Patent ID: 6971633

Claim:
A valve assembly for controlling a flow of fluid, comprising: a first end body defining a fluid conveying bore; a second end body selectively detachable from said first end body and defining at least one fluid conveying bore; a rotatable valve element having a center point and a radius, said rotatable valve element having a first position wherein said first end body fluid conveying bore and said second end body fluid conveying bore are not in fluid communication, and a second position, wherein said first end body fluid conveying bore and said second end body fluid conveying bore are in fluid communication; and at least a pair of seal members, a first said seal member disposed in said first end body and a second said seal member disposed in said second end body, said seals structured and arranged to substantially prevent fluid flow when said rotatable valve element is in said first position, each said seal having a seal contact area wherein said radius of said rotatable valve element contacts said seal contact area when said rotatable valve element is in said first position; said rotatable valve element defining a passage having an axis, a first axial distance being defined between a line through said center point and perpendicular to said axis and said seal contact area when said rotatable valve element is in said second position, a radial distance being defined between said axis and said seal contact area when said rotatable valve element is in said second position, said radial distance being perpendicular to said first axial distance, and a second axial distance being defined between said line and an end of said passage; wherein a ratio of said radial distance to said axial distance has a numerical value of less than 1, and said second axial distance is less than said first axial distance.