Abstract: An apparatus for noise reduction in valves is disclosed. A disclosed example valve includes a valve body including a fluid passageway, and a cage located in the fluid passageway, the cage including a wall having openings, a fluid to flow from an inner surface of the wall to an outer surface of the wall through the openings, each of the openings including respective ribs, the ribs to follow a helical path along a length of each opening to cause rotation of the fluid flowing through the openings.

Abstract: An apparatus for noise reduction in valves is disclosed. A disclosed example valve includes a valve body including a fluid passageway, and a cage located in the fluid passageway, the cage including a wall having openings, a fluid to flow from an inner surface of the wall to an outer surface of the wall through the openings, each of the openings including respective ribs, the ribs to follow a helical path along a length of each opening to cause rotation of the fluid flowing through the openings.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture for valve trim apparatus for use with control valves are disclosed. An example valve trim apparatus for use with a fluid valve includes a cage positioned in a fluid flow passageway of a valve body, the cage including a primary valve seat and a secondary valve seat. The valve trim apparatus includes a valve plug slidably positioned within the cage, the valve plug including a primary sealing surface to sealingly engage the primary valve seat and a secondary sealing surface to sealingly engage the secondary valve seat, the primary sealing surface adjacent to a first end of the valve plug and the secondary sealing surface spaced away from the primary sealing surface along a longitudinal axis of the valve plug toward a second end of the valve plug.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture for valve trim apparatus for use with control valves are disclosed.

Abstract: Cage apparatus having fluid passageways to affect flow characteristics of valves are disclosed. An example valve cage includes clustered fluid flow passages. Each fluid flow passage has a first portion connected to a second portion. The first portion tapers towards the second portion and the second portion tapers towards the first portion. The clustered fluid flow passages include a first row and an adjacent second row. The first row and the second row are oriented at a first angle relative an axis of the valve cage to extend along a helically-shaped path on the valve cage.

Abstract: Cage apparatus having fluid passageways to affect flow characteristics of valves are disclosed. An example valve cage includes clustered fluid flow passages. Each fluid flow passage has a first portion connected to a second portion. The first portion tapers towards the second portion and the second portion tapers towards the first portion. The clustered fluid flow passages include a first row and an adjacent second row. The first row and the second row are oriented at a first angle relative an axis of the valve cage to extend along a helically-shaped path on the valve cage.

Abstract: A reusable flower bouquet arranging apparatus is presented for creating a hand-held bouquet with a hand tied appearance as would be used for a wedding bouquet or nosegay. Made from plastic with a plurality of spaced apart apertures, it can be used to make arrangements having an overall shape that is domed, cascading, crescent-shaped, heart-shaped, oval or several other configurations.

Abstract: Access privileges for a user are provided in a performance evaluation system by storing an organizational structure for an enterprise, a view and a class of services for the user. The organizational structure includes a plurality of levels and a plurality of members assigned to the levels. The view specifies the levels and the members of the organizational structure to which the user is allowed access. The class of services specify services of the performance evaluation system that the user is allowed to perform. The user has access privileges to perform services within the class of services for levels and members within the view.

Abstract: Access privileges for a user are provided in a performance evaluation system by storing an organizational structure for an enterprise, a view and a class of services for the user. The organizational structure includes a plurality of levels and a plurality of members assigned to the levels. The view specifies the levels and the members of the organizational structure to which the user is allowed access. The class of services specify services of the performance evaluation system that the user is allowed to perform. The user has access privileges to perform services within the class of services for levels and members within the view.

Abstract: An organizational structure of an enterprise is defined in a performance evaluation system by storing a plurality of user-defined levels. A user-defined hierarchy is stored for the levels. A plurality of user-defined members are also stored. Each member is associated with a level. The performance evaluation system is operable to generate the organizational structure of the enterprise based on the user-defined levels, hierarchy, and members.

Abstract: An evaluation is generated in a performance evaluation system by defining a plurality of questions. A plurality of performance areas are defined and each associated with at least one of the questions. In response to a request for an evaluation including a performance area, questions associated with the performance area are included in the evaluation.

Abstract: A data file is imported into the performance evaluation system by storing a plurality of user-defined data elements. A user-defined configuration is stored for the data file. The configuration is operable to identify a data item in the data file and to map the data item to a data element in the performance evaluation system.