Abstract:
An adjustable trunnion valve includes an obturator, a valve stem, at least one valve seal, and a trunnion. The trunnion and obturator are configured to translate the obturator along a longitudinal axis extending through the trunnion and the obturator upon rotation of the valve stem beyond one or both of its open position and its closed position. A method of operating an adjustable trunnion valve having an obturator coupled to a trunnion and a valve stem includes passing a fluid through the adjustable trunnion valve and rotating the valve stem to rotate the obturator about an axis of rotation and to simultaneously translate the obturator in a direction along the axis of rotation while the obturator is supported by the trunnion and while the fluid flows through the adjustable trunnion valve.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to valves having rotatable obturators, such as ball valves or plug valves having a trunnion that is adjustable without disassembly of the valves. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Many valve types have been employed for stopping and controlling the flow of fluids in a pipe or other flow path. Each type of valve offers certain advantages and disadvantages. Some valve types include plug valves, ball valves, stop or globe valves, angle valves, butterfly valves, and gate valves. 
         [0003]    Ball valves include a rotatable ball having a bore therethrough corresponding to the fluid flow path together with a seat for sealing with the ball surface. Typical ball valves have a valve body and a valve member operatively connected to the valve body by an upstream and a downstream seal. The valve body defines a flow passage having an upstream flow-through end, a downstream flow-through end, and a valve receiving chamber located between the upstream and downstream flow-through ends of the flow passage. The valve member (i.e., the rotatable ball) is located within the valve receiving chamber, and includes a throughbore that allows passage of fluid through the valve member. The seals and seats, in conjunction with the valve member and the valve receiving chamber, define a cavity around the valve member. To prevent leakage of the valve, the seals and seats are pressed against the valve member with a sealing pressure based, at least in part, on the maximum pressure environment in which the valve may be installed. The seals are typically oriented such that the valve member wedges between the seals in the valve receiving chamber: when the valve member is pressed farther into the valve receiving chamber, the pressure on the seals increases. 
         [0004]    The valve member may be coupled to an actuator or a handle via a valve stem, which is selectively rotatable to rotate the valve member within the valve receiving chamber, between a fully open position and a fully closed position. Generally, in a two-way valve, the fully open position occurs when the throughbore is aligned with the flow passage at zero degrees of rotation from a centerline of the flow passage and the fully closed position occurs at ninety degrees of rotation of the valve member from the centerline. 
         [0005]    It is generally known to adjust the seating of a ball valve without full disassembly of the valve. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,058,484 describes a ball valve with wedged seals. To adjust the seating, a packing nut is removed or backed off and the stem is moved upward to engage a splined portion of the stem  44  with an annular sealing member. The annular sealing member is then screwed downward to press the seals into the wedge and to tighten the seals against the ball. The stem is lowered back into engagement with the ball, and the packing nut is retightened for continued operation of the valve. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,132,836 describes a ball valve with converging valve seals that can be urged together and against a ball by tightening an adjusting nut. 
         [0007]    Coil or other spring members may be used to automatically bias valve seals against valve balls, including after wear of the ball and/or valve seals, as shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,384,337. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0008]    In some embodiments, an adjustable trunnion valve includes: an obturator within a valve body; a valve stem coupled to the obturator and configured to rotate the obturator relative to the valve body between an open position and a closed position; at least one valve seal abutting against a surface of the obturator and a surface of the valve body; and a trunnion coupled to the obturator. The trunnion and obturator can be configured to translate the obturator along a longitudinal axis extending through the trunnion and the obturator upon rotation of the valve stem beyond one or both of the open position and the closed position. 
         [0009]    In certain embodiments, an adjustable trunnion valve includes: an obturator within a valve body; a valve stem coupled to the obturator and configured to rotate the obturator between an open position and a closed position; a first valve seal abutting against a first side of the obturator; a second valve seal abutting against a second side of the obturator opposite the first side of the obturator; and a trunnion assembly coupled to the obturator. The first valve seal and the second valve seal can be angled toward each other. The trunnion assembly may include a fixed base secured to the valve body and an adjustable extension. At least one of the fixed base, the adjustable extension, and the obturator defines a protrusion. At least one of the fixed base, the adjustable extension, and the obturator includes a member defining a recess. The protrusion is positioned at least partially within the recess and abutting against a first end of the recess when the obturator is in the open position, and against a second end of the recess when the obturator is in the closed position. Rotation of the valve stem beyond the open position and the closed position results in the protrusion rotating the member defining the recess, in changing a length of the trunnion assembly, and in vertically translating the obturator relative to the fixed base. 
         [0010]    In some embodiments, a method of operating an adjustable trunnion valve having an obturator coupled to a trunnion and a valve stem includes passing a fluid through the adjustable trunnion valve and rotating the valve stem to rotate the obturator about an axis of rotation, and to simultaneously translate the obturator in a direction along the axis of rotation while the obturator is supported by the trunnion and while the fluid flows through the adjustable trunnion valve. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming what are regarded as embodiments of the present disclosure, various features and advantages of embodiments of the disclosure may be more readily ascertained from the following description of example embodiments of the disclosure when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a simplified cross-sectional side view illustrating an embodiment of an adjustable trunnion valve according to the present disclosure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2A  is a simplified cross-section side view of an obturator and a trunnion, as may be used in the valve shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2B  is an exploded perspective view of parts of the obturator and trunnion shown in  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2C  is a partially cutaway perspective view of the obturator and trunnion shown in  FIG. 2A  at various rotational positions; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3A  is a simplified cross-section side view of another embodiment of an obturator and a trunnion, as may be used in the valve shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3B  is an exploded perspective view of parts of the obturator and trunnion shown in  FIG. 3A ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3C  is a partially cutaway perspective view of the obturator and trunnion shown in  FIG. 3A  at various rotational positions; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4A  is a simplified cross-section side view of another embodiment of an obturator and a trunnion, as may be used in the valve shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4B  is an exploded perspective view of parts of the obturator and trunnion shown in  FIG. 4A ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4C  is a partially cutaway perspective view of the obturator and trunnion shown in  FIG. 4A  at various rotational positions; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a simplified cross-sectional side view illustrating another embodiment of an adjustable trunnion valve. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    The illustrations presented herein are not actual views of any particular valve, but are merely idealized representations that are employed to describe example embodiments of the present disclosure. Additionally, elements common between figures may retain the same numerical designation. 
         [0024]    As used herein, the term “valve” means and includes any device configured to regulate, direct, or control the flow of fluids (i.e., liquids and/or gases). 
         [0025]    As used herein, the term “obturator” means and includes a valve closure member, such as disk, a gate, a plug, or a ball. For example, in a ball valve, the obturator is a rotating valve ball. 
         [0026]    As used herein, the term “trunnion” means and includes a pin or pivot on which a member may rotate. In a ball valve having a rotating ball within a valve body, a trunnion may be a structural support oriented along an axis of rotation of the ball and providing vertical and radial support between the valve body and the ball. 
         [0027]    As used herein, the term “adjustable trunnion” means and includes a trunnion over which the vertical position of a supported obturator may be varied. For example the vertical position of the obturator may be varied by varying the length of the adjustable trunnion or by threading the obturator farther onto or off of a part of the adjustable trunnion. Thus, adjustable trunnions include trunnions that have variable lengths and trunnions having a variable engagement length with an obturator. 
         [0028]      FIG. 1  is a simplified cross-section illustrating a valve  100  having an adjustable trunnion  116 . The valve  100  shown in  FIG. 1  includes a valve body  102 , an obturator  104 , and a valve stem  106 . A bonnet  107  may be secured to the valve body to keep the obturator  104  in place and seal the moving parts of the valve  100  from outside elements. The obturator  104  may be a valve ball, a plug, or any other closure member. The obturator  104  is depicted in  FIG. 1  as a ball, but the obturator  104  need not have any spherical surfaces. The obturator  104  may have any combination of flat surfaces (e.g., as shown at the top of the obturator  104  in  FIG. 1 ) and rounded surfaces that allow the obturator  104  to rotate within the valve body  102  and direct the flow of fluid. For example, the obturator  104  may include cylindrical, parabolic, and/or frustoconical surfaces. In some embodiments, the obturator  104  may be a tapered plug. The obturator  104  defines a through hole (or orifice)  108  therethrough. 
         [0029]    The valve stem  106  shown in  FIG. 1  is coupled to the obturator  104  and configured to rotate the obturator  104  relative the valve body  102  between an open position and a closed position. For example, in the open position (i.e., when the obturator  104  is in the orientation shown in  FIG. 1 ), the through hole  108  may be oriented in line with ports  110  to provide a continuous fluid flow path between the ports  110 . In the closed position, the through hole  108  may be oriented perpendicular to a line connecting the ports  110 , blocking the fluid flow path between the ports  110 . The through hole  108  may be approximately cylindrical, but may have other shapes in some embodiments. For example, the through hole  108  may have an L-shape or a T-shape to direct flow to additional ports or ports in other configurations. The through hole  108  may have a circular or non-circular cross section. A valve  100  in which the through hole  108  has a non-circular cross section may be better able than a valve  100  with an entirely circular through hole  108  to precisely control flow rates when the obturator  104  is oriented between the open position and the closed position. For example, the through hole  108  may have a V-shaped or triangular cross section. 
         [0030]    One or more valve seals  112  may be configured to abut against a surface of the obturator  104  to form a fluid-tight seal between the obturator  104  and the valve body  102 . The valve seals  112  may be adjacent angled surfaces of the valve body  102 . For example, surfaces of the valve body  102  may be angled inward toward the bottom of the obturator  104 , such that as the obturator  104  and the valve seals  112  are urged lower into the valve body  102 , the spacing between the valve body  102  and the obturator  104  decreases. Thus, when the obturator  104  is relatively lower in the valve body  102 , the fit between the obturator  104 , the valve seals  112 , and the valve body  102  is relatively tighter. The valve seals  112  may be configured such that the obturator  104  may rotate freely (i.e., without mechanical interference) between the open position and the closed position adjacent the valve seals  112 . 
         [0031]    The valve seals  112  may be formed of a single material or of multiple materials. For example, the valve seals  112  may include plastic materials (e.g., polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polychlorotrifluoroethene (KEL-F), polyimide-based plastics (e.g., VESPEL®, available from E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, of Wilmington, Del.), elastomeric materials, hard materials (e.g., carbon graphite), metals or alloys (e.g., titanium or stainless steel, such as NITRONIC 60®, an alloy of Cr, Mn, Ni, Si, N, C, and Fe, available from High Performance Alloys, of Windfall, Ind.), etc. In some embodiments, the valve seals  112  may include a metal or alloy ring configured to provide structural support to a resilient material. In other embodiments, the valve seals  112  may be made entirely of a metal, entirely of a hard material, entirely of a resilient material, etc. 
         [0032]    A rotation device  114  may be used to rotate the valve stem  106  between the open position and the closed position. For example, the rotation device  114  may include a handle or an actuator, and may be configured to be operated by a human operator, by an electrical current, compressed air, etc. If the rotation device  114  includes a handle, the handle may include a wheel, a tee, a lever, or any other means to apply a torque to the valve stem  106 . In some embodiments, the rotation device  114  may be controlled by a computer. 
         [0033]    The valve  100  may further comprise a trunnion  116 , which may be configured to keep the obturator  104  in position within the valve body  102 . The obturator  104  may rest mainly on the trunnion  116 , and the trunnion  116  may facilitate rotation of the obturator  104  by vertically and radially supporting the obturator  104 . Therefore, the valve seals  112  may experience reduced forces from the obturator  104  as compared to an obturator of a valve without a trunnion. 
         [0034]    The trunnion  116  may be configured such that the vertical position of the obturator  104  is adjustable. To account for differences in manufacturing (e.g., within acceptable tolerance limits) and to balance forces acting on the valve seals  112  and the trunnion  116 , the position of the obturator  104  may be adjusted during assembly of the valve  100 , such as by lengthening or shortening the trunnion  116 . Furthermore, the position of the obturator  104  may be adjusted during use of the valve  100 , such as to account for wear on the valve seals  112 . For example, rotational motion of the obturator  104  to open and close the valve  100  may cause material of the valve seals  112  to gradually wear away, which may eventually breach the seal between the obturator  104  and the valve seals  112 . By shortening the trunnion  116  or by engaging more threads of the obturator  104  with the trunnion  116 , the obturator  104  and valve seals  112  may slide down further into the valve body  102 , forcing the valve seals  112  inward toward the obturator  104 . This may tighten the seal between the obturator  104 , the valve seals  112 , and the valve body  102 . Lengthening the trunnion  116  or engaging fewer threads of the obturator  104  may loosen the seal between the obturator  104 , the valve seals  112 , and the valve body  102 , and may make rotating the obturator  104  relatively easier. Thus, the obturator  104  may be translated along a longitudinal axis extending through the trunnion  116  and the obturator  104 , such as by lengthening or shortening the trunnion  116 . 
         [0035]    The trunnion  116  may include a fixed base  118 , secured to the valve body  102 , and an extension  120  coupled with the base  118 . The base  118  may be stationary with respect to the valve body  102 . The extension  120  may be threaded such that the position of the obturator  104  with respect to the trunnion  116  may be adjusted. For example,  FIGS. 2A through 2C  show an embodiment of a obturator  104  and a trunnion  116  in which the extension  120  includes a sleeve and threads  121  configured to engage with threads secured to (e.g., integral with) the obturator  104 .  FIG. 2A  is a simplified cross-sectional view of the obturator  104  and trunnion  116 , and an exploded view thereof is shown in  FIG. 2B .  FIG. 2C  shows perspective views of the obturator  104  and trunnion  116 , with a portion of each cut away, in each of several positions A through E as the obturator  104  is turned. In position A, if the ports  110  (see  FIG. 1 ) are located at the left and right of the obturator  104 , the valve  100  is closed. In position B, the valve  100  is partially open. In position C, the valve  100  is fully open. In position D, the valve  100  is partially open, and the obturator  104  has translated vertically, up or down from its location in positions A through C. In position E, the valve  100  is again closed, and the obturator  104  has translated further. Thus, between positions A through C, the obturator  104  may have a constant vertical position with respect to the valve body  102  while the obturator  104  and extension  120  rotate; between positions C and E, the extension  120  may remain stationary while the obturator  104  both rotates and translates. 
         [0036]    When the obturator  104  rotates independently of the extension  120  (e.g., between positions C and E of  FIG. 2C ), the obturator  104  may translate vertically up or down, depending on the direction of rotation, and engage more or fewer threads of the extension  120 . When the obturator  104  and the extension  120  rotate together (e.g., between positions A and C of  FIG. 2C ), the obturator  104  may maintain its vertical position. The trunnion  116  may vertically and radially support the obturator  104 , both when the obturator  104  is vertically translating and when the obturator  104  is vertically stationary. 
         [0037]    In operation of the valve  100  to control flow of material therethrough, the obturator  104  may typically be rotated 90° between the open and closed positions (e.g., A and C), and the extension  120  may typically rotate in concert with the obturator  104 , such that there is no vertical translation of the obturator  104 . A protrusion  122  (e.g., a pin) secured to the base  118  or the extension  120  may be disposed within a slot or recess  124  in a corresponding part (e.g., the extension  120  or the base  118 ) to prevent the extension  120  from rotating more than 90°. Thus, if the obturator  104  is rotated more than 90° (e.g., as in positions D and E), the extension  120  may stop rotating, and the obturator  104  may be threaded lower or higher on the extension  120 . Thus, the obturator  104  may rotate independently of the extension  120  after the pin  122  contacts an end of the recess  124 . As is evident from  FIG. 2C , adjustment of the vertical position of the obturator  104  may involve temporarily opening or closing the valve  100 . 
         [0038]    If the valve  100  is to be adjusted while in service, the obturator  104  may be rotated 180° from an open position (A) to another open position (E) or from a closed position to another closed position. Depending on the starting position of the extension  120  and the pin  122 , the extension  120  may rotate either 0° or 90° when the obturator  104  is rotated 180°. Thus, the obturator  104  may rise or fall a distance one quarter to one half of a thread pitch of the threads  121 . In subsequent 180° rotations of the obturator  104  in the same direction, the obturator  104  may rise or fall one half of the thread pitch. The obturator  104  may be adjusted as necessary without removing the valve  100  from service or disconnecting flow lines. The obturator  104  may be configured to translate vertically whenever the obturator  104  rotates independently of the extension  120 . 
         [0039]    One or more bearings  126  may be disposed between the extension  120  and the base  118  to promote the rotation of the extension  120  when the obturator  104  rotates between the open and closed positions. For example,  FIGS. 2A and 2B  show a trunnion  116  having a three-piece bearing  126  with a disc-shaped portion  126   a , an elongate ring  126   b , and a flat ring or washer  126   c . The disc-shaped portion  126   a  of the bearing  126  may define an orifice therethrough to allow free rotation of the bearing  126  with the extension  120 . The parts of the bearing  126  shown may be connected to one another or separate, and one or more may be omitted entirely. In some embodiments, the bearing  126  may be integral with the base  118  or the extension  120  (e.g., as surface coatings, etc.). The bearing  126  may include any suitable material to allow rotation of the extension  120 , such as metal, plastic, graphite (e.g. GRAFOIL®, a flexible seal made from graphite, available from GrafTech Int&#39;l, of Lakewood, Ohio), etc. One or more lubricating materials may also be disposed between the base  118  and the extension  120 . 
         [0040]    In some embodiments, and as shown in  FIG. 1 , the trunnion  116  may be integral with the valve body  102 . In other embodiments, the trunnion  116  may be a separate body secured to the valve body  102  (e.g., by a press fit, threads, a weld, etc.). 
         [0041]      FIGS. 3A through 3C  show another embodiment of a obturator  104 ′ and a trunnion  116 ′ in which an extension  120 ′ includes a sleeve and threads  121 ′ configured to engage with threads secured to (e.g., integral with) the obturator  104 ′. The trunnion  116 ′ has female threads  121 ′, in contrast to the male threads  121  of the trunnion  116  shown in  FIGS. 2A through 2C . Furthermore, the trunnion  116 ′ shown in  FIGS. 3A through 3C  has a protrusion  122 ′ from the extension  120 ′ configured to rotate within a recess  124 ′ in the base  118 ′. The principle of operation of the trunnion  116  of  FIGS. 2A through 2C  and the trunnion  116 ′ of  FIGS. 3A through 3C  is the same. The views shown in  FIG. 3C  correspond to approximately the same positions shown in  FIG. 2C , and the discussion of those positions is not repeated here. 
         [0042]      FIGS. 4A through 4C  show another embodiment of a obturator  104 ″ and a trunnion  116 ″ in which an extension  120 ″ includes a riser and threads  121 ″ configured to engage with threads within the base  118 ″. The extension  120 ″ may have a half-cylinder protrusion  125 , which together with a bearing  123  over the top of the extension  120 ″, defines a recess  124 ″. The obturator  104 ″ may have a quarter-cylinder protrusion  122 ″ disposed within the recess  124 ″, such that the obturator  104 ″ can rotate 90° (one-quarter turn) before engaging the extension  120 ″. The bearing  123  may be disposed between the extension  120 ″ and the obturator  104 ″, and may operate as a retaining ring to keep the protrusion  122 ″ and the protrusion  125  aligned within the same cylindrical volume. A bearing  126 ″ may be disposed between the base  118 ″ of the trunnion  116 ″ and the obturator  104 ″. A portion of the obturator  104 ″ may surround the trunnion  116 ″. In operation, when the obturator  104 ″ rotates more than 90°, the trunnion  116 ″ changes length (i.e., because the extension  120 ″ screws into or out of the base  118 ″), causing the obturator  104 ″ resting on the extension  120 ″ of the trunnion  116 ″ to translate vertically. 
         [0043]      FIG. 5  shows a simplified cross-section illustrating a plug valve  200  having an adjustable trunnion  216 . The valve  200  includes a valve body  202 , a rotatable plug  204  (i.e., an obturator), and a valve stem  206 . The rotatable plug  204  defines a through hole  208  or orifice therethrough configured to allow fluid to flow between ports  210  when the rotatable plug  204  is in an open position. In some embodiments, the rotatable plug  204  may be tapered. 
         [0044]    A valve seal  212  may be configured to abut against a surface of the rotatable plug  204  to form a seal between the rotatable plug  204  and the valve body  202 . The valve seal  212  may be adjacent a surface of the valve body  202  having approximately the same shape as an outer surface of the rotatable plug  204 . For example, the surface of the valve body  202  adjacent the valve seal  212  may be a frustoconical shape, angled inward toward the bottom of the valve body  202 . The valve seal  212  may be stationary with respect to the valve body  202 , such that as the rotatable plug  204  is urged lower into the valve body  202 , the rotatable plug  204  presses against the valve seal  212  to for a fluid-tight seal. When the rotatable plug  204  is relatively lower in the valve body  202 , the fit between the rotatable plug  204  and the valve body  202  and/or the valve seal  212  is relatively tighter. The valve seal  212  may be a single unitary body, such a frustoconical sleeve having holes matching the through hole  208  or the ports  210 . In some embodiments, the valve seal  212  may include two or more parts. The valve seal  212  may be configured such that the rotatable plug  204  may rotate freely (i.e., without mechanical interference) between the open position and the closed position adjacent the valve seal  212 . In some embodiments, the valve seal  212  may be omitted altogether, and the rotatable plug  204  may form a seal directly against the valve body  202 . The valve seal  212 , if present, may be formed of any selected material, such as those described above with respect to the valve seals  112  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0045]    In some embodiments, the valve body  202  and/or the rotatable plug  204  may have a coating, such as a coating of a material having a relatively lower coefficient of friction than the material of the valve body  202  and/or the rotatable plug  204 . The coating may be a resilient material to promote the formation of a fluid-tight seal between the valve body  202  and the rotatable plug  204  when the valve  200  is closed. For example, a coating on the rotatable plug  204  may include an elastomeric material. 
         [0046]    A rotation device  214  may be used to rotate the valve stem  206  between the open position and the closed position, such as described above with respect to  FIG. 1 . 
         [0047]    The valve  200  may further comprise a trunnion  216 , which may be configured to keep the rotatable plug  204  in position within the valve body  202 . The rotatable plug  204  may rest mainly on the trunnion  216 , and the trunnion  216  may facilitate rotation of the rotatable plug  204  by vertically and radially supporting the rotatable plug  204 . Therefore, the valve seal  212  (if present) and/or the valve body  202  may experience reduced forces from the rotatable plug  204  as compared to a plug of a valve without a trunnion. 
         [0048]    The trunnion  216  may be configured such that the vertical position of the rotatable plug  204  is adjustable. That is, the trunnion  216  may be an adjustable trunnion. For example, the trunnion  216  may include a fixed base  218 , secured to the valve body  202 , and an extension  220  coupled with the base  218 . The fixed base  218  and extension  220  may be configured similar to the fixed bases  118 ,  118 ′, and  118 ″ and extensions  120 ,  120 ′, and  120 ″ shown and described in  FIGS. 1 through 4C . The valve  200  may be operated in a similar manner as the valve  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0049]    Compared to prior art designs of adjustable non-trunnion and trunnion valves, the trunnion of the proposed designs may provide vertical support for the obturator both before and after the adjustment, without the use of springs that complicate the assembly and provide more moving parts that may fail. In addition, the adjustment of the proposed designs could, in some implementations, be accomplished simply by over-rotation of the valve stem without a tool, such as without a wrench that would be required to turn adjustment nuts of conventional trunnion valves. Adjustments may be performed without removing the valves from service or diverting fluid flow, saving costs and time in maintenance. 
         [0050]    While the present invention has been described herein with respect to certain illustrated embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize and appreciate that it is not so limited. Rather, many additions, deletions, and modifications to the illustrated embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed, including legal equivalents thereof. In addition, features from one embodiment may be combined with features of another embodiment while still being encompassed within the scope of the invention as contemplated by the inventors. Further, embodiments of the disclosure have utility with different and various valve types and configurations.