Compressor valve assembly

Abstract

A compressor valve assembly is presented. The compressor valve assembly includes a seat and a guard attached to each other. The seat includes an inlet hole. The guard includes a spring. The guard includes a guide pin attached to the bottom of the guard and extends out the spring internally. The guard includes a seal element attached to the guide pin. The seal element includes a socket to receive the guide pin and a spring landing area residing on top of the spring. The guide pin internally guides a movement of the seal element to move toward the inlet hole when the spring extends and to move away from the inlet hole when the spring is compressed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A compressor valve assembly comprising:
 a seat comprising an inlet hole; and   a guard attached to the seat,   wherein the guard comprises:
 a spring; 
 a guide pin attached to the bottom of the guard and extending out the spring internally; and 
 a seal element attached to the guide pin, 
   wherein the seal element comprises a socket defining an opening to receive the guide pin,   wherein the seal element comprises a seal head disposed on one end of the socket,   wherein the seal element comprises a spring landing area residing on top of the spring, and   wherein the guide pin is configured to guide a movement of the seal element along the guide pin such that the seal head of the seal element moves toward the inlet hole when the spring extends and moves away from the inlet hole when the spring is compressed during an operation of the compressor valve assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The compressor valve assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the spring landing area comprises an area at an opening end of the socket opposite to the one end of the seal head of the seal element. 
     
     
         3 . The compressor valve assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the socket is disposed between the guide pin and the spring. 
     
     
         4 . The compressor valve assembly as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the spring landing area comprises an area at an outer side of the socket at a distance from an opening end of the socket and extending outwardly from the outer side of the socket. 
     
     
         5 . The compressor valve assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the guide pin is configured to be replaceable from the guard. 
     
     
         6 . The compressor valve assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising an insert attached to an exit edge of the inlet hole. 
     
     
         7 . The compressor valve assembly as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the insert is configured to be replaceable from the exit edge of the inlet hole. 
     
     
         8 . A guard for a compressor valve assembly comprising:
 a spring;   a guide pin attached to the bottom of the guard and extending out the spring internally;   a seal element attached to the guide pin,   wherein the seal element comprises a socket defining an opening to receive the guide pin,   wherein the seal element comprises a seal head disposed on one end of the socket,   wherein the seal element comprises a spring landing area residing on top of the spring, and   wherein the guide pin is configured to guide a movement of the seal element along the guide pin such that the seal head of the seal element moves toward the inlet hole when the spring extends and moves away from the inlet hole when the spring is compressed during an operation of the compressor valve assembly.   
     
     
         9 . The guard as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the spring landing area comprises an area at an opening end of the socket opposite to the one end of the seal head of the seal element. 
     
     
         10 . The guard as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein a portion of the socket is disposed between the guide pin and the spring. 
     
     
         11 . The guard as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the spring landing area comprises an area at an outer side of the socket at a distance from an opening end of the socket and extending outwardly from the outer side of the socket. 
     
     
         12 . The guard as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the guide pin is configured to be replaceable from the guard. 
     
     
         13 . A method for operating a compressor valve assembly, wherein the compressor valve assembly comprises a seat and a guard attached to each other, wherein the seat comprises an inlet hole, the method comprising:
 disposing a spring in the guard;   attaching a guide pin to the bottom of the guard and extending out the spring internally; and   attaching a seal element to the guide pin,   wherein the seal element comprises a socket defining an opening to receive the guide pin,   wherein the seal element comprises a seal head disposed on one end of the socket,   wherein the seal element comprises a spring landing area residing on top of the spring, and   wherein the guide pin is configured to guide a movement of the seal element along the guide pin such that the seal head of the seal element moves toward the inlet hole when the spring extends and moves away from the inlet hole when the spring is compressed during an operation of the compressor valve assembly.   
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the spring landing area comprises an area at an opening end of the socket opposite to the one end of the seal head of the seal element. 
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein a portion of the socket is disposed between the guide pin and the spring. 
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the spring landing area comprises an area at an outer side of the socket at a distance from an opening end of the socket and extending outwardly from the outer side of the socket. 
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the guide pin is configured to be replaceable from the guard. 
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising attaching an insert to an exit edge of the inlet hole. 
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the insert is configured to be replaceable from the exit edge of the inlet hole.