Patent attributes
An end plate for an expansion valve of a refrigeration circuit. The end plate includes a pair of slots or apertures, each of the slots configured to receive a tube or hose therein. Further, a pair of apertures is formed in the end plate extending from a first surface to a second surface thereof, each of the apertures configured to receive a fastener therein. The first face of the end plate includes a pair of protuberances extending outwardly from the first face. The protuberances are formed adjacent and laterally outwardly from the pair of apertures. The protuberances act as spacers and abut a surface of a housing of the expansion valve and may create a gap between the housing and the end plate to ensure equal clamping loading and militate against damage to a seal element between the housing and the end plate due to misalignment.
