Patent ID: 7160088

Claim:
A scroll machine comprising: a shell defining a discharge chamber; a first scroll member having a first spiral wrap projecting outwardly from a first end cap; a second scroll member having a second spiral wrap projecting outwardly from a second end cap, said second spiral wrap being intermeshed with said first spiral wrap; a drive member for causing said scroll members to orbit relative to one another whereby said spiral wraps will create pockets of progressively changing volume between a suction pressure zone and a discharge pressure zone, said discharge pressure zone being in communication with said discharge chamber; and a discharge valve disposed between said discharge pressure zone and said discharge chamber, said discharge valve being disposed within a recess formed by said first scroll member, said discharge valve being movable between a first, a second, and a third position, wherein: said first position is a closed position where said discharge valve abuts a bottom surface of said recess and fluid flow between said discharge chamber and said discharge pressure zone is prohibited; said second position is an open position where said discharge valve abuts said bottom surface of said recess and fluid flow between said discharge chamber and said discharge chamber and said discharge pressure zone is permitted at a first flow level; and said third position is an open position where said discharge valve is spaced from said bottom surface of said recess and fluid flow between said discharge chamber and said discharge pressure zone is permitted at a second flow level greater than said first flow level.