Patent ID: 7540301

Claim:
A compressor valve assembly device comprising in combination: a compressor valve comprising a flat cylindrical valve seat having at least one flat face and a parallel flat cylindrical valve stop plate having a peripheral flat surface to mate with a peripheral portion of the flat face of the valve seat and a recessed flat surface spaced apart from the flat face of the valve seat forming an interior plate receiving area therebetween, the stop plate having an annular ring receiving groove further recessed below the recessed flat surface of the valve stop plate between the recessed flat surface and the peripheral flat surface, the ring receiving groove being radially aligned with an outermost flow port of the valve seat, the valve seat and the valve stop plate each having a series of flow ports therethrough to admit a flow of gaseous fluid therethrough; a flat cylindrical valve plate positioned adjacent to the valve seat within the interior plate receiving area, the valve plate being movable between the valve seat and the valve stop plate, the valve plate fabricated of a light weight synthetic material; an annular dampening ring comprising a single annular ring positioned within the annular ring receiving area in alignment with the valve plate and at least one spring between the dampening ring and the valve stop plate, so that the at least one spring elevates the dampening ring above the recessed flat surface of the valve stop plate and so that the valve plate contacts the dampening ring when the compressor valve is in use and the dampening ring and the at least one spring dampens the force of the movement of the valve plate as the valve plate pushes the dampening ring downward until the valve plate contacts the valve stop plate to cause a soft stop of the valve plate, the damping ring fabricated of a heavy steel having a greater mass than the valve plate fabricated of light weight synthetic material so that the greater mass of the steel ring relative to the valve plate fabricated of a light weight synthetic material in combination with the spring allow the dampening ring to travel a small fraction of the valve plate lift and enable the soft stop with the descent of the steel ring controlled by the spring, thereby providing the soft stop to prolong the life of the valve plate.