Rotary compressor with span type discharge valve

A rotary compressor comprising:

• a cylindrical side wall and a pair of end plates defining a compression chamber having a low pressure and a high pressure side;
• a single high pressure discharge passage extending from said high pressure side of said chamber through a first of said plates;
• a valve seat provided in the outer surface of said first plate around said passage;
• first and second pads formed on said outer surface of said first plate on opposite sides of said valve seat;
• a single elongated valve member having first and second distal end portions supported from said first and second pads respectively and an intermediate portion overlying said valve seat, said intermediate portion normally sealing against said valve seat and moving away from said valve seat upon a predetermined high pressure existing in said high pressure side of said chamber;
• a spring backer overlying said valve member and including first and second end portions engaging said first and second end portions respectively of said valve member;
• and
• means fixedly securing said first end portion of each of said valve member and said spring backer to the corresponding pad, the second end portion of said spring backer permitting said end portion of said valve member to move longitudinally of said second pad as said intermediate portion of said valve member moves away from said seat while biasing said second end portion of said valve member against movement away from said second pad.