`
`Evidence
`
`Non-limiting. To the extent the preamble of claim 1 is found to be limiting,
`all rights to identify any such structure as limited in the reference are
`reserved.
`
`See, e.g.:
`
`Figure at p. 3 (cropped and annotated). The red vertical line shows a first
`conduit extending into (the housing), and the red horizontal line shows a
`second conduit extending into (the housing) that intersects the first conduit:
`
`U.S. Patent No.
`10,591,070
`Claim 1.
`[1 preamble]
`A method of
`manufacturing the
`fluid end assembly,
`comprising:
`
`[1a]
`providing a housing
`having a first conduit
`extending
`therethrough and a
`second conduit
`extending
`therethrough that
`intersects the first
`conduit;
`
`
`
`
`
`See, e.g.:
`
`Figure at p. 3 (cropped and annotated). The red circles in the annotated
`figure below show the annular recess in the housing such that it surrounds
`the second conduit.
`
`
`[1b]
`forming an endless
`groove in the housing
`such that the groove
`surrounds the second
`conduit;
`
`Page 1 of 14
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`CLAIM CHART: NOV-267Q
`CLAIM CHART: NOV-267Q
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`Page 2 of 14
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`Page 2 of 14
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`CLAIM CHART: NOV-267Q
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`[1c]
`positioning a seal
`within the groove;
`
`See, e.g.:
`
`Figure at p. 3 (cropped and annotated). The red circles in the annotated
`figure below show the annular recess in the housing such that it surrounds
`the second conduit. A “GASKET” is identified in the annular recess.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`Page 3 of 14
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`CLAIM CHART: NOV-267Q
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`
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`
`
`
`
`
`See Claim 1.
`
`See also, e.g.:
`
`Figure at p. 3 (cropped and annotated)
`
`[1d]
`installing a tubular
`sleeve within the
`second conduit such
`that at least a portion
`of the sleeve engages
`with the seal;
`[1e]
`installing a plurality
`of packing seals
`within the sleeve; and
`[1f]
`installing a
`reciprocating plunger
`at least partially
`within the sleeve and
`the plurality of
`packing seals.
`
`Claim 2. The method
`of claim 1, further
`comprising:
`forming the groove
`such that it has a pair
`of parallel side walls
`joined by a base.
`
`Page 4 of 14
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`
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`Claim 3. The method
`of claim 1, further
`comprising:
`forming the groove
`such that it opens
`towards a centerline
`of the second
`conduit.
`
`
`
`
`See Claim [1b].
`
`
`
`
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`Page 5 of 14
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`CLAIM CHART: NOV-267Q
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`See Claim 1.
`
`See also, e.g.:
`
`Figure at p. 3 (cropped and annotated).
`
`Claim 4. The method
`of claim 1, further
`comprising:
`installing a plug into
`the first conduit in
`which the plug is
`sized to fully block
`fluid flow within the
`first conduit.
`
`
`
`
`
`See Claim 1.
`
`
`Claim 5. The method
`of claim 1 in which
`the endless groove is
`characterized as the
`first groove, further
`comprising
`
`
`
`
`
`Page 6 of 14
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`CLAIM CHART: NOV-267Q
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`forming a second
`endless groove in the
`housing such that the
`groove surrounds the
`first conduit.
`
`See, e.g.:
`
`Figure at p. 3 (cropped and annotated).
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`See Claim [1 Preamble].
`
`See Claim [1a].
`
`
`Claim 6.
`[6 preamble]
`A fluid end assembly,
`comprising:
`[6a]
`a housing having a
`first conduit
`extending
`therethrough, and a
`second conduit
`extending
`therethrough that
`intersects the first
`conduit;
`
`Page 7 of 14
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`CLAIM CHART: NOV-267Q
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`[6b]
`an endless groove
`formed in the
`housing such that the
`groove surrounds the
`second conduit;
`[6c]
`a seal positioned
`within the groove;
`[6d]
`a tubular sleeve
`installed within the
`second conduit such
`that at least a portion
`of the sleeve engages
`with the seal;
`[6e]
`a plurality of packing
`seals disposed within
`the sleeve; and
`[6f]
`a reciprocating
`plunger disposed at
`least partially within
`the sleeve and the
`plurality of packing
`seals.
`
`Claim 7. The fluid
`end assembly of
`claim 6, further
`comprising:
`a closure element
`installed within the
`first conduit.
`
`Claim 8. The fluid
`end assembly of
`claim 7 in which the
`closure element is a
`plug sized to fully
`block fluid flow
`within the first
`conduit.
`
`
`See Claim [1b].
`
`See Claim [1c].
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`See Claims 4, 6.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`See Claims 4, 7.
`
`
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`Page 8 of 14
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`Claim 9. The fluid
`end assembly of
`claim 6 in which the
`first conduit is
`orthogonal to the
`second conduit.
`
`Claim 10. The fluid
`end assembly of
`claim 6 in which the
`groove is
`characterized by a
`pair of parallel side
`walls joined by a
`base.
`
`Claim 11. The fluid
`end assembly of
`claim 10 in which the
`seal engages the side
`walls and the base of
`the groove.
`
`Claim 12. The fluid
`end assembly of
`claim 6 in which the
`groove opens towards
`a centerline of the
`second conduit.
`
`Claim 13. The fluid
`end assembly of
`claim 6 in which at
`least a portion of the
`housing is configured
`to contain a fluid
`having a pressure of
`at least 8,000 pounds
`per square inch.
`
`
`See Claims [1a], 6.
`
`
`
`See Claims 2, 6.
`
`
`See Claims [1c], 10.
`
`
`See Claims 3, 6.
`
`
`
`
`
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`Page 9 of 14
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`CLAIM CHART: NOV-267Q
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`Claim 14. The fluid
`end assembly of
`claim 6 in which the
`plunger is configured
`to engage with an
`engine having a
`power output of at
`least 2,250
`horsepower.
`
`Claim 15. The fluid
`end assembly of
`claim 6 in which the
`endless groove is
`characterized as the
`first groove, and
`further comprising:
`a second endless
`groove formed in the
`housing such that the
`second groove
`surrounds the first
`conduit.
`
`Claim 16. The fluid
`end assembly of
`claim 15 in which the
`seal is characterized
`as the first seal, and
`further comprising:
`a second seal
`positioned with the
`second groove.
`
`
`
`
`
`See Claim 6.
`
`See Claim 5.
`
`
`See Claim 15.
`
`See Claim 5.
`
`
`
`Page 10 of 14
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`Claim 17. The fluid
`end assembly of
`claim 6, further
`comprising:
`a valve positioned
`with the first conduit.
`
`See Claim 6.
`
`See also, e.g.:
`
`Fig. at p. 3 (cropped and annotated)
`
`
`
`
`See Claim 6
`
`
`
`
`Claim 18. The fluid
`end assembly of
`claim 6 in which the
`second conduit has a
`first and second
`section, and in which
`the endless groove is
`characterized as the
`first groove and is
`formed in the first
`section of the second
`conduit, and further
`comprising:
`
`Page 11 of 14
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`a second endless
`groove formed in the
`housing such that the
`second groove
`surrounds the second
`section of the second
`conduit.
`
`See, e.g.:
`
`Figure at p. 3 (cropped and annotated). The red circles in the annotated
`figure below show annular recesses in the housing of the second section of
`the second conduit such that it surrounds the second conduit.
`
`
`
`
`
`Claim 19. The fluid
`end assembly of
`claim 18 in which the
`seal is characterized
`as the first seal, and
`further comprising:
`a second seal
`positioned within the
`second groove.
`
`
`
`
`See Claim 18.
`
`See Claims [1c], 18.
`
`
`
`Page 12 of 14
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`Claim 20. A system,
`comprising:
`the fluid end
`assembly of claim 6;
`and
`a fluid having a
`pressure of at least
`8,000 pounds per
`square inch within at
`least a portion of the
`internal chamber.
`
`Claim 21. A system,
`comprising:
`the fluid end
`assembly of claim 6;
`and
`an engine engaged
`with the plunger and
`having a power
`output of at least
`2,250 horsepower.
`
`Claim 22. The fluid
`end assembly of
`claim 6 in which the
`sleeve has an inner
`surface and an
`opposed outer
`surface, in which the
`plurality of packing
`seals are engaged
`with the inner surface
`of the sleeve.
`
`Claim 23. The fluid
`end assembly of
`claim 22 in which the
`seal is engaged with
`the outer surface of
`the sleeve.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`Page 13 of 14
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`Claim 24. The fluid
`end assembly of
`claim 6 in which the
`sleeve is of single
`piece construction.
`
`
`
`Page 14 of 14
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