Valve assembly with damper means

Abstract

A valve assembly ( 9 ) comprising a reed ( 11 ), a port ( 13 ) which is opened and closed by the reed ( 11 ), and damper means ( 15 ) for the reed ( 11 ), the damper means ( 15 ) comprising a tube which is in communication with the port ( 13 ) on a side of the port ( 13 ) remote from the reed ( 11 ), and the tube being of such a size that, in use of the valve assembly ( 9 ), the tube contains sufficient fluid to provide substantial damping for the reed ( 11 ).

1 . A valve assembly comprising a reed, a port which is opened and closed by the reed, and damper means for the reed, the damper means comprising a tube which is in communication with the port on a side of the port remote from the reed, and the tube being of such a size that, in use of the valve assembly, the tube contains sufficient fluid to provide substantial damping for the reed.  
     
     
         2 . A valve assembly according to  claim 1  in which the tube is such that it extends vertically above the port.  
     
     
         3 . A valve assembly according to  claim 1  or  claim 2  in which the port is in a valve plate, and in which the length of the tube is greater than the diameter of the port.  
     
     
         4 . A valve assembly according to  claim 3  in which the length of the tube is at least twice the diameter of the port.  
     
     
         5 . A compressor or a pump when including a valve assembly according to any one of the preceding claims.