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Abstract

A needle valve and a method of manufacturing the needle valve. The needle valve has a metal needle with a leading end that is elongated and tapered so as to provide carefully restricted fluid flow along the length of the tapered end. A portion of the needle is threaded so that the position of the tapered end may be adjusted by screwing the needle. A housing for the needle is manufactured by placing the needle into a mold. The housing is then injection molded around portions of the metal needle. The molded housing forms an inlet port around the tapered end of the needle and a collar around the threaded portion of the needle. An outlet port is molded adjacent to the tapered end and is in fluid communication with the inlet port of the housing. As the housing cools, the plastic shrinks thus conforming the inlet port to the tapered end of the metal needle and creating a hermetic seal around the tapered end. A plastic knob is also molded onto the opposite end of the metal needle. The plastic knob may be rotated so that the tapered end of the needle may be screwed into or out of the inlet port of the plastic housing in order to control fluid flow therethrough.

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