Appliance water valve assembly and associated method

A water valve assembly, comprising:

• a valve body having an inlet and a component access opening defined therein;
• a fitting at least partially positioned within said inlet;
• and
• a retainer having (i) a first retaining portion positioned to retain a valve component within said component access opening, and (ii) a second retaining portion positioned to retain said fitting within said inlet,
• wherein said inlet defines a first opening in said valve body, and said component access opening defines a second opening in said valve body, and
• wherein said first opening is spaced apart from said second opening.

A water valve assembly, comprising:

• 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 said valve body through said inlet must pass through said central cavity before exiting out of said valve body through said outlet, and further wherein said component access opening is configured so that a valve component may be advanced into said central cavity through said component access opening;
• and
• a retaining bracket having a retaining portion positioned in relation to said valve body so as to block advancement of said valve component from said central cavity to a location outside of said valve body through said component access opening,
• wherein said valve body is configured such that fluid advances into said inlet and then to said outlet without passing through said access opening.

A water valve assembly, comprising:

• 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 said valve body through said inlet must pass through said central cavity before exiting out of said valve body through said outlet, and further wherein said component access opening is configured so that a valve component may be advanced into said central cavity through said component access opening without passing through said inlet;
• a fitting at least partially positioned within said inlet of said valve body;
• and
• a retainer having (i) a first retaining portion positioned in relation to said valve body so as to block advancement of said valve component from said central cavity to a location outside of said valve body through said component access opening, and (ii) a second retaining portion positioned in relation to said fitting so as to block advancing of said fitting in a direction away from said inlet.