Discharge valve assembly for refrigeration compressors

An improved discharge valve assembly for a compressor having means defining a compression chamber, said discharge valve assembly overlying said chamber and comprising:

• a valve plate assembly having a surface facing said chamber and means defining a conical discharge passage including a portion defining a discharge valve seat;
• a discharge valve positioned within said discharge passage and movable between open and closed positions within said passage;
• valve guide means overlying and extending into overlapping spaced relationship with respect to said cylindrical portion of said discharge valve,
• said valve guide means including stop means overlying said discharge valve and operative to limit opening movement of said discharge valve whereby said discharge valve restricts flow through said discharge passage when in an open position,
• said discharge valve having a generally planar inner surface facing said chamber and positioned in substantially coplanar relationship with said valve plate surface when said discharge valve is in a closed position and including
• a conical peripheral surface portion generally complimentary in shape to and sealingly engageable with said valve seat to effectively close said discharge passage when said valve is in a closed position and
• an arcuate peripheral surface, portion adjoining said conical portion and extending radially inwardly away from said valve seat to said inner surface, said arcuate surface portion being spaced from said valve seat when said valve is in a closed position, whereby the restriction to flow through said discharge passage resulting from the limited opening movement of said discharge valve is reduced and the minimum flow area through said discharge passage when said valve member is in a fully open position is increased;
• biasing means positioned between said guide means and said valve member for biasing said conical peripheral surface portion into engagement
• with said valve seat;
• and
• said valve guide means being spaced from said conically shaped sidewall so as to provide a flowpath for said discharge gas therebetween and including means defining a continuous annular surface positioned in opposed surrounding relationship to and engageable with said generally cylindrical peripheral portion of said discharge valve and said biasing means whereby said guide means operates to maintain said biasing means and said valve member in substantially coaxial aligned relationship with each other and with said discharge gas passage and to guide movement of said discharge valve between open and closed positions.