Compressor valve assembly

Claim 2

A compressor valve assembly comprising: a first body section having a discharge valve recess formed therein and having means defining suction and discharge passages; a discharge valve element disposed in said discharge valve recess; a second body section having a suction valve recess formed therein; a suction valve element disposed within said suction valve recess; seat plate means disposed between and in engagement with said first and second body sections, said seat plate means having both discharge and suction passage means formed therein and being in communication, respectively, with said suction and discharge passages of said first body section and with said suction valve recess, said seat plate means defining suction and discharge valve seat means about said suction and discharge passage means, said suction valve element engaging said suction valve seat means and controlling the flow of fluid through said suction passage means, said discharge valve element engaging said discharge valve seat means and controlling the flow of fluid through said discharge passage means; friction support surface means defined on said first body section; friction support surface means formed on said second body; and retainer means disposed in engagement with both of said friction support surface means and frictionally retaining said first and second body sections and said seat plate means in assembly.

Claim 3

A compressor valve assembly as recited in claim 1: said friction support surface means of each of said first and second boDy sections being of frusto-conical configuration and being oppositely tapered with respect to the other of said friction support surface means, said friction support surface means defining annular ridges about each of said body sections; said retainer means engaging said friction support surface means upon assembly of said body sections and being movable by said friction support surface means to allow said retainer means to clear said annular ridges; and said retainer means, after clearing said ridges, moving into frictional engagement with said friction support surface means.

Claim 4

A compressor valve assembly as recited in claim 1: said suction passage means comprising a plurality of suction apertures formed in said seat plate means; said suction valve seat means comprising a plurality of valve seats defined one about each of said suction apertures; said suction valve element being of substantially flat configuration and being capable of simultaneously controlling the flow of fluid through said suction apertures; and means biasing said suction valve element into engagement with said seat plate means to maintain said suction aperture normally closed.

Claim 5

A compressor valve assembly as recited in claim 1: said discharge passage means being a single passage formed substantially centrally of said seat plate means; said discharge valve seat means being defined about said discharge passage means; said discharge valve recess being of substantially circular configuration and defining a generally cylindrical guide surface; said discharge valve element being of generally planar non-circular configuration and having a plurality of peripheral surfaces disposed in engagement with said guide surface to maintain proper alignment of said discharge valve element during movement thereof; and means normally biasing said discharge valve element into engagement with said seat plate means.

Claim 6

A compressor valve assembly as recited in claim 1 said suction passage means comprising a plurality of suction apertures formed in said seat plate means; said suction valve seat means comprising a plurality of valve seats defined one about each of said suction apertures; said suction valve element being of substantially flat configuration and being capable of simultaneously controlling the flow of fluid through said suction apertures; means biasing said suction valve element into engagement with said seat plate means to maintain said suction apertures normally closed; said discharge passage means being a single passage formed substantially centrally of said seat plate means; said discharge valve seat means being defined about said discharge passage means; said discharge valve recess being of substantially circular configuration and defining a generally cylindrical guide surface; said discharge valve element being of generally flat non-circular configuration and having a plurality of peripheral surfaces disposed for guiding engagement with said guide surface to maintain proper alignment of said discharge valve element during movement thereof, said discharge valve element cooperating with said guide surface to define a plurality of flow passages to allow the flow of fluid past said discharge valve element; means normally biasing said discharge valve element into engagement with said seat plate means.

Claim 7

A compressor valve assembly as recited in claim 1: said seat plate means being of substantially flat configuration and having substantially planar surfaces defined on each side thereof; said discharge passage means comprising a single passage formed generally centrally of said seat plate means; and said suction passage means comprising a plurality of passages being substantially evenly distributed in annular pattern about said single discharge passage.

Claim 8

A compressor valve assembly as recited in claim 6: said suction seat means being defined on one side of said seat plate means aNd said discharge seat means being defined on the opposite side of said seat plate means.

Claim 9

A compressor valve assembly as recited in claim 1: said retainer means comprising an annular ring disposed about said friction support surface means of both body sections; movable detent means being carried by said annular ring and frictionally engaging said friction support surface means; and said annular ring being disposed in close fitting relation with said seat plate means and retaining said seat plate means in aligned relation with said first and second body sections.

Claim 10

A compressor valve assembly as recited in claim 8: said detent means comprising a plurality of detents capable of being urged radially outwardly during assembly of said body sections and being capable of moving into frictional engagement with said friction support surface means upon completion of the assembly movement.