Profiled plate valve

A compressor valve comprising:

• a) a valve seat having opposed upper and lower surfaces and defining inlet flow ports for admitting a controlled medium, the inlet flow ports extending between the upper and lower surfaces, the lower surface including at least one seating surface;
• b) a valve guard having a recessed area with opposed upper and lower surfaces and defining outlet flow ports for discharging a controlled medium, the outlet flow ports extending between the upper and lower surfaces, the valve guard being secured to the valve seat and spaced therefrom to enclose the recessed area so as to define a cavity therebetween;
• and
• c) a sealing plate having opposed upper and lower surfaces and defining flow ports extending between the upper and lower surfaces for facilitating flow of a controlled medium through the valve, the sealing plate mounted for movement within the cavity and relative to the lower surface of the valve seat between an open position wherein the sealing plate is spaced from the lower surface of the valve seat so as to permit medium flow through the inlet flow ports of the valve seat and a closed position wherein the sealing plate is engaged with the valve seat so as to prevent medium flow through the valve, the upper surface of the sealing plate includes at least one contoured sealing surface for engaging the at least one seating surface of the valve seat along a continuous line of contact when the valve is in the closed position, wherein a portion of the at least one contoured sealing surface extends beyond the continuous line of contact so as to protrude into the inlet flow ports of the valve seat.