Patent ID: 7338030

Claim:
A supply valve comprising a valve housing having a fluid inlet which comprises a sequentially stepped inner cylindrical surface comprising a first portion having a first diameter at the distal end of said fluid inlet and terminating in a first shoulder, a second portion having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter extending from the first shoulder to a second shoulder, and a third portion having a third diameter smaller than the second diameter extending from the second shoulder to a third shoulder; and a fluid outlet; a control element which selectively turns the flow of liquid on and off; and a pipe joining assembly, said pipe joining assembly comprising an O-ring seal, a protection ring, a lock ring, a release ring, and a cartridge ring having a predetermined thickness; wherein: (A) the release ring, the lock ring, and the protection ring are mounted in the cartridge ring to form a cartridge ring assembly; (B) the cartridge ring assembly is disposed in said first portion and has an axial extent delimited at one end by a plane of the first shoulder when the cartridge ring assembly is mounted in said first portion; (C) said O-ring seal is disposed in said second portion; (D) said cartridge ring assembly and said O-ring seal having an inner diameter substantially equal to said third diameter; and (E) said third diameter is substantially equal to the outer diameter of a pipe to be inserted into said inlet with a press fit.