Bulbless thermostatic expansion valve and method of joining insulated power element

A bulbless thermostatic expansion valve comprising:

• a valve body having an inlet and an outlet;
• a valve member movable relative to the valve body for controlling flow of an operating fluid through the valve body;
• a power element including a housing and a diaphragm positioned within the housing, the diaphragm having a first side operatively coupled to the valve member and a second side opposite the first side;
• and
• a thermostatic sensor including a sensor enclosure operatively mounted to the power element, wherein a portion of the sensor enclosure together with a portion of the second side of the diaphragm form a sensing chamber in which a sensing fluid is contained;
• wherein changes in the temperature of the sensing fluid results in changes in pressure applied to the second side of the diaphragm, thereby causing movement of the diaphragm which provides movement of the valve member operatively coupled to the first side of the diaphragm;
• and
• wherein the valve body includes a main body portion and an upper extension that extends from the main body portion, an end of the upper extension being crimped into a lip relative to an opposing surface of the main body portion thereby defining a recess that receives a portion of the housing of the power element to join the power element to the valve body.