Patent ID: 8240330

Claim:
A compressor plate valve, comprising: a valve seat having a first set of passage channels; a valve guard having a second set of passage channels; a valve plate having a third set of passage channels, the valve plate being disposed between the valve seat and the valve guard and moveable between them to control the passage of fluid through the valve; a valve stem attached at a first end to a center of the valve plate and passing through a center of the valve guard; wherein the valve seat, valve guard and the valve plate have sealing surfaces that oppose passage channels; and wherein the valve seat, valve guard and valve plate have landing surfaces; wherein each landing surface of the valve seat opposes, directly or indirectly, landing surfaces of the valve guard and valve plate, and does not oppose any passage channel, such that three landing surfaces are aligned vertically; and wherein a center landing surface of each of the valve seat, of the valve guard, and of the valve plate is centered around the valve stem, and the center landing surface of the valve guard is at least as wide as that of the valve plate; wherein the landing surfaces of the valve seat, valve guard and valve plate, respectively, comprise more than half of a total surface of the valve seat, valve guard and valve plate, respectively.