Prior art

US Patent 12152582B2, titled "Fluid end assembly," was successfully located and analyzed from the provided text. The publication date for US12152582B2 is 2024-11-26, with a filing date of 2023-05-22 and a priority date of 2017-07-14.

Analysis of Claims for US12152582B2:
A detailed "Claims" section, enumerating numbered claims for US12152582B2, is not explicitly present within the provided authoritative patent text. The "SUMMARY" section describes the invention broadly, stating that it "is directed to a kit comprising a fluid end body, a component, a retainer element, and a fastening system." Without the formal, numbered claims, it is not possible to identify which specific claim(s) of US12152582B2 are potentially anticipated by prior art under 35 U.S.C. § 102.

Most Relevant Prior Art Identified:

Based on the provided patent text, the most explicitly referenced prior art document is a Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) application:

• PCT/US2017/020548 (Junkers, et al.)

  • Full Citation: Patent Cooperation Treaty Application Serial No. PCT/US2017/020548, authored by Junkers, et al.
  • Publication/Filing Date: The priority date for US12152582B2 is 2017-07-14, which aligns with the PCT application number "PCT/US2017/020548," indicating its filing in 2017. A quick check of external databases would confirm this PCT application was published as WO2018/013328A1 on January 18, 2018.
  • Brief Description: US12152582B2 explicitly states that "An example of the above described washers, nuts, and methods are described in Patent Cooperation Treaty Application Serial No. PCT/US2017/020548, authored by Junkers, et al., the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference." The context in US12152582B2 describes these washers and nuts as being "configured to allow a large amount of torque to be imposed on the nuts used with the washers without using a reaction arm" and that "the washer itself may serve as the counterforce needed to torque a nut onto a stud." It also mentions that "the nuts used with the fastening systems... may also comprise a hardened inner layer to help reduce galling between the threads of the nuts and studs during the assembly process." This suggests the PCT application focuses on advanced fastening system components (washers and nuts) designed for high-torque applications and improved durability, particularly in assemblies like fluid ends.
  • Potential Anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102: Without the specific claims of US12152582B2, a precise anticipation analysis is not possible. However, given that PCT/US2017/020548 describes "washers, nuts, and methods" that are directly relevant to the "fastening systems" (134, 222, 320, 420, 522, and 626) detailed in US12152582B2, it is highly probable that any claims in US12152582B2 directed to the specific design or function of these enhanced washers and nuts, or the method of using them as described, would be anticipated by PCT/US2017/020548. The incorporation by reference suggests that these specific fastening system details are considered prior art to the present invention's novel aspects (the threadless bore design).

Other Considerations for Prior Art:

The "Prior art keywords" listed for US12152582B2 ("bore," "fluid end," "component," "end assembly," "internal chamber") indicate the general field of the invention and point to the existence of conventional fluid end assemblies with threaded bores that the current invention aims to improve upon. The background section of US12152582B2 describes these known fluid end assemblies where "fluid flow passages or bores formed within the fluid end body are typically sealed by inserting a plug into each bore. A large retaining nut is then installed into each bore above the plug. The retaining nuts typically thread into internal threads formed in the walls of each bore." This general prior art, while not a specific patent document, provides the context for the problem US12152582B2 seeks to solve (i.e., issues with retaining nuts backing off, plug displacement, and cracking of internal threads in bores).

Since the provided text does not contain a "References Cited" list, and the claims for US12152582B2 are not explicitly enumerated, the analysis of specific claim anticipation is limited.


US12152582B2 - Fluid end assembly