Reciprocating compressor valve assembly

1. A reciprocating compressor comprising:

a compressor cylinder defining a cylinder wall;

a valve bore formed in the cylinder wall;

a compressor valve assembly arranged in the compressor cylinder, the compressor valve assembly comprising:

a valve liner comprising a liner body and a liner flange disposed at a first end of the liner body, the liner body disposed in the valve bore and comprising a liner window, the liner flange positioned in contact with a surface of the compressor cylinder, a valve seat coupled to an inner surface of the liner body, the valve seat comprising a seating surface formed at an end of the valve seat;

a compressor valve positioned on the seating surface of the valve seat;

a valve cage positioned on the compressor valve, the valve cage comprising a cage window;

a valve cover coupled to the valve cage to apply a bias force to retain the compressor valve on the seating surface of the valve seat; and

wherein the surface of the compressor cylinder in contact with the liner flange is perpendicular to the valve bore.

2. The reciprocating compressor of claim 1 , further comprising a pin disposed between the liner flange and the compressor cylinder to align the liner window with the cage window.

3. The reciprocating compressor of claim 1 , wherein the liner body comprises a uniform outermost diameter between the first end and a second end of the liner body.

4. The reciprocating compressor of claim 1 , wherein the liner body comprises a step extending from an outer surface of the liner body towards the inner surface and between the seating surface and a second end of the liner body, wherein a first outermost diameter of the liner body between the first end and the step is larger than a second outermost diameter of the liner body between the step and the second end.

5. The reciprocating compressor of claim 1 , further comprising a seal disposed between the cylinder wall and an outer surface of the liner body.

6. The reciprocating compressor of claim 1 , wherein the liner body comprises a groove having an opening at an outer surface of the liner body.

7. The reciprocating compressor of claim 1 , wherein the liner body comprises an aperture formed at an end surface of a second end of the liner body.

8. The reciprocating compressor of claim 1 , wherein a gap exists between the valve cover and the liner flange.

9. The reciprocating compressor of claim 1 , wherein the valve cover is disposed in direct contact with the liner flange.

10. The reciprocating compressor of claim 1 , further comprising a further valve cover coupled to the valve cover to apply a further bias force to retain the compressor valve on the seating surface of the valve seat.

11. A method for assembling a reciprocating compressor comprising a compressor cylinder, the method comprising:

positioning a valve liner in a valve bore formed in a cylinder wall of the compressor cylinder, the valve liner comprising a liner body, a liner window formed in the liner body, a valve seat coupled to an inner surface of the liner body, and a liner flange disposed at a first end of the liner body, the liner flange in contact with a surface of the compressor cylinder, the valve seat comprising a seating surface formed at an end of the valve seat;

installing a compressor valve in the liner body, the compressor valve in contact with the seating surface of the valve seat;

positioning a valve cage on the compressor valve, the valve cage comprising a cage window;

circumferentially aligning the cage window with the liner window;

coupling a valve cover to the valve cage to apply a bias force to retain the compressor valve on the seating surface of the valve seat; and

wherein the surface of the compressor cylinder in contact with the liner flange is perpendicular to the valve bore.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising disposing a pin between the liner flange and the compressor cylinder to maintain circumferential alignment between the liner window and the cage window.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising forming a uniform outermost diameter of the liner body between the first end and a second end of the liner body.

14. The method of claim 11 , furthering comprising forming a step on the liner body extending from an outer surface of the liner body towards the inner surface and between the seating surface and a second end of the liner body, wherein a first outermost diameter between the first end and the step is larger than a second outermost diameter between the step and the second end.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising disposing a seal between the cylinder wall and an outer surface of the liner body.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising forming a groove on the liner body, wherein an opening of the groove is formed at an outer surface of the liner body.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising forming an aperture at an end surface of a second end of the liner body.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising disposing the valve cover at a location having a gap to the liner flange.

19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising disposing the valve cover in direct contact with the liner flange.

20. The method of claim 11 , further comprising disposing a further valve cover coupled to the valve cover to apply a further bias force to retain the compressor valve on the seating surface of the valve seat.

21. A compressor valve assembly to be arranged in a compressor cylinder of a reciprocating compressor, the compressor valve assembly comprising:

a valve liner comprising a liner body and a liner flange disposed at a first end of the liner body, the liner body comprising a liner window, a valve seat coupled to an inner surface of the liner body, the valve seat comprising a seating surface formed at an end of the valve seat;

a compressor valve positioned on the seating surface of the valve seat;

a valve cage positioned on the compressor valve, the valve cage comprising a cage window;

a valve cover coupled to the valve cage to apply a bias force to retain the compressor valve on the seating surface of the valve seat;

wherein the liner flange is perpendicular to the liner body.

22. The compressor valve assembly of claim 21 , wherein the liner body comprises a uniform outermost diameter between the first end and a second end of the liner body.

23. The compressor valve assembly of claim 21 , wherein the liner body comprises a step extending from an outer surface of the liner body towards the inner surface and between the seating surface and a second end of the liner body, wherein a first outermost diameter of the liner body between the first end and the step is larger than a second outermost diameter of the liner body between the step and the second end.

24. The compressor valve assembly of claim 21 , further comprising a seal disposed on the liner body.

25. The compressor valve assembly of claim 21 , wherein the liner body comprises a groove having an opening at an outer surface of the liner body.

26. The compressor valve assembly of claim 21 , wherein the liner body comprises an aperture formed at an end surface of a second end of the liner body.