Patent ID: 6840271

Claim:
A discharge valve assembly for a compressor, said discharge valve assembly comprising a valve plate assembly defining a discharge valve seat; a discharge valve member movable between a closed position where said discharge valve member engages said discharge valve seat and an open position where said discharge valve member is spaced from said discharge valve seat; a biasing member urging said discharge valve member into its closed position; a retainer attached to said valve plate assembly overlying said discharge valve member to limit opening movement of said discharge valve member, said retainer comprising: a circular central body defining a recess extending into a bottom surface of said central body within which said discharge valve member and said biasing member are disposed; a pair of flanges extending radially outwardly from said circular central body, each of said pair of flanges defining a bore for attaching said retainer to said valve plate assembly; and an annular recess extending into a top surface of said central body, said annular recess defining a more consistent wall thickness for said retainer.