Compressor ball valve

In a refrigerant compressor comprising a compressor mechanism having a cylinder receiving a piston, a discharge chamber receiving compressed refrigerant fluid, and a cylinder head having a discharge port formed therethrough, said cylinder and said cylinder head defining a compression chamber, said discharge port providing fluid communication between said compression chamber and said discharge chamber, a discharge valve assembly comprising:

• a spherical valve member seated against said discharge port and adjacent said discharge chamber, said valve member dimensioned to partially penetrate and seal said discharge port;
• an elastically deformable arm having an aperture partially receiving said spherical valve member therein, said arm engaging said spherical valve member and biasing said spherical valve member into engagement with said discharge port, said arm adapted to deform and thereby allow said spherical valve member to move out of engagement with said discharge port during a compression phase;
• and
• a rigid stop disposed adjacent said spherical valve member and said arm, and limiting the movement of said spherical valve member during the compression phase, thereby maintaining alignment of said spherical valve member with said discharge port.

In a rotary refrigerant compressor comprising a cylinder block having a bore defining a cylinder, a rotary piston received in said cylinder, a vane slidingly received in said cylinder block and engaging said piston, a cylinder head having a discharge port formed therethrough and defining a discharge chamber for receiving compressed refrigerant fluid, said cylinder, said vane, said piston, and said cylinder head defining a compression chamber, said discharge port providing fluid communication between said compression chamber and said discharge chamber, a discharge valve assembly comprising:

• a spherical valve member seated against said discharge port and adjacent said discharge chamber, said valve member dimensioned to partially penetrate and seal said discharge port;
• an elastically deformable arm having an aperture partially receiving said spherical valve member therein, said arm engaging said spherical valve member and biasing said spherical valve member into engagement with said discharge port, said arm adapted to deform and thereby allow said spherical valve member to move out of engagement with said discharge port during a compression phase;
• and
• a rigid stop disposed adjacent said spherical valve member and said arm, and limiting the movement of said spherical valve member during the compression phase, thereby maintaining alignment of said spherical valve member with said discharge port.