Patent ID: 11971026
Assignee: ZF CV SYSTEMS EUROPE BV
Field: Engines, pumps, turbines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F  B | IPC B  F

Claim 8:
9. An air compressor comprising:
a cylinder head including an inlet port and a discharge port;
a cylinder block including a head deck having an upper surface surrounding a piston bore for reciprocal movement of a piston therein, the cylinder block further including first and second ramped surfaces that slope downward toward a peripheral edge of the piston bore, wherein the second ramped surface transitions from an elongated step to the peripheral edge of the piston bore, the elongated step being recessed relative to the upper surface of the head deck, the head deck further including a side recess intersecting the peripheral edge of the piston bore; and
a valve plate including an intake leaf valve and a border portion, the leaf valve including a first portion that is joined to a border portion along a living hinge and including a second portion that is spaced apart from the border portion by a gap, such that the leaf valve and the border portion are integrally joined to each other along the living hinge, the valve plate being between the cylinder head and the cylinder block and in direct contact with the upper surface of the cylinder block,
wherein the elongated step underlies the living hinge such that the leaf valve is able to flex about the living hinge, during an intake stroke of the piston and deflect downward into engagement with the first and second ramped surfaces to allow air into the piston bore.