A reciprocating compressor that includes a cylinder block with a plurality of
cylinder
bores. A piston is positioned in each bore. Each piston is mounted to move in response
to the a crankshaft, causing each piston to reciprocate within the cylinder bore.
The compressor further includes a cylinder head which includes bores corresponding
to the bores in the cylinder block. The cylinder head includes a suction port in
fluid communication with a source of compressible gas and a plurality of suction
plenum in the cylinder head. Protrusions or ribs extend into the suction plenum.
The cylinder head also includes a discharge plenum in communication with the outlet
ports of the valve plate Interposed between the cylinder head and the cylinder
block is a valve plate assembly having a discharge valve, and a discharge valve
retainer having a pair of radii assembled to the valve plate by snap fitting a
cylinder head gasket over the discharge valve and retainer.
