Pump/compressor valve seat

A valve assembly for a pump, the valve assembly including:

• a valve seat including a body having a valve face, a flow passage extending in an axial direction through the body, and at least one channel in the body that forms a fluid pathway from an interior of the valve seat to an exterior of the valve seat;
• and
• a valve having a sealing portion on a side thereof for abutting the valve face, the valve being movable between an open position allowing fluid flow through the valve seat and a closed position preventing fluid flow through the valve seat,
• wherein the fluid pathway is a leak flow path for fluid when the valve is in the closed position to reduce pressure build up on the side of the valve.

A valve seat for a pump or compressor, the valve seat including:

• a body having a valve face configured to abut a sealing surface of a valve;
• a flow passage extending in an axial direction through the body;
• at least one channel in the body that forms a fluid pathway from an interior of the body to an exterior of the body in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction;
• and
• at least one raised surface adjacent the at least one channel and axially protruding from the body,
• wherein the fluid pathway is a leak flow path for fluid when the valve is in a closed position, and
• wherein the at least one raised surface prevents the valve from conforming to the at least one channel.