Valve cartridge with integral stop
A one-handle valve cartridge has a housing that functions as a stop for an actuating mechanism of the valve cartridge to define a range of flow rates and/or temperatures for which the water flowing through the valve cartridge is delivered.
1. A shell for housing dynamic sealing elements, the shell comprising:
an upper opening through which an actuating mechanism can extend; and
a pair of side openings, each side opening operable to receive an end of a pin extending through the actuating mechanism,
wherein opposing surfaces surrounding the upper opening limit movement of the actuating mechanism about a first axis, and
wherein opposing ends of each side opening limit movement of the actuating mechanism about a second axis.
2. The shell of claim 1 , wherein a raised collar is formed integrally with the shell near the upper opening, and
wherein the raised collar includes the opposing surfaces surrounding the upper opening.
3. The shell of claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the shell near the upper opening is greater than a thickness of the shell near a lower opening of the shell.
4. The shell of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the opposing surfaces slopes at a predetermined angle.
5. The shell of claim 4 , wherein a first of the opposing surfaces slopes at a first predetermined angle, and
wherein a second of the opposing surfaces slopes at a second predetermined angle.
6. The shell of claim 5 , wherein the first predetermined angle and the second predetermined angle are the same.
7. The shell of claim 4 , wherein the predetermined angle is selected so that the at least one of the opposing surfaces conforms to a side of the actuating mechanism when the side of the actuating mechanism contacts the at least one of the opposing surfaces.
8. The shell of claim 4 , wherein the predetermined angle is between 0.5 degrees and 12.5 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the shell.
9. The shell of claim 1 , wherein the opposing ends of each side opening have a curved shape that substantially conforms to a circumference of the pin.
10. The shell of claim 1 , wherein the first axis is perpendicular to the second axis.