Plate valve structure

Claim 2

A plate valve comprising: a. a base member having opposite surfaces and having sets of through flow passageways extending between the surfaces, said base member having valve seating surfaces surrounding the flow passageways; b. a cage member having opposite surfaces and having sets of through flow passageways extending between the surfaces, said cage member being secured relative to said base member with said valve seating surfaces facing said cage member, said cage member sets of flow passageways cooperating with respective said base member sets of flow passageways for allowing fluid to flow therethrough; c. a plurality of independent valve plates movably mounted and positioned between said base member and said cage member, each valve plate in covering relation to a respective said set of base member flow passageways and seating against said valve seating surfaces; d. spring members mounted in said cage member each engaging and applying force to a respective valve plate for selectively holding same in seating engagement with said valve seating surfaces; and e. cavities in said base member opening toward said cage member and underlying a respective valve plate said cavities being operable for trapping some of said fluid therein during closing movement of the valve plates for cushioning their seating impact.

Claim 3

In a piston type compressor a plate valve, said plate valve comprising: a. a base member having opposite surfaces and having sets of through flow passageways extending between the surfaces, said base member having valve seating surfaces surrounding the flow passageways; b. a cage member having opposite surfaces and having sets of through flow passageways extending between the surfaces, said cage member being secured relative to said base member with said valve seating surfaces facing said cage member, said cage member sets of flow passageways cooperating with respective said base member sets of flow passageways for allowing fluid to flow therethrough; c. a plurality of independent valve plates movably mounted and positioned between said base member and said cage member, each valve plate in covering relation to a respective said set of base member flow passageways and seating against said valve seating surfaces; d. spring members mounted in said cage member each engaging and applying force to a respective valve plate for selectively holding same in seating engagement with said valve seating surfaces; e. a retaining ring engaging one of said cage member opposite surfaces around and outwardly of said cage member flow passageways and extending from said cage member one opposite surface; f. an upstanding member secured to one of said base member and said cage member extending from said cage member one opposite surface, said upstanding member having a keeper secured thereto in spaced relation from said cage member one opposite surface; and g. resilient means acting on said upstanding member, said keeper and said retaining ring for resiliently maintaining said retaining ring in engagement with said cage member one opposite surface.

Claim 4

In a piston type compressor a plate valve, said plate valve comprising: a. a base member having opposite surfaces and having sets of through flow passageways extending between the surfaces, said base member having valve seating surfaces surrounding the flow passageways; b. a cage member having opposite surfaces and having sets of through flow passageways extending between the surfaces, said cage member being secured relative to said base member with said valve seating surfaces facing said cage member, said cage member sets of flow passageways cooperating with respective said base member sets of flow passageways for allowing fluid to flow therethrough; c. a plurality of independent valve plates movably mounted and positioned between said base member and said cage member, each valve plate in covering relation to a respective said set of base member flow passageways and seating against said valve seating surfaces; d. spring members mounted in said cage member each engaging and applying force to a respective valve plate for selectively holding same in seating engagement with said valve seating surfaces; e. a retaining ring engaging one of said cage member opposite surfaces around and outwardly of said cage member flow passageways and extending from said cage member one opposite surface; f. an upstanding member secured to one of said base member and said cage member extending from said cage member one opposite surface, said upstanding member having a keeper secured thereto in spaced relation from said cage member one opposite surface; and g. resilient means acting on said upstanding member, said keeper and said retaining ring for resiliently maintaining said retaining ring in engagement with said cage member one opposite surface.

Claim 5

A plate valve comprising: a. a base member having opposite surfaces and having sets of through flow passageways extending between the surfaces, said base member having valve seating surfaces surrounding the flow passageways; b. a cage member having opposite surfaces and having sets of through flow passageways extending between the surfaces, said Cage member being secured relative to said base member with said valve seating surfaces facing said cage member, said cage member sets of flow passageways cooperating with respective said base member sets of flow passageways for allowing fluid to flow therethrough; c. a plurality of independent valve plates movably mounted and positioned between said base member and said cage member, each valve plate in covering relation to a respective said set of base member flow passageways and seating against said valve seating surfaces; d. spring members mounted in said cage member each engaging and applying force to a respective valve plate for selectively holding same in seating engagement with said valve seating surfaces; e. means cooperating with said cage member and said valve plates for controlling the amount of movement of the valve plates from the base member valve seating surfaces, said means being operable for allowing each valve plate to move a different distance from said valve seating surfaces; f. at least one set of flow passageways extending between the opposite surfaces of the cage member for opposite direction flow therethrough, said cage member having valve seating surfaces surrounding the opposite direction flow passageways and facing the base member; g. a second valve plate movably mounted and positioned between said base member and said cage member in selective covering relation to a respective set of cage member opposite direction flow passageways and seating against said valve seating surfaces; h. at least one spring member mounted in said base member and engaging said second valve plate for selectively holding same in seating engagement with said cage member seating surfaces; i. flow passageways through said base member communicating with said cage member opposite direction flow passageways for allowing fluid to flow through the base member in the opposite direction; j. said second valve plate and said valve plates include at least one intake valve plate and a plurality of exhaust valve plates respectively wherein said exhaust valve plates are movably mounted in said cage member and said intake valve plate is movably mounted in said base member, said exhaust valve plates being in selective seating engagement with said base member valve seating surfaces and said intake valve plate being in selective seating engagement with said cage member valve seating surfaces; k. said base member and cage member through flow passageways being exhaust flow passageways and said base member and cage member opposite direction through flow passageways being intake flow passageways, said intake flow passageways being disposed outwardly of said exhaust flow passageways; l. one said opposite surface of said cage member and one said opposite surface of said base member being in engagement; and m. pocket forming portions in said base member wherein the pockets open toward said cage member underlying a respective exhaust valve plate for trapping some of said fluid therein during movement of said exhaust valve plate from an open position to the seating position for cushioning their seating impact.

Claim 6

A plate valve comprising: a. a base member having opposite surfaces and having sets of through flow passageways extending between the surfaces, said base member having valve seating surfaces surrounding the flow passageways; b. a cage member having opposite surfaces and having sets of through flow passageways extending between the surfaces, said Cage member being secured relative to said base member with said valve seating surfaces facing said cage member, said cage member sets of flow passageways cooperating with respective said base member sets of flow passageways for allowing fluid to flow therethrough; c. a plurality of independent valve plates movably mounted and positioned between said base member and said cage member, each valve plate in covering relation to a respective said set of base member flow passageways and seating against said valve seating surfaces; d. spring members mounted in said cage member each engaging and applying force to a respective valve plate for selectively holding same in seating engagement with said valve seating surfaces; e. means cooperating with said cage member and said valve plates for controlling the amount of movement of the valve plates from the base member valve seating surfaces, said means being operable for allowing each valve plate to move a different distance from said valve seating surfaces; f. at least one set of flow passageways extending between the opposite surfaces of the cage member for opposite direction flow therethrough, said cage member having valve seating surfaces surrounding the opposite direction flow passageways and facing the base member; g. a second valve plate movably mounted and positioned between said base member and said cage member in selective covering relation to a respective set of cage member opposite direction flow passageways and seating against said valve seating surfaces; h. at least one spring member mounted in said base member and engaging said second valve plate for selectively holding same in seating engagement with said cage member seating surfaces; i. flow passageways through said base member communicating with said cage member opposite direction flow passageways for allowing fluid to flow through the base member in the opposite direction; j. said second valve plate and said valve plates include at least one intake valve plate and a plurality of exhaust valve plates respectively wherein said exhaust valve plates are movably mounted in said cage member and said intake valve plate is movably mounted in said base member, said exhaust valve plates being in selective seating engagement with said base member valve seating surfaces and said intake valve plate being in selective seating engagement with said cage member valve seating surfaces; k. said base member and cage member through flow passageways being exhaust flow passageways and said base member and cage member opposite direction through flow passageways being intake flow passageways, said intake flow passageways being disposed outwardly of said exhaust flow passageways; l. one said opposite surface of said cage member and one said opposite surface of said base member being in engagement; and m. pocket forming portions in said base member wherein the pockets open toward said cage member underlying a respective exhaust valve plate for trapping some of said fluid therein during movement of said exhaust valve plate from an open position to the seating position for cushioning their seating impact.

Claim 7

A plate valve as set forth in claim 3 wherein: a. said exhaust valve plates controlling means including surfaces in said cage member each spaced from a respective said base member valve seating surface and having a respective exhaust valve plate positioned therebetween, each said controlling surface being spaced a different distance from said respective base member valve seating surface thereby allowing the respective exhaust valve plates to move different distances therefrom for controlling their opening movements.

Claim 8

A plate valve as set forth in claim 3 wherein: a. said spring members for one exhaust valve plate having different preload compressions than the spring members for another exhaust valve plate for applying different amounts of force to the respective exhaust valve plate wherein the exhaust valve plates have different rates of opening and closing movements.

Claim 9

A plate valve as set forth in claim 5 including: a. means associated with said cage member and said base member cooperating with the exhaust valve plates and the intake valve plate for limiting the lateral movement thereof; and b. second pocket forming portions in said cage member wherein the second pockets open toward the base member each having a respective exhaust valve plate spring member mounted therein, said exhaust valve plate spring members being coil springs.

Claim 10

A plate valve comprising: a. a base member having opposite surfaces and having sets of through flow passageways extending between the surfaces, said base member having valve seating surfaces surrounding the flow passageways; b. a cage member having opposite surfaces and having sets of through flow passageways extending between the surfaces, said cage member being secured relative to said base member with said valve seating surfaces facing said cage member, said cage member sets of flow passageways cooperating with respective said base member sets of flow passageways for allowing fluid to flow therethrough; c. a plurality of independent valve plates movable mounted and positioned between said base member and said cage member, each valve plate being in covering relation to a respective said set of base member flow passageways and seating against said valve seating surfaces; d. said case member having valve plate lift limit surfaces facing respective valve plates and a plurality of spaced spring receiving pockets in said limit surfaces for each valve plate and opening toward the respective valve plate, said spring receiving pockets for one valve plate having a lesser depth from said one valve plate than the depth of the spring receiving pockets for another valve plate; e. said valve plate limit surfaces being spaced from the seating surfaces for the respective valve plates and said spacing of the limit surface for said one valve plate being greater than the spacing of the limit surface for said other valve plate and providing greater lift of said one valve plate than the lift of said another valve plate; f. spring members mounted in said spring receiving pockets in said cage member with each spring member engaging and applying force to respective valve plate for selectively holding same in seating engagement with said valve seating surface, the spring members in the pockets of lesser depth having a greater preload compression and a greater seating force on the respective valve plate than the spring members in the pockets of greater depth.

Claim 11

A plate valve comprising: a. a base member having opposite surfaces and having sets of through flow passageways extending between the surfaces, said base member having valve seating surfaces surrounding the flow passageways; b. a cage member having opposite surfaces and having sets of through flow passageways extending between the surfaces, said cage member being secured relative to said base member with said valve seating surfaces facing said cage member, said cage member sets of flow passageways cooperating with respective said base member sets of flow passageways for allowing fluid to flow therethrough; c. a plurality of independent valve plates movable mounted and positioned between said base member and said cage member, each valve plate being in covering relation to a respective said set of base member flow passageways and seating against said valve seating surfaces; d. said case member having valve plate lift limit surfaces facing respective valve plates and a plurality of spaced spring receiving pockets in said limit surfaces for each valve plate and opening toward the respective valve plate, said spring receiving pockets for one valve plate having a lesser depth from said one valve plate than the depth of the spring receiving pockets for another valve plate; e. said valve plate limit surfaces being spaced from the seating surfaces for the respective valve plates and said spacing of the limit surface for said one valve plate being greater than the spacing of the limit surface for said other valve plate and providing greater lift of said one valve plate than the lift of said another valve plate; f. spring members mounted in said spring receiving pockets in said cage member with each spring member engaging and applying force to respective valve plate for selectively holding same in seating engagement with said valve seating surface, the spring members in the pockets of lesser depth having a greater preload compression and a greater seating force on the respective valve plate than the spring members in the pockets of greater depth.

Claim 12

A plate valve comprising: a. A base member having opposite surfaces and having sets of through flow passageways extending between the surfaces, said base member having valve seating surfaces surrounding the flow passageways; b. a cage member having opposite surfaces and having sets of through flow passageways extending between the surfaces, said cage member being secured relative to said base member with said valve seating surfaces facing said cage member, said cage member sets of flow passageways cooperating with respective said base member sets of flow passageways for allowing fluid to flow therethrough; c. a plurality of independent valve plates movably mounted and positioned between said base member and said cage member, each valve plate in covering relation to a respective said set of base member flow passageways and seating against said valve seating surfaces; d. said cage member having a plurality of spaced spring receiving pockets for each valve plate and opening toward the respective valve plate, said spring receiving pockets for one valve plate having a lesser depth than the spring receiving pockets for another valve plate; e. spring members mounted in said spring receiving pockets in said cage member with each spring member engaging and applying force to respective valve plate for selectively holding same in seAting engagement with said valve seating surface, the spring members in the pockets of lesser depth having a greater perload compression and a greater seating force on the respective valve plate than the spring members in the pockets of greater depth; f. at least one set of flow passageways extending between the opposite surfaces of the cage member for opposite direction flow therethrough, said cage member having valve seating surfaces surrounding the opposite direction flow passageways and facing the base member; g. a second valve plate movably mounted and positioned between said base member and said cage member in selective covering relation to a respective set of cage member opposite direction flow passageways and seating against said valve seating surfaces; h. at lease one spring member mounted in said base member and engaging said second valve plate for selectively holding same in seating engagement with said cage member seating surfaces; i. flow passageways through said base member communicating with said cage member opposite direction flow passageways for allowing fluid to flow through the base member in the opposite direction; j. an upstanding member secured to said base member and extending through an aperture that extends through the cage member between the opposite surfaces thereof; k. a keeper secured to said upstanding member in spaced relation from the other opposite surface of said cage member; l. a retaining ring engaging the other opposite surface of said cage member around and outwardly of said cage member exhaust flow passageways and inwardly of said cage member intake flow passageways, said retaining ring extending from said cage member other opposite surface; and m. resilient means acting on said keeper, said upstanding member and said retaining ring for maintaining said retaining ring and said cage member in resilient engagement.

Claim 13

A plate valve comprising: a. A base member having opposite surfaces and having sets of through flow passageways extending between the surfaces, said base member having valve seating surfaces surrounding the flow passageways; b. a cage member having opposite surfaces and having sets of through flow passageways extending between the surfaces, said cage member being secured relative to said base member with said valve seating surfaces facing said cage member, said cage member sets of flow passageways cooperating with respective said base member sets of flow passageways for allowing fluid to flow therethrough; c. a plurality of independent valve plates movably mounted and positioned between said base member and said cage member, each valve plate in covering relation to a respective said set of base member flow passageways and seating against said valve seating surfaces; d. said cage member having a plurality of spaced spring receiving pockets for each valve plate and opening toward the respective valve plate, said spring receiving pockets for one valve plate having a lesser depth than the spring receiving pockets for another valve plate; e. spring members mounted in said spring receiving pockets in said cage member with each spring member engaging and applying force to respective valve plate for selectively holding same in seAting engagement with said valve seating surface, the spring members in the pockets of lesser depth having a greater perload compression and a greater seating force on the respective valve plate than the spring members in the pockets of greater depth; f. at least one set of flow passageways extending between the opposite surfaces of the cage member for opposite direction flow therethrough, said cage member having valve seating surfaces surrounding the opposite direction flow passageways and facing the base member; g. a second valve plate movably mounted and positioned between said base member and said cage member in selective covering relation to a respective set of cage member opposite direction flow passageways and seating against said valve seating surfaces; h. at lease one spring member mounted in said base member and engaging said second valve plate for selectively holding same in seating engagement with said cage member seating surfaces; i. flow passageways through said base member communicating with said cage member opposite direction flow passageways for allowing fluid to flow through the base member in the opposite direction; j. an upstanding member secured to said base member and extending through an aperture that extends through the cage member between the opposite surfaces thereof; k. a keeper secured to said upstanding member in spaced relation from the other opposite surface of said cage member; l. a retaining ring engaging the other opposite surface of said cage member around and outwardly of said cage member exhaust flow passageways and inwardly of said cage member intake flow passageways, said retaining ring extending from said cage member other opposite surface; and m. resilient means acting on said keeper, said upstanding member and said retaining ring for maintaining said retaining ring and said cage member in resilient engagement.