Office Action 2: Notice of Allowance (2025-08-15)

CLAIMS:
Amendments to the Claims

This listing of claims will replace all prior versions, and listings, of claims in the application:

Listing of Claims:

1\. (Original) A mounting system to secure a component in a tubular housing comprising:an outer collar having a longitudinal axis and an inner surface;
a tubular housing, at least partially inside the outer collar, includes at least one of a pocket and a finger at an axial end of the tubular housing along the longitudinal axis;
a component in the tubular housing, the component includes an axial end along the longitudinal axis;
a stop element, at least partially in the tubular housing and at least partially in the outer collar, the stop element fastened to the tubular housing by a first fastening means, an axial end of the stop element abuts the axial end of the component, the stop element includes a conical surface on an outer surface along the longitudinal axis;
a compression element between the stop element and the outer collar, the compression element includes at least one of a finger and a pocket on a first axial end and includes a first shoulder on a second axial end along the longitudinal axis and opposite the first axial end;

a thrust ring surrounding the stop element and fastened to the stop element by a second fastening means, the thrust ring includes a second shoulder, the second shoulder abutting the first shoulder on the compression element;
wherein the compression element applies a coupling force onto the inner surface of the outer collar and (i) the finger on the compression element reaches into the pocket on the tubular housing or (ii) the finger on the tubular housing reaches into the pocket on the compression element, and securing the component axially and rotationally in the outer collar.
2\. (Original) The mounting system of claim 1, wherein the stop element includes an outer diameter, the outer diameter varies along the conical surface and along the longitudinal axis, the conical surface includes a first axial end and a second axial end, and wherein the outer diameter at the first axial end is larger than at the second axial end, and the first axial end is closer to the component than the second axial end.
3\. (Original) The mounting system of claim 1, wherein the compression element includes a conical surface on an inner surface along the longitudinal axis, and the conical surface on the compression element corresponds with the conical surface on the stop element.4 (Original) The mounting system of claim 1, wherein the first fastening means includes first threads on an inner surface of the tubular housing, and second threads on an outer surface of the stop element.

5\. (Original) The mounting system of claim 4, wherein the second fastening means includes third threads on an outer surface of the stop element and fourth threads on an inner surface of the thrust ring.
6\. (Original) The mounting system of claim 1, further including an inner ring surrounding the thrust ring, the inner ring is surrounded by the compression element, the inner ring is fastened to the thrust ring by a third fastening means.
7\. (Original) The mounting system of claim 6, wherein the inner ring includes a third shoulder, and the compression element includes a lip, wherein the lip is between the second shoulder and the third shoulder.
8\. (Original) The mounting system of claim 7, wherein the lip includes an axial extension along the longitudinal axis, and wherein the axial extension of the lip is smaller than the axial distance between the second shoulder and the third shoulder.
9\. (Currently Amended) The mounting system of claim 1, wherein the compression element includes one of (i) a sidewall surrounding the thrust ring and includes slots extending axially along a portion of the sidewall along the longitudinal axis, and (ii) a plurality of separate compression segments located around the thrust ring and wherein each of the plurality of compression segments includes the conical surface.
10\. (Original) The mounting system of claim 1, wherein the coupling force exceeds forces from high frequency torsional oscillations that are imparted onto the outer collar.

11\. (Original) The mounting system of claim 1, wherein the stop element includes a central bore with an inner diameter.
12\. (Original) A method of coupling a component within a tubular housing comprising:
obtaining a stop element comprising a conically profiled outer surface, a portion coupled with the component, the component surrounded by a tubular housing with at least one of a pocket and finger extending along a longitudinal axis of the tubular housing;
the stop element coupled with the tubular housing,
obtaining a compression element having at least one of a finger and pocket extending along a longitudinal axis of the compression element;
disposing the stop element, the tubular housing, and the component inside an outer collar,
the outer collar having an inner surface;
sliding the compression element into an annular space between the conically profiled outer surface of the stop element and the inner surface of the outer collar, so that the compression element is radially compressed between the stop element and the outer collar and creates a force that axially and rotationally couples the stop element, the tubular housing and the component to the outer collar; and
aligning the at least one of the pocket and finger on the tubular housing with the at least one of the finger and pocket on the compression element so that the finger inserts into the pocket as the compression element slides into the annular space.

13\. (Original) The method of Claim 12, wherein a conical profile is formed on an inner surface of the compression element that is complementary to and in selective sliding engagement with the conically profiled outer surface on the stop element.

14\. (Original) The method of Claim 12, wherein slots are formed axially along a length of the compression element, the slots expanding when the compression element slides over the conically profiled outer surface of the stop element.

15\. (Original) The method of Claim 12, further comprising obtaining a thrust ring having threads on an inner surface, and engaging the threads on the inner surface with threads on an outer surface of the stop element to create a force for sliding the compression element along the stop element.

16\. (Original) The method of Claim 15, further comprising rotating the compression element about the stop element to orient the at least one of the finger and pocket on the compression element with the at least one of the pocket and finger on the tubular housing.

17\. (Original) The method of Claim 12, wherein the outer collar comprises a section of a drill string and the force that axially and rotationally couples the stop element to the outer collar exceeds forces from high frequency torsional oscillations that are imparted onto the drill string during drilling.

18\. (Original) The method of Claim 12, further including coupling a thrust ring to the stop element and using the thrust ring to sliding the compression element into the annular space between the conically profiled outer surface of the stop element and the inner surface of the outer collar.

19\. (Original) The method of Claim 18, further including coupling an inner ring to the thrust ring, wherein at least a portion of the compression element is located between the inner ring and the thrust ring and using the inner ring when removing the compression element from the stop element during uncoupling the component and the tubular housing.

20\. (Original) The method of Claim 12, wherein the component is a mud motor or a turbine.

OFFICE ACTION:
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 .
Reasons for Allowance
A statement of the examiner’s reasons for allowance can be found in a previous Office action.
Conclusion

APPLICANT REBUTTAL: REMARKS/ARGUMENTSA
Remarks The action is an Ex Parte Quayle action, and in the action the drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(4) because reference characters "9" and "23" have both been used to designate a rearward end. Clarifying amendments are requested to Claim 9 changing compression element to sidewall, support for this amendment is in paragraph [0018] of the application as filed. Claim 1-20 have been found allowable over prior art.B
Response 1. Drawings With this paper are amendments to paragraph(s) [0016] and [0021] of the Specification clarifying that reference numeral 9 identifies a string component rearward end and reference numeral 23 identifies a component housing rearward end. These amendments add no new matter.As these amendments address all objections in the action, and all claims are considered to be ready for allowance, the applicant respectfully urges that this application is in condition for allowance.The applicant thanks the Examiner for the examination and asks for early allowance.2. Cited References References were made of record that were not otherwise referenced in the body of the action. These references do not add information to issues already raised and discussed, and as such do not affect the patentability of the claims of the subject application.CONCLUSIONIt is believed that the foregoing response is full, complete, and timely filed. Applicant respectfully requests reconsideration of the instant application in light of the foregoing response and amendments. Applicant reserves the right to respond to any objection or rejection issued in this application, and that any objection or rejection is not addressed does not constitute a waiver of that right. The correctness of any rejection or objection is not acknowledged with this paper, and the right is reserved to address the patentability of any claim or claimed feature. Should the Examiner have any questions, comments or suggestions in furtherance of the prosecution of the application, the Examiner is invited to contact the Applicant's representative by telephone or fax.Respectfully submitted, Date: July 29, 2025