Removable interconnection of an actuator to a valve body

A valve apparatus comprising a valve having a valve body and an operating member extending outwardly from the valve body along an axis of the operating member, an actuator having an output operatively attachable to the operating member of the valve, and a selectively releasable engagement apparatus for operatively connecting an actuator to a valve body, wherein the selectively releasable engagement apparatus includes:

• a first protrusion extending from the valve body in a direction generally parallel to the axis of the operating member, the first protrusion including a notch therein;
• one or more additional protrusions extending from the valve body in a direction generally parallel to the axis;
• a base comprising a generally planar plate having a first surface thereof attached to the actuator and a second oppositely facing surface thereof including a first receptacle for receiving the first protrusion, the base also including one or more additional receptacles each adapted for receiving a corresponding one of the one or more additional protrusions;
• the base further comprising a selectively movable latch arm operatively attached to a remainder of the base for flexing movement along the second surface of the base,
• the latch arm including a distal end thereof and an opposite end thereof connected to one another by an intermediate portion of the latch arm, the opposite end of the latch arm being fixedly attached to the remainder of the base at a point remote from the first receptacle;
• the latch arm further having a locking tab thereof biased by the latch arm for engagement with the notch in the first protrusion when the first protrusion is disposed in the first receptacle, with the locking tab being disposed adjacent the distal end of the latch arm;
• a potion of the latch arm not including the opposite end of the latch arm being spaced away from the second surface of the base, so that the portion of the latch arm can be selectively flexed in a direction transverse to the axis of the operating member for disengaging the locking tab from the notch.