Patent attributes
A cartridge valve includes a housing, a stem adapter, and a stem assembly. The stem adapter includes a body defining a first hole, which extends in a longitudinal direction. The stem assembly includes a first stem component and a second stem component. The first stem component includes an arm and a spherical portion that is configured to be at least partially positioned within the first hole and defines an opening. The second stem component has a body that is configured to be at least partially received within the opening of the first stem component. The spherical portion is configured to expand in size in response to the first end inserting a portion of the body of the second stem component into the opening in the first stem component, which increases a frictional resistance induced by relative rotation between the stem assembly and the stem adapter.