface of the mandrel not containing splines thereon and in an annulus between the mandrel and an inner surface of the spring housing portion of the outer tubular housing, said disc spring having a predetermined biasing force that biases at least a portion of the mandrel outwardly through an axial opening in an upper end of the outer tubular housing.
Ref US20150376959: Claims:
1. A downhole tool for dampening compressive and tensile forces within a drillstring comprising:
a bottom end shaft configurable to a drillstring, the bottom end shaft telescopically engaged within a compression housing and a torsional housing; the torsional housing having at least one longitudinal slot operatively containing at least one pin for sliding engagement within a corresponding longitudinal slot and engagement within a recess on the bottom end shaft, wherein engagement of the at least one pin within the corresponding longitudinal slot allows axial movement of the bottom end shaft relative to the torsional housing and prevents rotational movement of the bottom end shaft relative to the torsional housing; the compression housing configurable to drillstring equipment, the compression housing operatively containing a first spring between the compression housing and the bottom end shaft, the first spring for absorbing compression forces between the bottom end shaft and the compression housing.
2. The downhole tool as in claim 1 further comprising a second spring operatively contained within the compression housing between the compression housing and the bottom end shaft, the second spring for absorbing tension forces between the bottom end shaft and the compression housing and wherein when under no compressive or tensile forces the first and second springs return the bottom end shaft to a balanced position.
3. The downhole tool as in claim 1 wherein the torsional housing includes a rubber insert configured to inner surfaces of the torsional housing, and wherein the at least one pin engages with the rubber insert.
4. The downhole tool as in claim 1 wherein the torsional housing operatively retains four pins.
5. The downhole tool as in claim 2 wherein the first and second springs are contained within first and second hydraulic chambers containing hydraulic fluid.
6. The downhole tool as in claim 1 further comprising a first seal operatively connected between the torsional housing and bottom end shaft.
7. The downhole tool as in claim 6 further comprising a second seal operatively connected between the compression housing and bottom end shaft.
8. The downhole tool as in claim 7 further comprising a pressure compensation
[Truncated to input limit]