Systems and methods for a reed valve module and a modular reed valve assembly

A modular reed valve assembly, comprising:

• a structure comprising a receiving cavity;
• and
• a reed valve module positioned in the receiving cavity, the reed valve module comprising:
• a module body comprising a seating surface, and a sealing face;
• a housing having an interfacing surface and a bottom that is located at a distal end of the reed valve module opposite of the seating surface, wherein the housing comprises a first wall portion having an inner surface, and a second wall portion having an inner surface;
• and
• a reed petal that is positioned adjacent to the sealing face and including an upper portion that is used to secure the reed petal, and a lower portion that is adapted to seal against the sealing face when the reed petal is in a closed position and to deflect away from the sealing face when the reed petal is in an open position,
• wherein the reed valve module is a self-contained modular unit that is adapted to be inserted into a receiving cavity of the modular reed valve assembly;
• wherein the seating surface is positioned adjacent to a first retaining surface of the modular reed valve assembly and the interfacing surface is positioned adjacent to a second retaining surface of the modular reed valve assembly,
• wherein the reed valve module is pressed, captured, and retained within the modular reed valve assembly between the first and second retaining surfaces,
• wherein the inner surface of the first wall portion and the sealing face are configured so that pressing the reed valve module between the first and second retaining surfaces causes the inner surface of the first wall portion to frictionally clamp the upper portion of the reed petal in place against the sealing face, and
• wherein the inner surface of the second wall portion is adapted to act as a petal guard to stop the lower portion of the reed petal when the lower portion of the reed petal deflects away from the sealing face.

A modular reed valve assembly, comprising:

• a structure comprising a receiving cavity;
• a first reed valve module positioned in the receiving cavity, the first reed valve module comprising:
• a module body comprising a first seating surface, and a sealing face;
• a first housing having a first interfacing surface and a bottom that is located at a distal end of the reed valve module opposite of the first seating surface, wherein the first housing comprises a first wall portion having an inner surface, and a second wall portion having an inner surface;
• and
• a reed petal that is positioned adjacent to the sealing face and including an upper portion that is used to secure the reed petal, and a lower portion that is adapted to seal against the sealing face when the reed petal is in a closed position and to deflect away from the sealing face when the reed petal is in an open position,
• wherein the reed valve module is a self-contained modular unit that is adapted to be inserted into a receiving cavity of the modular reed valve assembly;
• wherein the first seating surface is positioned adjacent to a first retaining surface of the modular reed valve assembly and the first interfacing surface is positioned adjacent to a second retaining surface of the modular reed valve assembly,
• wherein the first reed valve module is pressed, captured, and retained within the modular reed valve assembly between the first and second retaining surfaces,
• wherein the inner surface of the first wall portion and the sealing face are configured so that pressing the reed valve module between the first and second retaining surfaces causes the inner surface of the first wall portion to frictionally clamp the upper portion of the reed petal in place against the sealing face, and
• wherein the inner surface of the second wall portion is adapted to act as a petal guard to stop the lower portion of the reed petal when the lower portion of the reed petal deflects away from the sealing face;
• and
• a second reed valve module positioned in the receiving cavity, the second reed valve module comprising a second seating surface that is positioned adjacent to a third retaining surface of the modular reed valve assembly and a second interfacing surface that is positioned adjacent to a fourth retaining surface of the modular reed valve assembly,
• wherein the second reed valve module is captured and retained within the modular reed valve assembly between the third and fourth retaining surfaces.

A method for assembling a modular reed valve assembly, the method comprising:

• providing a first structure comprising a receiving cavity and first and second fluid inlet ports, wherein the receiving cavity is in fluid communication with the first and second fluid inlet ports;
• providing a first reed valve module comprising:
• a module body comprising a first seating surface, and a sealing face;
• a housing having a first interfacing surface and a bottom that is located at a distal end of the reed valve module opposite of the first seating surface, wherein the housing comprises a first wall portion having an inner surface, and a second wall portion having an inner surface;
• and
• a reed petal that is positioned adjacent to the sealing face and including an upper portion that is used to secure the reed petal, and a lower portion that is adapted to seal against the sealing face when the reed petal is in a closed position and to deflect away from the sealing face when the reed petal is in an open position,
• wherein the reed valve module is a self-contained modular unit that is adapted to be inserted into a receiving cavity of the modular reed valve assembly;
• inserting the first reed valve module into the receiving cavity so that the first seating surface of the first reed valve module is positioned adjacent to a first retaining surface of the modular reed valve assembly;
• after inserting the first reed valve module into the receiving cavity, inserting a second reed valve module into the receiving cavity so that a second seating surface of the second reed valve module is positioned adjacent to a second retaining surface of the modular reed valve assembly;
• attaching a second structure having third and fourth retaining surfaces to the first structure, wherein attaching the second structure to the first structure comprises:
• positioning the first interfacing surface of the first reed valve module adjacent to the third retaining surface so that the first reed valve module is captured and retained in the receiving cavity between the first and third retaining surfaces;
• and
• pressing the modular reed valve assembly between the first and second retaining surfaces,
• wherein the inner surface of the first wall portion and the sealing face are configured so that pressing the reed valve module between the first and second retaining surfaces causes the inner surface of the first wall portion to frictionally clamp the upper portion of the reed petal in place against the sealing face, and
• wherein the inner surface of the second wall portion is adapted to act as a petal guard to stop the lower portion of the reed petal when the lower portion of the reed petal deflects away from the sealing face.