US3143133A

US3143133A - Compressor valve

Info

Publication number: US3143133A
Application number: US219958A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edmund P Thomas
Original assignee: White Motor Co
Current assignee: White Motor Co
Priority date: 1962-08-28
Filing date: 1962-08-28
Publication date: 1964-08-04
Anticipated expiration: 1981-08-04
Also published as: GB973400A; DE1425729A1

Description

Aug- 4, 1954 E. P. THOMAS 3,143,133

COMPRESSOR VALVE Filed Aug. 28, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. EDMuNPP Forms BY wazzi zzA ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 4, 1964 E. P. THOMAS COMPRESSOR VALVE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 28. 1962 INVENTOR. Earn/rm F? 77mm: [12% /JL ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 4, 1964 E. P. THOMAS COMPRESSOR VALVE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 28, 1962 S m RR N mm R 6 0 EM w m, A P A? 0% W United States Patent 3,143,133 CGMPRESSOR VALVE Edmund P. Thomas, Allentown, Pa., assignor to The v hgtiMotor Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation 0 10 Filed Aug. 28, 1962, Ser. No. 219,958 9 Claims. (Cl. 137-45444) This invention relates to gas compressors and more particularly to gas compressor valves.

In gas compressors, control of the flow of gas to and from each compression chamber is normally accomplished by unidirectional valves each of which is opened and closed by pressure differential. These valves are inlet and outlet valves referred to usually as suction and discharge valves. In the usual compressor valve, a metal, generally steel, valve member is provided which is abuttable against a complemental valve seat. Either the inherent flexibility of the valve member is utilized, or some biasing means is provided, to urge a valve member into a normally closed condition against its seat. The valve of this invention is of the class where the inherent resiliency of the valve members is utilized for the biasing force.

With gas compressor valves, each valve member remains in a closed condition until there is a sufiicient pressure differential between the gas bodies on opposite sides of the valve member to cause it to open. Thus, in the case of a suction valve, the valve members will remain in closed condition until the external pressure of the ambient atmosphere, or an earlier stage of the compressor, is greater than the resiliency of the valve member plus the internal pressure within a communicating compression chamber. When this external pressure exceeds the internal pressure the valve member is forced open and gas is forced into the compression chamber by the pressure of the ambient atmosphere. When the piston commences its compression stroke the increase in pressure within the chamber will close the suction valve and the suction valve, or valves, will remain in a closed condition until the next suction stroke. The compression will continue until the pressure in the compression chamber is greater than the pressure in an outlet line plus the resiliency of a discharge valve member. At this time the valve members of each discharge valve open and gas is forced into the outlet line.

Because heat is released when a gas is compressed, a great deal of heat is present when a compressor is in operation in most applications. This heat released from the compressed air can and does cause considerable difficulty particularly in connection with compressor valves.

Frequently, hydrocarbons are used as lubricants in air compressors. These hydrocarbons become entrained in the compressed air. Because of the high temperatures and pressures involved, carbon and hydrocarbon deposits will frequently build up within the interior of a compressor. Deposits collecting on the valve members and valve seats can greatly interfere with valve operations and cause a need for early repair or replacement. Warpage, distortion and premature fatigue are other frequent deleterious valve member conditions which result from excessive heat.

The present invention mitigates these problems by providing a valve in which for any given volume of gas, there are considerably less friction and heat losses. This valve is designed to give greatly decreased velocities With any given volume of air. Expressed another way, the valve of this invention has a greater flow capacity in any given space than prior-known valves.

The valve of this invention also has a greatly simplified construction so that it is easy and inexpensive to 3,143,133 Patented Aug. 4, 1964 manufacture. In addition, it is simple and easy to maintain and/or repair and replace.

Possibly the principal one of the advantages of the valves of this invention are illustrated by the requirement of gas transmission pipe lines. Compressors used in these lines must handle tremendous volumes of gas at very low compression ratios. By way of example the typical gas transmission will have a 1.3 to 1 compression ratio as compared with air compression Where typical ratios will vary from 2 /2 to 1 to as high as 5 to 1 or higher. With the valve of this invention tremendous volumes of gas can be handled very quickly. Since the volume and speed of this valve is greater than prior valves the speed of the compressor may be increased considerably. With a higher compression speed obviously a smaller compressor may be employed with an attendant substantial saving in space and cost.

The listed advantages and others are obtained through the use of a body with a surrounding cage. The body has an end opening disposed transversely with respect to the axis of the body. This opening is either an inlet or an outlet depending on whether it is a suction or discharge valve. In either event, the end opening communicates with the compression chamber, and the opening is disposed essentially in a plane paralleling the aXis of a compression chamber. The body also has a plurality of circumeferentially spaced, radially extending passages which communicate with the end opening and with an internal valving chamber between the cage and the body. The cage has a plurality of circumferentially ottset, radially extending, valve passages extending from the valving chamber to the atmosphere ambient to the valve.

In a suction valve the cage, and ina discharge valve the body has planar valve seats which each surround one of the passages at the valving chamber end. These valve seats generally parallel the axis of the valve. The Wall of the valving chamber opposite the valve seats is contoured to provide curved stops for the valve members when open. In addition, the walls are shaped such that the ends of the valve members, or reeds, are restrained and retained in the valve seat at all times. The combination of this end restraining and the curved stops'coact to eliminate valve flutter or chatter and to overcome the problem of premature fatigue caused by excessive valve member flexure.

The cage telescopes over the body and over an end boss on an end cap. The cap includes a radially extending mounting flange. The entire assembly then will slide into a circular aperture in the compressor and be mounted by simply securing the mounting flange to a wall of the compressor.

One of the features of the invention is the simplified manner in which the valve is maintained in an assembled condition. Bolts or studs extend from either the cage or the body through the end cap. The cage and body have overlying shoulders and the one fitted with studs is spaced from the end cap. Tightening the studs then causes the shoulders to coact and bring the other element into tight abutment with the end cap so that the entire mechanism is maintained in an assembled condition.

Accordingly, one of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a novel'and improved compressor valve which has a greater flow capacity for any cross sectional area than prior valves.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simplified, dependable valve of novel and improved construction which has a greater lifethan prior valves.

A general object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved valve of simplified, inexpensive and dependable construction which is efiicient in operation and easy to repair and/ or replace.

A further object of the invention is to provide a compressor valve which has valve passages disposed generally parallel to the axis of compression chamber access opening thereby providing greater volume capacity than prior valves of comparable size and with it cooler operation for any given set of conditions.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved valve which is free of chatter or flutter.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a valve in which the valve member flexes When open such that the spacing between a valve member and its seat varies from one end to the other whereby providing the greatest flow capacity in the area where flow is the greatest.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a partially schematic sectional view of a portion of an air compressor including one suction and one discharge valve;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional View, on an enlarged scale with respect to FIGURE 1, of a suction valve as seen from an axial plane of cross section;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of the valve of FIGURE 2 as seen from the plane indicated by the line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the valve of FIGURE 2 as seen from the plane indicated by the line 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is an axial sectional view of a discharge valve on the scale of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view of the valve of FIGURE 5 as seen from the plane indicated by the line 6-6 in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the valve of FIGURE 5 as seen from the plane indicated by the line 7-7 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary sectional view in an axial plane of cross section of the valve of FIGURE 2 showing the reeds in an open condition;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view of the device of FIG- URE 8 as seen from the plane indicated by the line 99 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of the valve of FIGURE 5 on a comparable scale and showing the valve members in an open condition; and,

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary sectional view of the valve of FIGURE 10 as seen from the plane indicated by the line 1111 of FIGURE 10.

In FIGURE 1 a fragmentary view of a gas compressor is shown. The compressor has a block 10 defining at least one compression chamber 11 and suction and dis charge manifolds 12, 13. A head 14 is secured to the block 10 to close the end of the compression chamber 11. The block and

head

11, 14 may be equipped with the usual water coolant chambers 15. A piston 16 is connected to a piston rod 17 and is reciprocable in the chamber 11.

A suction valve is shown generally at 20 while a discharge valve is shown generally at 21. The suction valve provides selective gas communication between the suction manifold 12 and the compression chamber 11 while the discharge valve provides selective exhausting comrnunication between the compression chamber 11 and the discharging manifold 13.

Suction Valve The details of construction of the suction valve are best disclosed in FIGURES 2-4 and FIGURES 8 and 9. Referring now to these figures and to FIGURE 2 in particular the suction valve 20 includes an end cap 22. The end cap has a radially extending annular mounting flange 23. The mounting flange 23 has a plurality of spaced mounting bores 24 for receiving mounting bolts 25, FIG- URE 1. As is best seen in FIGURE 1, the mounting flange 23 overlies the walls of the head 10 and surrounds an intake valve mounting chamber 26 in the head It). An annular gasket 28, FIGURE 2, is interposed between the end cap 22 and the head 10 to form a fluid-tight seal between them and prevent the escape of air through the suction valve mounting aperture 26. Perhaps more important in the case of the suction valve, the gasket 28 prevents the ingress of dirt, water and other contaminants.

The end cap 22 has a reduced diameter intermediate portion 30 and a boss portion 31 of still smaller diameter. The flange, intermediate, and

boss portions

23, 30, 31 are in axial alignment with the intermediate and boss portions disposed inwardly of the flange portion. In the preferred arrangement the gasket 28 is carried by the intermediate portion 30.

A circular body 33 is provided. The body is in axial alignment with the end cap and positioned adjacent the inner end of the boss portion 31. A tubular cage 34 is telescoped over the body and the boss portions and, in the suction valve arrangement, into abutment with the intermediate portion 30. A gasket 28 is positioned between the inner end of the cage and the head 10.

The body and

cage

33, 34 have complemental cylin- V drically contoured portions at 35 and 36. The portions at 35 are axially spaced from the portions at 36. The body and cage have

intermediate portions

37, 38 between the spaced cylindrically contoured

portions

35, 36. The

intermediate portions

37, 38 are valving chamber surfaces which are radially spaced from one another to define a valving chamber 39 between them. The valving chamber 39 will be described in greater detail below.

The body 33 has a radially outwardly extending flange portion 40 adjacent its innermost end 41. This portion 40 overlies the cage cylindrical portion at 36. A plurality of bolts 42, only one of which is shown, extend through the end cap and are secured to the body 33. These bolts draw the body toward the end cap 22 and bring the flange 40 into tight abutment with the surrounding cage 34. This in turn forces the cage into tight abutment with the intermediate portion 30. To assure tight rigid connection of the various elements the body and end cap are spaced from one another. To assure proper alignment of the cage, dowels 43 are provided. As will become apparent from the description of the discharge valve, this construction can be reversed so that the cage is bolted to the end cap and forces the body into abutment with the end cap. In either event, a greatly simplified construction has been provided in which the entire valve can be dismantled by the simple removal of a few bolts.

The body 33 has a circular intake opening 45 at its inner end. This opening communicates with a body cavity 46 which extends toward the end cap to an annular termination at 47. A deflection cone 48 extends from this annular termination inwardly toward the inner end 41 terminating short of it.

The body includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending gas passages 49 which connect the valving chamber 39 with the body cavity 46. Each of these passages 49 has spaced, arcuate end surfaces 56 which lie in segments of a circle having a center exterior of the body. The surfaces are so shaped and positioned to provide the effect of an outwardly flaring passage. Each such passage 49 extends, at its inner end, the length of a tapered cavity wall portion 51. This wall portion 51 defines part of the cavity 46 and it flares outwardly from the annular termination 47. The passages 49 at their valving chamber ends extend the length of the body valving chamber surface 37.

The cage 34 has a plurality of radially extending circumferentially spaced fluid passages 52. Each of these passages 52 extends radially from the valving chamber 39 to the periphery of the valve. The cage passages 52 are circumferentially offset with respect to the body passages 49. The cage passages, similar to the body passages, have arcuately curved spaced end surfaces 54. The

segments of each cage passage 52 are segments of a common circle having its center exterior of the cage. The cage passages 52 flare outwardly from a valving chamber end opening of a length corresponding to the length of the cage valving chamber surface 38 to a wider exterior opening.

Valve seats 56 are formed in the cage valving chamber surface 38 around the valving chamber end openings of each of the cage passages 52. These valve seats 56 are preferably each planar and each lies in a plane paralleling the axis of the valve. The valve seats are recessed with respect to the circumferentially contoured remainder of the cage chamber surface, and each extends axially past the intermediate portion in both directions into the spaced cage cylindrical portions at 35 and 36.

A thin flexible valving member 57 is positioned in normally abutting relationship with each valve seat 56. These valve members, or reeds as they are known, are flat steel members which are flexed into a curved condition when the valve is open, see FTGURES 8 and 9. The body chamber surface 37 is concave, being curved inwardly slightly, to provide a plurality of spaced stops 59 for the valve members when they are open. These stops are each contoured to the shape which the valve member will assume when flexed outwardly to an open position. Thus the body valving chamber surface 37 is closest to the cage chamber surface adjacent the

cylindrical portions

35, 36 and the body surface curves its greatest radial spacing from the cage chamber surface at the center, axially speaking, of these surfaces. The ends of the reeds are restrained, when open, by the spaced recesses provided by the ends of the valve seats 56 and the adjacent body cylindrical portions.

In operation, as the piston 16 commences to travel downwardly away from the head 11, the suction valve 29 will be closed and the discharge valve 21 will assume a closed condition. Because both valves are closed the pressure in the chamber 11 will be reduced. When the pressure in the chamber 11 has been reduced to a point where the valving chamber pressure plus the inherent resiliency of the valve members 57 is less than the pressure of the gas in the intake manifold, pressure of the gas in the intake manifold will force the reeds or v-alve members 57 open. The reeds 57 travel radially inwardly against the opposing stops 59, FIGURES 8 and 9. With the reeds in the open positions against the stops 59 gas travels through the cage passages 52 and then into the valving chamber 39. From the valving chamber 39 the gas being drawn into the compressor then passes through the body passages 49, the body cavity 46 and through the inner end passage 45 into the compression chamber. This path of gas flow is depicted by the arrows of FIGURE 9.

Discharge Valve The detailed construction of the discharge valve 21 is shown in FIGURES 5-7 and and 11. The construction of the discharge valve is substantially identical to the suction valve with the exception of the construction which maintains the valve in an assembled condition and the valving structure permitting undirectional flow in a direction opposite from that of the suction valve 28.

Accordingly, the description of the discharge valve will be confined to these differences. For convenience of understanding of the entire construction, parts of the discharge valve are identified by numerals each 109 greater than the corresponding part in the suction valve. Thus, the end cap of the suction valve is 22 and of the discharge valve, 122. The body of the suction valve is 33 and of the discharge valve, 133, while the cages are respectively 34 and 134.

The discharge valve, like the suction valve, can be readily dismantled for repair, cleaning, replacement of the reeds and the like. In this instance bolts 142 secure the cage 134 to the end cap 122. A flange 140 overlies a tubular body 133; In this construction the cage 134 is slightly spaced from the intermediate portion and the tension of the studs forces the body' 133 into abutment with the boss portion 131.

The valving structure of the discharge valve is reversed with respect to the suction valve. Thus, the cage valving chamber surface 138 is curved outwardly to provide spaced stops for the flexible reeds 157. Valve seats 156 are formed at spaced locations each surrounding the valving chamber end of the body passages 149.

In operation of the discharge valve, when the pressure in the compression chamber 11- exceeds the pressure in the discharge manifold 13 plus the resiliency of the discharge reeds 157, the reeds are flexed into the open position of FIGURES l0 and 11. Here the reeds are in curved, supported abutment with the stops of the cage 134. Gas travels from the compression chamber 11 through the body cavity 146 and then radially outwardly through the body passages 149.- The gas then travels circumferentially through the valving chamber 139 and thence radially outwardly through the cage passages 152. The gas, then, follows the paths designated by the arrows of FIGURE 11 when passing through the discharge valve 21.

Summary With many prior compressor valves the valving rnembers have been disposed essentially in the path of the opening .45. Thus, the valving members would be transverse to the axis of this passage and the capacity of the valve is obviously, as compared with the present valve, greatly limited. The present valve then has the advantage of a construction wherein the great valving area provided by the circumferentially disposed valve members is obtained and attendant high flow capacity with relatively low velocity for any given volume, thoughcommunication with the compression chamber is through a relatively small opening. The high flow capacity permits the use of a relatively small compressor for a given job. Because the valve has a relatively large valving area as compared to the size of the compression chamber and

passages

45 and 145, a low temperature efiicient operation is obtained. Additionally, with the particular construction shown and obtained through this design, the

valving chambers

39 and 139 have their greatest gas carrying capacity in their center where the gas flow is the greatest further contributing to low temperature operation. At the time valving members of the utmost simplicity and attendant reliability are utilized. These axially extending, circumferentially disposed, valving members are simply thin flexible reed members wherein the inherent resiliency of the valving member is used for the closing biasingforce. The restraining of the ends of the reeds coupled with the curved support of the stops eliminate valve chatter and attendant noise and premature fatigueof the reeds. This combination of low temperature operation and chatter free operation produces exceptionally long reed life.

The simple design with radially extending passages permits formation of the body and chamber passages with rotary mills and therefore contributes to simple valve manufacture. At the same time the body and cage passages together provide passages whicheffectively cooperate in a flaring manner for smooth even gas flow.

An analysis of this construction will also show that while the valve is highly efiicient, long-lived and seldom requires repair, it is of the utmost simplicity in construction and of the utmost simplicity from the repair standpoint. The simple removal of the bolts 42 in the case of the suction valve or the nuts 142 in the case of the discharge valve permits the entire valve to be dismantled for cleaning and repair or replacement of the valve members. The entire assembly telescopes from an assembled to a dismantled condition and vice versa with a minimum of effort. Further, all parts and shapes can be provided with standard machining equipment with a minimum of specialized tools and fixtures being required.

Although the invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. An air compressor valve comprising,

(a) a body member;

(b) a cage member surrounding the body member;

() the cage and body members having valve chamber surfaces defining a valving chamber and defining a plurality of valve member restraining spaces;

(d) one of the member valve chamber surfaces including a plurality of elongated flat valve seats formed therein;

(e) a plurality of elongated normally flat, flexible valve members in said valving chamber and each oriented to cooperate with one of the valve seats, each valve member being positioned for limited, free floating, movement in a different one of said restraining spaces;

(1) said one member including a plurality of fluid passages therethrough each surrounded by one of said valve seats and selectably closable when valve members abut the seats;

(g) said other member valve chamber surface including a plurality of convexly curved valve member stops each oriented to support one valve member when the valve members are forced away from the associated seats;

(11) said other member including a plurality of passages each disposed between an adjacent pair of stops and each communicating with said chamber;

(i) said body member including an open ended cavity in communication with each of the passages of the body member;

(1') said cavity having an end opening transverse to the longitudinal axis of said seats; and,

(k) the passages in said cage communicating with the fluid peripherally ambient to the valve.

2. An air compressor valve comprising,

(a) a circular body member;

(b) a circular cage member telescoped over the body member in axial alignment;

(0) the cage and body members having valve chamber surfaces defining an elongated annular valving chamber in axial alignment with the members and defining a plurality of valve member restraining spaces;

(d) one of the member valve chamber surfaces including a plurality of elongated fiat valve seats formed therein each in a plane generally paralleling the member axis;

(7") said one member including a plurality of fluid passages therethrough each surrounded by one of said valve seats and selectably closable when valve members abut the seats;

(it) said other member including a plurality of passages each disposed between an adjacent pair of stops and each communicating with said chamber;

(1) said body member including an open ended cavity in communication with each of the passages in the body member;

(j) said cavity having an end opening transverse to the axis of said members; and,

3. An air compressor valve comprising,

(a) a circular body defining an internal cavity open at one end and a group of circumferentially disposed passages each extending laterally from the cavity outwardly;

(b) a cage surrounding the body;

(0) the cage and body together defining an annular chamber therebetween;

(d) each of said body passages communicating with said chamber;

(e) said cage including a group of circumferentially spaced passages each circumferentially midway between an adjacent pair of body passages;

(f) said cage passages extending laterally outwardly from said chamber;

(g) said body and cage including oppositely oriented surfaces defining the lateral extremes of the cham- I seats formed therein each surrounding one passage of one group and each passage of such one group being surrounded by a seat;

(1') the remainder of said one surface other than said seats being cylindrically contoured;

(j) the other of said surfaces including spaced cylindrical portions snugly engaging said one surface and overlying the ends of said seats whereby to define end restraining recesses;

(k) said other surface convexly curving outwardly away from the one wall between said cylindrical portions;

(1) a plurality of elongated thin valve members, each positionable against one of the seats and having two ends each in an end restraining recess for limited free floating movement;

(m) each such valve member being movable laterally into abutment with said other surface; and,

(n) each of the valve members being oriented transversely with respect to said cavity opening.

4. An air compressor valve comprising,

(a) a circular body defining an internal cavity open at one end and a deflection cone portion extending from the other end toward the one end;

(1)) the body including a group of circumferentially disposed passages each extending radially from the cavity outwardly;

(c) a circular cage telescoped over and surrounding the body in axial alignment;

(d) the cage and body together defining an axially aligned annular chamber therebetween;

(e) each of said body passages communicating with said chamber;

(f) said cage including a group of circumferentially spaced pasasges each circumferentially midway between an adjacent pair of body passages;

(g) said cage passages extending radially outwardly from the chamber;

(11) said body and cage including oppositely oriented surfaces defining the lateral extremes of the chamber;

(i) one of the surfaces including a plurality of flat valve seats each in a plane generally paralleling the axis of the cage and body;

(j) each of the valve seats surrounding one passage of one group and each passage of such one group being surrounded by a seat;

(k) the remainder of said one surface other than the seats being cylindrically contoured;

(l) the other of said surfaces including spaced cylindrical portions snugly engaging said one surface and overlying the ends of said seats whereby to define end restraining recesses;

(m) said other surface between said cylindrical portions curving outwardly away from the one surface to define spaced, convexly curved, valve member stops each between an adjacent pair of passages in the other group;

(n) a plurality of elongated, thin, flat, flexible valve members, each positionable against one of the seats and having two ends each'in an end restraining recess for limited free floating movement.

() each such valve member being movable laterally into abutment with one of said stops; and,

(p) each of the valve members being oriented parallel to said body and cage axis.

5. A compressor valve comprising,

(A) a body having an elongated circular and tubular side wall extending from a first to a second end; (B) the body including a deflection portion secured to the side wall and closing the first end;

(C) the deflection portion including a tapered part of circular configuration:

(i) disposed symmetrically about the axis of the body and,

(ii) tapering from its greatest diameter portion near the first end to its smallest diameter portion near the second end;

(D) a cage telescoped over the body;

(E) the side wall including a circular peripheral surface and the cage a circular internal surface;

(F) the surfaces including:

(i) axially spaced end portions in tight mating fluid sealing engagement; and,

(ii) portions intermediate the spaced portions defining the radial extremities of a valving chamber;

(G) one of said surfaces including a plurality of elongated flat valve seats each:

(i) disposed substantially in a plane paralleling the axis of the valve; and,

(ii) extending from one of the spaced end portions of said one surface to the other spaced end portion of the one surface;

(H) the intermediate portion of the other of said surfaces having a central part spaced from said one surface more than the remainder thereof and con vexly curvedly flaring from its spaced end portions to said central part;

(I) a plurality of flat, thin and flexible valve members each associated with one seat;

(I) said intermediate portion of said other surfaces including longitudinally extending stop parts each:

(i) being in radial alignment with a valve seat;

and,

(ii) being a stop for one of the valve members when open;

(K) the cage and body each having a set of passages extending through the associated intermediate portion with:

(i) the body passages extending radially inwardly from said chamber through said side wall; and,

(ii) the cage passages extending radially outwardly from said chamber and communicating with the atmosphere ambient to the valve; and,

(L) each passage of one set being surrounded at its chamber end by a seat and the passages of the other end each communicating with the chamber at a location between two adjacent stop parts.

6. A gas compressor valve comprising,

(a) a circular end cap including a radially extending mounting flange and a reduced diameter, circular connecting, portion extending axially inwardly from the mounting flange;

(b) said end cap also including a circular boss extending axially inwardly from the connecting portion and of a diameter less than the connecting portion;

(0) said end cap including assembly recesses extend- 1% ing radially inwardly from the periphery of said connecting portion and assembly holes extending longitudinally inwardly from each of said recesses through the connecting portion;

(d) a circular body axially aligned with and abutting the inner end of the boss;

(e) said body including spaced cylindrical portions of a diameter equal to the diameter of the boss-and at least as great as the diameter of theremainder of the body;

(f) said body including an intermediate portion between said cylindrical portions and a smaller diameter portion extending from the cylindrical portion remote from the boss to the inner end of the body;

(g) said body including a fluid chamber extending from a circular opening in said inner end inwardly to an annular termination in axial alignment with the body and end cap axis;

(It) said body including a circular and tapered deflection portion extending from its largest end adjacent said annular termination toward said inner end of the-body;

(i) said body including a plurality of circumferentially spaced passages each extending radially from said chamber outwardly to said intermediate portion;

(j) an annular, cage telescoped over said body and saidboss;

(k) said cage including an inwardly extending circular flange adjacent its inner end and in tight sealing engagement with said body smaller diameter portion;

(1) said inwardly extending cage flange abutting the one of said body cylindrical portions nearest the body inner end;

(m) studs secured to the other endof said cage and each projecting through one of said assembly holes;

(n) a plurality of nuts each disposed in one of said assembly recesses and each threaded onto one of said studs;

(0) said end cap intermediate portion and said cage being spaced whereby the studs" are tensioned be tween the intermediate portion and the cage maintaining the cage flange in the tight abutment With saidv one body cylindrical portion and the body in tight abutment with the boss;

(p) said cage including a circular intermediate portion opposite said body intermediate portion and spaced therefrom to define a valving chamber;

(q) said cage having spaced cylindrical portions on opposite sides of its intermediate portion and each snugly surrounding one of the body cylindrical portions;

(1') said cage also including a plurality of circumferentially disposed radially extending passages, each circumferentially offset with respect to each of the body passages;

(s) one of said intermediate portions being curved away from the other intermediate portion;

(t) the other intermediate portion including a plurality of valve seats each surrounding one of the communicating passages and each extending into and past the ends of its intermediate portion into the adjacent cylindrical portion to thereby define spaced restraining recesses;

(u) each of said seats being disposed generally in a plane paralleling the cage and body axis;

(v) a plurality of long, thin, flexible, normally flat valve members each oriented to normally abut one of the seats in tight sealing engagement, and each flexible away from the seat against a radially opposite part of the curved intermediate portion; and,

(w) the opposite ends of each of said valve members each projecting into one of said restraining recesses.

7. A gas compressor valve comprising,

(a) circular cage and body members telescoped together;

(b) said members defining an annular valving chamber therebetween; I

(c) each of said members including radially disposed, circumferentially spaced passages communicating with the chamber;

(d) the cage member passages each being circumferentially otfset With respect to the body member passages;

(e) one of the members including valve seats surrounding the chamber ends of its passages;

(1) long, thin, flexible reeds in the chamber each oriented to selectively abut one of the seats in seal ing engagement;

(g) the body member passages each having curved ends with the ends of each passage being arcs of a common circle having an axis of curvature external of the body member and normal to the body axis; and.

(h) the cage member passages each having curved ends with the ends of each passage being arcs of a common circle having an axis of curvature external of the cage member and normal to the body axis.

8. A gas compressor valve comprising,

(a) circular cage and body members telescoped together;

(b) said member defining an annular valving chamber therebetween;

(d) the cage member passages each being circumferentially offset with respect to the body member passages;

(1) long, thin, flexible reeds in the chamber each oriented to selectively abut one of the seats in sealing engagement;

(g) the body member passages each having curved ends with the ends of each passage being arcs of a common circle having an axis of curvature external of the body member and normal to the body axis,

(11) the cage member passage each having curved ends with the ends of each passage being arcs of a common circle having an axis of curvature external of the cage member and normal to the body axis;

(i) the chamber end openings of each of the body member passages being of substantially equal longitudinal length;

(j) the chamber end openings of each of the cage member passages being of substantially equal longitudinal length; and,

(k) the chamber ends of the cage member passage ends having slightly greater length than the body member passage chamber ends.

9. A unidirectional gas valve for use in combination with a gas compressor including Walls defining a circular valve receiving opening with said valve positionable in said opening, said valve comprising:

(a) a circular end cap including a radially extending mounting flange for overlying the opening and securement to the compressor;

(1)) first gasket means for interposement between the cap and the compressor;

(0) a circular body member in axial alignment with the end cap;

(d) a cage member positionable within the opening and telescoped over the body member and a portion of the end cap;

(e) means securing the members to the end cap;

(3) said body member including a fluid cavity in its end remote from the end cap extending from a circular opening inwardly to an annular termination in axial alignment with the body and end cap axis;

(g) one of said body member and end cap including a circular and deflection portion tapering from a large end adjacent said annular termination to a small end near said remote end of the body;

(it) said members having surfaces defining an annular valving chamber therebetween;

(i) said body including a plurality of circumferentially spaced passages each extending radially from said cavity outwardly to said chamber;

(i) said cage including a plurality of circumferentially disposed passages, each circumferentially 01T- set with respect to each of the body passages and each extending radially outwardly from said chamher to the periphery of the cage;

(k) the surface of one of said members being convexly curved away from the surface of the other member in a longitudinal plane of cross section;

(I) the surface of said other member including a plurality of valve seats each surrounding the chamber end of one of said one member passages; and,

(m) a plurality of long, thin, flexible, normally-flat valve members positioned in said chamber for limited free floating movement, each valve member being oriented to normally abut one of the seats in tight sealing engagement, and each valve member being flexible away from the seat against a radially opposite part of the curved surface of said one member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,632,155 Vollmann June 14, 1927 1,955,007 McClay Apr. 17, 1934 1,986,810 Haight Jan. 8, 1935 2,000,735 Arnold May 7, 1935 2,420,056 Seligrnann May 6, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS 60,774 Denmark Mar. 22, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 3 l43, 133 August 4, 1964 Edmund P, Thomas It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected belo' Column 4 line 33, after "This" insert flange column 5, line 42, after "of", first occurrence strike out "the"; column 8, line 57, for "pasasges" read passages column 11, line 29, for "member" read members line 46 for passage" read passages Signed and sealed this 29th day of December 1964.,

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims

1. AN AIR COMPRESSOR VALVE COMPRISING, (A) A BODY MEMBER; (B) A CAGE MEMBER SURROUNDING THE BODY MEMBER; (C) THE CAGE AND BODY MEMBERS HAVING VALVE CHAMBER SURFACES DEFINING A VALVING CHAMBER AND DEFINING A PLURALITY OF VALVE MEMBER RESTRAINING SPACES; (D) ONE OF THE MEMBER VALVE CHAMBER SURFACES INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED FLAT VALVE SEATS FORMED THEREIN; (E) A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED NORMALLY FLAT, FLEXIBLE VALVE MEMBERS IN SAID VALVING CHAMBER AND EACH ORIENTED TO COOPERATE WITH ONE OF THE VALVE SEATS, EACH VALVE MEMBER BEING POSITIONED FOR LIMITED, FREE FLOATING, MOVEMENT IN A DIFFERENT ONE OF SAID RESTRAINING SPACES; (F) SAID ONE MEMBER INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF FLUID PASSAGES THERETHROUGH EACH SURROUNDED BY ONE OF SAID VALVE SEATS AND SELECTABLY CLOSABLE WHEN VALVE MEMBERS ABUT THE SEATS; (G) SAID OTHER MEMBER VALVE CHAMBER SURFACE INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF CONVEXLY CURVED VALVE MEMBER STOPS EACH ORIENTED TO SUPPORT ONE VALVE MEMBER WHEN THE VALVE MEMBERS ARE FORCED AWAY FROM THE ASSOCIATED SEATS; (H) SAID OTHER MEMBER INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF PASSAGES EACH DISPOSED BETWEEN AN ADJACENT PAIR OF STOPS AND EACH COMMUNICATING WITH SAID CHAMBER; (I) SAID BODY MEMBER INCLUDING AN OPEN ENDED CAVITY IN COMMUNICATION WITH EACH OF THE PASSAGES OF THE BODY MEMBER; (J) SAID CAVITY HAVING AN END OPENING TRANSVERSE TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID SEATS; AND, (K) THE PASSAGES IN SAID CAGE COMMUNICATING WITH THE FLUID PERIPHERALLY AMBIENT TO THE VALVE.