Valve assembly

A sealed valve assembly comprising:

• a valve housing having a first end wall, a second end wall, and a peripheral wall extending between first and second end walls such that a lumen is defined within said valve housing, each of said first and second ends having an opening extending therethrough and into said lumen, said valve housing having a bend therein such that a first section and a second section are defined, said first section being orientated generally perpendicular to said second section, said first section abutting said first end wall;
• a valve being positioned in said valve housing and being adapted for selectively opening and closing said opening in said first end wall, said valve comprising;
• a valve stem being elongated and having a first end and a second end, said valve stem extending through said peripheral wall of said second section such that said first end extends toward said opening in said first end wall;
• a plate being located in said valve housing, said plate having a first surface and a second surface, said second surface being attached to said first end of said valve stem;
• a sleeve being positioned in said housing and extending over said stem, said sleeve having a first end securely attached to said peripheral wall and a second end attached to said second surface, said sleeve extending through said perimeter wall such that said first end of said sleeve is coupled to an exterior surface of said valve housing to inhibit said sleeve being inadvertently separated from said peripheral wall when said valve stem is actuated;
• wherein said stem is extendable into said valve housing such that said stem urges said plate against said first end wall and closes said opening in said first end wall.