Abstract:
A water valve assembly includes a valve body having defined therein (i) an inlet, (ii) an outlet, (iii) a central cavity, and (iv) a component access opening, wherein fluid advancing into the valve body through the inlet must pass through the central cavity before exiting out of the valve body through the outlet, and further wherein the component access opening is configured so that a valve component may be advanced into the central cavity through the component access opening. The water valve assembly further includes a retaining bracket having a retaining portion positioned in relation to the valve body so as to block advancement of the valve component from the central cavity to a location outside of the valve body through the component access opening.

Description:
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/621,438, filed on Jul. 21, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,422,258, issued Jul. 23, 2002. 
    
    
     CROSS REFERENCE 
     Cross reference is made to copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/621,270, entitled “Flow Control Device Having a Lip Seal and Compressible Bypass Pads and Associated Method for Operating an Appliance Water Valve” by Michael R. DuHack and Ser. No. 09/621,437, entitled “Integrated Filter and Noise Suppressor Device for a Water Valve Assembly and Associated Method for Operating the Same” by Michael R. DuHack, both of which are assigned to the same assignee as the present invention and both of which are filed concurrently herewith. The disclosure of each of the above-identified patent applications is hereby totally incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to appliance water valves associated methods for making the same. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Electrically operated water valves are commonly used in many household appliances such as a refrigerator for providing a flow of water to appliance components such as icemakers and water dispensing units. Such appliance water valves are generally controlled by a controller associated with the appliance thereby providing a flow of water, at a predetermined flow rate, for use by the appliance. 
     Due to the highly competitive nature of the appliance industry, it has become increasingly necessary to reduce costs associated with manufacture of the appliances. As with any type of manufacturing, one way to reduce the cost associated with an article of manufacture is to reduce the cost of the components from which the article of manufacture is constructed. Hence, in the particular case of the appliance industry, one way of reducing the cost associated with the manufacture of a given appliance is to reduce the cost of the components from which the appliance is constructed. 
     Accordingly, it has become increasingly necessary to reduce the cost of, for example, the water valve which is assembled into a refrigerator. Several problems exist with current assembly methods for appliance water valves which tend to increase costs associated with the valve. For example, heretofore designed water valves are assembled by use of weldments and fasteners such as screws. The manufacturing processes associated with the use of weldments and fasteners are often difficult to control and monitor thereby increasing costs associated with manufacture of the water valve. In particular, the use of fasteners has heretofore been difficult and expensive to automate thereby necessitating a labor intensive manual assembly process for installing the fasteners. Moreover, weldments have typically undesirably required relatively tight tolerances in both component design and assembly techniques thereby necessitating that use of relatively expensive manufacturing techniques to work with such tight tolerances. 
     In addition to reducing costs associated with the water valve, there also exists an increasing need to increase performance of the water valve. In particular, it is becoming increasingly important for appliance water valves to be capable of providing for a relatively constant flow rate across a broader inlet water pressure range. In particular, heretofore designed elastomeric flow control devices have typically been unable to produce a constant flow rate a relatively low inlet water pressures (e.g. 10-20 psi). As a result of this, certain flow control devices have been designed with features which provide for a bypass flow of water around the flow control device. While these attempts have produced somewhat favorable results at low pressures, the bypass flow of water around the flow control device also exists at high water pressures thereby undesirably providing for a flow rate at high water pressures which exceeds the desired flow rate. 
     What is needed therefore is an appliance water valve which overcomes one or more of the above-mentioned drawbacks. What is particularly needed is an appliance water valve that is relatively easy to assemble and does not require the use of weldments or fasteners. What is also particularly needed is an appliance water valve that provides for a substantially constant flow rate at relatively low inlet water pressures. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Pursuant to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a water valve assembly. The assembly includes a valve body having defined therein (i) an inlet, (ii) an outlet, (iii) a central cavity, and (iv) a component access opening, wherein fluid advancing into the valve body through the inlet must pass through the central cavity before exiting out of the valve body through the outlet, and further wherein the component access opening is configured so that a valve component may be advanced into the central cavity through the component access opening. The assembly further includes a retaining bracket having a retaining portion positioned in relation to the valve body so as to block advancement of the valve component from the central cavity to a location outside of the valve body through the component access opening. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and useful appliance water valve. 
     It is moreover an object of the present invention to provide an improved appliance water valve. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and useful method of making an appliance water valve. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of making an appliance water valve. 
     The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the attached drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of an appliance water valve assembly which incorporates the features of the present invention therein; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the water valve assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the line  4 — 4  of FIG. 1, as viewed in the direction of the arrows; 
     FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the mounting bracket of the water valve assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the valve body of FIGS. 1 and 2; 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 6 which is encircled and indicated as FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the inlet portion of the water valve assembly of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8, but showing the inlet portion in a perspective cross sectional view; 
     FIG. 10 is an enlarged plan view of the flow control device of the water valve assembly of FIGS. 8 and 9; 
     FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of the flow control device taken along the line  11 — 11 , as viewed in the direction of the arrows; 
     FIG. 12 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1, but showing a dual outlet water valve assembly which incorporates the features of the present invention therein; 
     FIG. 13 is a fragmentary cross sectional view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the water valve assembly configured with an integrated filter and noise suppressor (note that the flow control device and the washer have been removed from FIG. 13 for clarity of description); 
     FIGS. 14 and 15 are enlarged perspective views of the integrated filter and noise suppressor of the water valve assembly of FIG. 13; 
     FIG. 16 is a plan view of the integrated filter and noise suppressor of FIGS. 14 and 15; 
     FIG. 17 is an elevational view of the integrated filter and noise suppressor of FIG. 16, as viewed from the upstream side thereof; 
     FIG. 18 is a cross sectional view of the integrated filter and noise suppressor taken along the line  18 — 18  of FIG. 15, as viewed in the direction of the arrows; and 
     FIG. 19 is a cross sectional view of the integrated filter and noise suppressor taken along the line  19 — 19  of FIG. 15, as viewed in the direction of the arrows. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, there is shown an appliance water valve assembly  10 . The water valve assembly  10  includes a valve body  12  which has a fluid opening  14  (see FIGS. 3,  4 , and  6 ) and a water outlet  16  defined therein. Secured to the valve body  12  is a fitting  18  having a water inlet  20  defined therein. Hence, water is selectively advanced from the water inlet  20 , through a central cavity  42  defined in the valve body  12 , and out the water outlet  16 . 
     The fitting  18  is typically connected to a residential water line (not shown) thereby providing for a water flow to the water inlet  20 . The outlet  16 , on the other hand, is typically a tube-type connector which is connected to a fill line of an appliance component (not shown) such as an icemaker or water dispensing unit associated with a refrigerator. 
     The water valve assembly  10  further includes a valve actuator assembly  22  having an upper pole plate frame  24 , a solenoid coil  26 , a retainer  28 , a lower pole plate frame  30 , a guide tube  32 , and an armature  34 . The valve actuator assembly  22  is provided to selectively allow for the advancement of a flow of water out the water outlet  16 . In particular, the armature  34  is disposed in the guide tube  32  and is biased against a valving surface  36  (see also FIG. 6) by a spring  38  thereby urging a seal insert  40  associated with the armature  34  against a valving surface  36 . The seal insert  40  is made of a flexible material, such as ethylene propylene (EP) rubber thereby providing desirable sealing characteristics when biased against the valving surface  36 . 
     Hence, when the valve actuator assembly  22  is in a closed position, such as shown in FIG. 1, the seal insert  40  of the armature  34  is biased against the valving surface  36  thereby preventing water from flowing out of the central cavity  42  and through the water outlet  16 . However, when the valve actuator assembly  22  is moved to an open position, i.e. a position in which the seal insert  40  of the armature  34  is spaced apart from the valving surface  36 , water is permitted to flow out of the central cavity  42  and through the water outlet  16  thereby providing for a flow of water out of the water outlet  16  and into the fill line of the appliance component. 
     It should be appreciated that the solenoid coil  26  is selectively actuated to position the valve actuator assembly  22  in its open position. In particular, actuation of the solenoid coil  26  by the controller of the appliance (not shown) generates a magnetic field which urges the armature  34  upwardly (as viewed in FIG. 4) thereby positioning the valve actuator assembly  22  in its open position in which water is advanced out of the water outlet  16 . Deactuation of the solenoid coil  26  by the appliance controller removes the magnetic field thereby allowing the spring bias generated by the spring  38  to urge the armature downwardly (as viewed in FIG. 4) such that the seal insert  40  is seated on the valving surface  36 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the water valve assembly  10  also includes a number of valve components which are positioned within the central cavity  42  proximate to the water inlet  20 . In particular, the water valve assembly  10  also includes an end cap  44 , a filter screen  46 , a noise suppressor  48 , a flow control device  50 , and a washer  52 . The filter screen  46  inhibits debris particles, which may be contained in the incoming residential water flow, from reaching the noise suppressor  48 , the flow control device  50 , the valve actuator assembly  22 , or other components associated with the water valve assembly  10 . 
     The flow control device  50  is made of flexible material such as ethylene propylene (EP) rubber, and has a central passage  54  defined therein. The flow control device  50  flexes or deforms in response to variations in inlet water pressure exerted on an upstream surface or face  56  thereof. In particular, a higher inlet water pressure on the upstream face  56  causes a greater amount of flexing or deformity of the flow control device  50  thereby reducing the diameter of the central passage  54 . A lower inlet water pressure exerted on the upstream face  56  causes the flexing or deformity of the flow control to be reduced thereby enlarging, or even maximizing, the diameter of the central passage  54 . As shall be discussed below in greater detail, the flow control device  50  provides for a relatively constant flow rate of water across a relatively broad range of inlet water pressures including relatively low inlet water pressures in the range of less than 20 psi. 
     The washer  52  has a washer orifice  140  defined therein and provides a surface on which the flow control device  50  is supported. The washer  52  is typically made of a rigid material such as plastic or stainless steel. 
     The noise suppressor  48  is provided to reduce the amount of cavitation, and hence the amount of noise, generated by the flow of water being advanced through the appliance water valve assembly  10 . The noise suppressor  48  is made from a plastic material, such as polypropylene. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the water valve assembly  10  also includes a retaining bracket  58 . The retaining bracket  58  is generally constructed of metal and is provided to retain the valve components  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50 , and  52 , along with a pair of O-ring seals  64 , within the central cavity  42  of the valve body  12  once the components and the O-ring seals have been advanced through a component access opening  68  defined in the valve body  12 . In particular, the retaining bracket  58  has a flange  60  defined therein which is advanced through a pair of bracket-receiving openings such as bracket-receiving slots  62  defined in the valve body  12 . Once advanced through the bracket-receiving slots  62 , a distal end portion  66  of the flange  60  is crimped, bent, or otherwise formed in order to prevent the flange  60  from being removed from the bracket-receiving slots  62 . As shown in FIGS. 1,  2 , and  4 , the distal end portion  66  of the flange  60  is preferably crimped into a substantially L-shaped configuration in order to prevent the flange  60  from being removed from the bracket-receiving slots  62 . Hence, when retained by the retaining bracket  58 , the end cap  44 , along with its associated O-rings  64 , sealingly engages the valve body  12  so as to prevent water from advancing out of the component access opening  68 . 
     When installed in such a manner, the flange  60  retains the end cap  44  (and hence the filter screen  46 , the noise suppressor  48 , the flow control device  50 , and the washer  52 ) in the central cavity  42  of the valve body  12 . It should be appreciated that the flange  60  may retain the end cap by actually contacting the end cap  44 , or may retain the end cap  44  by being slightly spaced apart from the end cap  44 , but preventing the end cap  44  from moving beyond the predetermined distance from which it is separated from the flange  60 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the retaining bracket  58  also has a pair of locking tabs  70  defined therein. The locking tabs  70  function to facilitate retention of retaining bracket  58  to the valve body  12 . In particular, as shown in FIGS. 1-2 and  4 , once the flange  60  has been advanced through the bracket-receiving slots  62 , a distal end portion  72  of the locking tabs  70  is crimped, bent, or otherwise formed in order to prevent the flange  60  from being removed from the bracket-receiving slots  62 . As shown in FIGS. 1-2 and  4 , the distal end portion  72  of each of the locking tabs  70  is preferably crimped in the general direction of the outlet  16  so as to assume a substantially L-shaped configuration thereby contacting a retaining shoulder  74  defined in the valve body  12 . It should be appreciated that such contact with the retaining shoulders  74  by the locking tabs  70  prevents the flange  60  from being removed from the bracket-receiving slots  62 . 
     It should be appreciated that the respective end portions  66 ,  72  of the flange  60  and the locking tabs  70  may be crimped in any one of numerous manners. Preferably, the respective end portions  66 ,  72  of the flange  60  and the locking tabs  70  are simultaneously crimped by a single die or other type of forming tool during manufacture of the water valve assembly  10 . 
     The retaining bracket  58  also functions to retain the fitting  18 , along with an associated number of sealing rings  84 , in the fluid opening  14 . In particular, as shown in FIG. 3, the fitting  18  has defined therein a substantially flat flange  76  which surrounds a double-D shaped protrusion  78 . When the retaining bracket  58  is secured to the valve body  12 , the double-D shaped protrusion  78  is received through a corresponding double-D shaped opening  80  defined in the retaining bracket  58 . As the retaining bracket  58  is advanced downwardly (as viewed in FIG.  3 ), an upper flange  82  thereof contacts the flange  76  of the fitting  18  thereby urging the fitting  18  downwardly so as to retain the fitting  18  in the fluid opening  14 . Once the fitting  18  has been secured to the valve body  12  in such a manner, a disposable fitting cap  124  may be installed onto the threads of the inlet fitting  18  in order to protect the threads of the fitting  18  during shipment or other handling of the water valve assembly  10 . 
     Hence as described herein, each of the inlet valve components  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50 , and  52 , the inlet fitting  18 , and the associated seals  64 ,  84  are retained in the valve body  12  by the retaining bracket  58 . Such a configuration provides numerous advantages to the water valve assembly  10  of the present invention. For example, use of the retaining bracket  58  eliminates the need for fasteners such as bolts or weldments in the assembly of this portion of water valve assembly  10 . Such elimination of fasteners and weldments simplifies the manufacturing process associated with construction of the water valve assembly  10  since the retaining bracket  58  may be secured to the valve body  12  by a relatively simple crimping technique as described above. Moreover, such elimination of fasteners also reduces the component count associated with the water valve assembly  10  thereby further reducing costs associated therewith. 
     The valve actuator assembly  22  of the water valve assembly  10  may also be assembled without the use of fasteners or weldments. In particular, the armature  34  and the biasing spring  38  are first inserted into the guide tube  32 . Thereafter, the guide tube  32  is snapped onto the valve body  12 . In particular, the lower portion of the guide tube  32  has a number of cantilevered snaps  88  defined therein (see FIGS.  2  and  4 ). The snaps  88  engage a bottom surface  90  of the valve body  12  so as to secure the guide tube  32  to the valve body  12 . It should be appreciated that a number of washers and O-rings  86  may be utilized to seal the guide tube  32  to the valve body  12 . 
     Once the guide tube  32  has been secured to the valve body  12  (with the armature  34 , the washers and O-rings  86 , and the biasing spring  38  captured therein), the lower pole plate frame  30  is lowered onto the guide tube  32 . In particular, a tube portion  92  of the guide tube  32  is received through a tube opening  94  defined in the lower pole plate frame  30  such that a number of locating tabs  96  defined in the lower pole plate frame  30  may be positioned in a corresponding number of locating slots  98  defined in an upper surface of the guide tube  32 . In order to secure the lower pole plate frame  30  to the valve body  12 , a pair of L-shaped locking tabs  100  defined in the lower pole plate frame  30  are folded inwardly toward one another so as to be captured by an inverted L-shaped member  102  defined in the valve body  12 . It should be appreciated that the locking tabs  100  may be simultaneously folded or otherwise formed by a single die or other forming tool. 
     Once the lower pole plate frame  30  has been secured to the valve body  12 , the retainer  28  is then lowered onto the lower pole plate frame  30  and the guide tube  32 . In particular, the tube portion  92  of the guide tube  32  and the upper portion of the lower pole plate frame  30  is received through a retainer opening  106  defined in the retainer  28 . The retainer  28  is secured to the guide tube  32  by use of a number of locking tabs  108  which are defined in the guide tube  32  and are received through a corresponding number of openings  110  defined in the retainer  28  (see FIGS.  2  and  4 ). It should be appreciated that when secured to the guide tube  32  in the manner described above, a downwardly extending skirt portion  112  of the retainer  28  functions to keep the cantilevered locking tabs  88  of the guide tube  32  from being inadvertently disengaged from the bottom surface  90  of the valve body  12 . 
     The solenoid coil  26  is then lowered onto the partially assembly water valve assembly  10 . In particular, the tube portion  92  of the guide tube  32  and the upper portion of the lower pole plate frame  30  is received through a solenoid opening  114  defined in the solenoid coil  26 . 
     The solenoid coil  26  is secured to the water valve assembly  10  by the upper pole plate frame  24 . In particular, a downwardly extending, cylindrically shaped pole portion  116  of the upper pole plate frame  24  is received into the solenoid opening  114  of the solenoid coil  26 . At the same time, a locking opening  118  defined in a lower flange  120  of the upper pole plate frame  24  is received around an upwardly extending, cylindrically shaped protrusion  122  defined in the lower pole plate frame  30  (see FIGS.  3  and  4 ). The upper wall portion of the protrusion  122  is then swaged or otherwise deformed so as to capture the lower flange  120  of the upper pole plate frame  24  thereby securing the upper pole plate frame  24  and hence the solenoid coil  26  to the water valve assembly  10 . 
     Hence, as described above, it should be appreciated that the valve actuator assembly  22  may be assembled without the use of fasteners or weldments thereby facilitating ease of assembly of the water valve assembly  10 . As described above, such elimination of fasteners and weldments simplifies the manufacturing process associated with construction of the water valve assembly  10  by, amongst other things, providing for enhanced automation of the assembly process thereby reducing, if not eliminating, the need for more expensive manual assembly techniques. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, the inlet portion of the water valve assembly  10  is shown in greater detail. As described above, the flow control device  50  provides for a relatively constant flow rate of water through the water valve assembly  10  across a relatively broad range of inlet water pressures. In particular, as shall now be described in greater detail, the flow control device  50  of the present invention selectively provides for a bypass flow of water around the periphery of the flow control device  50  at relatively low water pressures, but prevents such a bypass flow of water around the periphery of the flow control device  50  at higher water pressures. 
     As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the flow control device  50  is substantially disk shaped and includes a body  130  having the central passage  54  extending therethrough. As shown in FIG. 11, the body  130  of the flow control device  50  has defined therein the upstream face  56  and a downstream surface or face  128 . A sealing member such as a sealing lip  126  is integrally formed or otherwise secured around the periphery of the downstream face  128  of the body  130 . The flow control device  50  also has defined therein a number of bypass pads  132  which extend outwardly from the downstream face  128  of the body  130 . Although the flow control device  50  is herein described and shown in the drawings to include three bypass pads  132 , it should be appreciated that both the size and number of bypass pads  132  included in a particular design of the flow control device  50  may be altered to fit the needs of a given design of the water valve assembly  10 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the valve body  12  has a number of bypass channels  134  defined therein. The bypass channels  134  cooperate with the flow control device  50  in order to provide for a bypass flow of water around the periphery of the flow control device  50  at relatively low inlet water pressures. In particular, at relatively low inlet water pressures (e.g., less than 20 psi), a sealing surface  136  defined in the sealing lip  126  of the flow control device  50  is spaced apart from a shoulder  138  of the bypass channels  134  (see FIGS. 7,  8 ,  9 , and  11 ). This allows water advancing through the central cavity  42  of the valve body  12  to not only advance through the central passage  54  of the flow control device  50 , but also advance through the bypass channels  134 . It should be appreciated that such a water bypass increases the flow rate of water through the washer orifice  140  and hence through the outlet  16  of the water valve assembly  10  at relatively low inlet water pressures such as 10-20 psi. 
     However, at higher inlet water pressures (e.g., greater than 20 psi), such a water bypass is not needed. In particular, at water pressures greater than, for example, 20 psi, the flow control device  50  flexes or deforms in response to variations in inlet water pressure exerted on the upstream face  56  thereof. In particular, as the inlet water pressure on the upstream face  56  increases, a greater amount of flexing or deformity of the flow control device  50  occurs thereby reducing the diameter of the central passage  54  and hence the water flow rate therethrough. As the inlet water pressure exerted on the upstream face  56  decreases, the degree of flexing or deformity of the flow control device  50  likewise decreases thereby enlarging, or even maximizing, the diameter of the central passage  54  and hence the water flow rate therethrough. Hence, amongst other things, the size of the central passage  54  and the flexibility and/or deformability of the material utilized in the construction of the flow control device  50  may be specifically selected to produce a flow control device which provides for a specified, relatively constant flow rate. 
     It should be appreciated that at water pressures within the typical household operative range (i.e. greater than 20 psi), the above-described flexing and deforming of the flow control device  50  is adequate to produce the desired water flow rate without the use of the bypass channels  134 . In fact, at certain higher water pressures, an additional flow of water through the bypass channels  134  may increase the water flow rate above the desirable level. The collapsible bypass pads  132  function to prevent such an undesirable bypass water flow at higher water pressures. In particular, once the water pressure exerted on the upstream face  56  exceeds a predetermined magnitude, each of the bypass pads  132  is compressed or otherwise collapsed into one of a number of bypass recesses  142  which are each defined by a portion of the valve body  12  and a portion of the washer  52 . Such compression of the bypass pads  132  into the bypass recesses  142  causes the sealing surface  136  defined in the sealing lip  126  of the flow control device  50  to be advanced into sealing engagement with the shoulder  138  of the bypass channels  134  thereby preventing the flow of water through the bypass channels  134 . It should be appreciated that the portions of the sealing lip  126  which are not proximate to the bypass channels  134  remain in sealing engagement with the interior valve body walls of the central cavity  42  irrespective of the inlet water pressure. 
     Therefore, when the portions of the sealing lip  126  proximate to the bypass channels are urged into sealing engagement with the respective shoulders  138  of the bypass channels  134  in the manner described above, the entire periphery of the flow control device  50  is in sealing engagement with the valve body  12  thereby preventing the flow of any water around the periphery of the flow control device  50  such that any water being advanced through the washer orifice  140  of the washer  52  (and hence through the water outlet  16 ) must first be advanced through the central passage  54  of the flow control device  50 . In this manner, the flow rate of water advancing through the flow control device may be maintained relatively constant based on the aforedescribed flexing and deformation of the flow control device  50 . 
     Although the bypass channels  134  are herein described as being defined in the valve body  12 , and have significant advantages thereby in the present invention, it should be appreciated that other configurations of the bypass channels  134  are contemplated for use in the present invention. For example, a valve component such as a cup-shaped member having the bypass channels  134  defined therein may be inserted into the central cavity  42  of the valve body  12 . At the closed end thereof, the cup-shaped member has an orifice defined therein for allowing water to be advanced out of the central cavity of the cup-shaped member. In such a configuration, the flow control device  50  would be positioned within a central cavity of the cup-shaped member in order to cooperate with the bypass channels  134  in the manner described above. It should be appreciated that such use of a separate valve component (i.e. the cup-shaped member) is particularly useful for retrofitting existing water valve assembly designs which do not include a valve body having bypass channels defined therein. 
     OPERATION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     In operation, the water valve assembly  10  may be utilized to provide for a relatively constant water flow rate at varying water inlet pressures. In particular, at relatively low inlet water pressures (e.g., less than 20 psi), the flow control device  50  assumes a low pressure orientation in which the sealing surface  136  defined in the sealing lip  126  of the flow control device  50  is spaced apart from a shoulder  138  of the bypass channels  134  (see FIGS. 7,  8 ,  9 , and  11 ). This allows the relatively low pressured water advancing through the central cavity  42  of the valve body  12  to not only advance through the central passage  54  of the flow control device  50 , but also advance through the bypass channels  134 . It should be appreciated that such a water bypass increases the flow rate of water through the washer orifice  140  and hence through the outlet  16  of the water valve assembly  10  at relatively low inlet water pressures such as 10-20 psi. 
     However, at higher inlet water pressures (e.g., greater than 20 psi), the flow control device  50  is oriented in a high pressure orientation in which the collapsible bypass pads  132  function to prevent an undesirable bypass water flow. In particular, once the water pressure exerted on the upstream face  56  exceeds a predetermined magnitude, each of the bypass pads  132  is compressed or otherwise collapsed into one of the bypass recesses  142 . Such compression of the bypass pads  132  into the bypass recesses  142  causes the sealing surface  136  defined in the sealing lip  126  of the flow control device  50  to be advanced into sealing engagement with the shoulder  138  of the bypass channels  134  thereby preventing the bypass flow of water through the bypass channels  134 . It should be appreciated that the portions of the sealing lip  126  which are not proximate to the bypass channels  134  remain in sealing engagement with the interior valve body walls of the central cavity  42  irrespective of the inlet water pressure. Therefore, when the portions of the sealing lip  126  proximate to the bypass channels  134  are urged into sealing engagement with the respective shoulders  138  of the bypass channels  134  in the manner described above, the entire periphery of the flow control device  50  is in sealing engagement with the valve body  12  thereby preventing the flow of any water around the periphery of the flow control device  50  such that any water being advanced through the washer orifice  140  of the washer  52  (and hence through the water outlet  16 ) must first be advanced through the central passage  54  of the flow control device  50 . 
     In this manner, the flow rate of water advancing through the flow control device may be maintained relatively constant based on the flexing and deformation of the flow control device  50 . In particular, as the inlet water pressure exerted on the upstream face  56  increases, a greater degree of flexing or deformity of the flow control device  50  occurs thereby reducing the diameter of the central passage  54  and hence the water flow rate therethrough. As the inlet water exerted on the upstream face  56  decreases, the degree of flexing or deformity of the flow control device  50  likewise decreases thereby enlarging, or even maximizing, the diameter of the central passage  54  and hence the water flow rate therethrough. 
     Hence, from the above description it should be appreciated that the configuration of the flow control device  50  and the valve body  12  may be altered to fit the needs of a given water valve assembly design. In particular, the size, number, and material construction of the bypass pads  132  may be altered to adjust the pressure at which the sealing lip  126  is advanced into sealing engagement with the respective shoulders  138  of the bypass channels  134  in order to prevent water from bypassing the flow control device  50 . In particular, by increasing the number or size or the bypass pads  132 , or constructing them from relatively rigidly deformable materials, the pressure at which the bypass channels  134  are sealed by the sealing lip  126  may be increased. Alternatively, by decreasing the number or size of the bypass pads  132 , or constructing them from a relatively soft deformable material, the pressure at which the bypass channels  134  are sealed by the sealing lip  126  may be decreased. 
     Moreover, the size and number of the bypass channels  134  may be altered in order to alter the amount of water which is allowed to bypass the flow control device  50 . In particular, by increasing the size and number of bypass channels  134 , the amount of water which is allowed to bypass the flow control device  50  (when the by pass channels  134  are not sealed by the sealing lip  126 ) likewise increases. Conversely, by decreasing the size and number of the bypass channels  134 , the amount of water which is allowed to bypass the flow control device  50  is likewise decreased. 
     While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such an illustration and description is to be considered as exemplary and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected. 
     There are a plurality of advantages of the present invention arising from the various features of the water valve assembly described herein. It will be noted that alternative embodiments of the water valve assembly of the present invention may not include all of the features described yet still benefit from at least some of the advantages of such features. Those of ordinary skill in the art may readily devise their own implementations of a water valve assembly that incorporate one or more of the features of the present invention and fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     For example, the concepts of the present invention may be utilized in the construction of other types of water valve assemblies. In particular, as shown in FIG. 12, the concepts of the present invention may be utilized in the construction of a water valve assembly  10 ′ which has a pair of water outlets  16  and  16 ′ (as opposed to a single water outlet). Such a valve assembly is particularly useful for supplying water to two separate appliance components such as an icemaker and a door-mounted cold water dispensing unit. Moreover, it should also be appreciated that the concepts of the present invention may also be utilized in the construction of water valve assemblies for use in other types of appliances such as dishwashers and clothes washers or even in the construction of water valve assemblies for non-appliance applications. 
     As a further example, the water valve assemblies  10 ,  10 ′ of the present invention may also be constructed to include additional novel valve components. For example, as shown in FIGS. 13-19, the water valve assembly  10  (and also the water valve assembly  10 ′) may be constructed with a single component which performs the function of both the filter screen  46  and the noise suppressor  48  (hereinafter designated with reference numeral  150 ). Such use of an integrated filter and noise suppressor  150  provides numerous advantages to the water valve assemblies  10 ,  10 ′. In particular, by reducing the number of components associated with the valve assemblies  10 ,  10 ′, manufacture of the valve assemblies is simplified thereby reducing costs associated with the valve assemblies. 
     The integrated filter and noise suppressor  150  is preferably constructed of a polymeric material such as plastic and includes a component body  152  having a number of screen members  154  and a number of fluid channels  156  defined therein. As shall be discussed in greater detail below, water is first advanced through a number of gaps  158  defined between the screen members  154  so as to remove any particles suspended in the water and thereafter advanced through the fluid channels  156  prior to advancement through the flow control device  50 . Such a flow arrangement effectively filters the water flow while also reducing, or even eliminating, cavitation within the flow of water thereby reducing the noise associated with water flow through the valve assembly  10 , 10 ′. 
     As shown in FIG. 13, the component body  152  of the integrated filter and noise suppressor  150  is sealingly engaged with the interior walls of the central cavity  42  of the valve body  12 . In particular, a sealing flange  174  defined in the component body  152  around the outer periphery of a downstream end portion  182  of the body  152  (see also FIGS. 14-16,  18 , and  19 ) contacts the interior walls of the central cavity  42  so as to prevent water from being advanced around the periphery of the component body  152 . As a result, a large portion of the water advancing through the central cavity  42  of the valve body  12  is advanced into a fluid cavity  162  defined in the component body  152  of the integrated filter and noise suppressor  150  (see FIGS.  15  and  17 ). Water advancing into the fluid cavity  162  strikes a bullet-shaped fluid diverter  164  which directs the water radially outwardly in all directions. 
     The outwardly directed flow of water (from the fluid diverter  164 ) is then advanced through the gaps  158  between the screen members  154  so as to filter the flow of water or otherwise inhibit any debris particles which may be contained in the incoming residential water flow from further advancement through the remaining valve components associated with the water valve assembly  10 ,  10 ′. Once advanced through the gaps  158  between the screen members  154 , the flow of water accumulates in a number of fluid reservoirs  166  (see FIG. 13) defined by the area between (1) a number of sidewalls  168  of the component body  152  into which the fluid channels  156  are defined (see FIGS.  14  and  15 ), (2) the outer surface of the screen members  154 , (3) a downstream face  170  of the an upstream flange  188  (see FIGS. 13 and 14) defined in the component body  152 , (4) an upstream face  172  of the sealing flange  174  (see FIGS. 13,  15 ,  18 , and  19 ), and (5) the sidewalls of the central cavity  42  of the valve body  12 . 
     It should be appreciated that a relatively small portion of the water flowing through the water valve assemblies  10 ,  10 ′ is advanced directly into the fluid reservoirs  166 . In particular, the upstream flange  188  has a number of filtering orifices  186  defined therein (see FIGS.  16  and  17 ). Water may be advanced directly into the fluid reservoirs  166  through the filtering orifices  188  without first being advanced through the fluid cavity  162  defined in the component body  152 . 
     In any event, water is then allowed to flow from the fluid reservoirs  166 , through a number of access openings  176  defined in the sidewalls  168  of the component body  152  (see FIGS. 13,  16 ,  18 , and  19 ), and into the fluid channels  156 . Once into the fluid channels  156 , water is advanced therethrough and exited out a number of exit openings  180  (see FIG. 14) and into a portion  178  of the central cavity  42  (see FIG. 13) which houses the flow control device  50  (note that the flow control device  50  has been removed from FIG. 13 for clarity of description). 
     As described, the configuration of the integrated filter and noise suppressor  150  creates a complex flow path which effectively filters the flow of water while also reducing the incidences of cavitation within the water thereby reducing the noise associated with the flow of water as it advances through the water valve assembly  10 ,  10 ′.