The invention concerns a piston compressor, particularly a hermetic
refrigerant compressor, with a compression chamber, which is limited by a
valve plate arrangement having a valve plate with a suction gas opening
and a pressure gas opening, a suction valve plate with a suction valve
element, and a pressure valve plate with a pressure valve element. It is
endeavoured to achieve a good efficiency combined with a simple assembly.
For this purpose, it is ensured that the pressure valve plate and the
suction valve plate are located on the side of the valve plate facing the
compression chamber.